Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex: Card showdown

By 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).

In case you determine that now’s 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 alternative for anybody in search of a card with stable advantages for an affordable annual payment. Nevertheless, extra frequent Delta flyers ought to do some math to find out whether or not the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card might supply higher journey advantages for its worth.

Let’s do a deep dive and evaluate these two Delta playing cards so you possibly can determine primarily based 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 supply

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 supply ends July 16.

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

With the Delta Platinum Amex, you possibly can earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply ends July 16.

These bonus miles are price $1,035, primarily based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. This supply is barely under the very best we have seen on the cardboard however an incredible supply to think about when you’ve been eyeing this card.

Whilst you’re getting extra worth out of the welcome supply on the Delta Platinum, be sure you issue the annual payment into your equation.

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

Additionally, understand that American Categorical limits cardmembers to at least one welcome supply per card per lifetime. It is essential to make sure you get the perfect welcome supply out there. Since American Categorical limits welcome gives on playing cards throughout the similar household, when you’ve obtained a suggestion for the Delta Platinum previously, you might not be eligible to obtain one on the Delta Gold.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. Its welcome supply is extra beneficial.

Associated: The final word information to bank card utility 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 at first of every Medallion Qualification Yr and earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent in a calendar yr. The Delta Gold doesn’t embody any elite standing headstarts.

Each the Delta Platinum and Delta Gold supply 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 will be put towards a second seat in Major 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 costs of not more than $80 on home itineraries and $250 on worldwide itineraries.

That may quantity to large financial savings when you put it towards an in any other case costly ticket.

As well as, the Delta Platinum Amex gives a World Entry/TSA PreCheck payment credit score, which is accessible 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 equivalent incomes charges, with simply two exceptions. The Delta Platinum earns a further 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 affordable quantities with Delta and at lodges, it is smart to go together with the Delta Platinum.

Winner: Delta Platinum Amex. The elevated incomes charges in choose classes enable cardmembers to earn SkyMiles at a quicker price.

Associated: Is the Delta Platinum definitely worth the annual payment

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

With each the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum, essentially the most easy technique 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 possibly can’t actually purpose for a set quantity of miles to e-book a selected award.

That stated, the Delta SkyMiles program nonetheless has some candy spots. For instance, top-of-the-line 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 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 possibly can 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 possibly can 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.

Associated: Is the Delta Gold Amex annual payment price it?

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

In case you can reap the benefits of the extra perks and advantages the Delta Platinum gives, it’s best to go together 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 alternative.

The 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 possibly can name American Categorical customer support and request an improve. You may have to do the identical factor to downgrade your Delta Platinum to a Delta Gold.

When upgrading your card, you forgo incomes the welcome supply on the Delta Platinum card. Due to this fact, my recommendation is to attend for an improve supply 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 throughout the similar 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 glorious perks, such because the annual companion certificates at card renewal and numerous assertion credit. Nevertheless, even rare Delta flyers will get worth from the Delta Gold due to a stable welcome supply and fundamental advantages.

To be taught extra, take a look at 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.