American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold Card Review (Personal & Business) (Old Review NOT being Updated)
Updated February 7, 2023. Please see our updated review here.
The Facts
This review covers both the personal and business versions of Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Card.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold Card (Personal)
American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold BUSINESS Card
The Math
Our current valuation of SkyMiles is 1cent per mile, and obviously we won't recommend either card for general spending. The 2x categories might make sense to some, but in general, you probably will be better with a non-fee 2% cashback card such as Citi Double Cash or Fidelity Visa. After the first year, either card will only be valuable to those who can make use of the Delta benefits including $100 flight credit with $10K spending, first bags free, priority boarding, etc. In general, we think this product is lackluster.
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: The difference in annual fees is now $151. With that on Delta Platinum Amex, you receive one annual companion certificate which could be very useful if you fly Delta. In addition, Delta flyers who are short of MQMs and/or MQDs will find the MQM booster and/or MQD waiver valuable. The bottom line is that if you make use of the companion certificate, the MQM booster, or MQD waiver, you want to consider Delta Platinum Amex instead of Delta Gold Amex
The Conclusion
There aren't too many reasons to recommend Delta Gold Amex beyond the first year due to the low miles value and lackluster perks. If you really want some Delta perks, check out Delta Platinum Amex or even Delta Reserve Amex.
The Facts
This review covers both the personal and business versions of Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Card.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold Card (Personal)
- Annual Fee: 1st year free & $99 thereafter
- Signup Bonus: 70,000 miles after you spend $2,000 within 3 months of new account opening. Bonus is not available to applicants who have or had this card or previous versions of this card. Historical best bonus: (1) 70,000 miles + $200 home furnishing credits in 2021; (2) 70,000 miles + $200 with a Delta purchase in 2021; (3) 70,000 miles + $100 statement credit in 2012; (4) 75,000 miles in 2021; (5) 70,000 miles in 2021; (6) 70,000 miles with $99 renewal in 2020; (7) 60,000 miles + $50 statement credit several times in the past years.
- Personal Card Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x Delta & dining & U.S. supermarkets, and 1x everywhere else.
- Best Use of SkyMiles: SkyMiles is the frequent flyer program of Delta Air Lines, a member of SkyTeam. Usually, Delta miles are best for redeeming for awards tickets on Delta or partner airlines. The value of miles depends on your itinerary; there used to be decent or great value especially when redeeming for premium cabins on international long haul flights; however, with devaluations over the years, it is getting harder to find value more than 1 cent per mile. With Amex Delta cards, you might also choose "Pay with Miles" option for Delta flights, which essentially provides fixed value at 1 cent per mile.
- Delta Benefits: (1) Take 15% off miles for awards travel on Delta flights, essentially increasing the miles value by 18% when you redeem on Delta . Note this feature applies to awards travel only and not to the "Pay with Miles" option. (2) Annual $100 Delta flight credit when you spend at least $10,000 during a calendar year. (3) The first checked bag free for the primary cardholder plus 8 passengers on the same reservation. (4) Receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding (same as Delta Silver Medallion elites) for the primary cardholder plus 8 passengers on the same reservation. (5) Receive 20% discount for in-flight purchases including food & beverage, headsets, etc. but excluding Wi-Fi or charitable donations.
- Other Benefits: (1) Amex Offers - you receive savings in form of statement credit or earn bonus miles on select merchants when using your Amex card; you need to manually add an offer to your Amex card to be eligible for savings or bonus, and unlike other savings/bonus programs, you don't need to shop through a certain portal. (2) ShopRunner membership for free 2-day shipping with select merchants. (3) Waived foreign transaction fees and embedded EVM chip. (4) Entertainment Access including American Express Presale, American Express Preferred Seating, and Premium Access (Dining Access).
- History: In January 2013, Amex removed the $99 companion certificate. In May 2014, Amex added waived foreign transaction fees and embedded EMV chip. In January 2020, Amex added dining & grocery as 2x categories and annual $100 flight credit for $10K spending, removed $29 Sky Club passes and MQD waiver, and increased the annual fees from $95 to $99.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold BUSINESS Card
- The business version shares most of the features with the personal version with the following differences.
- Signup Bonus: 75,000 miles after spending $3,000 within 3 months of new account opening. Bonus is not available to applicants who have or had this card or previous versions of this card. Historical best bonus: (1) 70,000 miles + $100 statement credit in 2012; (2) 70,000 miles + $50 statement credit in 2021; (3) 75,000 miles in 2022; (4) 70,000 miles with $99 renewal in 2020; (5) 60,000 miles + $50 statement credit several times in the past years.
- Business Card Landing Page
- Rewards: 2x Delta & dining & U.S. shipping & U.S. advertisement, and 1x everywhere else.
- History: the business version used to have all the features of the personal version; however, starting January 2020, Amex started differentiating the two versions, albeit slightly for now.
The Math
Our current valuation of SkyMiles is 1cent per mile, and obviously we won't recommend either card for general spending. The 2x categories might make sense to some, but in general, you probably will be better with a non-fee 2% cashback card such as Citi Double Cash or Fidelity Visa. After the first year, either card will only be valuable to those who can make use of the Delta benefits including $100 flight credit with $10K spending, first bags free, priority boarding, etc. In general, we think this product is lackluster.
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: The difference in annual fees is now $151. With that on Delta Platinum Amex, you receive one annual companion certificate which could be very useful if you fly Delta. In addition, Delta flyers who are short of MQMs and/or MQDs will find the MQM booster and/or MQD waiver valuable. The bottom line is that if you make use of the companion certificate, the MQM booster, or MQD waiver, you want to consider Delta Platinum Amex instead of Delta Gold Amex
The Conclusion
There aren't too many reasons to recommend Delta Gold Amex beyond the first year due to the low miles value and lackluster perks. If you really want some Delta perks, check out Delta Platinum Amex or even Delta Reserve Amex.