Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review

Why you might want the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

For frequent Delta flyers eager to earn a few extra SkyMiles to use toward their next flight, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers the ability to rack up more rewards. Plus, you’ll enjoy luxury perks that can take some of the stress out of your vacation − like a free checked bag on Delta flights and priority boarding.

On the downside, the card does charge an annual fee of $150 ($0 intro annual fee in the first year). If you don’t fly very often, you might have difficulty earning enough rewards to offset this cost.

Solid introductory bonus

New cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on the new card in the first six months of card membership. This is less than the card’s previous intro bonus, but it can still be a worthwhile offer.

Based on Bankrate’s latest airline mile valuations, we estimate Delta SkyMiles are worth around 1.2 cents each, giving the current bonus a potential value of approximately $600 — potentially enough to offset a few years’ worth of annual fees.

Earning miles

Unlike many airline co-branded cards, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a solid rewards-earning scheme outside airline purchases. Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. This should make it a little easier for users who don’t fly frequently to stockpile miles.

What are Delta SkyMiles worth?

On the plus side, the rewards you earn with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offer decent value. Bankrate estimates Delta SkyMiles are worth an average of 1.2 cents per mile — better than the base value you’ll get with many credit card rewards programs. That said, the card still ranks relatively low among airline credit cards in terms of potential rewards value per dollar spent (factoring in earning rate and average point value).

That said, SkyMiles Gold cardholders also get 15% off when using miles to book award travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app (not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees). That could bump up your rewards value further.

Flight network

Delta has a huge flight network, with more than 10,500 daily flights in over 184 countries. This makes Delta a great airline choice for any frequent traveler. Plus, the airline is part of the far-reaching SkyTeam alliance and has more than 20 additional airline partners.

Redeeming miles

Once you’ve earned miles with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, you have various redemption options. However, you might not get the same value from your miles for each redemption. Additionally – like with many airline credit cards – there is no good cash redemption option.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card redemption options

Delta SkyMiles can be very valuable, but you can stretch your miles farther by redeeming them for reward flights or flight upgrades.

See Related: Best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles

Free checked bags

Cardholders enjoy a free checked bag on Delta flights for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation. Since a checked bag typically costs $35 each way ($70 total if you fly round-trip), you only need to travel round-trip twice per year with a checked bag to make up for the Gold SkyMiles card’s $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year). The perk is incredibly valuable if you frequently travel with a large group.

Other benefits

The free checked bag perk only scratches the surface of the benefits included with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. The card comes with plenty of additional perks that can improve your travel and shopping experience.

• Zone 5 Priority boarding – On your Delta flights, you can enjoy early boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees – The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card won’t charge you a fee on foreign transactions.
• Car rental insurance – For rental cars booked and paid with your SkyMiles card, you’ll receive secondary insurance coverage in case of damage or theft.
• Extended warranty – Add one year to qualifying manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
• Purchase protection – If you purchase an item with your card that is lost or damaged in the first 90 days, you can be reimbursed up to $1,000 per claim ($50,000 max per year).
• 20% back on in-flight purchases – You’ll get 20% back in the form of a statement credit on all eligible in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets
• Free ShopRunner membership – You can enroll in a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which offers free, two-day shipping from dozens of online merchants.
• Delta Flight Credit – Receive a $200 flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in one calendar year for use toward future travel.
• Delta Stays Credit– Get up to $100 back annually as statement credit on prepaid hotels or vacation rentals you booked through Delta Stays using your card.

Remember that while the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card does not charge a foreign transaction fee, American Express cards are not accepted as widely abroad as they are in the U.S.

Customer experience

American Express, which has a top-notch customer service reputation, issues the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. In J.D. Power’s 2022 customer satisfaction survey, Amex ranked No. 1 out of 11 major card issuers. The issuer also offers a highly-rated mobile app – rating 4.1 out of 5 in the Google Play Store and 4.9 out of 5 in the Apple App Store.

Approval odds

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is designed for users with good to excellent credit (above 670), so you’ll want to ensure you meet those qualifications before you apply. Additionally, you won’t qualify for the introductory bonus on this card if you have opened any Delta SkyMiles cards in the past 90 days.

Why you might want a different card

While the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers a nice blend of value and travel benefits for the cost, there may be a better fit for you. Here are a few reasons why you may consider a different card.

Lackluster redemption options

Individuals who fly strictly with Delta won’t find this as much of a hassle, but people who aren’t loyal to a specific airline will discover that the redemption options are quite limited compared to non-branded travel cards. When paying with miles or a combination of miles and cash, you’ll only be able to book travel or upgrade seats through Delta or its SkyTeam partners. As a result, you will not be able to transfer miles to another loyalty program for more value.

Fewer luxurious perks

The Delta SkyMiles Gold does a great job of packaging everyday value for casual flyers for the $150 ongoing annual fee. However, frequent travelers may find that the card’s list of benefits falls short in some areas. For example, the card does not offer a credit for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck or a fast-track to elite Medallion status. On top of that, travelers who want lounge access and other premium perks will need to look elsewhere, like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, albeit for a much higher annual fee.

How does the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card SkyMiles card compare to other cards?

While the card offers some valuable perks for frequent travelers, its earning rate is limited, especially considering the annual fee. For cardholders maximizing everyday earnings, you might be better off opting for one of these popular alternatives:

American Express® Gold Card	Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card	Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®*
Rewards rate Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply	Rewards rate 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. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Terms apply	Rewards rate 2 miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases 2 miles per dollar on gas station and restaurant purchases 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.	Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.	Welcome bonus Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Annual fee $325	Annual fee $350	Annual fee $99 (waived first 12 months)
Other things to know Up to $120 in dining credits per year at participating restaurants $120 in Uber Cash per year ($10 per month, add your Amex Gold to your Uber account and redeem with any Amex card.) No foreign transaction fee Terms apply	Other things to know Annual companion certificate Priority boarding Free checked bag on Delta flights for you and up to 8 companions Preferred seating Terms apply	Other things to know Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount each year you spend $20,000 and renew your card membership Free checked bag Preferred boarding

American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is a top choice among foodies – thanks to a generous rewards rate on both worldwide restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. This makes it easy to rack up significant rewards on the purchases you make every day, rather than just when you travel. Plus, Membership Rewards can be easily redeemed for airfare on AmexTravel.com.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card

If you are a Delta loyalist but prefer a few more perks with your credit card, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is a more premium option. Compared to the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, the Platinum charges a higher annual fee – but it comes with a couple of valuable extras. Most notably, cardholders receive a companion pass each year on their account anniversary, which allows them to bring a companion for just the cost of taxes and fees. Using this perk strategically can more than offset the card’s $350 annual fee.

See Related: Which Delta SkyMiles card is best for you?

Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

For cardholders who enjoy flying with American Airlines, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard offers a good rewards rate for an airline card. Rather than just earning bonus points on eligible American Airlines purchases, users can also rack up great rewards by dining out and filling up their tanks. AAdvantage Platinum Select cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on restaurant and gas station purchases. As far as other card perks, the AAdvantage Platinum Select card offers similar perks to the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card – such as a free checked bag and preferred boarding.

Who should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?

• Frequent flyers who prefer traveling with Delta Air Lines.
• Travelers who want to earn SkyMiles more quickly.
• Frequent travelers who will take advantage of savings on checked bags on Delta flights and lounge access.

How to use the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card:

• Use the card for all Delta, hotel, restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases to earn bonus miles.
• Put all major travel and shopping purchases on the card to maximize its benefits and protections.
• Take advantage of Amex Offers, the Delta SkyMiles shopping portal and the SkyMiles Dining program to earn a few extra rewards (eligibility for these offers are limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming).
• Check the SkyMiles deals page for discounted award tickets.
• Earn the welcome offer within the specified timeframe.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card worth it?

Suppose you fly frequently and want to earn SkyMiles a bit faster. In that case, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is a great tool to help you do just that, especially since the card earns bonus miles in a number of everyday categories, not just on Delta purchases. However, if you want more flexibility with how you redeem your rewards, you may be better off with a general rewards card like the American Express Gold Card.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, please click here.

*All information about the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.

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