Gold Delta American Express Card Review: Solid Perks & 70K Miles

Link: Apply now for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

American Express and Delta have had a close relationship for many years, and as part of that, they issue seven co-branded Delta Amex cards, including the Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards (with the exception of the Blue product, all the others have both a personal and business version).

Gold Delta Amex Card Basics For March 2024

In this post, I wanted to look at the popular Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. This card has a reasonable annual fee and is ideal for someone looking for basic benefits that come in handy when flying Delta. If you’re a Medallion elite flyer on Delta, another card might be a better option (more on that below).

Delta Gold Amex Welcome Bonus: 70,000 SkyMiles

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex has a welcome offer of 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months. I value SkyMiles at 1.1 cents each, so that bonus is worth ~$770. That’s a fantastic bonus, with a reasonable spending requirement.

Card Eligibility

The welcome offer on the card is “once in a lifetime,” so it’s not available to you if you currently have the card, or if you’ve had the card in the past. However, note that you can get each “flavor” of the Delta Amex card, so you are eligible for this card if you’ve had the Platinum or Reserve, or if you’ve had any of the business versions. You can read more about Amex’s general application restrictions here.

Annual Fee

The Gold Delta SkyMiles American Express Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (Rates & Fees). This is a great opportunity to try the card before you have to “buy” it. You can add additional users to the card at no extra cost.

Earning Miles With Gold Delta Amex Card

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card offers:

• 2x SkyMiles for purchases directly with Delta, including flights, Delta Sky Club memberships, seat upgrades, and more
• 2x SkyMiles at restaurants globally
• 2x SkyMiles at U.S. supermarkets
• 1x SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases

While it’s nice that the card has some bonus categories, I don’t find the bonuses to be particularly compelling. There are still better cards out there for airfare purchases, restaurant purchases, and grocery store purchases.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

If you are going to put spending on the card, the good news is that there are no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees) with the Gold Delta Amex, so you can use the card abroad without paying those high fees.

Gold Delta Amex Card Benefits & Perks

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card has an excellent welcome bonus, though this isn’t a card I would use for everyday spending, as there are much better cards out there. The real reason you’ll want to keep this card long-term is because of the perks and benefits that it offers, which are great for the casual Delta flyer. Let’s take a closer look at those.

First Checked Bag Free

Just for having the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card, you get a first checked bag free, which would otherwise cost $30 one-way per person:

• This benefit is limited to the primary cardmember and anyone traveling on the same reservation with them (up to nine people)
• You don’t have to pay for your flight with your Delta Amex, though you do need to have your SkyMiles number in the reservation
• This is only valid for travel on Delta and Delta Connection

This is a great value, given that you’ll usually pay $60 per person roundtrip for a checked bag. If you’re traveling with someone, then you’re looking at $120 roundtrip in savings, which more than covers the annual fee on the card.

Delta Priority Boarding

For having the Delta Gold Amex you receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, which helps you to board early and make sure you can find space for your carry-ons.

This is also valid for a total of up to nine people traveling on the same reservation with the primary cardmember.

20% Delta Inflight Savings

If you have the Gold Delta Amex then you can save 20% in the form of a statement credit for eligible pre-purchased meals, and in-flight purchases of food / alcoholic beverages, on Delta flights. Allow 8-12 weeks for the statement credit to post.

Pay With Miles

Delta has a Pay With Miles feature, where if you have a Delta co-branded credit card you can redeem miles for one cent each toward a Delta flight purchase (in increments of 5,000 miles per $50). That’s not the best deal in the world, though this is a feature that’s exclusively available to those with an eligible card.

Some people find this to be useful since they can redeem their miles toward flights, and then they still earn elite miles for taking those flights.

15% Savings On SkyMiles Award Flights

With the TakeOff 15 perk (exclusively for those with select Delta Amex cards), you can save 15% on the cost of a SkyMiles award ticket when traveling exclusively on Delta. Delta SkyMiles award pricing is dynamic, and generally you’ll find that each mile gets you a bit over a cent toward the cost of a ticket.

Saving 15% on these awards is valuable, and means that you’ll generally get somewhere around 1.2-1.3 cents of value per mile (or sometimes even more). In many cases this will end up being a better value than using the Pay With Miles option, so it’s a real perk of the card.

Amex Offers

One of the great features of Amex cards is access to Amex Offers, which offers savings or bonus points on purchases with all kinds of retailers. There’s huge value to be had in getting as many Amex cards as possible, so that you can get these offers on multiple cards.

Amex Offers could save you hundreds of dollars per year. You can access these offers by logging into your account and scrolling down to the bottom of your account summary page.

ShopRunner Membership

For having the Delta Gold Amex you get a ShopRunner membership, which gets you free two-day shipping on eligible items at a network of 100+ online stores. You just have to enroll in your complimentary membership and can then start taking advantage of it.

Is The Gold Delta SkyMiles American Express Worth It?

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card isn’t a card I’d be using for my everyday spending, since there are many more rewarding cards for that. However:

• This card has a nice welcome bonus
• This card can be worth holding onto for the first checked bag free, priority boarding, inflight savings, access to Pay With Miles, access to 15% savings on award flights, Amex Offers, and more

In other words, for someone who flies Delta occasionally, I think this is the best card to get, and the benefits can more than offset the annual fee.

Looking For A Business Credit Card?

If this card sounds interesting to you but you want a business card instead, consider the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card. The only significant difference is that the business card earns 2x SkyMiles on U.S. shipping and on U.S. advertising, rather than 2x SkyMiles at U.S. supermarkets. Learn more about applying for Amex business cards.

What About Delta’s No Annual Fee Card?

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (review) has no annual fee (Rates & Fees), and offers the following benefits:

• The card earns 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide
• The card offers 20% back on inflight purchases
• The card has no foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees)
• The card gives you access to Delta’s Pay With Miles feature, but doesn’t give you access to the 15% award discount

Beyond that, though, there are limited perks. If you’d get value out of a first checked bag free or priority boarding, then you’re much better off getting one of Delta’s cards with an annual fee.

Quick Showdown: Delta Gold Amex Vs. Delta Platinum Amex

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles

Apply Now Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• • Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
  • 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.
  • ENHANCED! $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 Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • 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.
  • NEW! $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.
  • Want even more flexibility? 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.

The Gold Delta Amex is a good option for the occasional Delta flyer looking for basic perks.

Learn More about the Delta Gold Amex

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles

Apply Now Terms Apply. | See Rates & Fees

• • Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • ENHANCED! Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the 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.
  • NEW! Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • 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.
  • NEW! 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 elevated 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.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • NEW! $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.
  • NEW! $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. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or $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.
  • NEW! Not a Medallion Member? 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. Ticket must be purchased on or after February 1, 2024 to be eligible to receive a complimentary upgrade.
  • NEW! $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
  • NEW! Transform your car rental experience with Hertz Five Star® Status, compliments of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program is required. To receive the benefit, you must add your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Account number to your SkyMiles Account associated with your Eligible Card, register at delta.com/mypromos/eligible, and “Enroll in Promotion” at delta.com/hertz.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Want even more flexibility? 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.
  • $350 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

The Delta Platinum Amex is a great option for the more frequent Delta flyer.

Learn More about the Delta Platinum Amex

Consider Earning Amex Membership Rewards Points

If you are looking to earn Delta SkyMiles through credit card spending then consider using a card earning Amex Membership Rewards points. That’s because these points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, and you can in many cases earn points at a much faster rate.

For example, the American Express® Gold Card (review) offers 4x points at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year), and 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or at amextravel.com. Furthermore, earning Amex points gives you more flexibility to redeem in other ways, given all the great uses of Membership Rewards points.

Bottom Line

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is a card that can be worth holding onto for the benefits that it offers, like a free checked bag, priority boarding, inflight savings, and more.

For the more frequent Delta flyer, consider the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, which has a bigger bonus and more perks, but also has a higher annual fee.

If you want to learn more about the Gold Delta Amex Card or want to apply, follow this link.

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees).