If you are a very regular traveler, then you likely want to make sure that you have the best time possible while you are away from home. One of the biggest parts of traveling is actually flying to your destination. People who travel a lot wind up spending copious amounts of money on travel expenses each year. If you add up the total amount of money that you spend on airfare in one year, then you just might be shocked.
Regardless, you can still make things more manageable for yourself when you have access to the right credit card. You can enjoy some luxurious perks while also gaining access to rewards miles. Those who consider themselves to be loyal Delta Airlines customers will have several options to consider, too. There are many travel rewards credit cards that are partnered with Delta specifically.
One of the options that is available to you is the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. This is a credit card that actually does have quite a bit to offer. Even so, is this one worthwhile in comparison to the many other options on the market? We aim to help you answer that question with our in-depth review today.
We are reviewing the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express as thoroughly as possible today. To give you the right information, we are going to be taking a look at the perks, the rewards program, the fees, and everything else about this credit card. After reading all about what this card has to offer, it is going to be a lot simpler to determine if you are interested or not. Simply read on and we will figure out the particulars of this card together.
Prices and Fees
The annual fee for this credit card is set at $95.00, but you will not have to pay it for the first year. The annual fee is waived for your initial year as a cardholder, and that is a nice touch. Overall, the annual fee of this card is not too bad either. When you consider what the credit card is giving you access to, it will be easy to justify the fee.
You will not have to pay any type of foreign transaction fees when using this card either. This is definitely good for anyone who travels outside of the country sometimes. If you have friends or family outside of the United States, then you will at least know that you can use your credit card while traveling. This is an important thing for many people, so you can rest easy knowing that there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about.
All of the other fees are very standard and will not deter you from wanting to sign up. Both the balance transfer fee and the cash advance fee are set at 3% with a $5.00 minimum fee. These fall within normal ranges that you expect out of credit cards in this tier. You likely won’t be using this credit card as a balance transfer card either, so these fees are things that you won’t have to worry about often.
Features and Benefits
It is important to be aware of the sign-up bonus that you can receive from this credit card. If you manage to qualify for it, then you will be able to earn a substantial number of miles to use. All you need to do to earn this sign-up bonus is spend enough money on your credit card within the first three months. The number that you need to reach is not all that high, so most people who travel regularly will easily earn it. It can help to offset some of the annual fee that you will be paying for this credit card.
One feature that you will be getting a lot of use out of is the free checked bag. You are able to get your first checked bag for free on all Delta flights. Most people will wind up saving at least $50.00 per flight by using this convenient perk. If you travel at least once per month, then that is going to add up to a significant number. Being able to save this amount of money really goes a long way toward making this card worthwhile.
Another great benefit is that you will be able to board your flight earlier than everyone else for being a cardholder. You can get main cabin 1 priority boarding just for paying for your Delta flight with this credit card. It allows you to get on the plane faster so that you can find your seat and get settled. This is a very convenient perk that you will be using all of the time to improve your traveling experience.
Cardholders can also enjoy a nice little discount on Delta Sky Club access. If you like to use airport lounges while you are traveling, then this is going to be perfect for you. Instead of paying $59.00 to enter the lounge, you will be able to pay only $29.00. These lounges are really nice and it can really make your travel time go by that much faster.
You will also receive a nice baggage protection perk that can keep you safe in the event that something goes wrong. As long as you paid for the baggage fees with your credit card, you will be able to be reimbursed for lost or damaged baggage. Anyone who travels often enough will be able to see the benefit of having this standard, but valuable, perk. Other good perks include purchase protection, return protection, and car purchase discounts.
Rewards Program Info
This credit card allows you to earn 2X miles per $1.00 spent on purchases made directly from Delta Airlines. If you fly with Delta often enough, then this could be a good card for you to consider. Being able to earn a good amount of Delta SkyMiles for every flight that you book is going to be a nice boost. You will be able to use your earned miles to pay for airfare through Delta, which can really save you a lot of money each year.
You do need to remember that you have to book your flights directly through Delta to earn the points. This means that you must not use any type of third party app or travel agency to book the flights. If you want to get the most out of this credit card, then you need to buy everything from Delta directly. This is not hard to do or anything, but you need to know how to go about it in the proper fashion.
Cardholders will also be able to earn 1X miles per $1.00 spent on all other qualifying purchases. This is not a great rewards rate, but it does allow you to earn miles for random purchases. You likely will not want to use your credit card to buy everyday items, though. To get the most out of this credit card, you really need to be a frequent flyer with Delta Airlines.
Thankfully, Delta Airlines makes redeeming your miles nice and simple. Your Delta SkyMiles have a very good value and you will be able to use them to pay for flights easily. You can book flights without needing to worry about blackout dates. This makes it convenient to use your earned miles to get where you need to go easily.
The fact that Delta SkyMiles do not expire is also fantastic. Some airlines have miles that will expire when you do not use them within a certain window of time. You do not have to worry about that with the Delta SkyMiles that you will be using. Even if you do not travel for a long time, your SkyMiles will be there waiting for you when you decide to make use of them.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- Very good perks
- Delta SkyMiles have good value
- Delta SkyMiles do not expire
Being able to use this credit card outside of the country without having to worry about fees is important. Many people need to be able to travel abroad to visit family members or to do important business. This credit card can be used in other countries without forcing you to pay high fees. Many other credit cards do charge these foreign transaction fees, so it is a great thing that this one is customer friendly.
You will be able to enjoy some very good perks when you make use of this credit card. Cardholders can get their first checked bag for free on Delta flights. You will be able to enjoy main cabin 1 priority boarding to make your traveling experience even simpler than usual. It is also possible to gain access to the Delta Sky Club at a reduced price, making it very practical to use these lounges when you have a layover.
The Delta SkyMiles that you will be earning all have very high value as well. Being able to earn miles at a good rate for direct Delta purchases is nice. When you go to redeem the miles, you will see that they are quite valuable. You will be able to pay for flights to take care of some of your travel expenses.
You also do not have to worry about your Delta SkyMiles expiring on you. Even if you do not use these miles for a long period of time, they will still be there for you when you decide to travel again. Not having to feel like you are forced to use the miles at inopportune moments is a good thing. You will always be able to have a good experience with the Delta SkyMiles rewards system.
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- No free lounge access
- Rewards potential is not as high as it could be
- American Express may not be accepted in as many places as Visa or MasterCard
There are going to be people who will shy away from signing up for this card due to the annual fee. Even so, the annual fee is actually very reasonable. Paying only $95.00 per year is not that bad and the fee is actually waived for the first year. It just comes down to how much you will use the card and whether you can come out ahead. Most people will come out very far ahead.
It is somewhat disappointing that this credit card does not grant you free lounge access. You will be able to enter the Delta Sky Club while enjoying a decreased price for the passes. Even so, having to pay $29.00 to enter the lounge does not seem like a perfect perk. It is better than paying full price, but free entry passes would have been nice.
Also, the rewards potential of this credit card is somewhat mediocre by some standards. You will be able to earn the 2X miles rate for only direct Delta purchases. You will only be earning 1X miles for every other purchase, making it somewhat unimpressive. To get the most out of this card, you have to use it for Delta traveling only.
One potential negative that you should be aware of is that American Express may not be accepted in as many places as Visa or MasterCard. American Express is a very reputable credit card company, but it is not quite as prevalent in the United States as the two aforementioned brands. If you are worried about being able to use this card at certain locations, then you may wish to look for other options.
That being said, this credit card is mostly useful for buying airfare directly from Delta. You will never have a problem using the credit card for its intended purpose. Also, American Express is accepted at most reputable retailers. It just may not be accepted in some smaller stores or certain chains that do not have the right deals in place. Consider the importance of this and then make the decision that is right for you.
Credit Score Needed for Approval
Getting approved for this credit card will not be simple for everyone. You are going to need to have a very good credit score or an excellent credit score to qualify. Credit scores of 690 and higher should have a chance of being approved for this card. Those with lower scores will need to work on their credit and then consider coming back to apply at a later date. Check your credit score ahead of time for the best results.
Who Does This Credit Card Appeal to?
This credit card actually has good appeal for a few different types of people. Of course, it is going to appeal to those who travel with Delta Airlines regularly. If you are a loyal Delta customer, then this credit card just makes sense for you. It allows you to earn miles with Delta and it gives you access to several beneficial perks to make traveling even nicer.
People who travel all the time will also really enjoy having a card such as this. It gives you several conveniences that make it simpler to travel than it would otherwise be. Simply having access to main cabin priority 1 boarding is going to save you some headaches moving forward. Being able to enjoy having your first checked bag be free on Delta flights is also a fantastic little perk.
An Alternative to Consider
If you would like to forego the annual fee, then you may wish to sign up for the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express instead. This credit card actually has better rewards potential than the Gold version of the card while being less expensive. You can earn 2X miles per $1.00 spent on US restaurant purchases, giving the card some added practicality.
The downside is that it does not give you access to all of the perks that the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card does. You will not be able to check your first bag for free on Delta flights if you go with the Blue version of the card. Also, the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card has foreign transaction fees. You will need to think about what matters to you the most and which will be the most lucrative option for you.
Conclusion
You will be able to make good use of the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express if you travel often enough. This is a solid airline travel rewards credit card that has many good perks. If you like having your traveling experience improved by being given preferential treatment, then this card is pretty decent. You can enjoy priority boarding, one free checked bag, and less expensive access to the Delta Sky Club. It definitely appeals to many people who love flying with Delta.
Most people who travel fairly frequently will come out way ahead, even though this card has an annual fee. If you like to travel and Delta is your airline of choice, then you should consider signing up for this one. So long as you qualify, you will have a very good experience. It can limit your travel costs while ensuring that you have the smoothest traveling experience possible at this tier.
