Pro Tips for a Seamless Upgrade From the Delta Gold Card to the Delta Platinum Card [2024]

If you’ve got a Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, there’s never been a better time to consider an upgrade. That’s because Delta recently made a number of changes to its family of American Express cards, adding new benefits, but also raising the annual fees. So it’s a good opportunity to sit down and consider whether you’re ready to graduate to a better Delta credit card.

But how exactly do you go about turning in your Delta Gold card for another option, such as the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card? There are 2 basic ways to do it, and both have their pros and cons. Let’s take a look at each path in detail — and share some important tips — so you can upgrade your Delta credit card like a pro.

Delta Gold Card vs. Delta Platinum Card

When considering the best way to switch your Delta Gold card to a Delta Platinum card, your first question should be whether to upgrade in the first place. The 2 cards share some perks, but the Delta Platinum card has an extra tier of benefits that don’t appear on the Delta Gold card.

Delta Gold Card Benefits

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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.

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

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

50,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$600

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 (670-850)

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 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 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

As a Delta Gold card member, you get a first checked bag for free when flying Delta, Zone 5 priority boarding, and 20% back on your inflight purchases. You’ll earn a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on your card in a calendar year, and you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases.

On the redemption side of the equation, the Delta Gold card comes with the ability to use your SkyMiles for award travel on Delta or partner airlines or to Pay With Miles for any flight available with cash at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile. Plus, with the card’s TakeOff 15 benefit, you also get 15% off all award travel prices when booking a Delta or Delta Connection-operated flight.

As an added bonus, with the card’s recently added benefits, you now also get up to $100 in Delta Stays credit each year when booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through delta.com.

Delta Platinum Card Benefits

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

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 travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$350

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 (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets

Cons

• $350 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum 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.
• Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• 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.
• $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• 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.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• 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 Air Lines SkyMiles

If you’re only an occasional Delta flyer, these basic perks of the Delta Gold card are probably all you need. But if you’re looking for a leg up, the extra features of the Delta Platinum card may be enticing.

Those additional benefits include up to $120 in annual Resy credits, up to $120 each year in U.S. ride-share credits, up to $150 annually in Delta Stays credits, and a credit of up to $120 every 4 years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck, as of October 1, 2024.

On top of all that, after your first year with the card and each year thereafter on your card anniversary, you’ll receive a Main Cabin companion certificate, which was recently enhanced to include more eligible destinations — such as Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean — in addition to the continental U.S.

Finally, with the Delta Platinum card, you’ll get a $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) boost each year, and the ability to earn an additional $1 MQD for every $20 in eligible purchases on the card. All of these perks aren’t available on the Delta Gold card, and they may very well be worth paying a higher annual fee each year.

Hot Tip:

The difference in annual fees between the Delta Gold card and the Delta Platinum card is $200 a year. But you’ll more than make up for that additional cost if you can utilize the annual Resy and U.S. ride-share credits available with the Delta Platinum card. And that’s not even taking into account all the card’s additional benefits.

Benefits Comparison

Here’s an overview showing both the similarities and differences:

How To Upgrade Your Delta Gold Card

So, you’ve decided to upgrade. What’s the best way to do it?

Call American Express

One option is to call American Express at the number on the back of your Delta Gold card and ask to be upgraded to a Delta Platinum card. A phone agent will check your eligibility, as your account needs to be in good standing, and you’ll need to have had your existing card open for at least a year before upgrading.

If you qualify, the agent can approve you for an upgrade in a few minutes, and you’ll receive your new card within 7 to 10 business days. You’ll then pay a prorated annual fee for the remainder of your membership year with the card.

Now, while this may be the easiest way to upgrade, it’s not necessarily the best. You generally won’t get a welcome bonus offer for upgrading directly instead of applying for a new card. So by upgrading this way, you’re forfeiting any potential welcome offer you might be eligible for if you were to apply for a brand new Delta Platinum card instead.

Even worse, when you upgrade directly like this, you’re also forfeiting any future welcome bonus offer on the Delta Platinum card. American Express only allows you to earn a welcome offer on a card if you’ve never had that card before, and upgrading without a bonus counts as having had the card. So if you were to eventually cancel the card and apply for it again in the future, you wouldn’t be able to get the bonus then either.

Apply via a Targeted Offer

There are times when you might be targeted for an upgrade bonus offer. While these offers aren’t available to everyone, if you’re targeted for one, they typically appear when you’re logged into your online American Express account or in the Amex app, or you may get an offer via email.

I personally received an upgrade offer like this just recently. In my case, it was to upgrade my small business Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card to a Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card. (Yes, Delta business cards can be upgraded in the same way as personal Delta cards.)

While upgrade offers usually aren’t as lucrative as standard welcome offers, they can sometimes make it worth upgrading directly instead of going through the hassle of applying for a new card.

Additional Reasons To Upgrade

There are also other reasons you might want to directly upgrade your current Delta Gold card to a Delta Platinum card. Upgrading a card generally doesn’t result in a new inquiry on your credit report, while a new application likely will. And, if you’ve already had a Delta Platinum card in the past, you’re probably not eligible to get the welcome bonus offer again under the application rules of American Express. So in that case, it makes sense to upgrade without a bonus offer (or to take advantage of a targeted upgrade bonus offer).

Bottom Line:

While there are some situations where it makes sense to upgrade your card directly, you’re typically losing out on the new card’s welcome offer by doing so, and even potentially making yourself ineligible for getting a bonus offer later down the line. In most cases, there’s a better way.

Apply for a New Delta Platinum Card, Then Cancel Your Delta Gold Card

If you’re willing to do a little extra work to pick up a lot of extra SkyMiles, you’ll want to apply for a new Delta Platinum card instead of upgrading your current Delta Gold card in order to take advantage of the card’s welcome offer.

Ideally, you’ll want to apply for a new Delta Platinum card before canceling your current Delta Gold card, just to be certain you’re approved for the new card — and its welcome bonus offer — before getting rid of the old one. Amex doesn’t have any restrictions about having both a Delta Gold card and a Delta Platinum card at the same time, so it’s fine to apply for the new card even while you still have the old one.

However, there are 2 caveats to keep in mind. First, Amex does limit customers to an overall total of 5 open American Express credit card accounts at any given time. This includes both personal credit cards and business credit cards but doesn’t apply to the issuer’s charge cards. So if you already have 5 Amex credit cards, you’re going to need to close 1 first in order to apply for a new Delta Platinum card.

Second, if your credit score has taken a hit since the last time you applied for a credit card, perhaps as a result of taking out new debt such as a car loan or mortgage, you may not qualify for a new card (though you may be able to get an upgrade). Or if you’re already at the maximum limit of how much credit Amex is willing to extend to you, getting a new card without closing the old one first might be tricky (though sometimes Amex is willing to move your existing credit around in order to open a new account).

In either case, you can either close your existing Delta Gold card ahead of applying for a new Delta Platinum card, or you can apply for the Delta Platinum card and then call Amex if there’s an issue, and work with them to close an existing card or move credit around to make room for the new account if it’s needed.

Hot Tip:

If you close your Delta Gold card account first, you don’t need to worry about losing your existing SkyMiles. Any SkyMiles already in your Delta SkyMiles account are safe and will still be there even after closing your card. SkyMiles earned from your new Delta Platinum card can then be added to the same SkyMiles account.

How Much Is the Delta Platinum Card Welcome Offer Worth?

Why is it so important to make sure you aren’t missing out on a credit card welcome offer when you upgrade? Because snagging a great welcome offer is the quickest way to earn a big stash of miles right out of the gate.

While just having a credit card is a terrific way to earn points or miles on everything you buy each day, you’ll also get a great head start on an upcoming trip if you make sure to apply for a card with a welcome offer when you’re eligible for it, and then complete the minimum spending requirement in the allotted time.

The welcome offer on the Delta Platinum card changes regularly, but you can find the latest offer below:

Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months.

Who Should Upgrade to the Delta Platinum Card?

If you’re not sure whether an upgrade from the Delta Gold card to the Delta Platinum card makes sense for you, here are 5 questions you can ask yourself when making your decision.

1. Are You a Regular Delta Flyer?

The Delta Platinum card is really only a good fit for travelers who find themselves on a Delta plane more than a few times a year. If you tend to switch airlines each time you fly and aren’t particularly loyal to Delta, then you’re probably fine keeping a Delta Gold card and taking advantage of its benefits.

2. Can You Utilize the Monthly Credits of the Delta Platinum Card?

In order to really get full value from the Delta Platinum card, you’re going to want to be able to take advantage of as many benefits as possible, especially the monthly credits, since those can literally put money back into your pocket. If you’re not likely to be able to utilize at least a majority of those credits, then you might want to stick with your Delta Gold card for the moment.

3. Are You Chasing Delta Elite Status?

With this year’s changes to the Delta elite status program, it is now possible to earn an unlimited number of Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) through credit card purchases. But the Delta Gold card doesn’t offer this feature — it’s only available on the higher-end Delta cards, such as the Delta Platinum card. So if you’re looking to make it to a higher tier of Delta status this year, an upgrade may be in order.

4. Do You Need Cell Phone Protection?

Everyone drops and cracks their cell phone from time to time, or you can be unlucky enough to have one stolen from you. The Delta Gold card doesn’t provide any coverage if and when that happens, but with the Delta Platinum card, you’ll be reimbursed for the costs of repairing or replacing your damaged or stolen cell phone, up to a maximum of $800 per claim with a $50 deductible, so long as you paid your cell phone bill with the card in the previous month before the incident.

5. Will You Fly With a Companion?

While you won’t get an Annual Companion Certificate until the start of your second year with the Delta Platinum card, once you have it, you can now use it to take a companion on a roundtrip flight in Main Cabin to more destinations, including anywhere in the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), the Caribbean, or to Central America. You’ll only have to pay the taxes and fees for your companion, with a maximum of $80 for roundtrip domestic flights, and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights. That’s a perk that isn’t available on the Delta Gold card.

Final Thoughts

With all the recent changes in Delta credit cards, now’s the time to consider if your current Delta Gold card is still the right fit for your lifestyle. It could be the case that paying more for the extra benefits of the Delta Platinum card makes sense.

But if you decide to upgrade to the Delta Platinum card, make sure you’re getting the most for it by applying for a new card and earning a welcome bonus offer (if you’re eligible for one) instead of upgrading your existing card directly. It’ll take a little extra time and effort, but it’s worth it to avoid leaving a nice haul of SkyMiles on the table.

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For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the cell phone protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.