Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex is the entry point for Delta loyalists who want a cobranded airline card without committing to a high annual fee right out of the gate. The first-year fee waiver makes the welcome bonus of 80,000 miles after $2,000 in spend essentially risk-free — you test the card, earn the miles, and decide whether the $150 annual fee is worth continuing after year one.

The card's core practical benefit is the first checked bag free perk, which covers the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation for Delta flights. At Delta's current checked bag fee of $35 per bag per segment, a round-trip flight for two saves you $140 immediately. For anyone who flies Delta two or three times a year and always checks a bag, this alone approaches or exceeds the $150 annual fee.

The earning structure is solid for a mid-tier airline card: 2x miles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets, and 1x on everything else. The $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year is a nice kicker for moderate spenders. The 20% in-flight savings credit on food and drinks is a small but real perk for frequent flyers.

You should get this card if Delta is your primary airline, you fly out of a Delta hub, and you regularly check bags. The first-year fee waiver combined with a 80,000-mile bonus is the most efficient entry point into the Delta credit card ecosystem.

You should skip it if you want a companion certificate — that benefit does not exist on the Gold tier and is exclusive to the Delta Platinum and Reserve cards. You should also skip it if Delta is not your primary airline, since SkyMiles lack transfer flexibility compared to Membership Rewards. The closest step-up is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex, which adds the annual companion certificate but carries a $350 annual fee. Amex lifetime language applies — this is a once-per-lifetime bonus, so plan accordingly if you intend to eventually upgrade to the Platinum or Reserve tier.