Is Delta Gold Amex Worth It

Citi / Aadvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®** is a similar credit card, albeit for a different airline. You’ll earn American Airlines’ AAdvantage Miles when you use it, and 2x miles at restaurants, gas stations and on eligible American Airlines purchases. The annual fee is also $99, $0 for the first 12 months, like with the Delta SkyMiles Gold.

The choice here is really between airlines. If you’re not an airline loyalist, then a general travel card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, might serve you better.

Delta Skymiles Gold American Express Card Vs Delta Skymiles Platinum American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is a great airline credit card for Delta flyers that fly a bit more frequently, may be getting close to earning Delta SkyMiles Medallion status and also fly with a friend or partner regularly.

This card comes with great benefits, including:

• Valuable welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first three months.
• Broad spending categories: You can earn 3X points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines and purchases made directly with hotels. You can earn 2X points for every dollar spent on dining and at U.S. supermarkets. All other purchases can earn 1X point for every dollar spent.
• Companion pass: When you renew your card, you will be awarded a companion pass. This is essentially a “buy-one-get-one free” round-trip ticket for you and a travel buddy. It is good for a main cabin ticket on a domestic flight within the continental U.S. .
• First checked bag is free for you and up to eight people on the same reservation

The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is a simple airline card with few frills.

You will earn 2X points for every dollar spent on dining and purchases made directly with Delta. All other purchases will earn 1X for every dollar.

The card comes with a modest welcome offer of 10,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $500 in the first three months of card membership.

Gold Delta Skymiles Credit Card

on American Express secure website

Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

• Annual Fee: $0 for first year, $95 after
• : 17.99%26.99%
• Benefits: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases, earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Category: Airline Credit Card

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card extends the same APR to users , but when it comes to the annual fee, Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card holders only are entitled to one year with no annual fee after the first year, the fee will be $95.

When compared, the fee is obviously higher than the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, but it is lower than many of the other American Express/Delta cards available to consumers. Gold Delta SkyMiles card holders also reap the benefits of fee-free foreign transactions.

If youre thinking of upgrading, here are a few of the perks provided to Gold Delta SkyMiles card holders:

• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent directly on flights booked through Delta.com, Sky Club memberships or passes, Delta Vacations packages, seat upgrades, or in-flight purchases.
• Earn 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases, like restaurants, gas, groceries, etc.
• 20% off in-flight purchases like food, drinks, etc.
• First bag checked is free
• Priority boarding
• Discounted Delta Sky Club Access

Those considering applying for the Gold Delta SkyMiles card before September 19, 2018 will also receive an introductory bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 or more in the first four months.

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The Basics Of American Express Credit Card Applications Rules

Lets go back to basics.

Every bank sets its own rules and restrictions around credit card applications. Chase has the dreaded 5/24 rule, which bars you from getting approved for a new Chase credit card if youve opened five or more cards in a 24 month period from any bank not just Chase.

American Express doesnt have that same rule, so you dont need to worry about it when it comes to Deltas co-branded credit cards. Rather, per the terms of Amexs card applications:

Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this or previous versions of this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.

That means if you have had a specific American Express card in the past, you will not be eligible to earn the bonus on that same card. Generally speaking with American Express, this restriction will follow you for about seven years after you close the card. At that point, data suggests that Amex allows you to apply for that card again and be eligible to earn the welcome offer bonus.

So while Amex isnt looking at your credit card history with other banks, they will factor in which Amex cards you have had previously regardless of whether or not you earned the welcome offer bonus on them.

Youll need to keep that in mind when it comes time to decide on a possible upgrade.

Free First Checked Bag

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card members and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag. Because Delta normally charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, this perk can be worth much more than the annual fee even if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year.

Families, in particular, can get a huge value four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally incur fees of $240 for their luggage.

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So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about , but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services.Here is a list of our partners.

What Is The Best Delta Credit Card Offer

The best Delta Airlines credit card offer will vary depending on your needs and willingness to pay an annual fee. The Delta Reserve card offers the most benefits including Sky Club access when traveling same day with Delta, upgraded boarding and a Delta companion certificate for eligible flights but comes with the highest annual fee. For a balance of a moderate annual fee and benefits including checked bags when flying Delta, consider the Delta Gold card.

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Delta Skymiles Reserve American Express Card

This is the most expensive, and most premium, of the Delta co-branded cards. New cardmembers between Sept. 16 and Nov. 10 can earn an 80,000-mile welcome offer a value of $960 at our calculations of 1.2 cents per mile and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

The standard offer is 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles if you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus a $100 dining statement credit.

The Delta Reserve is for frequent flyers and loyal Delta travelers to make up for its $550 annual fee , travel must be a big enough portion of your budget to take advantage of the cards added benefits. It comes with perks such as membership in Deltas SkyClub airport lounges, first checked bag free, and credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, plus free access to American Expresss Centurion Lounges when flying Delta.

The Delta Reserve card also offers a free domestic companion ticket every year, but unlike the SkyMiles Platinum card this also applies to first class or Comfort+ bookings, not just Main Cabin fares. It earns 3 miles per dollar on all Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

Are Amex Cards Worth It

Chris Butsch|

Modified date: Sep. 22, 2021

American Express cards are the Mercedes of credit cards. Theyre not cheap, nor are they easy to get but boy are they niceright?

Amexs stand out as having some of the best perks and rewards in the industry, but they are offset by high annual fees, high credit requirements, and a slightly lower merchant acceptance rate.

Thats quite a list of drawbacks especially the annual fee but is it all worth it for the high rewards? Will the perks and points cover the cost of one of these cards, and then some? Or are you better off sticking with a Toyota than a Mercedes?

Whats Ahead:

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Why I Canceled My Amex Delta Gold Card

Ive been thinking about this for a while. Over a year to be exact. And thats a long time to live with doubt!

We started off strong, I received a healthy stockpile of Delta miles as an initial reward when I signed up for the AMEX Delta Gold Card. It seemed like a great deal. The problem is that the $95 annual fee didnt seem worth it anymore . I know some might protest that $95 is a fair trade for the benefits of this card .

Here are 4 reasons I felt like this card no longer added value to my wallet:

Delta Skymiles Gold American Express Card: This Amex Middle Child Offers Decent Rewards

If you like to fly Delta a few times a year, this card’s welcome offer and rewards tier might be a perfect match.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact how ads and links appear on our site.

We are an independent publisher. Our advertisers do not direct our editorial content. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in editorial content are those of the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the advertiser.

To support our work, we are paid in different ways for providing advertising services. For example, some advertisers pay us to display ads, others pay us when you click on certain links, and others pay us when you submit your information to request a quote or other offer details. CNETs compensation is never tied to whether you purchase an insurance product. We dont charge you for our services. The compensation we receive and other factors, such as your location, may impact what ads and links appear on our site, and how, where, and in what order ads and links appear.

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Details Of The Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card gives cardholders the chance to earn generous rewards in popular categories like groceries, dining and airfare. A welcome bonus is also available for those who can meet a minimum spending requirement within six months of account opening.

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $4,000 within six months of account opening
• Earn 4X points on restaurants, 4X points on up to $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year , 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or viaAmexTravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
• $250 annual fee

Comparison: Amex Delta Skymiles Gold Vs Other Delta Credit Cards

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a straightforward earning structure. Cardholders earn:

• 2 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta
• 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
• 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Read more: The best airline credit cards

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I Didnt Save Much With Amex Offers Last Year

Do you know about AMEX offers? Essentially, AMEX will publish a list of offers that you can add to your card to get discounts off certain products, services, restaurants, etc. In the past, Ive saved money on a Stitchfix subscription, Starbucks, Aveda shampoo, the list goes on.

Its always fun to see what offers are available since the list is kind of all over the place. For a few years, I claimed enough offers to offset the $95 annual fee . But when I calculated the AMEX Offers Ive claimed in the last 12 months, I saw Id saved $5 at Starbucks and that was it. Just one more reason to cancel.

Delta Skymiles Reserve Business American Express Card

With the Delta Reserve Business card, youll also get many of the same perks as the consumer version, for the same $550 annual fee . New cardmembers approved from Sept. 16 through Nov. 10 can earn 80,000 SkyMiles, 20,000 MQMs and a $200 statement credit after spending $5,000 in the first three months of card membership.

The card earns 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases, as well as 1.5 miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year on eligible purchases. Youll earn 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

The card has a standard offer of 60,000 SkyMiles, 10,000 MQMs and a $100 statement credit after you spend $4,000 in the first three months. With those 20,000 extra miles, the current 80,000-mile bonus is worth a total of $960 at our valuations.

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Blue Delta Skymiles Credit Card

on American Express secure website

Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

• Annual Fee: $0
• : 17.99%26.99%
• Benefits: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at U.S. restaurants and Delta purchases, earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Category: Airline Credit Card

The Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card comes with an APR between 17.49% and 26.49%, which is average for most of the Delta co-sponsored Amex cards. The Blue Delta card differs in that there is no annual fee, making it one of the first Amex Delta cards offer this. There is, however, a 2.7% fee for foreign transactions.

Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card holders can expect the following perks:

• Earn 2 miles per dollar at U.S. restaurants and with eligible Delta purchases
• Earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
• Save 20% on in-flight purchases, like food, beverages, etc.

In addition, American Express is currently offering an introductory bonus for new card holders, which includes 10,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months.

Quick Showdown: Delta Gold Amex Vs Delta Platinum Amex

• Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• 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.
• $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
• Terms Apply.

The Gold Delta Amex is a good option for the occasional Delta flyer looking for basic perks.

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Delta Skymiles Gold American Express Card: Basics

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.

Card type: Airline.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99.

Bonus offer: Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Plus, earn up to $50 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership. Terms Apply.

Rewards:

• Earn 2X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.

• Earn 1X mile on all other eligible purchases.

• Terms apply.

NerdWallet values Delta miles at 1.3 cents each. This is a baseline value, drawn from real-world data on hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.3 cents or more in value from your Delta miles.

Benefits:

• First checked bag is free for you and up to 8 other passengers traveling on the same reservation.

• Priority boarding.

• 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases.

• $100 Delta flight credit, good for future travel, after you spend $10,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year.

• Terms apply.

Best Delta Credit Card Offer: Delta Skymiles Gold American Express Card Vs Delta Skymiles Platinum American Express Card Vs Delta Skymiles Reserve American Express Card

• FAQs

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