Delta SkyMiles American Express Card（デルタ スカイマイル アメリカン・エキスプレス・カード）is one of the more unusual airline credit cards in Japan. Rather than focusing only on earning miles, the card combines Delta SkyMiles earning with Delta Medallion Status.
New cardmembers receive Silver Medallion Status during the first program year, which also comes with SkyTeam Elite recognition. Starting with the second program year, spending ¥1,000,000 on the card is required to maintain Silver Medallion Status.
That makes this card particularly interesting for travelers who already fly Delta or other SkyTeam airlines.
👉 Apply for the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ¥13,200 |
| Additional Card | First card free; ¥6,600 each thereafter |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3.5% |
| Everyday Spending | 1 SkyMile per ¥100 |
| Eligible Overseas Spending | 1.5 SkyMiles per ¥100 |
| Eligible Delta Purchases | 2 SkyMiles per ¥100 |
| First-Year Delta Status | Silver Medallion |
| SkyTeam Status | SkyTeam Elite |
| From Second Program Year | ¥1M spend → Silver Medallion |
| Below ¥1M | No Medallion Status through the card |
| Spending Requirement | Primary + additional card spending combined |
| Renewal Bonus | 2,000 SkyMiles |
| SkyMiles Expiration | No expiration |
The basic earning rate is straightforward: 1 SkyMile per ¥100 spent. The bigger reason to hold this card, however, is the opportunity to maintain Silver Medallion Status through credit card spending.
How Much Do You Need to Spend for Silver Medallion?
During the first program year, cardmembers receive Silver Medallion Status without having to meet the ¥1 million spending requirement.
Starting with the second program year:
| Spending During Program Period | Delta Status | SkyTeam Status |
|---|---|---|
| ¥1,000,000 or more | Silver Medallion | SkyTeam Elite |
| Less than ¥1,000,000 | No Medallion Status through the card | — |
In other words:
Spend ¥1M per year → Silver Medallion → SkyTeam Elite
One important detail is that the spending period is based on the card’s Program Period, rather than necessarily following the January-to-December calendar year.
Eligible spending on additional cards also counts toward the primary cardmember’s spending requirement.
Silver Medallion Means SkyTeam Elite
This is one of the most important benefits of the card.
Delta Silver Medallion Status corresponds to SkyTeam Elite, so the status can have value beyond Delta flights.
When flying eligible itineraries with SkyTeam members such as Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and China Airlines, SkyTeam Elite recognition can provide certain priority benefits according to the operating airline’s rules.
Silver Medallion also comes with Delta-specific benefits such as eligible complimentary upgrades and baggage benefits.
However, there is one important distinction:
SkyTeam Elite is not SkyTeam Elite Plus.
Silver Medallion does not provide the same international lounge benefits associated with SkyTeam Elite Plus.
That distinction is one of the biggest reasons frequent SkyTeam travelers should also consider the Gold Card.
SkyTeam Elite vs. Elite Plus
The standard and Gold versions of the Delta Amex are much easier to understand when you look at their corresponding SkyTeam status.
| Standard Card | Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Status | Silver Medallion | Gold Medallion |
| SkyTeam Status | Elite | Elite Plus |
| Priority Benefits | Yes | More extensive |
| Eligible SkyTeam International Lounge Access | No | Yes |
| Best For | Occasional Delta / SkyTeam flyers | Frequent SkyTeam international travelers |
Delta Gold Medallion corresponds to SkyTeam Elite Plus, which adds more meaningful benefits for international travelers, including eligible lounge access and broader SkyPriority benefits.
For travelers who regularly fly internationally on SkyTeam, this difference can be far more valuable than a small difference in credit card earning rates.
Earning Delta SkyMiles
The standard earning rate is:
¥100 = 1 SkyMile
Eligible overseas purchases receive an additional bonus, bringing the earning rate to:
¥100 = 1.5 SkyMiles
Eligible Delta purchases can earn:
¥100 = 2 SkyMiles
Another advantage of Delta SkyMiles is that miles do not expire, making it easier to accumulate miles over a longer period without having to make transactions simply to keep them active.
Still, 1 mile per ¥100 isn’t an exceptional everyday earning rate in Japan.
I would therefore view this card primarily as:
Delta SkyMiles + Silver Medallion + SkyTeam Elite
rather than simply as a high-earning mileage credit card.
Delta SkyMiles American Express Card vs. Gold Card
The biggest difference between the two Japanese Delta Amex cards is their Medallion earning structure.
| Benefit | Delta SkyMiles Amex | Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | ¥13,200 | ¥28,600 |
| Everyday Spending | 1 Mile / ¥100 | 1 Mile / ¥100 |
| First-Year Delta Status | Silver | Gold |
| First-Year SkyTeam Status | Elite | Elite Plus |
| ¥1M Annual Spend | Silver | Silver |
| ¥1.5M Annual Spend | Silver | Gold |
| SkyTeam Status at ¥1.5M | Elite | Elite Plus |
| Below ¥1M | No Medallion through card | No Medallion through card |
| Best For | Occasional Delta flyers | Frequent Delta / SkyTeam flyers |
The standard card is simple:
¥1M → Silver Medallion → SkyTeam Elite
The Gold Card adds another level:
¥1M → Silver Medallion → SkyTeam Elite
¥1.5M → Gold Medallion → SkyTeam Elite Plus
This makes the decision relatively straightforward.
If you can naturally spend ¥1 million per year and only need Silver Medallion, the standard card offers a much lower-cost way to maintain status.
If you can naturally spend ¥1.5 million and regularly fly SkyTeam internationally, the Gold Card becomes much more compelling because SkyTeam Elite Plus can deliver significantly more value.
Bottom Line
The Delta SkyMiles American Express Card isn’t particularly compelling if you’re looking only at its 1 SkyMile per ¥100 everyday earning rate.
Its real selling point is:
¥1M annual spend → Silver Medallion → SkyTeam Elite
That can make the card worthwhile for travelers who already use Delta SkyMiles and occasionally fly Delta, Korean Air, Air France, KLM, China Airlines, or other SkyTeam carriers.
On the other hand, travelers who can naturally put ¥1.5 million per year on the card and frequently fly internationally with SkyTeam should take a close look at the Delta SkyMiles American Express Gold Card.
At that point, the comparison isn’t simply Silver vs. Gold.
It’s SkyTeam Elite vs. SkyTeam Elite Plus—and that can be a much more meaningful difference for frequent international travelers.
👉 Apply for the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card
Can Foreigners Apply in Japan?
Foreign residents with legal residency status in Japan can apply for the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card. Applicants will generally need a Japanese address, phone number, employment and income information, and approval remains subject to American Express Japan’s underwriting.
You’ll also need a Delta SkyMiles membership number when applying for the card.
If you already hold an American Express card issued in another country, it may also be worth checking your eligibility for American Express Global Card Transfer.
This can be particularly useful for someone who has recently moved to Japan and has an established relationship with American Express overseas but has not yet built a long Japanese credit history.
