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
The Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers new cardmembers the chance to earn up to 90,000 bonus miles: 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $2,000 on purchases (for a total of $5,000) in the first six months of card membership.
TPG's October 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.25 cents apiece, making this offer worth up to $1,125.
Note that you may not be eligible for this welcome offer if you have or previously had a different Delta SkyMiles Amex card. Fortunately, American Express will let you know ahead of performing a hard pull on your credit if you aren't eligible to receive a welcome offer for this 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 October 2025 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 or through amextravel.com.
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. 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 American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees