Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Free checked bags and priority boarding for Delta flyers
Updated September 25, 2026 · By the MoneyAtlas Editorial Team
Pros
Free Checked Bag for Up to 9 Travelers: Allows you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation to check your first bag for free
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Receive up to $100 back annually as a statement credit when booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays
15% Discount on Award Travel: Cardholders get a 15% discount when redeeming SkyMiles for Delta flights booked through delta.com or the Fly Delta app
Cons
No Lounge Access or Companion Certificate: Unlike higher-tier Delta cards, the Gold card lacks premium perks like complimentary Sky Club access or an annual companion certificate
Limited Redemption Flexibility: Miles earned with this card are tied to Delta’s SkyMiles program and cannot be transferred to other loyalty programs
High Annual Spending Threshold for Flight Credit: To earn the $200 Delta flight credit, cardholders must spend $10,000 annually
A solid entry-level Delta card that pays for itself in checked bags
Two or three Delta round trips a year with a checked bag cover the $150 fee. Skip it if you want lounges or status.
2X miles on Delta, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants is fair for a mid-tier card, but 1X on everything else keeps everyday earning ordinary.
The first year is free and the $150 fee after that is easy to recoup: a free first bag is worth up to $70 per round trip, and the rideshare credit adds up to $120 a year.
Free checked bags, Zone 5 boarding and 15% off award flights are useful, but there is no lounge access, no Companion Certificate and no MQD earning.
The bag and boarding perks need no tracking; only the monthly rideshare credit, which requires enrollment, takes any effort.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a mid-tier airline credit card tailored for occasional Delta flyers who want to save on travel costs while earning rewards. This card offers valuable perks, including free checked bags, priority boarding, and elevated rewards on everyday spending.
Key Features
Rewards Structure:
- 2X miles on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets, and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
- 1X mile on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Offer:
Annual Fee: (see rates and fees).
Additional Benefits:
- Free Checked Bag: Save up to $70 per round-trip flight for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation.
- Priority Boarding: Zone 5 priority boarding for you and your companions.
- 15% Off Award Travel: Enjoy discounted award travel when using miles to book Delta flights.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: Earn a $200 flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Receive up to $100 back annually for prepaid hotel bookings through Delta Stays.
- 20% In-Flight Savings: Get a statement credit for eligible in-flight purchases such as food and beverages.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Ideal for international travelers (see rates and fees)
Rates and Fees:
- Purchase APR:
- Penalty APR: 29.99% Variable (may apply for late or returned payments)
- Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
- Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
- See rates and fees
Who Is This Card For?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is best suited for:
- Casual Delta flyers who value savings on checked bags and priority boarding.
- Travelers looking to earn miles on everyday purchases like dining and groceries.
- Those who can take advantage of the annual credits and discounts to offset the annual fee.
- Individuals seeking a low-cost entry point into airline credit cards with meaningful travel perks.
While it lacks premium benefits such as lounge access or Medallion status boosts, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers excellent value for infrequent travelers who want to save money and earn rewards when flying with Delta.
Compare
Delta Gold vs. Delta Platinum vs. Delta Blue
The Gold sits in the middle of Delta's personal card lineup. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card drops the annual fee along with the bag benefit. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card costs $350 a year and adds what the Gold is missing: a yearly Companion Certificate and progress toward Medallion status. Lounge access only starts with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card. Here is how the three cheaper cards line up, based on Delta's own card comparison.
Pick the Gold over the Platinum unless you would actually use the Companion Certificate or you are chasing status. The extra $200 a year is hard to earn back on bags and boarding alone.
Is the Delta Gold Card Worth It?
It is if you check bags on Delta. The card costs nothing in year one and $150 a year after that. Against that fee, your first checked bag flies free on Delta flights, which is worth up to $70 per round trip, and on domestic flights your second bag now flies free too.
The break-even math is short. One traveler checking a bag on two round trips saves about $140, nearly the whole fee. Because the benefit also covers companions on the same reservation, a couple flying together gets there in a single trip. Then there is the new rideshare credit: up to $10 a month on U.S. rideshare purchases after your first renewal, or up to $120 a year, with enrollment required.
The other credits are harder to count on. The $200 Delta Flight Credit only arrives after $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, a high bar for most cardholders. The $100 Delta Stays credit only helps if you book prepaid hotels through Delta. Both are listed on the card's benefits page at American Express; treat them as extras, not the reason to apply.
Who comes out ahead: anyone who flies Delta two or more times a year and checks a bag. Once-a-year or carry-on-only flyers are better off with the no-fee Delta Blue, which still earns 2X on Delta purchases and at restaurants.
Bottom Line
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card does one job well: it takes the sting out of Delta's bag fees for people who fly the airline a few times a year. It will not get you into a Sky Club or closer to Medallion status, so frequent Delta flyers should look further up the lineup.