Navigating the world of travel rewards credit cards can be a complex task, especially when considering the offerings from Delta SkyMiles®, a suite of cards provided through a partnership with American Express.
Two standout options from this lineup are the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
Designed with distinct features and benefits, these cards cater to different types of travelers and spending patterns.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue card, often seen as the starting point for Delta’s co-branded credit card line-up, offers a solid rewards structure with no annual fee (rates & fees).
On the other side is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold card. Although it comes with an annual fee, it delivers heightened benefits like a free checked bag on Delta flights, priority boarding, award discount, and more.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Cards Overview
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- 2X SkyMiles Per Dollar on Delta Air Lines
- 2x SkyMiles Per Dollar at Restaurants worldwide (including takeout & delivery in the U.S.)
- 20% Statement Credit on Delta In-Flight Purchases
- No Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (Rates and Fees)
Welcome Bonus
The Delta Blue Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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The Delta Gold Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Winner: The Delta SkyMiles Gold always has a higher welcome offer than the Delta Blue.
Earning Rewards
The Delta Blue Amex earns:
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.
- 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
The Delta Gold Amex allows cardholders to earn:
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar on purchases made with Delta;
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.;
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets; and
- 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Winner: Delta Gold since it offers the extra category of 2 SkyMiles at U.S. supermarkets.
Card Benefits and Perks
The Delta SkyMiles Blue offers the following benefits:
- 20% back on in-flight purchases;
- Extended warranty;*
- Purchase protection;*
- Secondary rental car insurance;*
- No foreign transaction fees.
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
The Delta Gold Amex offers the following benefits for cardholders:
- First checked bag-free and priority boarding for you and up to eight travel companions on your reservation when flying Delta;
- 20% back on inflight purchases as a statement credit;
- 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card);
- $100 Delta Flight credit after spending $10,000 or more in a calendar year;
- No foreign transaction fees;
- Secondary car rental insurance;*
- Lost luggage reimbursement;*
- Purchase protection;* and
- Extended warranty.*
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Winner: The Delta Gold easily wins this category with free checked bags and priority boarding for you and up to 8 travel companions, plus an award discount to save you more SkyMiles
Value of the Annual Fees
One of the best features of the Delta SkyMiles Blue is that it has no annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold has $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (rates & fees).
This allows you to try out the card risk-free for the first year to see if you can offset the annual fee in subsequent years by taking advantage of the free checked bag, priority boarding, 20% statement credit for in-flight purchases, and travel protections.
Winner: It depends. If you check bags, then the Delta Gold is the winner since you can easily offset the annual fee.
But if you always carry on your bag, you might not see as much value in the annual fee.
Redeeming Rewards
Both of the Delta Gold and Delta Blue card earns Delta SkyMiles.
Delta no longer publishes an award chart for its SkyMiles program. Award flights are instead priced dynamically based on many factors, including routes, travel dates, airline partners, and how far in advance you book the flight.
It is generally very difficult for people to get outsized value when using SkyMiles for business class, like many other points programs, but here’s a few of my recommended ways to redeem SkyMiles:
- Domestic economy flights starting as low as 4,500 SkyMiles.
- Booking one of Delta’s occasional flash sales.
- Flights to Canada on WestJet starting as low as 4,500 SkyMiles.
- Virgin Atlantic to London in Upper Class for 120,000 SkyMiles each way.
- Air France Business Class to Paris for 120,000 SkyMiles each way.
- LATAM Economy Class from the U.S. to South America starting at 25,000 SkyMiles each way.
The Verdict
For most Delta flyers, the Delta Gold Amex is a better option than the Delta Blue Amex.
The Delta Gold can easily save you hundreds of dollars each year in bag fees and has a much higher welcome bonus.
The Delta Blue is only a good option if you only carry on your bag and want to avoid paying an annual fee.
Which card are you going to choose?
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- 2X SkyMiles Per Dollar on Delta Air Lines
- 2x SkyMiles Per Dollar at Restaurants worldwide (including takeout & delivery in the U.S.)
- 20% Statement Credit on Delta In-Flight Purchases
- No Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (Rates and Fees)
