Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is recommended for less-frequent Delta travelers looking to accumulate miles from everyday expenses like dining and groceries. Despite its annual fee ($150, $0 intro first year), the card offers decent rewards, a welcome offer, and various travel benefits.

The card earns 2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases. Additional pros include the manageable annual fee, slightly elevated rewards on common expenses, and valuable travel benefits like a $100 Delta flight credit and free first checked bag. (Terms Apply). 

New cardholders are eligible to a welcome bonus of 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. The miles earned through regular purchases with this card are modest for the most part, but if you make in-flight purchases, you get up to 20% back in form of statement credits.

However, limitations include lackluster redemption options and the absence of luxury perks like airport lounge access. The card is recommended for those who prioritize immediate savings over luxury benefits and prefer Delta-specific perks.

Can I Redeem for Flights with Airline Partners?

Delta has a list of airline partners that allow you to redeem your SkyMiles for travel. There are twenty plus airline partners including Virgin, KLM, and Hawaiian Airlines.

However, you should bear in mind that if you do transfer miles to another program, you could incur a fee and you may not be able to access the best redemption rates.

What is the Initial Credit Limit?

American Express does not specify the initial credit limit you can expect with the Delta SkyMiles Gold, but since it requires good credit, it is safe to assume that you should have a limit of $1,000 or $500 in the case of students.

However, there are reports of new customers receiving a limit as high as $10,000

What Purchases Don't Earn Miles?

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card has a tiered reward structure, which allows almost every purchase to earn some amount of miles.

However, there are some exceptions. You cannot earn miles on interest costs, reloading prepaid cards, buying traveler’s checks or other cash equivalent purchases.

How to Maximize Rewards?

The reward structure for this card is quite simple, with a maximum of two miles per dollar when you pay for restaurant purchases, purchases at U.S grocery stores and Delta flights. So, to maximize your rewards, be sure to book your Delta flights directly, not through a third party platform or website.

You can also earn more rewards if you look at the non food items at your local grocery stores. Many large grocery store chains have decent electronics, auto items and other purchases which can earn you twice the miles compared to shopping at a specialist store.

When Should You Consider It?

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card is a good option if you’re loyal to the Delta brand and are looking for a card with a simple reward structure. There are only two reward tiers with no caps, so you won’t need to change your spending habits.

However, if you are prepared to do a little work with revolving categories, there are cards on the market that offer better Delta miles rewards.