Choosing between the JetBlue Plus Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can be a tough decision, as both cards offer valuable perks for frequent travelers. Let's compare them side by side to see which is better for your needs.
General Comparison
Both cards have similar annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and offer benefits specific to each airline. The JetBlue Plus Card stands out for its points rewards, while the Delta Gold Card offers stronger travel and airline perks.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of their main features:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold | The JetBlue Plus Card | |
Annual Fee | $150, $0 intro first year. (See Rates and Fees.) | $99 |
Rewards | 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. | 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership. | 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days |
0% Intro APR | N/A | 12 billing cycles on balance transfers |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates and Fees. | $0 |
Purchase APR | 20.24% – 29.24% Variable | 20.74% – 29.99% variable |
Read Review | Read Review |
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Airline Miles Rewards Analysis: Which Card Is Better?
If we look at how many points you can get for spending the same amount, the JetBlue Plus Card is a clear winner. It gives you more points for your money and offers better yearly rewards than the Delta Gold card.
Spend Per Category | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | The JetBlue Plus Card |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 20,000 miles | 20,000 points |
$4,000 – Restaurants
| 8,000 miles | 8,000 points |
$5,000 – Airline | 10,000 miles | 30,000 points |
$4,000 – Hotels | 4,000 miles | 4,000 points |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles | 4,000 points |
Total Points | 46,000 miles | 66,000 points |
Redemption Value (Estimated) | 1 mile = ~1.3 cents
| 1 point = ~1.4 cents
|
Estimated Annual Value | $598 | $924 |
Delta Gold Card holders can redeem miles for Delta flights, seat upgrades, and merchandise. Additionally, explore partner airlines, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. Access exclusive benefits, making the most of your Delta Gold Card rewards.
Airline Benefits And Protections: Comparison
When ti comes to extra travel and airline perks, the Delta Gold card is the winner, mainly due to the broader protections and coverage it provides:
Delta SkyMiles® Gold
- TakeOff 15: Save 15% on Award Travel when booking Delta flights (excluding partner-operated flights and taxes/fees).
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Members of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card are eligible to receive an annual rebate of up to $100 on qualifying prepaid Delta Stays bookings made on delta.com.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: Upon reaching $10,000 in annual purchases, cardholders can enjoy a $200 Delta Flight Credit, applicable towards upcoming travel expenses.
- First Checked Bag Free: Receive complimentary first checked bag on Delta flights.
- Pay with Miles Discount: You can receive up to $50 off the cost of your Delta flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem.
- 20% Back on In–flight Purchases: Receive a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
- ShopRunner: Enjoy free 2-day shipping at 100+ online stores when you enroll in complimentary ShopRunner membership with your Delta Platinum card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
JetBlue Plus Card
Free First Checked Bag: Enjoy the benefit of a free first checked bag for yourself and up to three eligible travel companions on JetBlue-operated flights.
10% Points Back: Receive a 10% points rebate after redeeming points for and traveling on a JetBlue-operated Award Flight, adding value to your rewards.
$100 Statement Credit: Get a $100 statement credit annually when you use your JetBlue Plus Card to purchase a JetBlue Vacations package totaling $100 or more.
Cash + Points: Flexibility is at your fingertips with the Cash + Points option, allowing you to pay for your flight using a combination of dollars and TrueBlue points, starting with as few as 500 points.
Points Payback: With Points Payback, you can redeem your points for a statement credit, providing additional flexibility and the opportunity to recoup up to $1,000 annually.
- In-flight savings: Enjoy a 50% discount on eligible purchases made in-flight on JetBlue-operated flights.
- Fraud protection: Benefit from $0 Fraud Liability, ensuring you are not held accountable for unauthorized charges on your JetBlue Card.
When You Might Prefer The JetBlue Plus Card?
You might prefer the JetBlue Plus card in the following situations:
You Primarily Fly JetBlue: If you fly JetBlue frequently, the JetBlue Plus Card offers more valuable perks and rewards specifically tailored to JetBlue travelers.
- Better Points Rewards Ratio: According to our analysis, the JetBlue Plus Card earns more points when you spend the same amount, especially if you spend on flights.
- Desire for More Flexible Redemption Options: The JetBlue Plus Card might be a better choice if you prefer flexibility in redeeming rewards. JetBlue's TrueBlue program allows for flexible redemption of points on any available seat, with no blackout dates, providing more options for utilizing earned rewards.
- 0% Intro APR: if you need 0% intro APR for balance transfer, it's something you can get only with the JetBlue Plus card.
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When You Might Prefer The Delta SkyMiles Gold?
You might prefer the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card in these situations:
Frequent Delta Flyers: If you often fly with Delta, the SkyMiles Gold Card is a great choice. It offers accelerated rewards on Delta purchases and exclusive perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag, making it ideal for those who are loyal to the Delta Air Lines network.
Delta's Extensive Route Network: Travelers who frequently rely on Delta's extensive route network may find the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card more advantageous. The card's benefits are particularly valuable for those who often explore destinations covered comprehensively by Delta, ensuring a consistent and enhanced travel experience.
Better Travel Insurance And Protections: The Delta Gold card offers a variety of protections you won't be able to get with the JetBlue Plus card, so if you prioritize this aspect – the Gold card may be a better option.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for an airline credit card with travel rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
United℠ Explorer Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $95 ($0 first year) | $99 | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
Rewards |
1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
|
1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
50,000 miles
50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| 40,000 Points
40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months.
|
50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 21.49% – 28.49% variable APR | 20.99% – 27.99% variable APR | 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable) |
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