Delta Gold vs. Platinum Card: Which Card is Better for You?

If you fly Delta Air Lines often, having the right Delta credit card can make a noticeable difference in both your travel experience and your wallet.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card share several core benefits, such as a complimentary checked bag, no foreign transaction fees and a discount on award tickets. Terms apply.

But the two cards are built for different types of travelers — one keeps costs low with practical perks, while the other offers richer rewards and faster progress toward elite status. Knowing your travel habits and preferences can help you decide which one is the better choice for you.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

When to choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a strong fit for travelers who want solid Delta benefits without paying a high annual fee.

It’s best suited for people who fly Delta occasionally but still value perks like complimentary checked bags, priority boarding and easy ways to earn miles. Terms apply.

Here are some more specific scenarios where the card makes more sense.

You can't stomach a high annual fee

If you want useful airline perks without a big yearly cost, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is the more budget-friendly option. It has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150. In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card charges a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

Although the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card’s annual fee is higher compared to many mid-tier airline cards, it offers plenty of perks to make it worth your while. In fact, the annual $200 Delta flight credit, which you can earn after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, can offset the fee on its own. Terms apply.

You're a casual traveler

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is generally a better fit for casual travelers because it offers useful benefits without requiring heavy spending. In addition to a manageable annual fee, many of the perks are easy to use, even if you fly Delta only a few times per year.

Just a few examples include:

• Complimentary first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on Delta flights.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit.

• Save 15% when you book Delta flights with miles.

• Zone 5 priority boarding.

• Annual $100 statement credit toward prepaid hotels or vacation rentals on Delta Stays.

Terms apply.

These benefits don't require you to meet a spending threshold and can save you money on your first flight.

» Learn more: Benefits of Delta Air Lines credit cards

You want simpler benefits

While the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card doesn’t offer as much value as its Platinum counterpart, it requires far less effort to track and maximize its perks.

For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers up to $120 in rideshare credits and $120 in Resy credits each year, but both are issued in monthly increments of up to $10. That means you have to remember to use them every month to unlock the full value. Terms apply.

With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the benefits are more straightforward and easier to use, making it ideal for travelers who want value without the added hassle of managing multiple ongoing credits.

Here’s how the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card differ in benefits and rewards rates.

When to choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is better suited for frequent Delta travelers who want more perks, more earning potential and more ways to unlock value. Here are some specific situations where it makes more sense.

You want more value but aren't ready for the airline's premium card

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has a relatively steep $350 annual fee, but that pales in comparison to the eyewatering $650 annual fee charged by the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (see rates and fees). Terms apply.

What's more, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers several valuable benefits that can more than offset the yearly cost, including:

• Up to $120 annually in rideshare credits (up to $10 per month).

• Up to $120 annually in Resy credits (up to $10 per month).

• Annual statement credit of up to $150 on prepaid Delta Stays purchases.

• Discount of 15% when you use Delta SkyMiles to book flights.

• Hertz Five Star elite status. Enrollment required.

• Complimentary seat upgrades, subject to availability.

• Statement credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. (Only one credit will be given in a four-year period for Global Entry or in a 4.5-year period for TSA PreCheck for whichever application fee is charged to your card first.)

Terms apply.

You travel with a plus-one

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers an annual Delta companion certificate each time you renew your card, allowing you to bring someone on a round-trip flight with you when traveling in the main cabin within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America — you only need to pay the taxes and fees for their ticket. Terms apply.

This perk can easily outweigh the card’s annual fee, but it only makes sense if you travel with a companion at least once a year.

You're aiming for Medallion status

If your goal is to reach Delta elite status more quickly, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card gives you a helpful head start.

Cardholders receive $2,500 in Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year through the MQD Headstart benefit. You'll also earn 1 MQD for every $20 you spend on the card in a calendar year. For reference, you'll earn Silver elite status, which comes with perks like unlimited complimentary upgrades and priority check-in and boarding, once you reach $5,000 MQDs. Terms apply.

If you expect to travel more and spend more on your card, these built-in status boosts could be a deciding factor when choosing between the cards.

» Learn more: Should you pursue airline elite status this year?

Which one should you choose?

Choosing between the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes down to how often you fly, how much value you want from your perks and how much effort you’re willing to put into earning and maximizing rewards.

Both cards offer solid Delta benefits, but each one is designed with a different type of traveler in mind.

If you want simplicity, predictable savings and a low-maintenance way to enjoy useful travel perks, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is probably your best match. It keeps costs down while offering benefits that are easy to use on every trip.

If you’re a more frequent flyer who wants richer perks — especially if you’re traveling with a companion or aiming for Medallion status — the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers significantly more earning potential and long-term value. Either way, both cards can help you build a healthy stash of Delta SkyMiles.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page.