Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: Are more perks worth the higher annual fee?

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Aug. 26, 2024

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11 min read

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Editor's Note

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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 welcome offer with a low out-of-pocket cost. 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 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.	Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 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 ($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 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 (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification Year Earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer

The Delta Gold Amex has a welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. This bonus is worth roughly $600, based on TPG's October 2024 valuations.

With the Delta Platinum Amex, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. The bonus miles are worth $720, based on TPG's valuations.

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.

Also, keep in mind that American Express limits cardmembers to one welcome offer 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.

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

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 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year and earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year.

Both the Delta Platinum and Delta Gold offer statement credits.

The Delta Platinum has a slew of statement credits, including an 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) and up to $150 Delta Stays credit per calendar year, in addition to Hertz Five Star status. Enrollment required for select benefits, and terms apply.

Meanwhile, Delta Gold cardmembers receive an up to $100 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year and 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.

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

The Delta Gold and Delta Platinum have identical earning rates, except the Delta Platinum earns an additional mile per dollar on Delta purchases (3 miles per dollar as opposed to 2) and also earns 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels (as opposed to the standard 1 mile per dollar with the Delta Gold).

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 allow cardmembers to earn SkyMiles at a faster rate.

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, though, redemption rates fluctuate widely.

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 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.

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 keeping your costs low, 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, Delta Platinum is a great way to boost your SkyMiles account while enjoying several excellent perks, such as the annual companion certificate at each 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.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click here.

Featured image by WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.