The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the entry-level option among their co-branded Delta cards.
American Express also offers the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, both of which come with a few increased benefits and significantly higher annual fees.
If Delta is your primary airline, the benefits of having a free checked bag on Delta flights and priority boarding alone make carrying an American Express Delta card worth it. Unless you need the extra help to qualify for elite status with Delta, the Gold Delta Card is likely your best option, so for now, that’s the card we will concentrate on.
Let’s take a detailed look at the benefits that come along with the Gold Delta Card. That way, you can decide if it’s the right card for you.
Delta Gold Card Snapshot
Key Card Benefits
Not surprisingly, the main benefits of this card are centered around Delta Air Lines, though other standard credit card benefits are there too.
Earn Delta SkyMiles
Use the Delta SkyMiles you earn to fly to Europe, then make your way to the Mediterranean for a beautiful view like this, on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Image Credit: ShutterstockThis card earns miles in the Delta SkyMiles Program. SkyMiles can be redeemed for flights on Delta or more than 15 of their airline partners around the world. Delta is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance and partners with all other member airlines.
You will earn 2 miles per dollar spent when using your card on purchases made directly with Delta. This includes flights and vacation packages booked at delta.com, Sky Club memberships and passes, seat upgrades, and any inflight purchases of headsets, drinks, or food.
In addition to 2x miles on Delta purchases, you will also earn 2x miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets finally giving this card extra value for everyday spending.
For all other purchases with your card, you will earn 1 mile per dollar. There is no limit to how many miles you can earn.
Fraud Protection
You will never be held responsible for fraudulent charges on your card. If you notice a charge that you didn’t make or authorize, call the number on the back of the card and they will take care of it for you. American Express will remove the charge, and there will never be any deductible for you.
Year-End Summary
At the end of the year, you can log in to your account to get a year-end summary. This summary includes all of your charges throughout the year organized by type of expense. This allows you to analyze your spending, which helps with budgeting and organization of your finances.
Travel Benefits
The Delta Gold Card has a variety of benefits that will make your travel easier, more comfortable, and more pleasant overall. From checking bags to renting cars, this card makes sure your trip will go smoothly from start to finish.
Free Checked Bag
Your first checked bag is free when traveling on Delta-marketed and Delta-operated flights, as long as your SkyMiles number is on both the reservation and your credit card. To qualify, the bag must not be oversized or overweight, and you must check in with Delta.
Assuming you would normally have to pay to check a bag, this benefit will save you $30 on every qualifying flight while you are a cardmember.
Hot Tip: The first checked bag free benefit applies to up to 9 people flying on the same reservation, as long as the reservation is booked by the primary cardholder. That means you can save up to $540 per round-trip when you travel with a large group!
Priority Boarding
Skip the long lines at the boarding gate with priority boarding. Be one of the first passengers on the plane and make sure there is space for your carry-on bags. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comCardmembers will receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding on flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection. To receive this benefit, the reservation must include the primary cardmember’s SkyMiles number. Priority boarding is not available on Delta Shuttle flights.
Like the checked baggage waiver, this benefit applies to up to 9 people on the same reservation as the cardholder. This means that as long as you’re booked on the same reservation, your whole party should be able to board together.
Priority boarding can be an important benefit if you’re traveling with bags that need to fit in the overhead compartments. With passengers trying to avoid paying to check bags, the overhead compartments often get full before everyone has boarded. Boarding first means there will definitely be space for your bag.
Inflight Savings
By using your card for inflight purchases, you can save 20%. Savings come in the form of a statement credit on your card, and they will appear 6-8 weeks after you make the purchase.
The 20% savings applies to pre-purchased meals and inflight purchases of food, drinks, and audio headsets. Savings only apply on Delta-operated flights and do not apply for any other inflight purchases than those listed. Wireless internet and charitable donations are specifically excluded.
Car Rental Coverage
When you rent an eligible car and pay for the entire rental with your card, you will have insurance coverage for theft, damage, or loss of use. For this benefit to apply, you must decline the collision damage waiver at the counter when picking up the rental. Insurance coverage is secondary to your primary auto insurance but Amex also offers the option to purchase Premium Protection for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period.
Certain high-end vehicles, off-road vehicles, limousines, and antique cars are not covered by this insurance. Coverage also does not apply to auto rentals in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.
Hot Tip: This insurance coverage is secondary coverage. That means if you have a loss, your primary personal insurance will pay out first.
Global Assist Hotline
If you are traveling more than 100 miles from your home, the cardholder will have 24/7 access to global emergency coordination and assistance services. These can include medical or legal referrals, cash wire assistance, passport replacement, missing luggage, and more.
This hotline will help you set up any of the services listed above, but it is important to note that the cardholder will be responsible for any third party costs charged by the actual service providers. Setting up the services is covered for free; actually using the services is not.
Shopping and Entertainment Benefits
Benefits like extended warranty and return protection lessen the stress of buying expensive electronics. Even if you have a problem shortly after the original warranty runs out, you will be protected. And if the store won’t let you return your purchase? Within 90 days, you’re protected for that too. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comAside from travel, shopping and entertainment are among the largest categories of spending for most credit cards. When making a purchase, it is important to know what consumer protections your credit card will offer in case you have a problem down the line.
When it comes to entertainment access, American Express is one of the best credit card issuers. Each card has its own set of benefits, but if you want to get those hard-to-find tickets, the Delta Gold Card might the right card for you.
Free ShopRunner Membership
By signing up with your eligible American Express card, cardholders can receive a free ShopRunner membership. This membership is available at no cost as long as you keep the associated American Express card open.
ShopRunner provides free 2-day shipping on millions of products from hundreds of online stores. This benefit only applies to select items at certain stores; it does not necessarily apply to every item a store sells. To activate the free shipping, you must sign in to ShopRunner during checkout.
In addition, ShopRunner provides free return shipping for orders from several online stores. For eligible items, you will be provided with a paid return shipping label.
Extended Warranty
When using your card to make a purchase, the warranty of the item purchased will be automatically matched and extended by up to 1 year. To be eligible for this extended warranty, the product must have come with an original United States manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less.
The coverage has a limit of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year, and it is limited to the purchase price put on your card.
Hot Tip: When making a major purchase, especially of appliances or electronics, it is in your best interest to choose a credit card that will offer an extended warranty. That way, if you have a problem with the product just after the warranty runs out, you will still be covered by your credit card.
Purchase Protection
In the case of accidental damage or theft, purchase protection can refund eligible purchases charged to your card. The benefit has a limit of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per calendar year.
Lost items, consumable/perishable items, vehicles (and their part and accessories), and normal wear and tear are specifically excluded from this coverage. It is also important to note that this coverage is secondary. If you have renters or homeowners insurance that will cover your loss, that policy would pay out before this coverage takes effect.
Entertainment Access
Whether your interest is sporting events, concerts, or Broadway shows, American Express can help you get the tickets you want.
In select cities, American Express cardmembers have access to exclusive presales for a wide variety of events. With many concerts and shows selling out within minutes, access to the presale might make the difference between enjoying the event in-person and sitting at home on your couch wishing you were there.
During the presales, tickets must be purchased with your card, not all seats will be available, and there will be some blackout dates. Similar to purchasing through a general public sale, tickets sales will be final, with no refunds or exchanges being offered.
Final Thoughts
The Delta SkyMiles program can be quite frustrating to deal with due to their history of devaluations without notice and lack of a published award chart. Image Credit: Shutterstock.comAmerican Express is the only bank that issues Delta co-branded credit cards, and the benefits of free checked bags, priority boarding, and a 20% inflight discount make holding one of their cards worth it (even if you only fly with Delta a few times a year).
The Delta Gold Card is a great option if you want added perks when flying with Delta but don’t need extra help qualifying for elite status. This could either be because you will not qualify even with help from a credit card, or you will easily qualify even without help from a credit card.
In either of these cases, the Gold Delta Card is likely the most favorable of the 3 American Express Delta cards for you.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
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