11 Valuable Benefits of the Amex Delta Gold Credit Card

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 Delta Gold 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 Delta Gold card. That way, you can decide if it’s the right card for you.

Card Snapshot

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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

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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.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $960

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

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

Why We Like This Card

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• $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.

Cons

• Moderate annual fee
• Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards

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Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible 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 on your Card in a calendar 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 $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays 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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Air Travel Perks

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

This 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 eligible purchases with your card, you will earn 1 mile per dollar.

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 $35 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 $630 per round-trip when you travel with a large group!

Priority Boarding

Cardmembers will receive Zone 5 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.

Other Travel Benefits

The Delta Gold Card has a variety of other travel benefits that will make your travel easier, more comfortable, and more pleasant overall.

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

Aside 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.

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.

Account Management Advantages

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.

Final Thoughts

American 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 Delta Gold card is likely the most favorable of the 3 American Express Delta cards for you.