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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been ...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let’s dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.
Card Snapshot
Welcome Bonus & Info
Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express 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.
$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 Miles on all other eligible purchases.
You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$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.
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.
$100 Delta Stays Credit: You can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
Receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
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.
Bonus earning on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases
First checked bag free on Delta flights
20% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases
Cons
Moderate annual fee
Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an excellent option for travelers who regularly fly with Delta and can use the card’s perks and benefits.
If you’re looking to earn more Delta SkyMiles and enjoy benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and discounts on in-flight purchases including food, then the Delta Gold card would be a worthwhile addition to your wallet.
Delta Gold Card Top Benefits
$100 Delta Stays Credit
As of February 1, 2024, the Delta Gold card offers cardholders the ability to earn up to $100 back each year on prepaid Delta Stays bookings through delta.com.
Free Checked Bags
With your Delta Gold card, you’ll receive your first checked bag free for you and up to 8 travel companions on Delta flights. Given that checked bags can start at $35 per direction, this benefit alone can save you $35 to $280 per flight depending on the number of people flying with you.
Priority Boarding
Thanks to your Delta Gold card, you and up to 8 traveling companions will receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding. So even if you’ve purchased a Basic Economy ticket, you’ll be able to board with other Main Cabin 1 passengers, instead of last.
Discount on In-flight Purchases
Cardholders receive 20% off as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets. So if you regularly purchase food and beverages for yourself when you fly, the savings here can really add up.
Keep in mind that the 20% discount does not apply to other inflight purchases such as Wi-Fi.
Hot Tip: You do not need to pay with your Delta Gold card to receive the checked baggage and priority boarding benefit, but you will need to pay with your card to receive the 20% savings on in-flight purchases.
$200 Delta Flight Credit
With your Delta Gold card, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit towards future travel after spending $10,000 in purchases in a year.
Once you’ve built up a nice stash of Delta SkyMiles, next comes deciding how to redeem them! Read our dedicated guide that breaks down some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 points
$1,200
$95
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Perhaps one of the most popular travel rewards cards on the market, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers benefits including 5x points per $1 on purchases through Chase Travel, 3x points per $1 on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, along with 2x points per $1 spent on all other travel purchases. It also has no foreign transaction fees and flexible redemption options (including the Chase transfer partners).
For a very reasonable annual fee, you’ll be able to start earning Chase Ultimate Reward points, one of the most valuable loyalty currencies available. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for incredible value through its select transfer partners.
We’ve also compared the Delta Gold card to these popular cards:
The information regarding the Centurion® Card from American Express was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here. For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here. For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why get a Delta Gold card? Is it worth it?
This card is a great option for those who like to travel with Delta, and plan to do so at least a few times each year.
In addition to the points you earn, you will get a free checked bag, priority boarding, and 20% off in-flight purchases on each flight.
What are the Delta Gold card benefits?
This credit card earns 2x miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., plus 1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
You’ll also receive 1 free checked bag and priority boarding for up to 8 people on your reservation, plus 20% off in-flight purchases.
When do Delta SkyMiles expire?
Delta SkyMiles never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
What is the Delta Gold card's annual fee?
The card’s annual fee is $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Does the Delta Gold card charge foreign transaction fees?
The card does not charge foreign transaction fees, so you can use it during overseas travel without worry (rates & fees).
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
The value of SkyMiles can vary greatly based on how you redeem them. We value Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cent each, so we always try to redeem them on flights that offer at least 1 cent per point in value or greater.
How does the Delta Gold card free checked bag work?
When you have the Delta Gold card, you and up to 8 traveling companions will receive a free checked bag when traveling on Delta Air Lines. This could save you anywhere from $70 to $560 per round-trip flight depending on the number of people traveling with you.
To receive free checked bags, you do not need to pay with your credit card, but the card must be attached to your Delta SkyMiles number.
Does the Delta Gold card get you in to Delta Sky Clubs?
Unfortunately, the card will not allow you to access a Delta Sky Club. If you want to access a Delta Sky Club you will need one of the following credit cards:
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card — Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card — Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
The Platinum Card® from American Express — Amex Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight. Visits issued from February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026 will expire on January 31, 2026, and Visits issued in subsequent years will expire on January 31 of each calendar year thereafter.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express — Amex Business Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight. Visits issued from February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026 will expire on January 31, 2026, and Visits issued in subsequent years will expire on January 31 of each calendar year thereafter.
Which is better, the Delta Gold card or the Delta Platinum card?
The Delta Platinum card is the better card, as it offers better points earning and more benefits than the Delta Gold card, including a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit and an annual companion certificate, and it allows you to spend your way to Delta elite status.
However, this does not necessarily mean that the card is the best option for you. If you have no need for the benefits that the Delta Platinum card offers, or do not fly Delta enough to get much value out of them, then you likely would be better off with the Delta Gold card.
What credit score is needed for the Delta Gold card?
There is no set credit score needed for the card. American Express will make a decision on your application based on your credit report, stated income, years of credit history, and the level of credit Amex may have already extended to you.
However, if your credit score is at least 680, then you should feel good about your approval odds.
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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