Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Review: Earn 40,000 Miles
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Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Card review: Earn 40,000 miles and get money-saving perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding
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If you want to earn Delta SkyMiles and can use benefits like a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, you should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. With a moderate annual fee and a solid welcome bonus, it's worth it even if you only fly the airline occasionally.
- Earns bonus miles at restaurants and US supermarkets
- Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $99)
- You get a free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
- Doesn't go above and beyond in terms of benefits beyond Delta perks
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- 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.
- $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Review: Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card the best credit card for you?
If you travel on Delta, even occasionally, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is worth considering. Along with a welcome bonus offer of 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months, cardholders receive perks that can save them money and time when they fly Delta — including a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and a 20% discount on inflight purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $99, but it's worth it even if you only use the benefits a few times a year. The card also earns 2x miles at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and on Delta purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else — and Delta miles never expire.
The card also comes with shopping protections like extended warranty and purchase protection, and big spenders can more than make up for the annual fee with another perk — a $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year.
This isn't the only Delta credit card issued by Amex — there are seven in total, ranging from the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Cardto the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card which comes with Delta Sky Club lounge access and a $550 annual fee. But for the average Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers the best balance between travel benefits and a moderate annual fee.
If you want the ability to earn Delta miles but don't want to be locked into a single program, you should also consider cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express . Delta is an Amex transfer partner, along with over a dozen other airline and hotel programs — so you'll have the flexibility to use your points for lots of other redemptions.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn miles with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a straightforward earning structure. Cardholders earn:
- 2 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta (including airfare, upgrades, miles, seat selection, Delta Sky Club membership, and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights)
- 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (excluding superstores and warehouse clubs)
- 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide (excluding bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, and convenience stores)
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use Delta miles
Based on Insider's points and miles valuations, Delta SkyMiles are worth, on average, 1.1 cents each, so if you're getting that rate or better when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, you're getting a good deal.
Find out more about how Insider calculated the value of points, miles, and credit card rewards here»
You can redeem Delta miles for flights on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. Delta no longer publishes an award chart, so the number of points required for an award ticket varies depending on demand, paid ticket price, and season.
The airline sometimes runs flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way for domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. Delta SkyMiles deals usually pop up unannounced, so it's worth checking frequently to see if the route or destination you want is on sale.
One perk offered to all Amex Delta cardholders is the ability to use miles to offset the cost of a paid ticket. The Delta Pay With Miles program allows members to redeem at a rate of 1 cent per mile in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is handy if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash.
If you don't want to redeem SkyMiles for flights, there are other options, but you'll typically get a poor value in comparison:
- Seat selection and upgrades
- Delta Sky Club lounge memberships
- Certain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)
- Gift cards
- Magazines
- Tour vouchers
- Charity donations
- Delta Vacations packages
- Premium drinks in Delta Sky Club lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Experiences
Because Delta miles don't expire, there's no pressure to redeem them if you're not ready to travel yet.
Delta Gold card benefits and features
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers a wide variety of benefits when you fly Delta or use the card for travel and shopping.
Free first checked bag
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card members and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag. Because Delta normally charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, this perk can be worth much more than the annual fee even if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year.
Families, in particular, can get a huge value — four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally incur fees of $240 for their luggage.
Priority boarding
Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding on Delta flights — even when flying Basic Economy — which means you'll have more time to get settled into your seat and find room in the overhead bins for your carry-on bag.
The Main Cabin 1 group boards after passengers flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or those flying in basic economy.
$100 Delta flight credit
If you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you'll receive a $100 Delta flight credit. This credit is valid toward Delta flight purchases or the flight portion of a Delta Vacations package, but you can't use it for ancillary fees like checked bags or change fees.
20% back on inflight purchases
When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to pay for inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights, you'll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.
Car rental insurance
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can be covered for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less.
Baggage insurance
If you pay for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Global Assist Hotline
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comes with a little-known perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services. The service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. This can be a great way to save money on purchases you'd make anyway.
- Earns bonus miles at restaurants and US supermarkets
- Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $99)
- You get a free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
- Doesn't go above and beyond in terms of benefits beyond Delta perks
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- 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.
- $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Fees and costs
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $99, and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so it's a good card to use for international purchases.
As with most other cards, there are fees for late or returned payments and cash advances.
Comparison: Amex Delta Gold card vs other Delta credit cards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | |
Annual fee | $0 intro for the first year, then $99 | $550 | |
Rewards rate | 2x miles on eligible Delta purchases 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide 1 mile per eligible dollar on everything else | 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 3x miles on purchases made directly with hotels 2x miles at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide 1 mile per eligible dollar on everything else | 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 1 mile per eligible dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months | 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months | 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months |
Travel benefits | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Annual Delta companion certificate 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times* Discounted access to Sky Club lounges 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Annual Delta companion certificate 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times* Complimentary Delta Sky Club airport lounge access when you fly Delta Complimentary American Express Centurion Lounge access when you fly Delta and use the card to pay for your ticket Access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit |
Other card benefits | Car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Baggage insurance Global Assist Hotline Access to Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Baggage insurance Trip delay insurance Global Assist Hotline Access to Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Baggage insurance Trip delay insurance Return protection Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Cell phone protection Premium Global Assist Hotline Access to Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
Amex Delta Gold card vs other airline credit cards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | United℠ Explorer Card | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual fee | $0 intro for the first year, then $99 | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 | $99, waived for first 12 months |
Rewards rate | 2x miles on Delta purchases 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining/delivery service purchases, and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at gas stations and restaurants 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus offer | 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months | 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and an additional 10,000 miles after spending $6,000 in total on purchases in the first 6 months | 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening |
Travel benefits | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit | Free first checked bag on United flights Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on inflight purchases 2 one-time United Club passes per anniversary year | Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20,000 or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card |
Other card benefits | Car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Baggage insurance Global Assist Hotline Access to Amex Offers No foreign transaction fees | Primary car rental insurance Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Extended warranty Visa Signature Concierge Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort collection No foreign transaction fees | World Elite Mastercard benefits No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
Delta SkyMiles Gold card frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who is eligible for the Delta SkyMiles Gold card?
Amex has a one bonus, per card, per lifetime rule across all of its products, including the Delta SkyMiles credit cards. That means if you've already earned the bonus on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you won't be eligible to earn it again.
However, each Delta card is considered a different product, so if you've had other Delta cards, like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you could still qualify for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
What credit score do you need for the Amex Delta Gold card?
To qualify for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you'll typically need a credit score in the good to excellent range. This means a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700.
If your score isn't quite there yet, read our guides to improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.
If I cancel my Delta Gold credit card, will I lose my miles?
If you've had your card open for at least a year and decide the benefits aren't worth it for you, you won't lose your miles if you decide to cancel. Your miles are kept in your Delta frequent flyer account, not your Amex account.
That said, canceling a card before you've had it for a year may result in having your welcome bonus offer clawed back, so it's not a good idea to close a card until your first 12 months is up.
Do I need to pay for my ticket with the Delta Gold card to get a free checked bag?
You don't need to use your Delta credit card to pay for your flight in order to get perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding. As long as the primary cardholder's Delta SkyMiles number is included on the reservation, you'll receive these benefits.
Keep in mind only the primary cardholder (not authorized users) qualifies to get a free checked bag and priority boarding. That said, if authorized users are traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardholder, they'll receive these benefits — they extend to up to eight companions on the same reservation.
Is the Gold or Platinum Delta SkyMiles card better?
The best Delta card for you depends on how often you fly Delta and if you can use all the perks that come with each card. For occasional Delta flyers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is usually the best choice.
However, if you fly Delta more often and can use benefits like an annual Delta companion certificate and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, it could be worth paying the higher annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Here's our comparison of the Delta Gold and Platinum to help you decide.
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