Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review

Delta fliers enjoy generous benefits with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. While it’s not the top-of-the-line rewards credit card available today, it has its benefits, and it costs a fraction of most other Delta Airlines credit cards.

Check out my review of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to see if it’s right for you.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Pros and Cons

Pros:

• No annual fee for a year
• 40,000 bonus miles with $1,000 in purchases in 3 months
• Free checked bags (1 per person for everyone in your reservation)
• Access to Priority Boarding
• You can use miles to lower your cost of airline tickets
• Miles don’t expire

Cons:

• You only benefit if you fly Delta
• There’s an annual fee after the first year
• American Express isn’t accepted everywhere

What Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card?

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may be a no-brainer, at least for the first 12 months.

This credit card with no annual fee for the first year offers benefits like priority boarding and free checked bags, making the card worth it right there, especially if you fly often.

It doesn’t get you access to Delta Sky Club Lounges like other reward airline credit cards do, but it offers plenty of other perks that may make it worth it for you.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review

• Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, then $99 after the first year
• Sign-Up Bonus: 40,000 bonus miles if you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, plus the chance to earn up to $50 back in statement credits for certain restaurant purchases within the first 3 months of owning the card
• Regular APR: 15.74% – 24.74%

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Features and Benefits

No Annual Fee

The annual fee can be a downside to any rewards credit card, especially if you don’t use it enough to make more rewards than the cost of the annual fee.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has no annual fee for the first year, but then you’re on the hook for $99 a year.

Free Checked Bags

Your first checked bag is free, as is the first bag of up to 8 passengers on the same reservation as you.

Priority Boarding

If you are always stuck in the last group for boarding, you know how hard it is to find overhead bin space, and in today’s COVID-19 times, boarding first is often preferable to limit exposure.

With the Delta SkyMiles card, you board with the Main Cabin 1 boarding group. While it’s not the first group to board, it’s closer to the earlier groups than not.

$100 Delta Airlines Credit

After you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn an additional $100 Delta flight credit.

Use Miles for Flight Purchases

You can pay for flights with miles or pay part of the fee in miles and the rest with another method. For every 5,000 miles you have, you’ll earn $50 off your flight costs.

Extended Warranty

Get an extra 12-month warranty on large purchases after the manufacturer’s warranty expires. This applies to products with warranties of less than 5 years and bought with the Delta SkyMiles credit card.

ShopRunner Membership

You can sign up for a free ShopRunner membership with your AMEX. The membership remains free if you hold an American Express card. With ShopRunner, you can get free 2-day shipping and free returns at 100s of partner retailers.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Rewards

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card pays you 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta airline tickets, restaurant purchases, and grocery store purchases. You also earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

How to Redeem Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Rewards

You get the best bang for your buck by redeeming your miles for Delta flights. If you book directly through Delta, you may get more value for your points.

If you don’t have enough points to pay for the full flight, you can make up the difference with another payment method.

You can also redeem miles with partner airlines, but the points are often worth less money than if you went directly through Delta.

How Does the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Stack Up?

#1. Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card works much like the Gold American Express card. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on dining out and Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on every other purchase. Unlike the Gold AMEX, though, the Blue AMEX doesn’t have an annual fee.

You can also earn 20% back on in-flight purchases on Delta flights with the Delta Blue American Express card.

You can also use your miles to pay for your Delta flights directly, combining miles with another payment method if necessary.

#2. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has a hefty annual fee of $250, but it comes with more rewards.

Cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and hotels, 2 points per dollar on dining out, and 2 points per dollar on groceries from select grocery stores.

Cardholders also get their first checked bag for free for everyone on your reservation, a complimentary companion ticket each year that you renew your card and a fee credit for TSA pre-check.

Cardholders also get access to the Delta Sky Club at a rate of $39 for you and two guests, 20% back on in-flight purchases on Delta Airlines, and trip delay/car rental loss or damage/baggage insurance.

#3. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with an even heftier annual fee of $550. You can earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta flights and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases with it.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also includes complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge; free companion ticket for First Class or main cabin upon renewing your card each year; first checked bag is free for all travelers in your party, and a fee credit for TSA pre-check.

You’ll also get various insurance coverage options, including baggage, trip delay, trip cancellation, and car rental loss or damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Worth It?

If you fly Delta often, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an affordable way to get rewards without paying the hefty annual fees of its sister cards.

With no annual fee the first year, it’s a great way to try the card out and see if it makes sense to pay the $99 annual fee.

With the ability to pay with points, get a free checked bag for each person in your party, and priority boarding, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is worth it for most frequent Delta fliers.

What Credit Score Is Needed for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card?

You’ll need good or even excellent credit to get the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, meaning you’ll need a credit score of at least 700.

Bottom Line: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review

If you love Delta Airlines, this could be a great starter travel rewards credit card. Just make sure you use the benefits in the first year before paying the $99 to renew the card in your second year.

If you use all the benefits it offers, though, you’ll more than make up for the $99 fee and get cheaper airline tickets out of your regular spending.

Other Amex Credit Cards:

• Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• American Express Cash Magnet® Credit Card
• Platinum Card® from American Express