Alaska Airlines’ and Hawaiian Airlines’ much-anticipated joint loyalty program, Atmos Rewards, launched in August. With it came a slew of under-the-radar perks and a unique way to choose how to earn points and elite status. Though Atmos Rewards introduced new benefits and changes, compared to its predecessor program, Mileage Plan, it will still utilize Alaska’s award chart.

So, if you’re wondering how you can earn Atmos Rewards points for your next redemption, keep reading to find out more.

Note that Hawaiian Airlines will fully integrate with the Atmos Rewards program Oct. 1.

Related: Are we all (mostly) winners? My take on Alaska’s new unified Atmos Rewards program

Earn Atmos Rewards points by flying

Alaska Airlines partners with over 30 airlines, including but not limited to members of the Oneworld alliance. You can earn Atmos Rewards points with all of these partners, but a few do not offer Atmos Rewards award redemptions.

For now, Atmos Rewards uses a distance‑based points-earning structure. However, in 2026, the program will introduce two new ways to earn points — and members will get to choose which method they prefer.

• Distance-based: Earn 1 point per mile flown (including award redemptions).
• Spending-based: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on flights.
• Segment-based: Earn 500 points per segment flown.

For distance- or spending-based earning, you’ll earn points per the current earning charts depending on which airline operates the flight and whose site you use to book. Premium fare classes earn bonus points on top of the usual 100% base points, while basic economy tickets (fare class X or U) only earn 30% of the base points.

For instance, say you booked a one-way nonstop Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), a distance of roughly 2,421 miles in economy fare class Y for $200 on alaskaair.com. Here’s what you would take home depending on which points-earning path you chose:

• Distance-based: 3,632 points (150% of your miles flown)
• Spending-based: 1,500 points (5 points per dollar spent)
• Segment-based: 500 points (500 points per segment)

As you can see, it’s worth putting some thought into which method will be most lucrative for your travel plans. For instance, if you mostly use Alaska Airlines for short, nonstop domestic flights under 500 miles, the segment-based approach could work best. You may prefer the spending-based path if you typically book cash tickets (and especially if you hold an Atmos Rewards cobranded credit card), or distance-based if you often book long-haul flights with miles.

You can change your selection, which also determines how you earn elite status, up to once per calendar year. If you don’t choose, you’ll default to the spending‑based option.

Earn bonus points with elite status

All Atmos Rewards elite members earn bonus points on flights, including on Alaska’s 30-plus partner airlines. The number of bonus points you’ll receive depends on your status tier:

• Atmos Silver: 25% bonus points
• Atmos Gold: 50% bonus points
• Atmos Platinum: 100% bonus points
• Atmos Titanium: 150% bonus points

Related: What exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

Earn Atmos Rewards points with credit cards

Along with its new loyalty program, Alaska recently unveiled its overhauled cobranded credit cards and an all-new premium card. All are offering a sizable chunk of Atmos Rewards points — as well as a valuable companion certificate — as part of their welcome bonuses. Plus, you’ll earn Atmos Rewards points on everyday purchases.

Here’s an overview of the Atmos Rewards program’s three card offerings:

Beyond earning points, the above cards provide perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and inflight discounts. They also earn status points toward your next Atmos Rewards elite status tier.

Though it will not fully integrate with the Atmos Rewards program until Oct. 1, Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles also offers two credit cards. Hawaiian miles currently transfer to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 rate; starting in October, all Hawaiian miles will transition to Atmos Rewards points.

Here are the current Hawaiian cards offered:

The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard and World Elite Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Transfer Atmos Rewards points

Alaska Airlines’ transfer partners haven’t changed. You can still transfer points from Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, and there’s a new way to share points with friends and family members.

What about HawaiianMiles? For now, you can still transfer HawaiianMiles to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. As noted above, the HawaiianMiles program will officially end Oct. 1, when your remaining Hawaiian miles will automatically be moved into your Atmos Rewards account.

Transfer from Bilt Rewards

If you’re a member of Bilt Rewards, you can transfer Bilt Points to Atmos Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. However, Bilt points transfers are not eligible for Atmos status points.

Plus, if you hold the Atmos Rewards Summit or Atmos Rewards Ascent, you can earn 3 Atmos Rewards points for every dollar spent on eligible rent when paying through Bilt, on up to $50,000 per calendar year (terms apply).

Related: Alaska Airlines is sticking with Bilt — but don’t expect more Atmos Rewards transfer partners anytime soon

Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy allows members to transfer points to Alaska Airlines at a 3:1 ratio, plus 5,000 bonus miles for every 60,000 points you transfer.

While the 3:1 ratio may cause you to lose some value, there are situations where it could make sense to convert Marriott points to airline miles.

Pool Atmos Rewards points with family and friends

Finally, you can transfer Atmos Rewards points to friends and family members — but the program charges $10 per 1,000 points transferred. That fee may be worth it if you just need a few thousand more points for a big redemption, but it could add up fast for larger transfers.

If pooling points with family and friends is important to you, you might want to consider applying for the Atmos Rewards Summit card. One major perk of this card is the ability to transfer points at no additional cost back and forth with up to 10 Atmos Rewards members. That’s great news for families and friend groups who’d like to pool their resources toward a flight.

Earn business rewards with EasyBiz

Alaska currently offers a business rewards program called EasyBiz, which allows businesses to earn Atmos Rewards points on employee travel (on top of what employees earn on their personal loyalty accounts). If you had an EasyBiz and/or Hawaiian Airlines Corporate Travel account before the launch of Atmos Rewards, your miles are now Atmos Rewards points.

With EasyBiz, companies can earn 1 Atmos Rewards point per dollar spent on base airfare. They can also access other features, like 24-hour reservation holds, ticket reports and travel management tools.

According to Alaska’s site, Atmos for Business will soon replace EasyBiz, though it’s unclear if or how the program will change during the rebranding. Atmos for Business bookings are slated to open in September 2025, but you can log in with your EasyBiz credentials now and explore the new portal.

Earn Atmos Rewards points with travel partners

Atmos Rewards offers several ways to earn points on travel other than flying. Read on to learn how you can boost your Atmos Rewards balance on hotels, rental cars, cruises and more.

Earn points with Alaska’s hotel partners

With Alaska Vacations, the program’s hotel booking site, Atmos Rewards members can access exclusive pricing and earn 1 point per dollar spent at nearly 1 million properties worldwide. You’ll also earn 1,000 status points for every 3,000 points earned through non-air spending with Alaska Vacations.

You can also earn Atmos Rewards points when booking hotels through one of Alaska’s partners:

Earn points on car rentals and ride-hailing services

Similar to Alaska Vacations, Alaska Car Rentals lets members save up to 35% on base rates and earn bonus points on Avis and Budget car rentals as follows:

And, if you hold Atmos elite status, you can match it to Avis Preferred Plus or Avis President’s Club.

Alternatively, you can earn points on rentals booked through one of Atmos Rewards’ car partners as follows:

Related: Use these tips to never pay full price for a rental car

Book a cruise

Alaska Airlines also offers a cruise booking platform, where Atmos Rewards members can earn 1 point per dollar spent on the purchase price of their cruise (excluding taxes and fees). Plus, you’ll earn 1,000 status points for every 3,000 points earned through non-air spending with Alaska Airlines Cruises.

Related: I booked a sailing through American Airlines Cruises — was it worth it?

Earn Atmos Rewards points with other partners

Travel bookings aren’t the only way to rack up more Atmos Rewards points. You can earn points on everyday purchases, like shopping and dining with Atmos Rewards’ other partners.

These points are in addition to what you’ll earn with the card you use to pay, so be sure to choose the right card — for example, one of the top dining cards or best cards for online shopping.

Atmos Rewards Shopping

Alaska Airlines’ shopping portal, recently rechristened Atmos Rewards Shopping, allows members to earn points online at over 1,100 retailers when they click through the portal to the merchant’s site. Or, install the Atmos Rewards Shopping button on your desktop browser to get alerts for points-earning opportunities at your favorite stores.

There are also in-store offers that you can link to your credit card to earn extra points while shopping in person.

Atmos Rewards Dining

When you set up an Atmos Rewards Dining account and add a credit card, you’ll automatically get points when you dine at participating restaurants and pay with that card.

You’ll earn up to 5 points per dollar spent on your total bill, including taxes and tip, depending on your membership status. Basic members earn just 1 point per 2 dollars spent. If you sign up for email alerts, you’ll become a Select member and earn 3 points per dollar spent. After dining 11 times in 12 months, you’ll reach VIP status and earn the maximum 5 points per dollar spent.

You may be able to earn additional points by leaving reviews for restaurants or participating in promotions. For example, at the time of writing, you can earn 500 bonus points when you join Atmos Rewards Dining and spend $30 on eating out in the first 30 days.

Related: Can you earn rewards with a dining rewards program and a credit card at the same time?

Other partners

Atmos Rewards partners with several other companies to award points on your everyday purchases, as well as certain other activities like filling out surveys. These include:

• 1-800-flowers.com
• Teleflora
• The Opinion Terminal
• Carrs-Safeway
• E-Rewards
• Diners Club International
• Greenlight
• GCI
• Harry & David
• Laithwaites
• Rate

Even better, many of these are eligible for status points. Learn more about earning points at Alaska’s “Everyday partners” page.

Buy Alaska miles

If you need more Atmos Rewards points, the program lets you buy them — for an eye-popping 3.5 cents each. Considering we only value Atmos Rewards points at 1.5 cents apiece per our September 2025 estimates, that’s not a great deal.

However, if you just need a handful of points to reach your next redemption, purchasing them could make sense — especially if you can take advantage of a promotion on buying points.

Bottom line

There are many ways to earn Atmos Rewards points (and elite status) aside from flying. You can also earn points with other travel, credit card spending, shopping, dining and more. This means you don’t have to be a devoted Alaska Airlines flyer or high spender to earn enough points for an excellent redemption, like flying business class to Japan.

One of the highlights of the Atmos Rewards program is the ability to choose how you earn points on flights, starting in 2026. So, consider your travel plans and choose the points-earning path that makes the most sense.

Although I don’t consider myself particularly loyal to any one airline, I’ve held — and loved — my Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees) for several years.

The $75 annual flight credit and 7,500 anniversary points bonus (worth $101 by our August 2025 valuations) more than made up for the annual fee, even for a casual Southwest Airlines flyer. Despite the airline’s tumultuous string of changes earlier this year, I still kept the card.

But Southwest’s recent credit card revamp is the last straw.

Here’s why I’m canceling my Southwest card before the new annual fee hits my account, and what other cards I’m considering replacing it with.

Why I’m canceling my Southwest card

Not only is the Priority card’s annual fee increasing by more than 50%, from $149 to $229, but the annual $75 flight credit — the card’s most valuable perk, in my view — is disappearing, with nothing to replace it. The credit will no longer be part of the card’s benefits after Dec. 31.

This top-tier card doesn’t even include a once-per-year promotional flight discount like the lower-annual-fee Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees).

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

What does the revamped Priority card offer?

The highlight of the card’s makeover, it seems, is the ability to upgrade to Southwest’s extra-legroom seats (set to debut in 2026) within 48 hours of departure for myself and up to eight companions, when available. This would be worth more if I frequently flew Southwest with a large family, but because it’s usually just me and my partner once or twice a year, it doesn’t seem worth the $229 annual fee.

Plus, because Southwest’s route network is mostly limited to flights within the U.S. and the Caribbean, extra legroom doesn’t make as much of a difference as on, say, a transatlantic flight.

Another new perk: Priority cardholders can earn 2,500 tier qualifying points (up from 1,500) for every $5,000 spent. But with how little I fly Southwest, I’m unlikely to get close to status anyway.

Similarly, the new earning structure, including 4 points per dollar spent on eligible Southwest purchases (up from 3 points per dollar) and 2 points per dollar spent at gas stations and restaurants (up from 1 point per dollar), doesn’t move the needle for me.

Since I have other cards that earn rewards at the same or better rates on dining and gas, I pretty much only use my Priority card for the occasional Southwest ticket, so I don’t see this as an improvement.

As a result, I’m planning to cancel my card before the new annual fee pops up on my card anniversary next spring.

It’s clear Southwest is trying to model itself, and its credit cards, on bigger airlines, but it still has a long way to go. In a couple of years, I may consider reapplying for a Southwest credit card, especially if the airline has built stronger partnerships and incorporated more long-haul flights.

Until then, here are the cards I’m considering to fill the hole left in my heart — and my wallet — by my beloved Southwest card.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

United Explorer Card

Since my home base, Denver International Airport (DEN), is a United Airlines hub, a United cobranded card is at the top of my list.

The United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) is comparable to the Southwest Priority, with an annual fee of $150 ($0 for the first year) and a free checked bag for the cardholder and one travel companion.

I could boost my United MileagePlus balance with the 60,000-mile welcome bonus (after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months my account is open) and another 10,000 miles if I add an authorized user in the first three months.

Together, those miles are worth roughly $910 based on our August 2025 valuations.

Since I often book short hotel stays, I expect to maximize the card’s up to $100 in annual credits on prepaid hotel bookings through United Hotels, which would help offset the annual fee. I could also make use of the card’s two one-time United Club lounge passes each year.

On the other hand, the rest of the Explorer card’s “coupon-book” style credits — for ride-hailing services (yearly opt-in required), rental cars, JSX and Instacart (through Dec. 31, 2027) — aren’t very useful to me.

Also, because we fly United fairly often, my husband already holds the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees).

The Explorer provides some perks that the Quest doesn’t, but I’m not sure it makes sense to pay an annual fee for a second United card.

Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

Delta Air Lines’ answer to the United Explorer Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, has a $150 annual fee — with a $0 introductory annual fee the first year (see rates and fees) — and a 50,000-mile welcome offer after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first six months of card membership.

Delta SkyMiles’ award rates aren’t great, but this card would give me access to 15% off redemptions and the Pay with Miles feature to help my miles go further.

Add that to the fact that I hold the American Express® Gold Card and earn Amex Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, and this card could make a lot of sense.

Similar to the Explorer card, the SkyMiles Gold provides a free checked bag and up to $100 in statement credits toward Delta Stays prepaid hotel bookings.

The earning rates (2 miles per dollar spent at Delta, restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases) are nothing special, but the perks could make this card a useful one to carry long-term.

My only deterrent is the fact that Delta doesn’t have a huge presence at DEN; I’ll need to do some research to see what kind of flights I could book on Delta before I apply.

Related: 5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles

Aeroplan Credit Card

Major U.S. airlines aren’t the only ones I’m considering for my next credit card. Air Canada’s offering, the Aeroplan® Credit Card (see rates and fees), is also a contender.

One reason is that I can transfer all my currencies to Air Canada Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio: American Express Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Capital One miles.

Another is that Air Canada is a partner of United, meaning there should be no shortage of award flights out of my home airport.

This card currently offers an attractive 75,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open, but the ongoing perks could make it a worthwhile addition to my wallet for years to come.

For a $95 annual fee, I could get valuable discounts on award flights and a free checked bag for myself and up to eight companions.

Plus, I’d get temporary Aeroplan 25K status (and, thus, Star Alliance Silver elite status) for the year in which I open the card and the following calendar year. If I decide to apply for the Aeroplan card, I’ll wait until early 2026 to maximize my temporary status.

Related: PSA to international travelers: Here’s why you should consider Air Canada and the Chase Aeroplan Card

Bottom line

The Rapid Rewards credit card revamp might be an improvement for Southwest loyalists, but it disappointed this casual Southwest flyer.

Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives with similar perks and modest annual fees.

If you’re feeling the same way, check out our roundups of the best airline credit cards and the best cards to reach elite status. Then factor in things like your home airport, your credit card transfer partners and your upcoming travel plans before choosing the best one for you.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click here.

Through its partnership with American Express, Delta Air Lines offers one of the most comprehensive airline credit card portfolios on the market, which includes entry-level, mid-tier and premium cards (as well as business card versions of most).

If you decide that now is the time to apply, your next question will likely be: How do you choose which Delta credit card is right for you?

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great choice for anyone seeking a card with solid benefits for a reasonable annual fee. However, more frequent Delta flyers should do some math to determine whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card could offer better travel benefits for its price.

Let’s do a deep dive and compare these two Delta cards so you can decide based on our analysis and your needs.

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex comparison

Benefit	Delta Gold	Delta Platinum
Welcome offer	Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 16.	Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 16.
Annual fee	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees)	$350 (see rates and fees)
Earning rates	2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Delta, on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	3 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels worldwide 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Baggage	First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions on the same reservation)	First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions on the same reservation)
Key benefits	Priority boarding (including up to eight companions on the same reservation) 20% discount in the form of statement credits on inflight purchases Up to $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year Up to $100 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year	Priority boarding (including up to eight companions on the same reservation) 20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit ($120 every four years for Global Entry, or up to $85 every 4½ years for TSA PreCheck) Complimentary upgrade for cardmembers who are not SkyMiles Medallion Members for Delta One (within the 50 United States), First Class and Delta Comfort+ after Medallion Members Up to $120 annual Resy credit every calendar year on eligible purchases in the U.S. (up to $10 monthly statement credit) Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit each calendar year on select U.S. providers (up to $10 monthly statement credit) Up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year Hertz Five Star status (enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program required) Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply
Companion certificate	None	U.S, Mexico, Caribbean or Central American Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year at renewal
Status boost	None	MQD Headstart: Cardmembers receive 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year Earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year

Related: Current offers on the Delta SkyMiles cards

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer

New Delta Gold Amex cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 16.

This bonus is worth $920, based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. This matches the highest welcome offer we’ve seen on the card which we saw about nine months ago.

With the Delta Platinum Amex, you can earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends July 16.

These bonus miles are worth $1,035, based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. This offer is slightly below the highest we’ve seen on the card but a great offer to consider if you’ve been eyeing this card.

While you’re getting more value out of the welcome offer on the Delta Platinum, be sure to factor the annual fee into your equation.

The Delta Platinum has a $350 annual fee, whereas the Delta Gold has a more modest $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and then a $150 annual fee every subsequent year.

Also, keep in mind that American Express limits cardmembers to one welcome offer per card per lifetime. It’s important to ensure you get the best welcome offer available. Since American Express limits welcome offers on cards within the same family, if you’ve received an offer for the Delta Platinum in the past, you may not be eligible to receive one on the Delta Gold.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its welcome offer is more valuable.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex benefits

The primary long-term benefits that set the Delta Platinum apart from the Delta Gold are the MQD boost and earning potential.

Delta Platinum cardmembers will receive 2,500 MQD toward elite status at the start of each Medallion Qualification Year and earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year. The Delta Gold does not include any elite status headstarts.

Both the Delta Platinum and Delta Gold offer statement credits.

The Delta Platinum has a slew of statement credits, including:

• Up to $120 Resy credit each calendar year on eligible purchases in the U.S. (up to $10 monthly)
• Up to $120 ride-hailing credit with select U.S. providers every calendar year (up to $10 monthly)
• Up to $150 Delta Stays credit per calendar year
• Hertz Five Star status
• Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.

Meanwhile, Delta Gold cardmembers receive:

• Up to $100 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year
• A $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year

The Delta Platinum Amex companion certificate can be put toward a second seat in Main Cabin (L, U, T, X and V fares, but not Basic Economy “E” fares) on a round-trip itinerary on Delta or Delta Connection to the 50 U.S. states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. You just pay the taxes and fees of no more than $80 on domestic itineraries and $250 on international itineraries.

That can amount to huge savings if you put it toward an otherwise expensive ticket.

In addition, the Delta Platinum Amex offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, which is available once every four to 4½ years. Cardmembers will receive a $120 Global Entry credit every four years or an up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4½ years.

Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Thanks to its variety of statement credits and MQD boost and earning capabilities, it wins against the Delta Gold Amex.

Earning miles on the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

Both cards earn Delta SkyMiles, which TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg at 1.15 cents a piece

The Delta Gold earns:

• 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta (2.3% return)
• 2 miles per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets (2.3% return)
• 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases (approximately a 1.2% return)

Meanwhile, the Delta Platinum earns:

• 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels worldwide
• 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (2.3% return)
• 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases (approximately a 1.2% return)

Both cards have almost identical earning rates, with just two exceptions. The Delta Platinum earns an additional mile per dollar spent on Delta purchases (3 miles per dollar as opposed to 2). The Delta Platinum also earns 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels worldwide (as opposed to 1 mile per dollar with the Delta Gold).

Both cards earn the same number of miles on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.

If you spend reasonable amounts with Delta and at hotels, it makes sense to go with the Delta Platinum.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. The increased earning rates in select categories allow cardmembers to earn SkyMiles at a faster rate.

Related: Is the Delta Platinum worth the annual fee

Redeeming miles on the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

With both the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum, the most straightforward way to redeem your miles is by booking award flights on Delta and its partners. Since Delta uses a dynamic award pricing system, redemption rates can vary and fluctuate at any time.

This means you can’t really aim for a set amount of miles to book a specific award.

That said, the Delta SkyMiles program still has some sweet spots. For example, one of the best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to book a SkyMiles deal. Delta frequently has mileage flash sales with significantly discounted economy and even Delta One award flights.

You can also redeem Delta SkyMiles to fly on Delta’s partner airlines, including SkyTeam alliance partners like Air France and Korean Air and nonalliance partners.

Furthermore, you can redeem SkyMiles for many things other than flights — including premium drinks in Delta Sky Clubs. Most of these redemptions yield a lower return than when redeeming for flights.

TPG credit cards writer Chris Nelson likes to redeem his SkyMiles for last-minute domestic flights, especially transcontinental routes from the Pacific Northwest, as you can score great deals and save 15% off the cost using the TakeOff 15 benefit offered by both cards.

Winner: Tie. The cards’ redemption options are the same.

Related: Is the Delta Gold Amex annual fee worth it?

Should I get the Delta Gold Amex or Delta Platinum Amex?

If you can take advantage of the additional perks and benefits the Delta Platinum offers, you should go with that. However, if you are aiming to keep your costs low or only fly with Delta once or twice each year, the Delta Gold is the better choice.

How to upgrade from the Delta Gold Amex to the Delta Platinum Amex

The Delta Gold is the younger sibling of the Delta Platinum card, and it’s fairly simple to upgrade. Because both are personal cards, you can call American Express customer service and request an upgrade. You’ll need to do the same thing to downgrade your Delta Platinum to a Delta Gold.

When upgrading your card, you forgo earning the welcome offer on the Delta Platinum card. Therefore, my advice is to wait for an upgrade offer before changing your Delta Gold to a Delta Platinum.

Remember that American Express has a once-per-lifetime policy for awarding welcome bonuses and has restrictions on earning welcome bonuses for cards within the same family.

Bottom line

If you fly Delta often, the Delta Platinum is a great way to boost your SkyMiles account while enjoying several excellent perks, such as the annual companion certificate at card renewal and various statement credits. However, even infrequent Delta flyers will get value from the Delta Gold thanks to a solid welcome offer and basic benefits.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum.

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Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex

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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click here.