Key findings
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The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a mid-range airline credit card offered by Amex and Delta.
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While this card does not offer premium benefits such as airport lounge access, it does offer some perks for frequent flyers.
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This card is worthwhile for Delta frequent flyers who want to take advantage of money-saving benefits and earn miles for every dollar spent.
Before choosing an airline credit card, you need to figure out which airline you fly with most often and what benefits you want. You also need to decide how much annual fee you are willing to pay, which can range from $0 to $650 for popular airline credit cards from major airlines.
If you primarily fly Delta Air Lines, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is probably on your list of cards to look at. The card has an annual fee of $150, which is waived for the first year. Plus, cardholders can qualify for a 40,000 mile bonus when they spend just $2,000 on purchases within six months of account opening. Members also receive:
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2X miles at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the US)
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2X miles for grocery purchases in US supermarkets
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2X miles for Delta purchases
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1X miles for other eligible purchases
If you’re not sure if this card is right for you, read on to learn when it’s worth getting Delta SkyMiles Gold and when it’s not:
When is Delta SkyMiles Gold worth it?
It really depends on what benefits you want and how much you’re willing to pay for them each year. Before you sign up for the Delta SkyMiles Gold or look at other Delta credit cards, like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Aside from that research, here are some reasons why this card can be a good deal for frequent flyers:
If you are a loyal Delta customer and want to earn and redeem Delta SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles program lets you redeem your miles for flights with Delta or its partner airlines to over 1,000 destinations worldwide. While the frequent flyer program doesn’t have an award chart, you can easily compare flights on Delta.com so you can see how many miles you need for the award you want.
While award costs vary by date and destination, you can often find domestic and round-trip flights for under 20,000 miles, and some international and round-trip flights to destinations in Europe and Asia start at around 60,000 miles in economy class.
This card also entitles you to Delta’s Pay with Miles feature, which lets you use miles on any flight you want at a rate of one cent per mile. Even better, you get access to Delta’s TakeOff 15 program, which gives eligible Delta credit cardholders 15 percent off award bookings compared to regular loyalty program members.
If you want a card with many frequent flyer benefits
People who sign up for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card can access benefits that make travel more affordable and convenient. First off, cardholders receive priority boarding in Zone 5 on Delta flights—a benefit that allows you to settle into your seat early while securing a coveted spot in the overhead bin. Cardholders also receive 20 percent back when they use their card for Delta in-flight purchases, including food, drinks and headphones.
The most important benefit for cardholders is probably the free bag on Delta flights, especially since this benefit applies to up to eight guests traveling on the cardholder’s itinerary. Since checked bags on Delta flights typically cost $35, this benefit can help the average family of four save $280 on each round-trip flight.
Other benefits and travel protection services include:
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Access to a Global Assist hotline
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Loss and damage insurance for rental cars
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A $100 credit for eligible Delta Stays bookings
Cardholders can also qualify for a $200 Delta flight credit when they make at least $10,000 in purchases with their card in a calendar year.
If you want a Delta credit card with a lower annual fee
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card waives the $150 annual fee for the first year, making it $0. This gives you a full 12 months to take advantage of the welcome offer and try out the card’s benefits before committing. If you decide not to renew the card after the first year, you can look for other credit cards with travel rewards.
When is Delta SkyMiles Gold not worth it?
While the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card can be worthwhile in a variety of scenarios, there may be situations where you’re better off with a different credit card. An alternative card may make more sense in the following situations:
If you want more Delta benefits
Other Delta cards offer more perks, but again, annual fees are higher. For example, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a $650 annual fee, but includes access to Delta Sky Club and helps meet Delta’s elite status requirements with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost features. You can also earn credits that include:
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Up to $120 in rideshare credits per year (up to $10 in account credits each month for rideshare purchases in the U.S. with select providers)
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Up to $200 credit per year for Delta Stays bookings through Delta.com
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Up to $240 per year for Resy purchases (up to $20 in account credits each month)
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, on the other hand, charges a $350 annual fee. While it doesn’t offer the same perks as the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, it does offer more than the SkyMiles Gold. Like the Reserve, this card offers additional Delta status support through an MQD Headstart and MQD Boost bonus. You can also earn annual credits like a $150 Delta Stays credit, up to $120 in rideshare credits (up to $10 in statement credits each month for rideshare purchases in the U.S. at select providers) per year, and more.
If you don’t want a card tied to an airline
A major downside to Delta credit cards is the fact that the miles you earn are tied to Delta and its partners. If you want to use your rewards to fly on any airline, you may want to consider getting a flexible travel rewards credit card instead of an airline credit card.
If you want to fly Delta but don’t want to commit, you can always consider cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points, as they transfer directly to Delta and other airlines. You can also use Amex points to book flights through AmexTravel.com, making them even more versatile and valuable.
Another flexible program is Chase Ultimate Rewards, although this program doesn’t work with Delta. However, you can transfer Chase points to 14 airline and hotel partners or use them to book flights and other travel through the Chase portal.
If you can’t justify the annual fee
A credit card’s annual fee is only worth it if the value you get from the card outweighs the cost of the fee. If you don’t think you’ll travel often enough to take advantage of the card’s benefits and credits, this may not be the right card for you.
If you don’t want to pay an annual fee but still want a Delta credit card, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card with a $0 annual fee.
However, keep in mind that the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card doesn’t have some of the co-branded card benefits like free checked bags. It also offers a lower earning rate on purchases and doesn’t give you the TakeOff 15 award booking discount you get with other Delta credit cards.
The conclusion
So is the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card worth it? Before you choose one or the other, you need to figure out what perks you really want. If you don’t care about airport lounges but want priority boarding and free checked bags, this card could be for you.
But don’t take our word for it. Take some time to compare co-branded airline credit cards and other travel credit cards, including their fees, rewards rates, benefits and travel protections, and you’ll quickly find the right card for your needs.
