Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: Card showdown

Via its partnership with American Categorical, Delta Air Strains gives some of the 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).

In case you resolve that now’s the time to use, your subsequent query will seemingly 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 looking for a card with stable advantages for an affordable annual charge. Nonetheless, 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 evaluate these two Delta playing cards so you’ll be able to resolve based mostly on our evaluation and your wants.

Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex comparability

Associated: Present gives on the Delta SkyMiles playing cards

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 card membership. This provide ends July 16.

This bonus is value $920, based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. This matches the very best welcome provide we have seen on the cardboard which we noticed about 9 months in the past.

With the Delta Platinum Amex, you’ll be able to earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This provide ends July 16.

These bonus miles are value $1,035, based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. This provide is barely under the very best we have seen on the cardboard however an excellent provide to think about in the event you’ve been eyeing this card.

When you’re getting extra worth out of the welcome provide on the Delta Platinum, remember to issue the annual charge into your equation.

The Delta Platinum has a $350 annual charge, whereas the Delta Gold has a extra modest $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr after which a $150 annual charge each subsequent yr.

Additionally, understand that American Categorical limits cardmembers to 1 welcome provide per card per lifetime. It is essential to make sure you get the very best welcome provide out there. Since American Categorical limits welcome gives on playing cards inside the identical household, in the event you’ve obtained a proposal for the Delta Platinum prior to now, you will not be eligible to obtain one on the Delta Gold.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its welcome provide is extra precious.

Associated: The last 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 initially of every Medallion Qualification Yr and earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent in a calendar yr. The Delta Gold doesn’t embrace 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 yr 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 yr (as much as $10 month-to-month)
• As much as $150 Delta Stays credit score per calendar yr
• 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 yr
• A $200 Delta Flight Credit score after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar yr

The Delta Platinum Amex companion certificates might be put towards a second seat in Predominant Cabin (L, U, T, X and V fares, however not Primary Financial 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 charges of not more than $80 on home itineraries and $250 on worldwide itineraries.

That may quantity to very 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 World Entry/TSA PreCheck charge credit score, which is obtainable as soon as each 4 to 4½ years. Cardmembers will obtain a $120 World 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. Because of 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

Each playing cards earn Delta SkyMiles, which TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg at 1.15 cents a chunk

The Delta Gold earns:

• 2 miles per greenback spent on purchases made immediately with Delta (2.3% return)
• 2 miles per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets (2.3% return)
• 1 mile per greenback spent on different eligible purchases (roughly a 1.2% return)

In the meantime, the Delta Platinum earns:

• 3 miles per greenback spent on purchases made immediately with Delta and lodges worldwide
• 2 miles per greenback spent on purchases made on eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (2.3% return)
• 1 mile per greenback spent on different eligible purchases (roughly a 1.2% return)

Each playing cards have virtually an identical incomes charges, with simply two exceptions. The Delta Platinum earns an extra mile per greenback spent on Delta purchases (3 miles per greenback versus 2). The Delta Platinum additionally earns 3 miles per greenback spent on purchases made immediately with lodges worldwide (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.

In case you spend cheap quantities with Delta and at lodges, it is sensible 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 quicker charge.

Associated: Is the Delta Platinum definitely worth the annual charge

Redeeming miles on the Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex

With each the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum, probably the most easy method 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 range and fluctuate at any time.

This implies you’ll be able to’t actually goal for a set quantity of miles to guide a particular award.

That mentioned, the Delta SkyMiles program nonetheless has some candy spots. For instance, among the finest methods to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to guide a SkyMiles deal. Delta often has mileage flash gross sales with considerably discounted economic system and even Delta One award flights.

You can too 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’ll be able to 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’ll be able to rating nice offers and save 15% off the price utilizing the TakeOff 15 profit provided by each playing cards.

Winner: Tie. The playing cards’ redemption choices are the identical.

Associated: Is the Delta Gold Amex annual charge value it?

Ought to I get the Delta Gold Amex or Delta Platinum Amex?

In case you can make the most of the extra perks and advantages the Delta Platinum gives, it is best to go along with that. Nonetheless, if you’re aiming to maintain your prices low or solely fly with Delta a few times annually, the Delta Gold is the higher selection.

The best way to 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’ll be able to name American Categorical customer support and request an improve. You may must 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.

Keep in mind 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

In case you fly Delta typically, the Delta Platinum is a good way to spice up your SkyMiles account whereas having fun with a number of wonderful perks, such because the annual companion certificates at card renewal and varied assertion credit. Nonetheless, even rare Delta flyers will get worth from the Delta Gold because of a stable welcome provide and fundamental advantages.

To be taught extra, try our full opinions of the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum.

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Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex

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For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click on right here.