Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
This card is for people who fly Delta a few times a year and check a bag. It earns 2X miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1X elsewhere. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $150. The caveat: the $120 rideshare credit only starts after your first renewal, and the $200 flight credit needs $10,000 of spend in a calendar year.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation, second bag free domestically
- Zone 5 priority boarding so overhead bin space is easier to find
- Up to $100 back per year on Delta Stays prepaid hotel and vacation rental bookings
- $200 Delta Flight Credit toward future travel after $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year
- $120 rideshare credit per year after your first renewal, paid as up to $10 a month with enrollment
- TakeOff 15 takes 15% off the miles price of Delta award flights
- No foreign transaction fees and 20% back on Delta in-flight purchases
- Annual fee: $0 introductory for the first year, then $150
- Purchase APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable, set by the issuer based on your creditworthiness
- Intro purchase APR: N/A
- Balance transfers: not offered on this card
- Cash advance APR: 28.74% Variable, fee is either $10 or 5% of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: up to 29.99% Variable can apply after a late or returned payment
- Late payment fee: Up to $40. Returned payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You check a bag on Delta at least twice a year. Two round trips of bag fees already cover the $150 annual fee.
- Your grocery and restaurant spend is high and you want it to earn Delta miles at 2X.
- You book hotels through Delta Stays and can use the $100 credit every year.
- You should skip this card if you never check bags and rarely fly Delta. The no-fee Blue card earns the same 2X on Delta and dining.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the tier where Delta's airport perks begin. This review looks at whether the free checked bag, boarding position and credits justify $150 a year once the introductory fee ends.
How You Earn
Three everyday categories earn 2X and there are no spending caps on them.
- 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Delta purchases | 2X miles |
| Restaurants | 2X miles |
| U.S. supermarkets | 2X miles |
| Everything else | 1X miles |
How You Redeem
Miles post to your Delta SkyMiles account. TakeOff 15 lowers the price of award flights for Card Members.
- Delta award flights at a 15% miles discount through TakeOff 15
- Pay with Miles: $50 off a paid Delta ticket per 5,000 miles
- Partner airline awards, Delta Vacations and upgrades
Benefits and Protections
The airport perks are the reason to hold this card over the Blue tier.
- First checked bag free worldwide, second bag free on domestic Delta flights
- Zone 5 priority boarding
- $100 Delta Stays credit each year
- $200 Delta Flight Credit after $10,000 of annual spend
- $120 rideshare credit per year after the first renewal
- 20% back on in-flight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Who This Card Is For
This card fits the Delta flyer who takes two to six trips a year, usually with a checked bag, and wants the fee to disappear into saved bag charges. It is not a status card: it has no MQD boost and no lounge access. If status or lounges matter, the Platinum or Reserve tiers are the right comparison.
- Occasional Delta flyers who check bags
- Households with strong grocery and dining spend
- People who want a modest annual fee with a first-year waiver
Comparison
| Feature | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | United℠ Explorer Card | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 first year, then $150 | $0 first year, then $150 | $0 first year, then $99 |
| Welcome Offer | As high as 80,000 miles + $250 credit, $3,000 in 6 mo | Up to 60,000 miles: 50,000 after $3,000 in 3 months | 50,000 miles after $2,500 in 3 months |
| Rewards Rate | 2X Delta, restaurants, U.S. supermarkets | 2X United purchases, dining and hotel stays | 2X American Airlines, restaurants and gas |
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None | None |
| Best For | Occasional Delta flyers who check bags | United flyers who check bags | American flyers who check bags |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | Delta SkyMiles® Blue | Delta SkyMiles® Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 first year, then $150 | $0 | $350 |
| Welcome Offer | As high as 80,000 miles + $250 credit, $3,000 in 6 mo | 10,000 miles after $1,000 in 6 months | As high as 90,000 miles + $300 credit, $4,000 in 6 mo |
| Rewards Rate | 2X Delta, restaurants, U.S. supermarkets | 2X Delta and restaurants, 1X other | 3X Delta and hotels, 2X dining and supermarkets |
| Key Credits | $100 Delta Stays, $120 rideshare, $200 flight credit | 20% back on in-flight purchases | $150 Delta Stays, $120 Resy, $120 rideshare, companion |
| Best For | Occasional Delta flyers who check bags | No-fee Delta miles | Frequent Delta flyers chasing status |
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