Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex card review: Perfect for casual Delta travelers

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card provides valuable elitelike benefits at an affordable price point for casual Delta flyers. These benefits, which include a first checked bag free and priority boarding for you and up to eight travel companions on your reservation when flying Delta, can easily justify opening and keeping this card, especially for infrequent flyers looking to save on Delta travel. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Delta offers multiple card options, but Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is probably the best option for the occasional Delta flyer.

It packs in a lot of perks for a low annual fee — $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 after that (see rates and fees).

In February 2024, Delta refreshed its credit card lineup, increasing annual fees, introducing new perks, enhancing existing benefits and restricting lounge access across the board, so there are several changes you’ll want to keep in mind if you were looking at this card previously.

You need a credit score of 670 or higher to be approved for the card.

Here’s everything you need to know about the card and why it might be worth getting.

Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex pros and cons

Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex welcome offer

The Delta Gold Amex has an offer of 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of account opening. Offer ends March 27.

TPG’s valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, making this welcome offer worth roughly $840 and matching the highest offer we’ve seen in the card’s history.

Due to Amex’s once-per-lifetime restriction on welcome bonuses, you won’t be eligible for this offer if you already have this card or had a previous version in the past. Amex may also consider other factors, including the number of American Express cards you have opened and closed, when determining your welcome offer eligibility.

Luckily, Amex will notify you if you aren’t eligible for the welcome offer and will allow you to withdraw your application before doing a hard pull on your credit. So, don’t ignore any messages that appear after you submit your application.

Related: Here’s a tip to prevent your Amex welcome bonus from being taken back

Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Benefits

Delta Gold Amex cardmembers get a first checked bag free when they check in with Delta for flights that are both Delta-marketed and -operated, as well as Main Cabin 1 priority boarding. These benefits apply to the cardholder flying and up to eight companions on the same reservation.

On top of bags and boarding privileges, Delta Gold Amex cardholders also get the following benefits: a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, an up to $100 annual credit with Delta Stays, Delta’s hotel travel portal, 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights, 20% back as statement credit on inflight purchases, secondary collision damage waiver*, baggage insurance*, extended warranty* and purchase protection*, complimentary ShopRunner membership and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Related: Choosing the best credit cards for Delta flyers

Earning miles on the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex

With the Delta Gold Amex, you’ll earn Delta SkyMiles on purchases charged to your card as follows:

Based on TPG’s valuation of Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, you’ll get an effective return of 2.4% on eligible Delta, restaurant and supermarket purchases and about 1.2% in value on other purchases. That’s not bad, but not great, either.

Redeeming miles on the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex

The most obvious way to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to book award flights on Delta and its partners. Since Delta uses a dynamic award pricing system, though, redemption rates fluctuate widely. This means you can’t really aim for a set amount of miles to book a specific award. That said, the Delta SkyMiles program still has some sweet spots.

For example, one of the best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to book a SkyMiles deal. Delta frequently has mileage flash sales with significantly discounted economy and even Delta One award flights.

You can also redeem Delta SkyMiles to fly on Delta partner airlines, including SkyTeam alliance partners like Air France and Korean Air and non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic and WestJet — though it’s worth noting that Virgin Atlantic is slated to join SkyTeam next year.

TPG senior content operations editor Madison Blancaflor enjoys the card’s elitelike benefits when flying Delta, such as discounts on Delta award flight redemptions and savings on inflight purchases.

Furthermore, you can redeem SkyMiles for many things other than flights — including premium drinks in Delta Sky Clubs. Most of these redemptions yield a lower return than when redeeming for flights.

Related: Everything you need to know about maximizing Delta SkyMiles award tickets

Which cards compete with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex?

If getting your first checked bag free and priority boarding when flying Delta for a low annual fee are your main motivators, the Delta Gold Amex is probably your best option. However, another card may be better if you have a different goal.

For additional options, check out our full list of best travel credit cards and best American Express cards.

Read more: The best Delta credit cards

Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex worth it?

To get value out of this card, you’ll want to ensure that you can maximize perks such as first checked bag free and inflight purchase discounts to justify the annual fee each year. Even if you only fly the airline a few times a year, that shouldn’t be hard to do, though.

Related: What credit score do you need to get Delta SkyMiles cards?

Bottom line

Although it might not have the most lucrative earning rates, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card can still be worth picking up for travelers thanks to its welcome offer and Delta-specific perks. In particular, as long as you would otherwise pay a first checked bag fee to Delta at least five times each year, you’ll come out ahead with this card.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex, please click here. For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.