Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card Review [2024]: A Must-Have for Any Delta Flyer, Including Myself

Card basics

Who should get the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card?

As its name suggests, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card is one of the best airline credit cards for those who prefer to fly with Delta Air Lines somewhat regularly. If you are a hardcore Delta loyalist, you might find greater value from the SkyMiles Platinum or SkyMiles Reserve. Although they both charge higher annual fees, they provide comprehensive benefits tailored to Delta’s most loyal flyers. The SkyMiles Gold is ideal for the infrequent Delta traveler who isn’t willing to shell out hundreds each year to carry the card but still wants baseline perks when they fly.

However, if you don’t fly Delta very often, you might be better off with a credit card that offers a transferable point currency. For example, the American Express^® Green Card charges the same annual fee, earns higher rates on travel, transit, and dining purchases, and allows you to transfer your points to Delta and several other hotel and airline partners at a 1:1 ratio. However, you won’t enjoy any Delta-specific benefits like priority boarding or a free checked bag.

Strong Delta benefits

Where the SkyMiles Gold Card shines is in its Delta-specific benefits. I love getting a free checked bag on my flights, regardless of which fare class I purchase. My favorite perk is the TakeOff 15 feature, which gives you a 15% discount on award redemptions (only Delta-operated flights). I have used this perk more times than I can count, as it allows me to get outsized value from my hard-earned miles.

If you anticipate spending around $850 on your card each month, totaling $10,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn a $200 Delta flight credit, which is already more than enough to offset the reasonable $150 annual fee. Plus, you can book a hotel or vacation rental through Delta Stays to get another $100 statement credit. All in all, the SkyMiles Gold is an attractive option for an infrequent Delta flyer, and a card that I’ll never get rid of.

Less-than-stellar rewards rates

The rewards rates aren’t spectacular. You’ll earn a meager 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. You earn just 1X for all other eligible purchases. This isn’t a card you’ll want to use outside of its bonus categories. For that, a flat rate general travel rewards card will do the trick — my favorite is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

No path to Delta elite status

In 2023, Delta announced major changes to how frequent flyers earn status in its Medallion program. Now, you only need Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) to qualify for status:

• $5,000 MQDs: Silver
• $10,000 MQDs: Gold
• $15,000 MQDs: Platinum
• $28,000 MQDs: Diamond

The benefits increase with each tier. I’m currently Silver Medallion and held Gold Medallion status prior to these changes. You can earn $1 MQD per dollar spent on Delta flights or use a co-branded credit card to reach status faster. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve offer an MQD Boost and MQD Headstart, which basically give you a chunk of MQDs at the start of each calendar year and allow you to earn MQDs on the purchases you make on your card, regardless of whether they’re on Delta.

Unfortunately, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card doesn’t offer any of these perks, so you’ll have to earn status the old-fashioned way: purchasing Delta flights. If a path to status is important, you might be better off going for the SkyMiles Platinum or SkyMiles Reserve.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Card rewards

Earning Delta miles is simple with the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card. On purchases made directly with Delta, restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets, you’ll earn 2X miles for every dollar you spend. On all other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 1X mile per dollar spent. Right now, new cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Although this isn’t the highest welcome offer the card has ever seen, it does have a very accessible spending requirement.

Miles can be redeemed to purchase flights with Delta and other airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, upgrades, preferred seating, Delta gift cards, and other items through the SkyMiles Marketplace. Note that the value of a mile will change based on your redemption method.

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your miles can add up with the Delta Skymiles Gold. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1.18 cents per mile.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $1,451

Year two earnings: $711

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card benefits

• Flight credit: Once you have put $10,000 of purchases on your card within one calendar year, you earn a $200 Delta Flight Credit. Use this credit to offset the cost of airfare on your next Delta trip.
• TakeOff 15: New and existing cardmembers can get a 15% discount when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights. Keep in mind that this discount does not apply to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Free checked bags: Cardmembers receive a free checked bag for themselves and companions booked on the same reservation — note that reservations must include your SkyMiles number. This can equate to $70 in savings on a round-trip flight for you and a travel companion.
• Priority boarding: Cardholders can board in Zone 5, making it easier to stow your carry-on and settle onto the plane sooner.
• Annual Delta Stays credit: Enjoy up to $100 as a statement credit when you book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
• 20% back on in-flight purchases: You'll also get 20% back on in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit with this card. Qualifying in-flight purchases include food, beverages, and audio headsets.
• Travel protections: Cardholders can enjoy secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, a global assistance hotline, and a baggage insurance plan.¹²³
• Purchase protection: American Express offers protection for purchases made with its cards. This includes purchase protection and extended warranty.⁴

Other cards to consider

While the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card is one of the best credit cards for Delta frequent flyers, it’s always a good idea to consider other options before applying for a new card to decide which is the best choice for you.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

If you're looking for a more flexible option, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card could be a good option. It has a $95 annual fee, but it offers flexible rewards and the ability to earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening (that's worth $750 when redeemed through chase travel). plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on chase travel purchases within your first year. Those points are worth up to $1,050 in travel booked through Chase Travel℠. The bonus points you earn with your Sapphire Preferred card can also be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel partners.

The Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular credit cards on the market for a reason — it’s versatile and easy to justify the annual fee. There’s no reason you should get one over the other. I’m a cardholder of both the Sapphire Preferred and the SkyMiles Gold Card, and I find that they work very well together.

American Express^® Gold Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is another option worth considering. It has a $325 annual fee, but this is easily offset if you utilize each of the statement credits it offers. Cardmembers also earn Amex Membership Rewards points, which are among the most flexible and valuable reward currencies. Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Amex Gold could be a great option for your next travel card if you aren't loyal to one particular airline and want an option to transfer your points to various hotel and airline partners.

The type of traveler that would get the Amex Gold and the SkyMiles Gold card are different. Someone who holds the Amex Gold card spends heavily on dining and grocery purchases and can actually take advantage of all of the dining statement credits. The traveler who leans toward SkyMiles Gold Card wants Delta-specific perks. Just like the Sapphire Preferred, you can justify both cards in your wallet, but you’ll be using them in completely different ways.

FAQs

Bottom line

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is a solid choice for any Delta frequent flyer. I’ve been a cardholder of a co-branded Delta card for more than six years. There were a couple of years in the middle where I had upgraded to the SkyMiles Platinum Card, but I eventually came back to the Gold. Simply put, the value proposition is just too good.

Great Welcome Offer and Continuing Rewards

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Learn How to Apply

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter

Rewards Rate

2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Up to $300 in potential annual statement credits
• Eligible for 15% off reward redemptions
• First checked bag free and priority boarding

Drawbacks

• Has an annual fee after the first year
• Lack of flexibility with rewards
• No path to elite status

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months
• 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Terms apply