By way of its partnership with American Categorical, Delta Air Traces gives probably the most complete airline bank card portfolios available on the market, which incorporates entry-level, mid-tier and premium playing cards (in addition to enterprise card variations of most).
Should you resolve that now could be the time to use, your subsequent query will possible be: How do you select which Delta bank card is best for you?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Categorical Card is a good selection for anybody in search of a card with strong advantages for an affordable annual charge. Nevertheless, extra frequent Delta flyers ought to do some math to find out whether or not the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card may provide higher journey advantages for its worth.
Let’s do a deep dive and examine these two Delta playing cards so you may resolve primarily based on our evaluation and your wants.
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex comparability
|
Profit |
Delta Gold |
Delta Platinum |
|---|---|---|
|
Welcome provide |
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time provide ends on April 2. |
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time provide ends on April 2. |
|
Annual charge |
$0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months, then $150 (see charges and costs) |
$350 (see charges and costs) |
|
Incomes charges |
|
|
|
Baggage |
|
|
|
Key advantages |
|
|
|
Companion certificates |
None |
U.S, Mexico, Caribbean or Central American Predominant Cabin round-trip companion certificates annually at renewal |
|
Standing increase |
None |
|
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex welcome provide
New Delta Gold Amex cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time provide ends on April 2.
This bonus is price roughly $960, primarily based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.
With the Delta Platinum Amex, you may earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time provide ends on April 2.
These bonus miles are price $1,080, primarily based on TPG’s valuations.
Whilst you’re getting extra worth out of the welcome provide on the Delta Platinum, remember to issue the annual charge into your equation.
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The Delta Platinum has a $350 annual charge, whereas the Delta Gold has a extra modest $0 introductory annual charge for the primary 12 months after which a $150 annual charge each subsequent 12 months.
Additionally, take into account that American Categorical limits cardmembers to one welcome provide per card per lifetime. It is necessary to make sure you get the very best welcome provide accessible. Since American Categorical limits welcome gives on playing cards inside the identical household, in the event you’ve acquired a suggestion for the Delta Platinum previously, you is probably not eligible to obtain one on the Delta Gold.
Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its welcome provide is extra useful.
Associated: The final word information to bank card software restrictions
Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex advantages
The first long-term advantages that set the Delta Platinum other than the Delta Gold are the MQD increase and incomes potential.
Delta Platinum cardmembers will obtain 2,500 MQD towards elite standing in the beginning of every Medallion Qualification 12 months and earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent in a calendar 12 months. The Delta Gold doesn’t embody any elite standing headstarts.
Each the Delta Platinum and Delta Gold provide assertion credit.
The Delta Platinum has a slew of assertion credit, together with:
- As much as $120 Resy credit score every calendar 12 months on eligible purchases within the U.S. (as much as $10 month-to-month)
- As much as $120 ride-hailing credit score with choose U.S. suppliers each calendar 12 months (as much as $10 month-to-month)
- As much as $150 Delta Stays credit score per calendar 12 months
- Hertz 5 Star standing
- Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply.
In the meantime, Delta Gold cardmembers obtain:
- As much as $100 Delta Stays assertion credit score per calendar 12 months
- A $200 Delta Flight Credit score after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar 12 months
The Delta Platinum Amex companion certificates could be put towards a second seat in Predominant Cabin (L, U, T, X and V fares, however not Primary Economic system “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 simply pay the taxes and costs.
That may quantity to large financial savings in the event you put it towards an in any other case costly ticket.
As well as, the Delta Platinum Amex gives a International Entry/TSA PreCheck charge credit score, which is offered as soon as each 4 to 4½ years. Cardmembers will obtain a $120 International Entry credit score each 4 years or an as much as $85 TSA PreCheck credit score each 4½ years.
Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply.
Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Due to its number of assertion credit and MQD increase and incomes capabilities, it wins in opposition to the Delta Gold Amex.
Incomes miles on the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex
The Delta Gold and Delta Platinum have nearly an identical incomes charges with simply two exceptions.
The Delta Platinum earns a further mile per greenback on Delta purchases (3 miles per greenback versus 2). The Delta Platinum additionally earns 3 miles per greenback on purchases made immediately with resorts (versus 1 mile per greenback with the Delta Gold).
Each playing cards earn the identical variety of miles on eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.
Should you spend affordable quantities with Delta and at resorts, it is smart to go along with the Delta Platinum.
Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. The elevated incomes charges in choose classes enable cardmembers to earn SkyMiles at a sooner fee.
Redeeming miles on the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex
With each the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum, essentially the most easy approach to redeem your miles is by reserving award flights on Delta and its companions. Since Delta makes use of a dynamic award pricing system, redemption charges can fluctuate and fluctuate at any time.
This implies you may’t actually purpose for a set quantity of miles to e book a particular award.
That mentioned, the Delta SkyMiles program nonetheless has some candy spots. For instance, the most effective methods to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to e book a SkyMiles deal. Delta incessantly has mileage flash gross sales with considerably discounted economic system and even Delta One award flights.
You can even redeem Delta SkyMiles to fly on Delta’s accomplice airways, together with SkyTeam alliance companions like Air France and Korean Air and nonalliance companions.
Moreover, you may redeem SkyMiles for a lot of issues aside from flights — together with premium drinks in Delta Sky Golf equipment. Most of those redemptions yield a decrease return than when redeeming for flights.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson likes to redeem his SkyMiles for last-minute home flights, particularly transcontinental routes from the Pacific Northwest, as you may rating nice offers and save 15% off the associated fee utilizing the TakeOff 15 profit supplied by each playing cards.
Winner: Tie. The playing cards’ redemption choices are the identical.
Ought to I get the Delta Gold Amex or Delta Platinum Amex?
Should you can make the most of the extra perks and advantages the Delta Platinum gives, you must go along with that. Nevertheless, in case you are aiming to maintain your prices low or solely fly with Delta a few times annually, the Delta Gold is the higher selection.
improve from the Delta Gold Amex to the Delta Platinum Amex
The Delta Gold is the youthful sibling of the Delta Platinum card, and it is pretty easy to improve. As a result of each are private playing cards, you may name American Categorical customer support and request an improve. You will have to do the identical factor to downgrade your Delta Platinum to a Delta Gold.
When upgrading your card, you forgo incomes the welcome provide on the Delta Platinum card. Subsequently, my recommendation is to attend for an improve provide earlier than altering your Delta Gold to a Delta Platinum.
Do not forget that American Categorical has a once-per-lifetime coverage for awarding welcome bonuses and has restrictions on incomes welcome bonuses for playing cards inside the identical household.
Backside line
Should you fly Delta usually, the Delta Platinum is an effective way to spice up your SkyMiles account whereas having fun with a number of glorious perks, such because the annual companion certificates at card renewal and varied assertion credit. Nevertheless, even rare Delta flyers will get worth from the Delta Gold because of a strong welcome provide and fundamental advantages.
To be taught extra, try our full opinions of the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click on right here.
