What's the Highest Welcome Bonus for the Gold Delta Amex?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
TPG reader Chelsea sent me a message on Facebook to ask about welcome bonuses:
"What is the highest bonus you've seen for the Gold Delta Amex? I've been a cardholder for 15 years, but I want my fiancé to apply as we get ready to book our honeymoon. Every mile counts, so I'd love for him to get more than the standard offer."
Credit card welcome bonuses fluctuate regularly, so one easy way to maximize your rewards is to apply when there's a particularly strong offer. Of course, you need some basis of comparison to know what qualifies as a "strong" offer. Having a sense of bonuses that have been available previously can help you decide whether to jump on a current offer.
The Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express have a standard bonus of 30,000 miles after you spend $1,000 in the first three months, plus a $50 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase with your card in that same period. That's typically good for a single round-trip domestic flight — not terrible, but you can do better.
The best public offer I've seen on those cards is for 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months, including the same $50 statement credit. That higher bonus pops up from time to time, though it hasn't made an appearance since last fall, and unfortunately there's no telling if or when it will return.
You can occasionally find even higher targeted bonuses — in 2012, there was an offer for 70,000 miles plus a $100 statement credit. That one is long gone, but there's currently a bonus for 60,000 miles (with various spending requirements) being offered to select SkyMiles members. You should have received notification if you were targeted, but you can try registering anyway just in case.
If you're looking to bank SkyMiles, keep in mind that there are other credit card options. In addition to co-branded Delta Amex cards, both Amex Membership Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest transfer to Delta at 1:1, so you could get a card affiliated with one of those programs if you find a welcome bonus that suits your needs. Unfortunately, the increased offers for the SPG Amex cards just ended, but you might have luck using the CardMatch tool to get a higher bonus on a Membership Rewards card.
It's particularly important to maximize offers from American Express, since you can only earn a welcome bonus once per card. Amex is also more reluctant than other card issuers to match any better offers that come out after you've applied, so make sure you're getting the best offer available. I generally include new and limited-time deals in my monthly roundup of the top credit card offers, so check there for bonuses that beat the norm.
If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.
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