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Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Review: High Value for an Affordable Annual Fee

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
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The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is good for saving on Delta flights without paying too much for a credit card. This card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (see rates and fees). For that, you get a free checked bag, priority boarding, and a large welcome offer. Terms apply.

Explore our full Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card review to see if it's the best Delta card for you.

Ratings Methodology
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Great for: Delta frequent flyers

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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.

1X-2X Miles

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. 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.

50,000 Bonus Miles

  • A budget-friendly option for earning Delta miles. The benefits easily outweigh the annual fee if you fly with Delta regularly.

    • Welcome offer
    • Free checked bag
    • Priority boarding
    • Earn a Flight Credit
    • Annual fee
    • No premium travel benefits
    • 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.
    • Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
    • Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express 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.
    • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
    • 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.
    • You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
    • Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
    • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
    • 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.
    • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
    • Terms Apply.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Extended warranty, purchase protection warranty, baggage insurance plan, and car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold review

Is the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold worth it?

For frequent flyers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card justifies its cost. Like most travel rewards cards, it has an annual fee, so it's important to make sure you can use its benefits. When you spend $10,000 in purchases on this card in a calendar year, you receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel, which already puts you ahead on the annual fee. Terms apply.

Author's note
Image of reviewer

Airline credit cards are only a good choice if you fly with a specific airline often. If you fly with Delta at least two or three times per year, then one of the Delta credit cards is probably a smart pick. If not, I'd recommend a more all-purpose travel card. I don't have any airline cards because I'm not loyal to any particular carrier. But for what it's worth, I like to fly Delta when I have the option. Of the major U.S. airlines, it's my favorite for customer service and the overall travel experience.

Apply now for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

What everyone else is saying

Interested in what other personal finance sites and real-life cardholders think about this Delta card? Here's what other reviews and online comments say about it.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 4.2 / 5 stars

Ratings for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card vary quite a bit. On the professional review sites we checked, ratings ranged from as low as 3.6 stars to as high as 4.8 stars.

Everyone agrees that this card works well for Delta loyalists. In particular, it's recommended for occasional Delta flyers who don't need the luxury benefits that its more expensive cards offer. If you just want some basic benefits, including free checked baggage and priority boarding, then this card could be a good fit.

The annual fee was the main issue that reviews mentioned. It's not that this card is overpriced for what it offers. But other airlines offer similar credit cards for $95 per year.

Online consensus

Opinions about this card on social media are also mixed. When the annual fee was increased, some people expressed disappointment and said they plan to cancel their cards. Others believe that its new benefits make it an even better deal.

The general consensus seems to be that this Delta card can be very valuable, but only for a specific type of traveler. It's for casual travelers who fly a few times every year and check a bag, and who don't care about Medallion Status or premium perks, such as Delta Sky Club® access.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold features and benefits

Bonus opportunities to earn more miles

A Delta credit card is one of the best ways to earn miles with the airline. Instead of only earning miles when you fly, you can earn them on your credit card spending. Here's how much it earns:

  • 2X miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the United States
  • 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets
  • 2X miles on Delta purchases
  • 1X miles on other purchases
  • Terms apply

It doesn't take long to start earning miles with this card, either. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card currently has a limited-time welcome offer of 50,000 Bonus Miles. You earn it after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Terms apply.

Get free checked baggage and priority boarding

If you normally check a bag when you fly, this card could save you money on fees. Your first checked bag on Delta flights is free. Other passengers traveling on the same reservation can also get the first checked bag free, up to a maximum of nine bag fee waivers per reservation. Terms apply.

You'll also be in the Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding group every time you fly with Delta. If you aren't familiar with Delta's boarding process, this means you'll board after first class and the "Sky" boarding group, but before the general main cabin (groups 2 and 3). Terms apply.

Save on airfare with a $200 Delta Flight Credit and 15% off award travel bookings

Whether you're paying with cash or miles, this Delta card can help you save on flights. After spending $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card in a calendar year, you'll receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit. Terms apply.

The credit is easy to get if you use your card regularly, as it only requires about $835 in monthly spending. After you use it, you're already coming out ahead on the annual fee for this card.

When booking award travel on delta.com or the Fly Delta app, you can save 15% with the TakeOff 15 benefit. Terms apply. For example, if a flight costs 30,000 miles, it would cost you 25,500 after that 15% discount.

Helpful extras with travel and purchase protections

As mentioned earlier, you can check a bag on Delta flights for free when you have this card. It also includes a baggage insurance plan, for carry-on and checked luggage. When you purchase the entire fare with your eligible Delta card, you get coverage of up to $500 for checked baggage and $1,250 for carry-on baggage. Terms apply.

American Express cards are known for offering excellent complimentary protections. Here's what else this card offers on eligible purchases:

Terms apply. To learn more about these coverages, including exclusions, review the card's guide to benefits.

What could be improved

Few premium travel benefits

This card works well if you want to earn miles and get some basic benefits, including free checked baggage and priority boarding. It's not the right choice for frequent Delta flyers who want high-end perks.

For example, this card doesn't include access to Delta Sky Club® lounges, or even get you the option to buy a day pass. It also doesn't cover a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership fee. Some travel cards in this price range do, and having one of those memberships speeds up the airport security process.

The annual fee could be an issue for budget travelers

It's nice that this card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year. You get a year to try it and see if you like it, without needing to pay for it. After that, a moderate annual fee applies.

That makes the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card more expensive than similar card products. Some credit cards from other airlines cost under $100 per year. If you're open to cards from more airlines, you may want to keep reading credit card reviews to see what else is out there.

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended to apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. While approval doesn't depend entirely on your credit score, that is among the most important factors.

Pre-approval process

To see if you're pre-approved for an American Express card, use its online pre-approval tool. Or, if you already have any American Express cards, you can check for pre-approval offers in your online account.

Regular APR

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR. Like most airline credit cards, it's not recommended for carrying balance because of the high interest rate.

Fees

Here are the fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:

  • Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • Cash advance fee: 5% ($10 minimum)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Returned payment fee: Up to $40
  • See rates and fees.

Credit limit

Credit limits on the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card generally range from $1,000 to $20,000 or more. American Express sets your card's credit limit upon approval based on several factors, primarily your income and credit history.

Should you apply for the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold?

You should apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card if you're confident you can use its benefits and Delta is your airline of choice. It's a solid choice for Delta travelers, particularly those who don't need the luxury perks of more expensive cards.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The credit limit for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card varies based on your income, credit history, and other factors. Some card members start out with credit limits of $1,000, while others receive credit limits of $20,000 or more.

  • The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card usually isn't hard to get for qualified applicants. If you have a FICO® Score of 670 or more, then you have a good chance of getting approved.

  • Delta miles don't expire.