The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the middle child of the Delta SkyMiles credit card family. It doesn't offer as much value as its older siblings (Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card) and it's not as low-maintenance as its younger sibling (the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card).Â
But because of that positioning, the Delta SkyMiles Gold offers one of the best deals to get acquainted with the Delta SkyMiles card family. The Gold has better rewards than the Blue and comes with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees). If you end up spending more than anticipated on Delta flights, or you want the added perks of the Platinum or Reserve version, you can always upgrade.
Overall, the Delta SkyMiles Gold is best suited for those who fly Delta a few times a year. If you fly less than that, the Delta SkyMiles Blue might be better. And if you fly much more than that, the added value of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum may make up for its $350 annual fee (see rates and fees). Read on to learn more about this card's rewards, welcome offer and a comparison to its closest competitors.
Rewards and welcome offer
The Delta SkyMiles Gold is a good introduction to airline cards and their unique rewards structure. Airline card rewards are brand-specific and a lot of the real value comes from incentives such as free checked bags, flight credits or in-flight discounts.
That's why we don't generally recommend using an airline co-branded credit card as your go-to for most spending. Usually a generic travel or rewards card will get you a better rewards rate, and in a currency that's more flexible (either cash or a flexible credit card currency like Ultimate Rewards points). Delta's frequent flyers will be able to derive enough value in many cases, though.
As a travel rewards credit card, the Delta SkyMiles Gold's rewards structure doesn't stack up well against the competition. You'll earn 2x Delta SkyMiles at restaurants (including delivery and takeout in the U.S.), 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets, 2x miles on Delta purchases, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases. Those rates are lower than you'd find with comparable cards.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold's current welcome offer is 50,000 miles once you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.
Rewards redemption
As with many airline co-branded credit cards, the rewards currency is the frequent flier mile currency used by the airline. In this case, that means you'll earn Delta SkyMiles on your spending. These miles are non-transferable (except to other SkyMiles members), so you're constrained to using them with Delta, as opposed to other travel credit card rewards like AmEx's Membership Rewards® points, which can be transferred to a list of affiliate partners.Â
That said, you can also book flights through Delta with other members of the SkyTeam airline alliance, which includes Air France, Korean Air, KLM and 15 more companies spread across the globe.
The value of Delta SkyMiles will depend on how you use them -- generally speaking you can often get better value for longer flights and business and first class. You can also occasionally find "sweet spots" where they're worth more than usual. In my own experience, I usually get around 1 to 1.2 cents per mile when booking Delta flights with SkyMiles. I prefer to fly Delta, and I almost always book economy.
That means that the 50,000 bonus mile welcome offer (after spending $2,000 in the first six months) should be worth around $500 or more, and the 2x mile reward rates will earn you about 2% back.
You can also redeem SkyMiles to upgrade your seat, buy Delta gift cards and subscribe to magazines, but we don't recommend those options as you typically won't get the higher value you would when redeeming them for Delta or SkyTeam Alliance flights.
Other travel perks
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You can also earn a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 or more on your card during a calendar year. We don't value this credit too highly, since that spending threshold is high for a card with mediocre rewards, and $200 is only 2% of the required spend.
Cardholders can also use up to a $100 Delta Stays credit for any eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings through Delta.com. That could essentially knock $100 off the card's annual fee once you have to worry about paying it after your first year with the card.
Cardholders also get their first checked bag free on Delta flights, 20% back (in the form of a statement credit) on eligible Delta in-flight purchases like food or beverages, car rental loss and damage insurance* and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees). This is typical for most airline cards.
FAQs
Airline credit cards reward users with points or miles from an airline’s frequent flyer program, which can be redeemed for flights with that airline. Sometimes you can transfer those points to one of the airline’s travel partners, though this option varies from airline to airline.
Airline credit cards operate like loyalty programs in that you stay in a closed-loop rewards system. You earn rewards when you purchase flights on the airline, and you can use those points for future bookings. Some airline credit cards also reward cardholders for making purchases at restaurants, grocery stores or other categories, but given the average reward rate of airline credit cards for those categories, we generally advise paying for those purchases with a cash-back credit card or general travel rewards credit card.
Some common benefits of an airline credit card include:
- Waived checked baggage fees
- Priority boarding
- Lounge access (during some, not all, itineraries)
- Accelerated airline status qualification
- Complimentary or reduced companion fares
- No foreign transaction fee
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits
- Generous welcome bonuses
While airline credit cards offer rewards in the form of an airline’s miles or points, many general travel rewards credit cards have their own systems, like American Express’ Membership Rewards points or Chase’s Ultimate Rewards points. General travel credit card points can be used to redeem travel (with any available airline) through the card issuer’s travel portal, or for a potentially higher value, transferred to an airline partner. You also earn extra points on any travel purchase, regardless of the airline.
Though they may charge higher annual fees, the general travel rewards credit cards tend to offer superior return rates and, since they cover a much greater range of purchases, they are often the better option. Even the best airline credit card is typically less flexible than general travel cards. Given their relative inflexibility, airline credit cards are best for travelers who want to take advantage of airline-specific perks. If you often spend on upgraded boardings or checked bags and you always fly with the same airline, these cards can save you money.
If you’re not loyal to one airline, rarely check bags and don’t care about your frequent flyer status, a general travel credit card is a better choice.
Our approach
We review the cards that are in the highest demand and offer the best benefits. We scour the fine print so there aren't any surprises when you open an account. We find the key factors that make a card stand out and compare them with other top cards. That way, readers can opt for a different card with similar features if our pick isn't right for them. Our reviews are regularly checked and updated to incorporate new recommendations, as well as to reflect changes in offers and the market.
**All information about American Express cards have been collected independently by CNET. American Express cards are no longer available through CNET.
