Delta SkyMiles Platinum vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold
Delta SkyMiles Platinum vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold
Anúncios

If you fly with Delta, you probably already know the benefits of earning and redeeming Delta SkyMiles. But what you might not know is that applying for a Delta credit card can speed up your mileage-earning journey and give you more travel benefits.

With your Delta Air Lines card in your wallet, you have the opportunity to earn SkyMiles on every purchase. Depending on the Delta credit card you choose, you can also take advantage of travel benefits such as airport lounge discounts, TSA PreCheck and Worldwide Incoming membership fee waivers, and more.

If you’re considering a Delta credit card, you may be wondering which is better: the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card? Both cards allow you to earn Delta SkyMiles on everyday purchases, but only one card offers premium travel benefits. However, if you want to take advantage of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum benefits, you must be prepared to pay for the Platinum level. For some Delta travelers, Delta SkyMiles Gold may be the smarter option.

Which one is right for you? Let’s take a closer look at Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum to see if we can draw any conclusions.

Main Details

Delta SkyMiles Gold Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Welcome bonus 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months. 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months.
Rewards Rate 2X miles on restaurant, U.S. supermarkets and Delta purchases1X miles on all other purchases 3X miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations purchases, plus transactions made directly with hotels2X miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

1X miles on all other purchases

Intro APR n/a n/a
Annual fee $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 $250

Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum Highlights

In the battle between Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum, neither card is the overall winner — but each card wins in a specific category. That’s how they stack up.

Welcome Bonus Winner: Delta SkyMiles Gold

The credit card welcome bonus can be a good tiebreaker when you’re torn between two cards. Both Skymiles cards will award miles if you meet certain spending thresholds within the first three months of card ownership, but only the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card gives you the opportunity to earn both SkyMiles and Medallion upon registration Club Qualification Miles (MQMs). bonus.

Anúncios

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers the best rewards. Let’s calculate:

  • The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card offers 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months with the new card.
  • The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months with the new card.

If you want to earn the biggest bonuses, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is the way to go. If you want to earn as many bonus miles or bonus MQMs as possible, choose the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card.

Rewards Rate Winner: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card

If you’re looking to maximize your credit card rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is the clear winner. Here’s how each card’s reward structure works:

  • Delta SkyMiles Gold offers double miles on dining, U.S. grocery stores and Delta purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
  • The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers 3X ​​miles on Delta flights, Delta Vacations® and transactions made directly with hotels, 2X miles on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Both cards offer the same restaurant and U.S. grocery rewards rates (including delivery and takeout), but if you choose the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, you’ll earn more SkyMiles on travel purchases frequent flyer program”.

Annual Fee Winner: Delta SkyMiles Gold

This one is complicated. If you want to keep your annual fee to a minimum, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is your best bet, with an annual fee of just $99. In addition, cardholders are exempted from the annual fee for the first year.

The annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is $250, which may be prohibitive for some cardholders. But in exchange for the hefty annual fee, you can get money-saving travel benefits like annual waybill and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee waivers. You can also take advantage of discounts at airport lounges, which could become your new favorite credit card perk.

We offer it to Delta SkyMiles Gold simply because we know many cardholders struggle to decide if the annual fee is worth it. But if you know you’ll take advantage of and appreciate the benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, the annual fee is well worth it.

Anúncios

Foreign Equity Fee Winner: Tie

Both the Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards have no international transaction fees for purchases made outside the U.S., both great options for global travelers.

Which card is the most profitable?

If you’re looking to earn the most SkyMiles per dollar you spend, Delta SkyMiles Platinum may give you the most bang for your buck—but only if you buy it while traveling (including Delta flights) spend a lot of money. Both cards offer similar reward opportunities if you spend less on travel and more on everyday purchases like groceries.

Example of Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum spending

Say you spent $1,000 on groceries and $500 on restaurants last month. Both Delta SkyMiles Gold and Delta SkyMiles Platinum cards offer double SkyMiles on restaurant and U.S. grocery store purchases, spending at restaurants and grocery stores Earn 3,000 SkyMiles for $1,500.

But what if you also bought a $500 Delta flight and a $500 hotel stay? The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers 3X ​​miles per $1 on Delta shopping and direct hotel bookings, allowing you to earn 3,000 SkyMiles for every $1,000 you spend. The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card offers double miles on Delta purchases and just 1 mile per dollar at hotels, which means you only get 1,500 Sky miles for every $1,000 you spend on travel.

The Points Guy estimates that Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.2 cents each, so the difference for 1,500 miles is about $18.

Why buy a Delta SkyMiles Gold Card?

If you earn rewards on everyday purchases and want to redeem them for unscheduled Delta flights, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card may be the right choice for you.

Anúncios

Extra benefits

Want Delta Travel Deals? In addition to priority boarding, free checked bags per flight, and a 20% discount on in-flight purchases, Delta SkyMiles Gold cardholders can earn $100 in Delta Air Lines after spending $10,000 in a calendar year US flight points. Cardholders also get travel protection, such as rental loss and damage insurance.

Redemption option

The best way to redeem Delta SkyMiles is to use them to purchase Delta flights. When you book your flight on Delta.com, you can earn up to $50 off your ticket for every 5,000 miles redeemed. Don’t have enough miles to pay for all your airfare? With Delta, you can combine miles and cash. You can also transfer your miles to one of Delta’s partners.

If you’re not interested in flying, visit the Delta SkyMiles marketplace to redeem your miles for magazines, gift cards, and more. Some Marketplace redemption options are currently limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are still many ways to convert your miles into something useful or fun.

Recommended credit rating

People with good to excellent credit are most likely to receive Delta SkyMiles Gold. We recommend that you raise your FICO credit score to at least 670 before applying.

Why buy the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card?

If you fly Delta regularly and want to get the most out of your SkyMiles program and enjoy benefits like airport lounge discounts, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is a great option. If you’re interested in moving up to the top level of Medallion membership in the Delta Loyalty Program, the increased Delta purchase rate will help you get there faster.

Extra benefits

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers a wealth of benefits, including waived TSA PreCheck/worldwide entry fees, Delta Sky Lounge access for only $39 per person (when flying with Delta), and per person You can choose the domestic main cabin to redeem the return ticket year.

Cardholders also get the same standard benefits as the Gold Card: priority boarding, free checked bags per flight, 20% discount on in-flight purchases, luggage insurance, travel delay insurance and rental car loss and damage insurance.

Redemption option

If you have a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, you should redeem your SkyMiles for Delta flights or Delta Vacation purchases. That’s probably why you invested in a Platinum-level Delta map in the first place. You can also transfer miles to one of Delta’s partners, or use your SkyMiles program to get seat upgrades, pay for airport lounge fees (including premium drinks), or pay for changes.

If you’re not using SkyMiles to enhance your Delta travel experience, you can always find a good home for them in the SkyMiles marketplace. Redeem your SkyMiles for magazines, gift cards, charitable donations or other options and experiences the marketplace has to offer.

recommended credit rating
As with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, people with good or excellent credit are more likely to be accepted. If you are considering applying for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, we recommend that you have a minimum FICO credit score of 670.

Final result

Delta SkyMiles American Express Gold and Delta SkyMiles American Express Platinum are two great airline credit cards that cardholders can use to earn SkyMiles ”, enjoy travel deals and save money on Delta flights.

However, the two cards are not designed for the same traveler. If you’re a Delta frequent flyer who travels multiple times a year, you’re probably ready to take advantage of the Platinum benefits of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card—as long as you’re willing to pay the Platinum annual fee. If you’re just getting started with SkyMiles and want a high-earning rewards card with a modest annual fee, Delta SkyMiles Gold is a better choice.

Learn more:

Anúncios
Jake Smith

Escrito por

Jake Smith

He is the editor of Eragoncred. Previously, he was editor-in-chief of Eragoncred and a financial industry reporter. Jake has spent most of his career as a Digital Media journalist and has over 10 years of experience as a writer and editor.