Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Worth It?
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Written by
Sarah Hostetler
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, an advertising partner, is among the best airline credit cards for a good balance of price and value. It’s got benefits that can save you in all stages of your travel — from reserving your flight to pesky day-of-travel expenses to booking your hotel stay.
But is the Amex Delta Gold worth it for your unique travel style? We’ll run down the highlights (and lowlights) of this card to help you decide.
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Quick Verdict
The Amex Delta Gold charges a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. But those who take a Delta flight or two each year can use its benefits to easily justify that price tag. From a free first checked bag on Delta flights to award flight discounts to $100 off a prepaid hotel each year, this card contends for the American Express credit card with the most bang for your buck, as long as you’re a Delta flyer.
The card even comes with a $200 annual flight credit — though you’ll have to spend $10,000 on purchases each calendar year to earn it.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card: At a Glance
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- 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.
- Rewards structure: 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.
- Statement credits and perks: First checked bag free and priority boarding on Delta flights, $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 on purchases within a calendar year, $100 annual Delta Stays Credit, 15% miles discount on Delta-operated award flights
- Estimated value: $1,000+ during your first year
Who Should Consider the Delta Gold?
The American Express Delta Gold is great for casual Delta flyers who don’t patronize Delta enough to earn elite status. The card comes with a few elite status-adjacent benefits, including priority boarding and a free first checked bag perk that provides a value that can exceed the card’s annual fee after a single trip.
The card is also great for those who routinely book Delta awards with Delta miles. Its TakeOff 15 perk gives you a 15% miles discount on Delta-operated flights. Depending on how often you travel, this could result in a savings of many tens of thousands of Delta miles each year.
Finally, anyone new to travel rewards who wants to kick the tires on a travel credit card may like the Amex Delta Gold. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. That means you won’t have to make an initial investment to try it out. If, after a year, you decide the card isn’t for you, you can cancel or ask Amex to downgrade it to the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card before paying the annual fee.
Who Should Skip the Delta Gold?
You should skip this card if you rarely find yourself on a Delta-operated flight. Yes, the miles it earns can be used to book flights on SkyTeam partner airlines like Air France and Virgin Atlantic, which can make its welcome offer hyper valuable, but the main reason to keep the card is its Delta-specific benefits.
On a related note, you may not be able to justify the card’s annual fee if you never check bags with Delta. The card has additional benefits, but its first checked bag free perk has the most savings potential.
How To Maximize Delta Gold’s Value
Once you have the card, use the tips below to squeeze the most value from Delta SkyMiles Gold benefits.
Use Your Miles for Domestic Awards
You’ll often find the best Delta award deals are for domestic flights as opposed to international flights. I save my Delta miles for travel to see family a few states away, routinely finding seats for as little as 6,000 miles each way. And thanks to Delta’s TakeOff 15 benefit, that price drops 15% to an incredible 5,100 miles.
I find Delta’s international prices to be largely uncompetitive. Instead of using Delta miles for a round trip to Europe, I could easily book seven or more round-trip flights to visit family for the holidays.
Make Sure Your Travel Companions Are on Your Reservation
The best Delta Gold perks can benefit more than just you. For example, everyone on your reservation will receive the first checked bag free and priority boarding (up to nine passengers in total). The key is that they must be on the same reservation as you. In other words, you must book the tickets together.
For example, if you book a flight for yourself and then later decide to take a few travel buddies, it may be worth canceling your ticket (as long as you’ll get Delta credit) and rebooking together so the entire group can get those benefits.
Pay With Miles if No Award Seats Are Available
To book a Delta award seat, there must be award “inventory.” If no award seats are available, you won’t be able to book an award flight with Delta miles. However, the Delta Gold Card gives you the option to “buy” a seat using a feature called Pay with Miles at a rate of 1 cent per mile. That’s not the greatest value, but it can be helpful in a pinch.
Pay with Miles lets you redeem increments of 5,000 miles to reduce the cash price of the ticket by $50.
Use the Delta Stays Credit
If you spend at least $100 per year for a hotel stay, the annual $100 Delta Stays credit is nearly as good as cash. Simply book a prepaid room through Delta’s online portal (similar to Expedia or Kayak), and you’ll receive a $100 statement credit. Just note that because reservations through Delta Stays are considered third-party bookings, you likely won’t earn hotel points or elite night credits, and may not receive elite perks during your stay if you have status with that chain.
Final Verdict on the Amex Delta Gold
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is one of the best Delta credit cards for its balance of price and value. It’s a true no-brainer for someone who regularly checks bags with Delta, and its ability to confer a 15% award discount when redeeming Delta miles on Delta-operated flights can also translate into real savings.
Even if you fly Delta only a few times per year, the Amex Delta Gold Card could save you a meaningful amount of money — even after paying its annual fee.
The information related to the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amex Delta Gold Card
Should I get the Amex Delta Gold card instead of the regular Amex Gold?
It depends on your travel style. The Amex Delta Gold is likely the better option for frequent Delta flyers, as its Delta-oriented benefits can save you a lot of money. However, the American Express® Gold Card, an advertising partner, earns rewards for common purchases at a much higher rate — and because Delta is an Amex transfer partner, its points can be converted into Delta miles. In fact, Delta flyers can benefit from holding both cards.
Is the Amex Delta Gold card worth it for frequent Delta flyers?
The Amex Delta Gold is worth it for frequent Delta flyers who regularly check bags. For Delta loyalists trying to earn elite status, however, a more premium Delta card, such as the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, both advertising partners, may be better. They provide ways to fast-track your status journey.
Does the Delta Gold Amex $200 flight credit make it worth it?
The Delta Gold Amex $200 flight credit certainly makes the card worth keeping if you earn it each year. However, the $10,000 in spending required to achieve it may make the perk unappealing for many folks. The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card isn’t a particularly rewarding card for everyday spending, so that money may be better funneled through a card with better bonus categories.
