Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: Are the additional perks worth the increased annual fee?

In partnership with American Express, Delta Air Lines presents one of the most extensive airline credit card selections available, featuring entry-level, mid-tier, and premium cards (including business card options for most types).

If you’ve decided it’s time to apply, your next question might be: How do you determine which Delta credit card suits you best?

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is an excellent option for those looking for a welcome offer at a low upfront cost. However, frequent Delta travelers should calculate whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card provides better travel advantages for its cost.

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Let's explore these two Delta cards in depth so you can make an informed decision based on our insights and your preferences.

Comparison of Delta Gold Amex and Delta Platinum Amex

Benefit	Delta Gold	Delta Platinum
Welcome offer	Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.	Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.
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 on eligible purchases with Delta, at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases	3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per dollar 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 Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply	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 fee credit ($100 every four years for Global Entry, increasing to $120 starting Oct. 1, 2024, 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 required for select benefits; terms apply
Companion certificate	None	Domestic, 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 (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification Year Earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year

Welcome offer comparison: Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

The Delta Gold Amex features a welcome offer of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within the first six months of card membership. This bonus equates to approximately $960, according to TPG's September 2024 valuations.

Dinogo

With the Delta Platinum Amex, you can earn 90,000 bonus miles after making $4,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. According to TPG's valuations, these bonus miles are valued at $1,080.

Although the Delta Platinum offers a more substantial welcome bonus, don’t forget to consider the annual fee in your calculations.

The Delta Platinum comes with a $350 annual fee, while the Delta Gold has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by a $150 annual fee.

Remember that American Express allows each cardmember only one welcome offer per lifetime. It’s crucial to secure the best welcome offer available. If you’ve previously received an offer for the Delta Platinum, you might not be eligible for the Delta Gold offer due to American Express’s restrictions on welcome offers within the same card family.

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

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex perks

The key long-term advantages that differentiate the Delta Platinum from the Delta Gold are the MQD boost and earning potential. Delta Platinum cardholders earn 2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year and receive 1 MQD for every $20 spent annually.

Both Delta Platinum and Delta Gold offer statement credits.

The Delta Platinum includes several statement credits, such as up to $120 in Resy credits each calendar year for eligible purchases in the U.S. (capped at $10 monthly), up to $120 in ride-hailing credits with select U.S. providers each calendar year (also capped at $10 monthly), and up to $150 in Delta Stays credits annually, along with Hertz Five Star status. Enrollment is required for certain benefits, and terms apply.

In contrast, Delta Gold cardholders receive up to $100 in Delta Stays statement credits each calendar year and a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 within a calendar year.

KYLE OLSEN/Dinogo

The Delta Platinum Amex companion certificate can be used for a second seat in the Main Cabin (L, U, T, X, and V fares, excluding Basic Economy "E" fares) on a round-trip journey with Delta or Delta Connection to any of the 50 U.S. states, Central America, and the Caribbean. You only need to cover the taxes and fees.

This can lead to significant savings if applied to a typically high-priced ticket.

Moreover, the Delta Platinum Amex provides a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, available once every four to 4½ years. Cardholders will receive a $100 Global Entry credit every four years (increasing to $120 starting October 1, 2024) or up to an $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4½ years.

Enrollment is necessary for certain benefits, and terms apply.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its diverse statement credits, MQD boost, and earning potential give it the edge over the Delta Gold Amex.

Comparing miles earned with the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

Both the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum cards offer the same earning rates, but the Delta Platinum earns an extra mile per dollar on Delta purchases (3 miles instead of 2) and also earns 3 miles per dollar on hotel purchases, compared to just 1 mile per dollar with the Delta Gold.

CLINT HENDERSON/Dinogo

If you frequently spend with Delta and at hotels, opting for the Delta Platinum makes good financial sense.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its enhanced earning rates enable cardmembers to accumulate SkyMiles more quickly.

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

Both the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum cards offer the simplest method for redeeming miles by booking award flights on Delta and its partner airlines. However, due to Delta's dynamic award pricing, redemption rates can vary significantly.

This means you can't target a fixed number of miles for a specific award.

Nevertheless, the Delta SkyMiles program still features some excellent redemption opportunities. For instance, one of the best methods to use Delta SkyMiles is to take advantage of a SkyMiles deal. Delta regularly runs mileage flash sales with notable discounts on economy and even Delta One award flights.

KYLE OLSEN/Dinogo

You can also use Delta SkyMiles to travel on partner airlines, including those in the SkyTeam alliance like Air France and Korean Air, as well as non-alliance partners.

Additionally, SkyMiles can be redeemed for various items beyond flights — such as premium beverages in Delta Sky Clubs. However, many of these redemptions typically offer a lower value compared to flight rewards.

TPG credit card writer Chris Nelson prefers to use his SkyMiles for last-minute domestic travel, particularly on transcontinental flights from the Pacific Northwest, as he often finds excellent deals and can save 15% off the fare using the TakeOff 15 benefit available on both cards.

Winner: Tie. Both cards provide the same redemption options.

Should I opt for the Delta Gold Amex or the Delta Platinum Amex?

If you can fully utilize the extra perks and benefits offered by the Delta Platinum, that would be the better choice. On the other hand, if minimizing expenses is your priority, the Delta Gold is a more suitable option.

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

The Delta Gold card is like the younger sibling of the Delta Platinum, and the upgrade process is quite straightforward. Since both are personal cards, you can easily call American Express customer service to request an upgrade. You'll follow the same procedure to downgrade from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Gold.

Keep in mind that upgrading your card means you’ll miss out on the welcome offer for the Delta Platinum. Therefore, I recommend waiting for a special upgrade offer before switching from your Delta Gold to a Delta Platinum.

Keep in mind that American Express operates under a once-per-lifetime policy for granting welcome bonuses, along with restrictions on earning welcome bonuses for cards within the same family.

Final thoughts

If you frequently fly with Delta, the Delta Platinum card is an excellent choice to enhance your SkyMiles account while enjoying numerous fantastic perks, like an annual companion certificate at renewal and various statement credits. Even occasional Delta travelers will benefit from the Delta Gold, thanks to its generous welcome offer and essential benefits.

For more details, be sure to check out our comprehensive reviews of the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum.

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Evaluation :

5/5