Amex Delta Gold Vs. Amex Delta Platinum

The welcome offers on the American Express Delta SkyMiles credit cards vary and go up and down all the time. The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Card’s welcome bonus is typically lower than you’d find on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex Card at any given moment.

The current offers are:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card charges a bit more at $350 per year but offers more benefits that can help you offset the fee entirely.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

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Partner Offer

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Rates & Fees / Terms Apply

4.0

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

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Up to 2X Reward Rate

Earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide; Earn 2X miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta; Earn 2X miles atRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Regular APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Score

Good,Excellent (700 - 749)

Editor's Take

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a middle-of-the-road co-branded Delta Air Lines credit card. If you prefer to check bags but don’t have elite status, you can easily justify the annual fee after a few uses of the first checked bag free perk each year when you fly Delta and make this card a worthwhile addition to your wallet.

Pros & Cons

• No foreign transaction fees
• Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
• Large variety of airline partners

• High regular APR
• Has an annual fee

Card Details

• Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

As you probably guessed, the two Delta SkyMiles cards, with their different annual fees, also come with corresponding levels of rewards.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card earns rewards at the following rates:

• 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card earns rewards at the following rates per dollar:

• 3 miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers the following benefits to Delta flyers:

• Up to nine free checked bags (one per person) on a reservation where all travelers are booked together.
• A 20% discount on in-flight purchases, such as meals or alcoholic beverages.
• A 15% discount on Delta award flights
• Waived foreign transaction fees
• $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 on your card in a calendar year
• Up to $100 per year as a statement credit for purchases through Delta Stays

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers the following benefits to Delta passengers:

• Up to nine free checked bags—one per person—on a reservation where all travelers are booked together.
• Annual companion certificate: Book a domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight in Main Cabin, and your companion flies for free on the same itinerary (must pay applicable taxes and fees)
• Enrollment fee credit for TSA PreCheck (once every 4.5 years) or Global Entry (once every four years) up to $100
• A 20% discount on in-flight purchases, such as meals or alcoholic beverages.
• A 15% discount on Delta award flights
• Waived foreign transaction fees
• MQD Headstart and Boost to get you closer to Medallion status
• Up to $150 per year as a statement credit for purchases through Delta Stays
• Up to $10 per month as a statement credit for U.S. rideshare purchases
• Up to $10 per month as a statement credit for U.S. Resy restaurants
• Hertz Five Star status once enrolled
• Cardholder can be added to the complimentary upgrade list on eligible reservations

For the higher annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers more benefits than its lower-fee counterpart. If you book a flight worth at least $350 for a companion, your annual fee is offset entirely, and you still get to enjoy the other benefits of the card, such as free checked bags, trusted-traveler program enrollment fee rebate and the MDQ Headstart and MDQ Boost.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

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Partner Offer

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Rates & Fees / Terms Apply

4.2

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

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On American Express's Website

Up to 3X Reward Rate

Earn 3X Miles on purchases made directly with hotels; Earn 3X Miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations; Earn 2XRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee

$350

Regular APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Score

Good,Excellent (700 - 749)

Editor's Take

If we look only at the mileage earning rates, this card doesn’t stand out compared to its peers. However, for Delta frequent fliers, the abundant perks are compelling. Math-wise, the companion ticket for eligible flights (when you pay taxes and fees) can more than justify the expense of the annual fee, plus there’s a sweet welcome bonus.

Pros & Cons

• Annual companion certificate for an eligible domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flight
• Priority boarding and free checked bag when flying with Delta
• Various statement credits for rideshares, Resy and Delta Stays

• Companion certificate is subject to taxes and fees
• Does not include Delta Sky Club access
• Statement credits may be difficult to maximize

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Both credit cards earn the same type of miles, Delta SkyMiles, which can be redeemed in many ways.

Delta Flights

Delta SkyMiles can be used to book award flights operated by Delta or Delta vacation packages, as well as for upgrades, check baggage and more. Keep in mind that the flights are priced dynamically, meaning the redemption rate can increase or decrease with demand. Popular travel dates or holidays may require more miles than flights that are less desirable.

Partner Flights

In addition to Delta expenses, you can redeem Delta SkyMiles for flights on Delta’s SkyTeam and non-alliance partners.

• Aerolíneas Argentinas
• Aeroméxico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Cape Air
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern
• Czech Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hawaiian Airlines
• KLM
• Korean Air
• LATAM
• Mandarin Airlines
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia Airlines
• Tarom Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• WestJet
• XiamenAir

Pay with Miles

Delta SkyMiles cardholders have the exclusive option to redeem their miles for any revenue flight that’s not available as an award flight. The minimum redemption is 5,000 miles, equal to $50, which yields a value of 1 cent per mile. You can reimburse the cost of a flight in increments of 5,000 miles for a value of $50, $100, $150, and so on.

Delta Sky Club Membership

Delta allows SkyMiles Medallion members to redeem their miles for annual Sky Club membership at a rate of 1 cent per mile. The membership tiers are as follows:

• Individual membership: $695 or 69,500 miles (for the member only)
• Executive membership: $1,495 or 149,500 miles (for the member plus up to two guests or immediate family members)

The Bar at Delta Sky Club

Once inside the lounge, you can redeem miles for menu items, including those at the bar. For example, a bottle of Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée champagne, which goes for $138, can be purchased with 9,200 SkyMiles, a value of 1.5 cents per mile.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual membership fee: $350
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Foreign transaction fee: None

When it comes to credit card rewards, in most cases, an airline-specific credit card isn’t optimal. Cards that earn flexible rewards typically offer more value to frequent travelers. With flexible rewards credit cards, you’re able to transfer your points to the loyalty programs of a broad range of airline and hotel partners. That gives you many options, so you’re not locked into one program. Note that Delta SkyMiles is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards®, so when you earn Membership Rewards, you are indirectly earning SkyMiles. Consider the following credit cards when mapping out your strategy.

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees) is a great earner for those looking to earn rewards faster—especially in certain categories. For an annual fee of $250, you’ll earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Not only do you earn high rewards in certain spending categories, such as restaurants and airfare with any airline, the points can be transferred to one of the many Amex travel partners, including Delta SkyMiles, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, all of which can be used to book Delta flights.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card should be a staple in any traveler’s wallet. The Chase Ultimate Rewards® points earned with this card can be redeemed for:

• Cash back at a rate of 1 cent per point
• For travel rewards through the Chase Travel℠ portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point
• For select spending categories via Pay Yourself Back at a rate of up to 1.25 cents per point

Ultimate Rewards can also be transferred at a ratio of 1:1 to Chase’s travel partners such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United Airlines and World of Hyatt. This is likely to be the most valuable redemption opportunity for your hard-earned points.

Although the spending category bonuses are mediocre, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an excellent option for a Delta flyer who checks bags. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card makes more sense for a frequent Delta passenger who will be able to use the companion certificate each year. Recent changes to both cards have made them even more valuable to Delta loyalists. To offset the increased annual fees on the cards, be sure to utilize the statement credits and other new perks.

Still, if you’re after more cards with greater potential value, consider applying for a card with flexible rewards instead.

To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.