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.

For Delta loyalists who want a VIP experience, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is your best option. I’m a huge fan of Delta and I fly them almost exclusively when I’m traveling around the United States. I find them to have the best in-flight experience, food, entertainment, and seats.

If you’re a Delta fan and fly them a lot, then I really think the Reserve card is must to have. While it has the highest annual fee, it also has most comprehensive set of benefits, including Sky Club access, upgrade priority, and faster elite status earning. It’s very much worth the cost and I have gotten way more value out of it than the fee.

Here’s my review of the card!

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is Delta’s premium card that offers frequent travelers a host of benefits and perks and is meant for people who fly a lot on the airline and want more perks as well as faster elite status earning. The annual fee is $650 (See Rates and Fees.) but I think the perks of the card outweigh the cost.

This card offers:

• 70,000 Bonus Miles after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
• 3x miles on Delta purchases
• 1x miles on all other spending
• 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Free checked bag on Delta flights
• Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
• A domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Up to $240 Resy credit (up to $20 monthly in statement credits)
• Up to $120 Rideshare credit(up to $10 monthly in statement credits)
• Up to $200 Delta Stays credit
• 15% off Award Flight redemption through delta.com and the Fly Delta app
• 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit

In short, there’s a lot of perks with this card and I find that, unlike a lot of other premium cards, they are useful perks! I love the the MQD boost, the hotel credit, the the 15% back on award redemptions, and especially the lounge access. I tend to use the majority of the perks on this card, making the value of it well worth the fee.

Using Your Delta Points

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Worth It?

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who values lounge access, wants to earn elite status quickly, and appreciates upgrade priority, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can be worth every penny. For casual travelers, however, the $650 fee will be hard to justify, especially with limited category bonuses.

Pros:

• Sky Club access and Centurion Lounge access with Delta flights
• Companion certificate
• MQDs at double the Platinum earning rate
• Upgrade priority
• Free checked bag and priority boarding
• 15% off award flights

Cons:

• High annual fee
• Few bonus categories for everyday spending
• Lounge access has visit limits

***

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is for the most dedicated Delta travelers who want the best experience possible. Between lounge access, upgrade priority, and rapid MQD earning, it offers elite-level travel without having to fly your way there entirely. If you’re in airports and on Delta planes regularly, the Reserve delivers unmatched perks.

Click here to learn more and sign up!

If the fee is too high or you don’t fly Delta enough, check out the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card which may better suit your needs at a lower cost.

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.

If you fly a few times a year, you know the pain points: baggage fees that add up quickly, boarding last and finding no overhead bin space left, and earning miles at a snail’s pace. That’s where the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can really change your travel experience. I’m a believer that if you fly one airline at least a few times per year (or have a favorite airline), you should at least get the airline’s lowest tier credit card as it comes with enough perks to justify the cost and will make your travel experience better.

If you’re a Delta casual flier who wants solid perks with a $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the card for you. (See rates and fees.)

In this review, we’ll break down the benefits, costs, and potential drawbacks so you can decide if this card is worth adding to your wallet.

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What is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card ?

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is Delta’s most basic credit card offering and is for people who want to make their airport and flying experience easier but don’t want to pay a high annual fee. The annual fee for this card is $150 per year but is a $0 intro annual fee the first year.

This card offers:

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
• 2x miles on Delta purchases
• 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide
• 1x miles on all other purchases
• Free checked bag on Delta flights
• $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year
• 15% off Award Travel redemptions on Delta flights
• Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
• Up to $100 Delta Stays credit
• 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases savings in the form of statement credits.

Using Your Delta Points

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Worth It?

If you fly Delta two or three times a year and don’t have elite status, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can pay for itself just through the free checked bag benefit as that can save up to $70 on a round-trip per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Add in priority boarding, the 15% award discount, and occasional statement credits, and you’re getting solid value for a relatively modest annual fee.

***

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card hits a sweet spot for casual-to-regular Delta fliers. The free checked bag alone can offset the annual fee, and the priority boarding and award discount make travel more pleasant and affordable. While it doesn’t offer premium perks like lounge access, it delivers enough value for its price point. If you fly Delta but aren’t ready to commit to a high-fee premium card, this is an easy choice to consider.

 

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.

If you fly Delta frequently and want to earn toward elite status while enjoying more travel perks than their Gold card offers but don’t want to pay the high fee of the Reserve, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is likely the best fit for you. It’s a step up in both annual fee and benefits, giving you tools to reach Medallion status faster, plus credits that can offset travel costs.

Here’s my review of the card!

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an annual fee of $350. That is a pretty high annual fee for a lot of people but I would say that if you fly the airline enough to hit their gold status then you are definitely going to want this card over their other ones as it will give you a lot of perks and make your Delta flying experience better.

This card offers:

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels
• 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1x points on all other purchases
• Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card.
• $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year
• 1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee
• 15% off award travel redemptions on Delta flights
• $120 Resy credit
• $120 Rideshare credit
• Free checked bags

How to Redeem Delta SkyMiles

Delta uses dynamic pricing for their rewards. That means that the number of points it takes to book a flight isn’t a set number. Instead, the rate varies based on the cash price of a flight. You can also redeem your points as cash at checkout at the rate of 1 cent per mile but I never find that a good redemption and only rarely ever do that. I only ever do this if I am low on points and don’t have enough to redeem a flight but want to save money off the cash price.

The 15% off on award redemptions makes flights a lot more affordable so be sure to have your card connected to your SkyMiles account. If you are flexible with your dates, you can use their award calendar to see the best points fare as mixing and matching your dates can lead to better deals.

Additionally, Delta offers a lot of award sales so keep an eye out for them. Thrifty Traveler and Point.me are two good websites that can send you alerts. I find Delta miles to be the best for U.S. domestic economy and comfort plus redemptions. Unless there’s a sale, I never book for business or international flights. The redemption value is terrible.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Worth It?

For regular Delta flyers aiming for Medallion status, the The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a clear upgrade from the Gold card. The companion certificate alone can offset the annual fee. Add in the TSA PreCheck credit, higher earning rates, and MQD boosts, statement credits, and the 15% off rewards and the card pays for itself. I’m a huge fan of this one. I have the business version of it as I have the Reserve for personal use since I am heavy Delta flier but if you’re not, then get this Platinum card.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Companion certificate each year
• MQD earning through card spend
• Higher earn rates on Delta and hotel purchases
• TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
• Free checked bag for you and companions
• 15% off award flights

Cons:

• Higher annual fee at $350
• No Sky Club lounge access
• Companion certificate is domestic main cabin only

***

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is best for travelers who fly Delta often and are either chasing or maintaining Medallion status. Between the companion certificate, free checked bags, and the ability to earn MQDs on spending, it offers more than enough perks to justify the higher fee for frequent flyers. If you want lounge access or premium upgrades, however, you might want to look at the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card card instead.

Click here to learn more and sign up!

 

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.