Is the Delta Gold Amex annual fee worth it?
Editor's Note
As a points and miles enthusiast, I have over 10 cards from four issuers. Many of these cards have annual fees, and every year, a few days before that annual fee posts to my account, I have to decide if that card is worth it or if I should downgrade it.
Even if the card charges a low annual fee, you still need to get more value from its benefits than the cost of the annual fee. This can be an especially tough decision for those with cobranded airline cards.
This begs the question: Is the entry-level Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card with its $150 annual fee — $0 introductory annual fee the first year (see rates and fees) — worth it? Let's jump into it.
Welcome offer
With the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, you can find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 80,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
TPG's April 2026 valuations deem this offer as worth up to $960.
Note that you may not be eligible for this welcome offer if you have or previously had a different Delta SkyMiles Amex card.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular American Express cards based on offer history
Earning rates
With the Delta Gold Amex, cardmembers are limited to earning Delta SkyMiles. This card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on all Delta purchases and dining at restaurants worldwide and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. It earns 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Based on TPG's April 2026 valuations, this is a 2.4% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively.
There are other cards with higher returns on spending, even within the Delta Amex portfolio, but if you're looking for a card in the SkyMiles family with a low annual fee, this is a reasonable option.
Flight credit
With this card, you'll receive a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 or more on qualifying purchases in a calendar year. This spending requirement is steep — especially considering it would only earn you $120-$240 in value in SkyMiles on top of the flight credit, depending on which category in which you're spending.
If you spend large amounts with Delta, this can be an added perk, but there are better cards that earn more. One example is the American Express® Gold Card, which earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Since Delta is a transfer partner of Amex, you can then take those (more valuable) Membership Rewards points and transfer them to Delta.
Realistically, most cardmembers won't spend that much on their Delta Gold Amex each calendar year, so I don't recommend considering this benefit when calculating the value you can get out of this card.
Related: The top 11 credit cards with annual travel statement credits
Award flight discount
Delta Gold cardmembers receive 15% off the cost of all award flights operated by Delta (but not partner airlines). This is known as the TakeOff 15 benefit and is my favorite perk of this card.
The nice thing about this 15% off an award flight is that it is valid on all cabins. I have used this card perk many times to take 15% off last-minute transcontinental flights and flights to Central America.
Related: How to use and maximize Delta's TakeOff 15 feature to save on Delta award tickets
Delta travel perks
Free checked bag
With the Delta Gold card, the cardmember and up to eight people in their party on the same reservation get their first checked bag free. This benefit of the card nets me great value as I am a chronic overpacker.
Given that it usually costs up to $35 each way to check a bag, this benefit easily covers the annual fee if you have multiple people on the same reservation or you fly with Delta multiple times each year.
Related: I always check a bag — and I'm proud to admit it
Priority boarding
The Delta Gold card comes with priority boarding, which is a great way to ensure there's enough overhead bin space for your carry-on bag.
20% inflight discount
Cardmembers also receive 20% back as a statement credit on prepurchased meals and inflight purchases of food and drinks (excluding Wi-Fi purchases).
Delta Stays statement credit
Delta Gold cardmembers receive an annual up-to-$100 statement credit each calendar year for Delta Stays reservations. This is an online travel agency powered by Expedia that you can use to book hotels and vacation rentals. This is essentially a free night if you can find a room under $100.
Related: Delta Vacations enhances earning rates and redemption value for SkyMiles members
Bottom line
The Delta Gold card is an entry-level credit card in the SkyMiles Amex family that cardmembers can receive outsize value from if they utilize the free checked bag perk, the inflight discounts and the Delta Stays credit. Plus, the perk of 15% off award flights is a solid benefit and can make devalued SkyMiles go slightly further.
However, if you don't fly Delta at least twice a year or check bags when you fly with this airline, it is difficult to justify the $150 annual fee (that kicks in the second year of card membership). Instead, you might want to consider the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (see rates and fees) instead.
To learn more, read our full review of the Delta Gold Amex card.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Gold
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Blue Amex click here.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.