American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold vs. American Express Gold Card

With the sheer number of travel credit cards on the market, it can be difficult to pick the one that’s right for you. The American Express® Gold Card is a popular option for people who eat out or travel frequently, while the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an inexpensive — yet rewarding — option for Delta flyers.
If you can afford the unusually high $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), the American Express Gold Card will be the better choice. It offers more perks for travelers and better rewards for people who love to eat out. It also doesn’t keep you locked into a single airline. The rewards earned by the Gold card can also be used for a variety of bounties.
In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles Gold is a mid-range airline credit card, meaning that it’s a bit more affordable compared to the Amex Gold — but it has limited use considering it’s designed only around Delta Airlines.
Which card does it best? Card feature Winner Rewards American Express Gold Rewards redemption American Express Gold Welcome offer Delta SkyMiles Gold Fees Delta SkyMiles Gold Travel benefits American Express Gold
American Express® Gold Card 7.5/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards See Rates and Fees Terms Apply Card Highlights Intro OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. APR18.99%-25.99% Variable Intro Purchase APRN/A Recommended Credit Excellent/Good Reward Rates Annual Fee$250 Additional Details Balance Transfer Fee N/A Late Payment Fee Up to $40 Foreign Transaction Fees None Penalty APR See Rates & Fees Rewards & Redemption Details
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card 7.25/10 CNET Rating CNET rates credit cards by comparing their offers to those of their categorical competitors. Each card is individually evaluated through a formula which reflects the standards and expectations of the contemporary market. Credit card issuers have no say or influence in our ratings. How we rate credit cards See Rates and Fees Terms Apply Card Highlights Intro OfferEarn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Offer ends 11/9/2022. APR18.74%-27.74% Variable Intro Purchase APRN/A Recommended Credit Excellent/Good Reward Rates Annual Fee$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. Additional Details Balance Transfer Fee N/A Late Payment Fee Up to $40 Foreign Transaction Fees None Penalty APR 29.99% Variable Rewards & Redemption Details
Comparing rewards
Winner: American Express Gold Card
When it comes to earning potential, the American Express Gold card has the Delta SkyMiles beat. It earns roughly double the rewards and covers a wider range of purchases. It earns:
4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar (on the first $25,000 spent per calendar year, then 1x) at U.S. supermarkets
3x points for flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
1x for other purchases.
Comparatively, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card earns:
2x miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
2x miles at U.S. supermarkets
2x miles for Delta purchases
1x for other purchases
If you spend a lot eating out and on airfare, the Amex Gold will be the more lucrative choice.
Rewards redemption
Winner: American Express Gold Card
The Amex Gold Card provides more flexibility in terms of the airlines you can fly with and how you can redeem your points. In addition to statement credits and travel bookings, Amex offers a wide selection of travel partners you can transfer your points to in order to fund your travels. Meanwhile, you can only redeem your miles earned with the Delta SkyMiles Gold for flights with Delta.
In terms of value, we found that Delta miles are typically worth about 1 to 1.2 cents, while Amex Membership Rewards® points are worth 1 cent so long as you redeem for airfare through American Express Travel. Other redemption options could yield a different per-point value. With those valuations in mind, that would mean the Delta card earns up to a 2.4% return while the Amex Gold card earns a return of up to 4% when redeeming for airfare.
Welcome offer
Winner: Delta SkyMiles Gold
Take a look at both card’s welcome offers:
American Express Gold: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Gold: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months (offer ends 11/9/22)
With those point and mile values, the Delta SkyMiles offer equates to $650 to $780 in value (assuming a redemption rate of 1 to 1.2 cent per mile), while the American Express Gold card’s offer would equal $600 (at an assumed redemption rate of 1 cent per point). However, were you to redeem rewards for anything but airfare, those estimations would change. Better to think of this as more of a general guideline of what the welcome offers could be worth, rather than as if they were set in stone.
Fees
Winner: Delta SkyMiles Gold
When it comes to annual fees, the Delta SkyMiles Gold is the clear winner as it has a far lower fee than the Amex Gold card. The Delta card has an annual fee of $99 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year) while the Amex Gold costs $250 annually. Taken at face value that might seem enough reason to go with the Delta SkyMiles, but in exchange for its high annual fee the Amex Gold comes with a number of annual credits.
Both cards offer no foreign transaction fees, but both carry a standard late or returned payment fee and cash advance fee.
Travel benefits
Winner: American Express Gold Card
The Amex Gold offers more for your travel, which makes sense considering it has a much higher annual fee. Take a look at the additional card perks for the Amex Gold and the Delta SkyMiles Gold:
Both cards feature some strong perks, however, the Amex Gold Card has the upper hand considering there’s no spending requirement to qualify for its annual credits. That said, because of its higher annual fee, you’ll want to be sure that it matches your budget and that you spend enough on travel and dining to make it a lucrative choice.
Card perks Amex Gold perks Delta SkyMiles Gold perks Up to $120 dining statement credit each year ($10 each month) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations $100 Delta flight credit for spending $10,000 in a calendar year Up to $120 Uber Cash each year (up to $10 each month) on rides and eats in the U.S. First checked bag free The Hotel Collection ($100 experience credit each year when you stay at one of the hotels, minimum 2 night stay required). 20% back as a statement credit on eligible inflight Delta purchases Baggage insurance plan* Baggage insurance plan* Rental car insurance (secondary)* Rental car insurance (secondary)* Purchase protection* Purchase protection* Extended warranty* Extended warranty*
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The bottom line
If the Amex Gold Card fits into your budget, it’ll be the better card to choose. It offers roughly double the rewards of the Delta Gold card in certain rewards categories without the restriction of only having to fly with Delta. Its annual statement credits offer a slight reprieve from the $250 annual fee so long as you can utilize them each year.
However, if you don’t spend enough on travel or eating out each year to justify its high annual fee, consider another credit card. Take a look at our best credit cards with no annual fee to find the right one for you.
FAQs
What is a foreign transaction fee? A foreign transaction fee takes place when you make a purchase in another country that would typically require a currency other than US dollars. If the credit card has a foreign transaction fee, you’ll be charged a percentage for every transaction, usually 3%.
Can I use the Delta SkyMiles Gold with other airlines? You can, but you’ll only earn 1x mile per dollar for the purchase, and you’ll miss out on any Delta-centric perks including a free checked bag and 20% back on eligible inflight purchases.
How much are Amex points worth compared to Delta miles? Amex Membership Rewards points are typically worth 1 cent so long as you use them for airfare through American Express Travel. Other redemption options will provide a different valuation. We found that Delta miles are typically worth 1 to 1.2 cents.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
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