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Amex Delta Gold Vs Delta Platinum: Credit Card Comparison

 2 years ago
source link: https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/delta-gold-card-vs-delta-platinum-card-comparison
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Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold vs Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which offers the right benefits for you?

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2 hours ago
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Delta and American Express offer several co-branded credit cards, and the welcome bonus offers for these cards fluctuate throughout the year. 

If you're a Delta flyer but aren't sure which card is right for you, two Delta consumer cards make sense for the majority of travelers: the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

We'll compare these two options to help you decide if either is the right pick for you.

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.

Compare the Delta SkyMiles Gold and Platinum cards

4.35/5
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Editor's Rating
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $99
Regular APR
17.99%-26.99% Variable
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent
Pros & Cons Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • Doesn't go above and beyond in terms of benefits beyond Delta perks
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Details Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
More Information
  • 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
4.5/5
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Editor's Rating
Annual Fee
$250
Regular APR
17.99% - 26.99% Variable
Recommended Credit Score
Good to Excellent
Pros & Cons Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Pros
  • Earns bonus miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
  • Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee
  • You get a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
Cons
  • High annual fee
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More Information
  • Earn 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.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • 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 Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best for the occasional or casual Delta flyer. It comes with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $99, and 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.

If you spend at least $10,000 in purchases on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card in a calendar year, you'll get a $100 Delta flight credit, which can help offset the annual fee. The card earns 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, 2x miles on Delta purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. You can find out more in our Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card review.

While there are compelling reasons to get the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for its welcome bonus offer and ongoing benefits, keep in mind that several cards offer better bonuses on spending at restaurants and US supermarkets, and there are also plenty of cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — that offer bonus rewards on travel, including airfare.

Delta SkyMiles are worth, on average, 1.1 cents each based on Insider's points and miles valuations — but the exact value you'll receive depends on how and where you redeem your miles.

If you're a more frequent Delta flyer, you may want to take a look at the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which has a $250 annual fee and offers additional benefits.

Unlike the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can help you earn Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward Delta elite status through its Status Boost benefit.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card also offers up to a $100 credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider. You also get an annual Delta companion certificate each year upon account renewal that allows you to fly a companion with you on a domestic flight for only the taxes and fees.

Another benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the ability to access Delta Sky Clubs when you're flying Delta, at a discounted rate of $39 per visit. Also, keep in mind that the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (with a $550 annual fee) offers complimentary Delta Sky Club access when you're flying Delta.

New Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardholders can earn 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.

Amex Delta Gold Card vs Amex Delta Platinum Card

 

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Annual fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $99

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

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

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

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider

Discounted access to Sky Club lounges

20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit

Foreign transaction fee

Review

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card review

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card review

Amex Delta Gold Business card vs Amex Delta Platinum Business card

There are also business versions of these two cards:

  • Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership
  • Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: 60,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months of card membership

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offer very similar overall benefits to the personal versions. To qualify for a business credit card, you don't necessarily need to own a full-time business — even freelancing or side-gigs could count.

Which American Express Delta card is right for you?

If you're a casual Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is likely going to be a better fit for you. The increased benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card like the annual companion certificate, MQM Boost, and additional earning rates can be valuable for some flyers, especially those working toward Delta elite status.

If you're a frequent flyer who doesn't already have a different card that offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, then that benefit might also help you justify the additional annual fee.

Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a site that helps families to travel for free/cheap. His home base is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and six kids
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