The charges a higher annual fee than other mid-tier airline cards, but the perks alone can make it worth your while. If you fly with Delta at least once or twice a year, this card should be on your radar.
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Annual fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
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Welcome offer
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
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Ongoing Purchases APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
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Rewards rate
- Earn 2x mile on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
- Earn 1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
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Benefits
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights
Here are some of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card’s more notable features:
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Annual Delta flight credit: For each calendar year in which you spend $10,000, you’ll receive a $200 Delta flight credit good for future travel. The credit is good for one year from the date you receive it.
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Delta Stays credit: Each year, you’ll get up to $100 in statement credits when you use your card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
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First checked bag free: You and up to eight others on your reservation can get your first checked bag free on flights operated by Delta.
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Flight perks: When you fly with Delta, you’ll enjoy priority boarding and 20% back as a statement credit on in-flight food and beverage purchases when you use your card.
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Baggage insurance: If your luggage is stolen, damaged or lost while traveling on a common carrier, you and others on your itinerary may be eligible for up to $1,250 in coverage for your belongings, up to $10,000 per trip. You’ll need to use your card to pay for the entire fare to qualify.
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.
As a new cardholder, you’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 in the first six months. That’s an easy spending threshold to achieve compared to other travel credit cards, especially because American Express gives you six months instead of the standard three months.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold card’s welcome bonus is also in line with many other mid-tier airline credit cards.
Earning miles with the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is pretty straightforward. The card offers double miles on a few spending categories, including eligible dining and grocery purchases.
However, its base rewards rate is just 1 mile per dollar. While that’s standard for airline credit cards, you can earn a higher rate with some general travel credit cards.
The best way to redeem Delta SkyMiles is for award flights. Through Delta and its partners, you can travel to more than 1,000 destinations around the world.
In fact, you’ll get 15% off each time you use your miles to book a Delta flight, and those savings can add up over time. Just keep in mind, the 15% savings only apply to flights booked with miles via Delta.com or the Delta app — and it does not apply to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
You can also use your miles to get a seat upgrade, buy premium drinks at the Delta Sky Club, or cover certain fees.
Non-flight SkyMiles redemption options include:
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Book a hotel or vacation rental through Delta Stays
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Book a vacation package through Delta Vacations
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Bid on exclusive events through SkyMiles Experiences
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Donate your miles to a charitable cause
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Sign up for a magazine subscription
Keep in mind that these options may not offer as much value as using your miles for award flights.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a higher annual fee than some other, similar airline credit cards. However, if you spend at least $10,000 per year on your card and fly with Delta once or twice a year, the card can be well worth your while.
That said, it might not be the right fit if you don’t generally fly with Delta or you prefer a general travel card with higher rewards rates and more redemption flexibility.
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Valuable perks: The card offers perks with value that exceeds the annual fee. Even if you only fly Delta once or twice, the card can essentially pay for itself.
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Annual fee waived the first year: While the card’s annual fee is a bit steeper compared to other airline cards, you’ll get a full year of value before you have to start paying it.
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Global reach: Delta partners with several airlines to provide flights to more than 1,000 destinations around the world. Whether you usually travel within the U.S. or want to spend time overseas, Delta is a great airline for both.
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Low welcome offer: The card’s standard welcome offer is low compared to similar airline cards, so your best bet is to wait until American Express offers a higher bonus with a limited-time offer.
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Charges an annual fee: The card’s annual fee after the first year requires you to put in a little extra work to offset it compared to credit cards with lower fees or no annual fee.
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Limited redemption flexibility: While you can redeem your SkyMiles for more than just flights, you likely won’t get as much value on hotels and vacation packages. If you’re looking for more flexibility, a general travel rewards program may be a better option.
American Express is widely accepted within the U.S., though it’s not entirely on par with Visa and Mastercard. In particular, some small businesses may not accept it.
While the card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee, American Express can have spotty acceptance abroad, so you may want to bring a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup for international spending.
American Express offers a few different options for paying your credit card bill:
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Online: Log in to your online account or the American Express mobile app.
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Phone: Call 800-472-9297 to pay over the phone.
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Mail: Send your payment to American Express, P.O. Box 96001, Los Angeles, CA 90096-8000.
If you’re not certain if the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is right for you, or if you simply want to consider other options before applying, here are our top choices.
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Annual fee
$350
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Welcome offer
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
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Ongoing Purchases APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
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Rewards rate
- 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels
- 2x miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets
- 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
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Benefits
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. Terms apply.
- Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required
- Check your first bag free on Delta flights
Why we like it: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be worth considering if you travel frequently and prefer Delta to other airlines. The card offers a higher welcome bonus, as well as higher rewards rates on Delta and hotel purchases.
In addition to a 15% discount on award flights, the card also offers an annual companion certificate each year after renewal, up to $120 in annual credits for Resy restaurants and up to $120 in annual credits for purchases with select U.S. rideshare providers (both up to $10 per month; with enrollment), an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and many other perks.
That said, the annual fee is a steep $350 (), so it only makes sense if you fly often enough to get that value back from the card’s perks.
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Rewards rate
- 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
- 1x points on all other purchases
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Benefits
- Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay)
- Get up to $199 back per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your card (CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues)
- Enjoy up to $200 in Uber savings annually on rides in the U.S. — that’s $15 in Uber Cash for rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)
Why we like it: Another solid option for frequent Delta flyers is The Platinum Card® from American Express. This premium travel card charges an eye-watering $695 annual fee (), but it offers more than $1,500 in potential annual value.
One of the most notable features is its airport lounge access, which includes several lounge networks — you’ll even get access to the Delta Sky Club every time you fly with Delta (up to 10 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025). You’ll also get a long list of perks, including up to $200 in annual statement credits for airline fees with your chosen airline, up to $200 in annual statement credits toward eligible prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, and many more.
While the card’s rewards program isn’t the strongest, American Express allows you to transfer your points to the Delta SkyMiles program, giving you flexibility with your redemptions.
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Rewards rate
- 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
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Benefits
- Receive up to a $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees
- Receive a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and early check-in at eligible hotels
- Access Hertz’s Five Star membership tier, offering free upgrades, a wider selection of vehicles, and more
Why we like it: The could be worth considering if you want ultimate flexibility with your travel rewards. The card offers a minimum of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, so you can rest assured that you’re getting great value on all of your spending.
When you’re ready to redeem, you can use your miles to book travel through the Capital One Travel portal, or you can book travel on your own with any travel merchant and request a statement credit for the purchase up to 90 days later. You can also transfer your miles to Capital One’s 15+ travel transfer partners.
The card also offers a few perks, including an application fee credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Hertz Five Star status, and no foreign transaction fees. The card’s annual fee is just $95.
This article was edited by Kendall Little
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