The
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a good credit card for Delta loyalists, especially the first year. The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex has a great initial bonus offer, has a
$0 intro annual fee the first year, and gives you at least one free checked bag every time you fly – just to name a few of its perks. But things aren’t as clear-cut for folks who don’t always fly Delta or for everyone from the second year on.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review Highlights
1. Great initial bonus
Charging at least
$2,000 to your Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card within
6 months of account opening earns you
40,000 miles, which are redeemable for about
$488 in Delta airfare, according to WalletHub calculations. But you also have to commit to Delta to get it. Many other rewards cards give you maximum value no matter which travel providers you choose.
2. $0 intro annual fee the first year
The Delta Gold Card is about seven times more expensive than the
average credit card, thanks to its
$150 annual fee. Thankfully, it’s
$0 for the first year, which presents an opportunity for potential Delta flyers who are looking for a quick rewards score.
3. Regular rewards
The Delta Gold Card gives you 2 miles per $1 spent directly with Delta, at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets. All other eligible purchases get 1 mile per $1. That’s the equivalent of 1.22% to 2.44% cash back, as each Delta mile is worth an average of $0.0122 when redeemed for Delta airfare, according to WalletHub research.
4. Free checked bags
You and up to eight traveling companions get a free checked bag each time you fly Delta, provided you’re all on the same reservation, paid for with your Delta Gold Card. More specifically, it covers each passenger’s first checked bag on a round-trip.
5. Good credit or better required
You need at least
good credit to get the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. So you should
check your credit score for free on WalletHub before applying. You may also want to browse the market’s
best airline credit cards. Because if you can qualify for the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card, you should be able to get most of its top competitors, too.
6. High interest rate
The fact that you need good or excellent credit to get the Delta Gold Credit Card helps put its APR into perspective. After all, it could be even higher than
the average among cards for people with fair credit. So using the Gold Delta Amex to carry a balance from month to month would be a mistake.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.