Delta flyers who appreciate having their first checked bag free and priority boarding as well as receiving a 15% point discount off award travel should consider the SkyMiles Gold card as a good value proposition; however, will its $250 annual fee (waived after year 1) justify this purchase?
Amex Gold is an improved airline credit card that earns more Membership Rewards points and can be used on flights with multiple airlines.
1. Rewards
Both cards provide travel benefits and earn Delta miles, but each offers different rewards. If you value airline flight benefits such as complimentary first checked bag, the SkyMiles Gold card might be more appropriate.
The Gold card waives its annual fee in year one and charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for travelers who wish to keep travel costs to a minimum. Meanwhile, the Platinum card features a $100 Delta flight credit within its first year as well as additional premium travel benefits than those found with its counterpart – such as providing companion certificates.
However, the higher $250 annual fee associated with the Delta Platinum card can be difficult to justify unless you travel frequently and can take full advantage of all its luxury perks. And if you fly enough on Delta to qualify for their companion certificate offering, then SkyMiles Gold card may offer better value as it comes with a welcome bonus that more than offsets any higher annual fees associated with its use.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card eligibility requirements can typically be fulfilled easily, provided that you regularly fly on Delta flights and have a high enough credit score. In contrast, approval of the Delta Platinum card may prove more challenging; it might still be worthwhile trying if willing to pay an increased annual fee in exchange for luxurious benefits that could enhance your next trip. To find out more about both cards’ eligibility criteria visit their respective pages as well as learn about additional Delta-branded credit cards like the Reserve card or SkyMiles Explorer card.
2. Perks
If you are an avid Delta traveler and in search of a premium credit card, consider the SkyMiles Gold Card as an option. Its annual fee is waived the first year ($99 thereafter) and offers great rewards across certain categories as well as extra benefits like receiving your first checked bag free as well as discounts on inflight meal and beverage services that could easily offset its high price point.
However, the Amex Gold card can provide even greater value in certain circumstances. It earns 2x miles on supermarket and restaurant purchases – comparable to many cash-back cards – while its points can be redeemed for flights through AmEx portal, or transferred directly to Delta at over one cent each when redeeming for flights directly through them.
Amex Gold card offers more than just rewards: its welcome offer of 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within six months is enough for up to $564 of travel according to frequent flyer website The Points Guy, while additional benefits such as free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 priority boarding on Delta flights as well as secondary auto rental insurance are among its many perks.
The Platinum Delta SkyMiles card’s annual fee may be higher, but it comes with a generous companion certificate each year beginning in year two and offers 3x points when booked through AmEx portal or direct with Delta; which could offset some of its high fee in some instances. However, if you prefer earning and redeeming points across different airlines or taking advantage of frequent award sales offered by Delta then perhaps Amex Gold card would be your better choice.
3. Fees
Both cards carry relatively high annual fees, yet provide some valuable perks. The Delta Gold card charges a $0 intro annual fee during its inaugural year; thereafter a fee of $99 annually (please refer to rates and fees for details). Amex Gold’s fee of $250 annually will be waived during its first year.
Delta Gold and Amex Gold cards both do not charge foreign transaction fees, and both provide generous first free checked bag benefits on Delta flights. However, Amex Gold provides more flexibility for how rewards can be redeemed such as gift cards and statement credits; in addition, Amex allows users to transfer them across to many travel partners while Delta limits your SkyMile usage for airline flights only.
Both Delta Gold and Amex Gold cards provide numerous protections and benefits, such as purchase protection, travel accident insurance and roadside assistance. Both cards also feature Amex Offers which offers discounts or additional earnings on eligible purchases – you can view up to 100 offers every month within the Amex app and add any that suit you in order to receive statement credits or additional earnings.
The Delta Gold Card’s benefits may not compare to those offered by Amex Platinum, with an annual fee of $450 (see rates and fees). Your decision on the appropriate credit card depends on your flying habits and reward programs – for instance if you prefer convenience over luxury travel perks then perhaps the Delta Gold Card might be right for you.
4. Flexibility
Both cards offer generous welcome offers, but which is right for you depends on how you plan to use the card. For frequent Delta flyers who appreciate airline perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card may be ideal; but for travelers with other carriers or those seeking greater flexibility among travel carriers that value daily spending that earns miles or offers luxury benefits such as hotel points cards are likely better suited.
Amex Gold offers more flexibility than Delta SkyMiles Gold by providing higher earning rates on purchases made outside of Delta’s store and more ways to redeem your rewards. You can earn double miles at restaurants worldwide and for food delivery within the U.S. You can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points directly to partner airlines where each one may be worth over one cent in airfare redemption value, redeem them for other travel expenses, merchandise or statement credits or use them towards purchasing gifts for loved ones.
If you prefer using your miles with other airline partners or frequent international travel, Amex Gold would be an excellent choice; otherwise, Delta card offers domestic travellers who value personalized flight experiences more.
Both cards are open to those with prequalifying FICO scores of 670 or above; the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card requires more spending to unlock its 30,000 bonus miles than its Amex counterpart and comes with an annual fee that doesn’t waive automatically after one year; in contrast, Amex Platinum card has lower spending requirements but doesn’t offer free companion certificates or spend-based MQD waiver like the Delta Gold does.
5. Value
Both cards require an annual fee, with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card offering lower costs: it charges $0 in year one and $99 annually after that; by contrast, Amex Platinum requires much steeper annual fees of $250 (see rates & fees for more info).
When flying Delta often, this card pays for itself quickly. It earns 2x miles on Delta flights and SkyTeam alliance airline flights and 1x on other travel, plus offers free checked bags, no foreign transaction fees and priority boarding for Main Cabin 1. Additionally, new cardholders receive 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within six months, which could amount to $564 of airfare depending on their redemption strategy.
Delta SkyMiles can also be redeemed for other things than airfare; however, those redemptions typically offer lower returns than flights themselves. For instance, they can be redeemed at Delta Sky Clubs for meals and drinks at roughly 1.5 cents per mile value.
Both cards offer impressive rewards and perks, so choosing the ideal card will depend on how often and flexibly you fly Delta as well as whether or not you wish to use other airlines or take advantage of luxury perks. If your travel habits do not allow for you to recoup an annual fee in its entirety, consider alternative travel cards such as Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Double Cash which offer lower annual fees but still provide valuable earning and redemption opportunities.
