When it comes to Delta credit cards, two stand out as the most logical for most travelers: *Delta Gold* and*Delta Platinum*.
But even between these two popular Delta cards, there are key factors to consider, from how many bonus SkyMiles you'll get to annual companion certificates to the yearly fees. The Delta SkyMiles Gold might be a slam dunk for you while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum just doesn't make sense for your travels – or vice versa.
With some of the biggest, limited-time bonuses we've ever seen on these Delta cards and a recently revamped card lineup, we put these cards head to head to help you decide which is best for you.
But before we break down the differences between these cards, let's take a look at what each one brings to the table.
Delta Gold vs Platinum: Similarities & Differences
No matter which version of SkyMiles card you go with, having one of these two in your wallet is a sure way to earn bonus SkyMiles on your purchases and get additional perks like free checked luggage, discounted award tickets, and priority boarding on all Delta flights.
Where they differ is the annual fee and what you get beyond the core set of benefits that comes with most airline cards.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the cards' welcome offers, annual fees, statement credits, and more:
| Benefit | Delta SkyMiles Gold | Delta SkyMiles Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Offer | bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full |
| Annual Fee | annual_fees (see rates & fees) | annual_fees (see rates & fees) |
| Earning Bonus SkyMiles | Earn 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and at U.S. supermarkets | Earn 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases and eligible hotel purchases, 2x SkyMiles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets |
| Statement Credits | Up to a $100 Delta Stays credit each year | Up to a $150 Delta Stays credit, up to $120 ($10 per month) Rideshare credit, and up to $120 ($10 per month) Resy credit each year |
| TakeOff 15 | Get a 15% discount on SkyMiles award tickets | Get a 15% discount on SkyMiles award tickets |
| Free Checked Bag | Get your first checked bag free on all Delta flights. | Get your first checked bag free on all Delta flights. |
| Annual Companion Pass | None | Get a domestic Main Cabin roundtrip companion certificate each year upon card renewal. |
| Earning MQDs | None | $2,500 MQD Headstart and MQD Boost |
Delta Gold vs Platinum: Welcome Offer
When you sign up for a new travel rewards credit card, getting a big welcome offer is a nice bonus (no pun intended).
Delta SkyMiles Gold
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Delta SkyMiles Platinum
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Winner: Which Card Comes With a Better Welcome Offer?
If a big SkyMiles bonus offer is what you're after, the Delta Platinum card is hands down the better choice.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Annual Fee
One of the biggest differences between the Gold and Platinum versions of the Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express comes down to the upfront cost. That alone can be a make-or-break for many travelers weighing the Delta Gold vs Platinum SkyMiles cards.
Delta SkyMiles Gold
The Gold card has an introductory annual fee of $0 in year one – that's right, you won't pay anything for your first year with the card. After that, you'll pay just $150 (see rates & fees) a year to keep your Gold Card open.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The SkyMiles Platinum card comes with a $350 annual fee (see rates & fees) that isn't waived for the first year. This alone puts the card in the upper range of other mid-tier travel cards on the market and nearly costs as much as the more premium *venture x*.
Winner: Which Card Wins on Fees?
Exactly what you get in exchange for the annual fee differs, and we'll take a look at that shortly, but the Delta SkyMiles Gold card's $0 introductory annual fee and much more manageable $150 per year after that makes it the clear winner in this category.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Earning SkyMiles
I hate to break it to you, but neither of these cards should be your go-to for everyday spending. There are much better travel credit cards out there for racking up points on routine purchases – even if your only goal is to earn SkyMiles.
This is a key reason why we tell travelers to quit swiping their favorite airline's co-branded credit card day in and day out: You can do much better with another, more flexible card like the (non-Delta) *amex gold*.
But if you're just adding one of these cards for the first time, you'll at least have to spend enough to earn that big welcome offer. Here's what you'll get in return.
Delta SkyMiles Gold
The Gold Delta SkyMiles card earns 2x SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), at U.S. supermarkets, and on Delta purchases. All other eligible purchases earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Just like the Gold Card, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card will earn 2x SkyMiles at both restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets. But it ups the ante by earning 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at eligible hotels – giving it a slight edge in this category.
All other eligible purchases earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent.
Winner: Which Card is Best for Earning SkyMiles?
When it comes to earning SkyMiles on your purchases, the Delta Platinum is a more rewarding option than the Gold card.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Statement Credits
While the Delta Gold Card doesn't come with a cost in year one, it does carry a $150 annual fee after that first year. Meanwhile, you're on the hook for the Platinum Card's $350 annual fee right out of the gate.
So what could possibly make paying those fees worth it? Money-saving statement credits sure help.
Delta Stays
Both cards come with an annual credit for hotel bookings through Delta Stays. If you're unfamiliar with Delta Stays, it's similar to other online travel agencies (OTAs) in that you can easily search for hotel and vacation rentals in thousands of cities worldwide. You'll see results from all the major hotel chains, smaller boutique hotels, and even vacation rentals similar to those you'll find on Airbnb or Vrbo.
Here's how much you'll get depending on which card you have:
- The *delta skymiles gold* comes with an up to $100 Delta Stays credit each calendar year.
- The *delta skymiles platinum card* comes with an up to $150 Delta Stays credit each calendar year.
It's worth mentioning that you get a fresh credit each calendar year, not when your card renews. That means if you're just picking up one of these cards for the first time, you'd be able to use the credit both this year and next, all while paying a single year's annual fee. Or in the case of the Delta Gold card, no annual fee at all.
Read our guide to using your Delta Stays credit!
Rideshare
The Delta Platinum Card comes with up to $120 in rideshare credits each year, doled out in monthly installments. That means each month, cardholders can get up to $10 back as a statement credit on any eligible rideshare purchases with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, or Alto.
Unlike the Delta Stays credit, you'll only get this perk with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum – or the much pricier *delta reserve card*.
There's one critical point to note with these credits: Unused rideshare credits don't roll over to the next month. This is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit so it's important to ensure you use up these credits in full each month. And unlike the Uber Cash you get with the non-Delta Amex Platinum or Gold cards where it's automatically loaded onto your account, you have to enroll to earn the rideshare credit.
Be sure to check out our guide to maximizing this new rideshare credit!
Resy
With the Delta Platinum card, you now have up to $120 in statement credits, doled out in $10 monthly increments, for purchases at U.S. restaurants available through Resy, Amex's restaurant reservation platform. This credit isn't available on the Delta SkyMiles Gold card.
To take advantage, just spend money at a Resy partner restaurant, and American Express should recognize the charge and issue a statement credit each month when you make a purchase at one of these restaurants.
Just like the monthly rideshare credit, this is a use-it-or-lose-it benefit. It's up to you to use the credits each and every month … because if you don't, they won't roll over.
Read our guide to using the Resy credits on the Delta Platinum and Reserve cards!
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card gives you a credit of up to $100 (soon $120) that covers the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years. Again, you won't get this credit with the Delta Gold Card.
This benefit might seem a bit redundant, as a lot of travel credit cards offer a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck these days. But even if you're already enrolled in one of these trusted traveler programs, it could still be useful when it comes time to renew. Or you could even pay the application fee for a friend or family member and make their next airport experience a little less stressful.
Here's how it works: Just pay the application fee with your card and poof – the credit kicks in to automatically cover the cost. Once enrolled, membership lasts for five years – that means as long as you keep either card open, you’re set to keep your enrollment up to date with either program.
Can’t decide? Go for Global Entry, as that also comes with TSA PreCheck benefits as well as getting you into a designated customs and immigration line when returning to the U.S. from abroad.
$100 Delta Flight Credit
While it might seem like the Delta Platinum Card has all the credits, the Delta Gold Card has an exclusive one of its own.
If you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you'll get a $100 Delta flight credit to use towards future travel. This is even available in year one (when you won't pay an annual fee), and every year thereafter.
If you decide to make the Delta Gold card your everyday spender (even though we caution against it), spending $10,000 over the course of a year shouldn't be a stretch for most people. This annual $100 flight credit can further justify having the card as it offsets a good chunk of the card's $150 annual fee.
Winner: Which Card Offers the Most Credits?
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card comes with way more money-saving credits than the Gold card – and it's not particularly close. If you're able to take advantage of all (or even some) of these, without going out of your way to spend money unnecessarily, it can easily offset the card's higher annual fee.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Delta Perks
If you're able to make good use of all those statement credits, you can easily come out ahead with either card – but there's more reason to carry these cards than that alone.
The real value of having a Delta SkyMiles credit card is the perks you get when flying Delta. While both cards come with co-branded airline card staples like a free checked bag and priority boarding, one includes perhaps the biggest perk of all.
First Checked Bag Free
Both cards get you – and up to eight others booked on your reservation – a free checked bag on every Delta-operated flight. If you travel even once or twice per year with Delta, this perk alone can make having one of these cards in your wallet a worthwhile investment.
And when we say every Delta flight, we mean it. Whether it's a regional hop operated by Delta Connection, a Delta flight to a bigger city, or a trip to Europe with Delta, you get your first checked bag free. Just know, if you're flying exclusively with a Delta partner airline, like Air France or KLM, you will still incur a cost for checked bags on those flights.
Considering Delta now charges at least $35 each way for a checked bag, those savings can add up fast. Best of all, you don't even need to pay for your flight with your Delta card to get that benefit.
Read more: You May Not Have to Pay With Your Airline Card to Get Free Baggage
TakeOff 15
Having either of these Delta credit cards in your wallet automatically unlocks an excellent perk: A 15% discount anytime you redeem Delta SkyMiles for an award ticket.
Delta calls it TakeOff 15. This marquee benefit for Delta Amex credit cards officially rolled out back in February 2023 and it's available on both the SkyMiles Gold and SkyMiles Platinum Card … as well as the top-tier *Delta Reserve*.
- The TakeOff 15 discount is automatically applied while searching and at checkout when you book an award ticket with SkyMiles so long as you are logged into a Delta account with a SkyMiles credit card
- This 15% discount only applies to Delta and Delta Connection-operated flights – not flights operated by partner carriers like Air France, KLM, and other SkyTeam alliance airlines
- There is no limit to how many times you can use this discount
- You only get a 15% discount on the mileage rate – not any taxes and fees
- Per the terms and conditions, you must use your eligible Delta credit card to pay those taxes and fees
- The benefit does not apply to Pay with Miles or Miles + Cash bookings.
- The benefit also does not apply to seat upgrades made with SkyMiles after the purchase of your original flight
This is a great benefit that goes further than what you'll find on any other major airline … with a catch. While it's not black and white, we've seen signs that Delta increased award rates to book tickets with SkyMiles after introducing this TakeOff 15 discount.
Regardless, having either one of these Delta cards will get you the lowest award rates when using SkyMiles thanks to this new discount. And there's no difference between the Gold and Platinum card: They both get an identical 15% discount.
Read more: How to Save SkyMiles With Delta's TakeOff 15 Benefit
Companion Certificate
Perhaps the biggest and most important difference between the Gold and Platinum versions of the Delta SkyMiles cards is the annual Delta companion certificate issued to Platinum Delta SkyMiles cardholders.
You'll get the pass after you’ve held the card for a year, so you can't use it immediately after opening your account. After your first card renewal, you’ll get this companion certificate good for one main cabin, roundtrip fare – and while it used to be limited to trips within the continental U.S., that's no longer the case. As part of a broader SkyMiles credit card shakeup, Delta recently expanded the list of eligible destinations to help you and a pal fly not just within the mainland U.S. but out to Hawaii, down to Mexico, throughout the Caribbean, and beyond.
But there is an important restriction to keep in mind when using this great perk. The companion certificate only works for fare classes L, U, T, X, and V in the main cabin. That means basic economy fares are off-limits, as are some of the cheapest-priced economy fares.
In the past, many Delta flyers have had difficulty putting these companion certificates to use, though Delta recently made it easier by adding a calendar view to find more dates that work.
Still, utilizing this pass can be a great way to save money on airfare. And it should be fairly easy to get much more out of this perk than the card's $350 annual fee. And since the Gold version of the card does not offer a companion certificate, it makes the Platinum card the clear winner here.
Make sure to read our full guide to using the Delta companion certificate – including some great tips to find the fares that work!
Winner: Which Card is Best for Perks?
While most of these benefits are identical on both cards, the annual companion pass that you get with the SkyMiles Platinum Card is a big selling point – and that alone can be enough to justify it's higher annual fee for some.
BOGO airfare gives the Platinum Card the nod in this category.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Earning Medallion Status
If Delta Medallion status is what you're after, one of these two cards is the clear choice. The Delta Platinum Card can help you get closer to the front of the plane … without paying for it.
MQD Headstart
Last fall, Delta made some unpopular changes to how members earn elite status by moving away from measuring how often and far you fly, in favor of the almighty Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD).
But in doing so, the airline threw travelers with a Delta Platinum or Reserve Card (or either cards' business versions) a major bone: You'll get a 2,500 MQD head start toward status.
This means that simply by carrying the Delta Platinum card, you're already halfway to the lowest-tier Silver Medallion status before ever setting foot on a plane. And if for some reason you have both the Platinum and Reserve Card (or one of the business versions), these “headstart” benefits stack. Which means you can get Silver status with just two Delta credit cards (and annual fees). Or you can get all the way to Gold status – without flying or spending a dime on your card – if you're crazy enough to have all four.
MQD Boost
With the MQD head start benefit that comes with the Delta Platinum Card, you're well on your way to earning Delta elite status – but that's not the only leg up you get.
You'll also get an “MQD boost” for every dollar (or really every $20) you spend on your card. It works like this: Spend $20 on your Delta Platinum Card and get 1 MQD.
This means that if you spend $50,000 per year on your card, you'd earn enough MQDs (with the $2,500 MQD Headstart benefit) for Silver Medallion status. While the amount of spending that's required to earn a meaningful amount of MQDs is quite high, this is yet another way that you can climb the status ranks … all without flying.
Now, there's certainly a case to be made for whether or not you should be spending that much to earn status – as we've discussed, other travel cards are far more rewarding. But at the end of the day, just being able to earn status or climb to a higher status tier by swiping your Delta Platinum Card is a nice option to have.
Complimentary Upgrade List
No status? No problem!
Even if you don't have Delta Medallion status, your Platinum Card now makes you eligible for complimentary upgrades to Delta One (within the U.S.), first class, and Delta Comfort Plus on tickets purchased on or after Feb. 1, 2024. But based on how Delta determines its upgrade order, any upgrades will be a long shot – and unavailable if you bought a Delta basic economy ticket.
Winner: Which Card is Best for Earning Status?
If it wasn't clear from the start: Only one of these cards will help you earn Delta Medallion status. If that's your goal, the Delta Platinum Card is the clear choice.
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Delta Gold vs Platinum: Which Is Best?
By the numbers, it's a bit of a bloodbath with the *Delta Platinum* coming out on top in all but one category. But does that mean it's the clear cut winner for everyone? Not necessarily.
Every traveler can – and should – weigh these individual categories differently. At the end of the day, your decision should be based on which categories you value the highest and the type of traveler that you are.
For example, if you think you can easily take advantage of the companion certificate offered by the Platinum version each year after the first year, that should be your choice. While the $350 annual fee may scare many off, the companion certificate you get starting in year two can easily wipe it out. Benefits like these are why we always encourage travelers to do the math before ruling out cards with a higher annual fee.
But if your main objective is earning miles and to avoid paying Delta baggage fees, you should skip the Platinum and go straight for the Delta Gold SkyMiles card, which offers both at a much lower price point.
Read more: The 7 Best Delta Credit Cards for Travelers
Bottom Line
For the majority of Delta loyalists, having a Gold or Platinum SkyMiles card is a must. Determining which one is the right pick for you will ultimately depend on you and your travel goals. But at the end of the day, you can't go wrong with either one.