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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: Are more perks worth the higher annual fee?
When Ryan worked as a TPG credit cards writer, he oversaw refreshes of card reviews and card offer stories. He enjoyed racking up cash back and helping readers maximize their points and miles for their next big trip.
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
also contributed to this story
July 14, 2025 • 13 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Quick summary
Two airline cards are compared, each offering benefits for Delta Air Lines travelers at different price points.
The entry-level option provides core travel perks and credits, while the premium version includes enhanced earning rates, elite status boosts and a companion certificate.
Both cards offer statement credits, ride-hailing credits and priority boarding, but the premium card adds hotel credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement and higher elite-qualifying earnings.
Redemption options and basic travel benefits are similar, but frequent Delta flyers may find the premium card's extras more valuable.
What to consider
Eligibility for welcome offers is limited to once per card per lifetime and may be restricted across card families.
The premium card provides an annual companion certificate valid for select round-trip itineraries, with taxes and fees up to $250 on international routes.
Delta miles are valued at 1.2 cents each as of August 2026 per TPG's valuations.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of benefits, credits and elite status perks to help you choose the best fit for your Delta travel habits.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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
Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 80,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 90,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $300 statement credit after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
Annual fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see )
$350 (see )
Earning rates
2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Delta, on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
3 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Delta and purchases made directly with hotels worldwide
2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Baggage
First checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight companions) traveling on the same reservation and a second checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight eligible Delta card-carrying companions) traveling on the same reservation for a domestic U.S. flight
First checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight companions) traveling on the same reservation and a second checked bag free for the cardmember (and up to eight eligible Delta card-carrying companions) traveling on the same reservation for a domestic U.S. flight
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
Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit each calendar year on select U.S. providers (up to $10 monthly statement credit) starting after your first annual card renewal
Enrollment is required for select benefits
Priority boarding (including up to eight companions on the same reservation)
20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits
$120 statement credit for Global Entry or up an up to $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck once every four years
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 is required for select benefits
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 each Medallion Qualification Year
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer
For the Delta Gold Amex, you can apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 80,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
This bonus is worth up to $1,210 (including the statement credit), based on TPG’s August 2026 valuations.
With the Delta Platinum Amex, you can apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 90,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $300 statement credit after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
This bonus is worth up to $1,380 (including the statement credit), 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 every subsequent year.
Also, keep in mind that American Express limits cardmembers to one welcome offer per card 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.
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 MQD toward elite status at the start of each Medallion Qualification Year and earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent in a calendar year. The Delta Gold does not include any elite status headstarts.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Both the Delta Platinum and Delta Gold offer statement credits.
The Delta Platinum has a slew of statement credits, including:
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)
Up to $100 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year
A $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year
Up to $120 ride-hailing credit with select U.S. providers every calendar year (up to $10 monthly), starting after your first annual card renewal
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
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 of no more than $80 on domestic itineraries and $250 on international itineraries.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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 years. Cardmembers will receive either a $120 Global Entry credit or an up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every four years.
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
Both cards earn Delta SkyMiles, which TPG's valuations peg at 1.2 cents a piece
3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels worldwide (3.6% return)
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (2.4% return)
1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases (1.2% return)
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Both cards have almost identical earning rates, with just two exceptions. The Delta Platinum earns an additional mile per dollar spent on Delta purchases (3 miles per dollar as opposed to 2). The Delta Platinum also earns 3 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels worldwide (as opposed to 1 mile per dollar with the Delta Gold).
Both cards earn the same number of miles on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.
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 in select categories 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 the 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, redemption rates can vary and fluctuate at any time.
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.
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
You can also redeem Delta SkyMiles to fly on Delta's 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 aiming to keep your costs low or only fly with Delta once or twice each year, 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 finding out your eligible offer with 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 offers for cards within the same family.
Bottom line
If you fly Delta often, the Delta Platinum is a great way to boost your SkyMiles account while enjoying several excellent perks, such as the annual companion certificate at card 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.
