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Updated January 30, 2020

Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card Review: Is It Worth It?

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There are many credit cards that earn Delta miles to choose from, so how do you decide if the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is right for you? Read this review before you apply.

Delta SkyMiles Gold
Apply Now

Overall Score

3.5

Rewards

4.0

Interest Rates

3.0

Fees

3.0

Benefits

4.0
5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • Bonus Delta miles offer
  • One free checked bag on Delta flights
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding
  • $99 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year)

Bottom Line

Good airline credit card for someone who travels heavily with Delta airlines

Is the $99 annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) (See Rates & Fees) worth it? In this Delta credit card review, we'll examine:

Airline Credit Cards

Many airline credit cards let you earn miles.

But besides just earning miles, you want benefits too. Benefits that can save you time and money.

That's where an airline-branded credit card can come in handy.

With the Delta SkyMiles Gold, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights. That is a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four.

Plus, you can settle in sooner with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.

To start, you must check out the latest Delta SkyMiles Gold promotion.

But are these benefits worth the annual fee? Read on. We'll cover the pros and cons of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Credit Card below to help you decide.

Did you know: There are 3 different Delta credit cards. The Gold has an annual fee of $99, while the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve credit card have a $250 (See Rates & Fees) and $550 annual fee (See Rates & Fees) respectively. Unless you are a big spender, we generally recommend you consider the Delta Gold first.

Here's something you may not know: a few credit cards let you transfer points into Delta SkyMiles. The credit card might not specifically say "Delta" on the front, but these other options may be better for you if you want flexibility. Keep in mind that you'll lose Delta-specific perks such as free checked bag on Delta flights and priority boarding.

In particular, AMEX Membership Rewards allow you to transfer points to Delta Airlines. Consider looking into the the AMEX Platinum (if you're a frequent traveler), and the AMEX Everyday (for a no annual fee option).

Hot Deal! Earn Bonus Miles Offers

American Express is currently offering a bonus miles promotion. Here is how it works:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

The spending threshold is relatively straightforward to meet. And it'll give you a head start to racking up miles. Remember, domestic roundtrip award tickets start at 20,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).

To take advantage of this promotion, visit American Express' secure website to apply now.

Related: 23 Ways to Help Meet Minimum Spending Requirement

Current Travel Credit Card Promotions

How to Use Miles

When you make a purchase with the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, you earn miles on your account. 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.

You can redeem a round trip domestic flight for as little as 20,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).

Your miles can also be redeemed for discounts on Delta airfare through Pay with Miles. The number of miles required depends on the price of the ticket (not eligible with Best Fare Guarantee). On airfares greater than $100, generally speaking, 10,000 miles gets you a $100 discount.

Besides redeeming miles for award travel, you can redeem miles for upgrades (e.g., upgrading from Main Cabin, aka Economy, to Delta One, First or Business Class).

Airline Partners: Want to go somewhere Delta doesn't take you? You can use your miles to book a flight on a SkyTeam partner and other SkyMiles partners. This include airlines such as:

  • Compass
  • Endeavor Air
  • ExpressJet
  • Gojet
  • Shuttle America
  • SkyWest
  • Aeroflot
  • Aerolineas Argentinas
  • Aeromexico
  • AirEuropa
  • Air France
  • Air Tahiti Nui
  • Alaska Airlines
  • Alitalia
  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern
  • China Southern
  • Czech Airlines
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • GOL
  • Great Lakes
  • Hawaiian Airlines (limited to inter-Hawaiian Islands itineraries)
  • Kenya Airways
  • KLM Royal Dutch
  • Korean Air
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Saudia
  • Tarom
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • Virgin Australia
  • Xiamen

To learn more about the Delta SkyMiles credit card, including the online application, here is a link to American Express' secure website.

Travel Benefits

© Jimmy Baikovicius (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr

Flyers: The Delta SkyMiles Gold card lets you enjoy a number of perks while traveling with Delta. This is where the real money saving comes in.

  • For starters, you'll get to check your first bag for free on Delta flights. This bonus applies for up to 9 travelers on your reservation, which is a significant amount of savings. For a family of 4, that is a potential savings of $240 round trip. Even if you only travel with one other person, the savings on the checked bags will help justify the annual fee.

  • When you book a Delta flight with this card, you also automatically receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding for your flight, even if you don't have status with Delta. This can be useful on packed flights, especially with many passengers looking for space for carry-on bags.

  • You get a 20% savings on eligible in-flight items when you use this card. This includes beverages, food, and movies/shows/video games accessed via Delta's seatback in-flight entertainment system during your Delta-operated flight. This savings does not apply to other in-flight purchases such as Wi-Fi. You'll receive the savings as a statement credit 6-8 weeks after the transaction is posted to your account.

  • And lastly, there are no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees), which is a money saver when you use this card when traveling internationally (most credit cards charge a 3% fee).

No Foreign Transaction Fee

If you would like to apply, visit American Express' secure website for the latest promotion.

Downsides of This Card

There are a few reasons the Delta SkyMiles Gold card may not be the way to go:

  • You don't fly Delta: If Delta is not your favorite airline or the flights you take rarely involve the airline (or partners), you're not going to get much out of the perks. The checked baggage benefit is only for Delta flights. You may want a more general travel credit card.

    If you tend to fly American Airlines, take a look at American Airlines credit card instead.

    If you tend to fly United Airlines, take a look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card instead, which allows you to transfer points (in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards) to United miles. Read our in-depth review.

  • You don't earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Unlike it's higher annual fee siblings, the Delta Gold does not have the opportunity to earn Medallion Qualification Miles (which you need to get to Delta's Medallion status, which comes with even more benefits such as seat upgrades and mileage bonuses).

  • The annual fee: The annual fee is competitive for an airline travel card, but it is an expense you should consider before signing up.

How It Compares

If you are interested in MQMs, here is how the Delta Gold compares with the Delta Platinum:

Delta Platinum does not include free Delta Sky Club access. You'll need the Delta Reserve for that.

If you value luxury travel perks:
American Express Platinum The Platinum Card from American Express: Does a $695 annual fee (See Rates & Fees) scare you? For some travelers, the Platinum Card might be worth considering. Instead of the Delta SkyMiles Gold first checked bag free, you get a $200 airline fee credit to cover up to $200 a year in checked baggage fees and more at one selected qualifying airline. You also get Global Lounge Collection, which allows you to access 5 airport lounge networks (including Delta Sky Club lounges).

But there's more: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Plus, you get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status (requires enrollment).

American Express Platinum usually requires a great credit score. If you are deciding between the two and do not have a good to excellent credit score, you may want to consider sticking to a Delta credit card instead.

Here is how the American Express Platinum and Delta Gold look side-by-side:

Is $695 annual fee too much? Check out the American Express Gold Card instead.

American Express Gold earns 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. This card earns 4x points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000/calendar year in purchases, then 1x). 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. You can earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. There is a $250 annual fee (See Rates & Fees). Terms apply.

Do you own a business?:
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Credit Card: Small business owners may prefer the business version of the Delta SkyMiles Gold. The two cards are similar in terms of annual fee and rewards structure. You still get to check your first bag for free on Delta flights and priority boarding.

If you're looking for a no annual fee option:
Delta SkyMiles Blue has no annual fee (See Rates & Fees).

AMEX Everyday: If you rarely travel, it might not make sense to use a card with an annual fee. The AMEX Everyday lets you earn Membership Rewards, which you can then transfer to Delta. It's a good way to rack up points on your everyday spending and trade them in later for a flight.

Which Delta Card is Best for You? Questions to Consider

It's hard choosing the credit card that is right for you. If you're having trouble deciding, here are some questions to ask yourself:

How often do you fly Delta?
If you're a strong fan of Delta, then it's nice to get some perks for your loyalty. You only need to fly with Delta roundtrip just two times a year (or once a year with a companion), and check in a bag, to justify the $99 annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. If you fly very often on Delta every year, you may even want to consider the Platinum or Reserve versions of the card.

Do you fly other airlines as well?
If you're not a die-hard fan and usually buy flights based on price, you probably want a card that gives you more flexibility. In this case, look for general travel reward cards that let you transfer points to a variety of airline partners.

AMEX Membership Rewards lets you transfer to Delta and a ton of other airlines. Just keep in mind that by gaining flexibility, you'll lose perks like free checked bag and priority boarding.

How much do you value luxury travel perks?
It's nice to get perks such as free checked bags on Delta flights (those fees add up!) and priority boarding. If you like flying Delta and enjoy these basic perks, you'll like the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. If you want luxury perks such as free lounge access, the Delta Reserve gives you access into Delta Sky Club.

But in that case, we recommend that you go with the American Express Platinum Card, as it lets you into 5 lounge networks (including Delta Sky Club) along with other perks we cover in our in-depth Platinum review.

How much do you spend on your credit card?
The reward rate isn't high with the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, but the real value is in the free checked bag on Delta flights perk. So you don't need to be a big spender to get value out of using this card. However, if you are a big credit card spender, you may want to look at the Platinum or Reserve versions of this card. Both of those versions have a miles boost bonus.

Do you usually travel with a companion?
If you usually fly Delta with a travel partner, take a look at the Platinum or Reserve versions of this card. With those, you get a round-trip domestic companion certificate every year. You are still responsible for taxes and fees though. Terms and limitations apply.

Bottom Line: Is the $99 Annual Fee Worth It?

© Sarah_Ackerman (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

To recap, here are the pros and cons when considering the Delta SkyMiles Gold:

Pros:

  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • New: 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 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.
  • Want even more flexibility? 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.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Cons:

  • No earning of Medallion Qualification Miles

In our opinion, the Delta SkyMiles Gold is a good credit card for someone who often flies with Delta Air Lines (or partners). The rewards rate with Delta cards isn't too high, but the real money savings come in the travel benefits you receive. For even occasional Delta flyers, getting that first checked bag free on Delta flights is a potential huge money saver. As we mentioned, the $99 annual fee virtually pays for itself even if you travel Delta round-trip just once a year with one other person and plan to check your baggage. Remember, as with all credit card offers, terms and limitations apply.

Next Step: View the issuer's official application, terms, and details

David R is a contributing writer at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison and reviews website. Write to David R at davidr@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum AMEX card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Blue card, please click here.

Disclaimer: The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card and Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.


Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Apply for Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
At American Express' Secure Site
  • Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • New: 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 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.
  • Want even more flexibility? 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.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees
  • Go to issuer's official application, terms, and details
Intro APR for PurchasesIntro APR for Balance TransferRegular APRAnnual Fee
N/AN/A
20.74% - 29.74% Variable
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99

Compare Delta SkyMiles Gold to:

Compare Delta SkyMiles Gold vs Delta Platinum AMEX
Apply for Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
At American Express' Secure Site
  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • 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. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: 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 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.
  • Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees
Intro APR for PurchasesIntro APR for Balance TransferRegular APRAnnual Fee
N/AN/A
20.74% - 29.74% Variable
$250

Compare Delta SkyMiles Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
At Chase's Secure Site
  • 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®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 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.
  • Member FDIC
Intro APR for PurchasesIntro APR for Balance TransferRegular APRAnnual Fee
N/AN/A
21.24% - 28.24% Variable
$95
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Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

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