Why We Love the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Credit Card

Leila NajafiFeb 12, 2020
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For someone who is a loyal Delta customer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a lot of great benefits. For one, you get access to the Global Assist® Hotline, which helps travelers with passport replacements, translation services, medical referrals, legal assistance and more.

There are other perks to note as well. Here's why we love the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:

» Learn more: Delta SkyMiles Gold AmEx review: Worth the fee for Delta fans

Generous welcome bonus

One of the most attractive features of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and up to $50 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at US restaurants with your card within the first 3 months of membership. Terms Apply.

This can be an attractive welcome bonus if you plan on booking a vacation a few months after you sign up, since the miles can be used for award travel to over 1,000 destinations worldwide with no blackout dates. The annual fee for this card is $0 intro for the first year, then $99.

No foreign transaction fees

If you are someone who travels internationally a few times a year, not paying foreign transaction fees is a nice perk. Some credit cards impose a small fee, typically around 3%, when you use your card outside of the U.S. That means $1,500 in purchases would cost you $45 in fees.

For this benefit alone, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is great for international travelers.

Free checked bags

Most travelers find checking a bag inconvenient, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. At $30 per bag on Delta domestic flights, baggage fees can add up quickly. With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you and up to eight passengers on the same reservation get your first checked bag free. So if you travel at least four times a year, that’s up to $240 savings round-trip per person on luggage alone.

» Learn more: Delta Air Lines bag fees: How they work, how to avoid them

Priority boarding

Your time is important when traveling, so we value any perk that reduces our need to wait around. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card entitles you to Main Cabin 1 priority boarding. This benefit extends to up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. Terms apply.

When traveling with a carry-on bag, it can be especially nice to be among the first to board and not have to scramble to find an empty overhead bin.

2x miles on Delta purchases and more

If you are a frequent flyer with Delta, investing in a co-branded credit card is a great way to rack up miles quicker.

With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases. This includes flights, upgrades, miles, seat selection and in-flight purchases. Terms apply.

Additionally, cardholders now earn 2X miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.

Complimentary ShopRunner membership

Online shopping is convenient when you don’t feel like dealing with mall crowds. However, some retailers will charge you for shipping if you don’t meet a minimum spending threshold and may deduct the cost of return shipping if you send items back.

With a ShopRunner membership, you get free two-day shipping and free returns with over 100 online retailers in its network, including Bloomingdale's, Under Armour, Kiehl’s and American Eagle. This benefit can be a real time and money saver.

How to Maximize Your Rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for:

Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program: The complete guide Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get? Find the best travel credit card for you

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