The Delta Gold vs Platinum Cards: Which is Right for You?

When it comes to the suite of different Delta credit cards, two of them stand above the rest as the best options for most travelers: The Delta Gold vs Platinum SkyMiles cards.

But even between these two popular Delta cards, there are some key differences and factors for each traveler to consider. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card might be a slam dunk for you while the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card just doesn't make sense for your travels – or vice versa.

Thrifty Tip: Already had the SkyMiles Gold Card? You're still eligible to earn the bonus on the Platinum SkyMiles card, or vice versa!

So it's time to put these cards head to head. We'll help you decide which one 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.

Current Offers on the Delta Gold vs Platinum Cards

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

• Earn 70,000 SkyMiles after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership. This limited-time offer ends on Aug. 3, 2022. 
• Check your first bag free on every Delta flight – savings of at least $60 on each round-trip flight, per person
• Priority boarding (even with a Delta basic economy ticket)
• Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
• Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and 1x mile for all other spending
• Earn a $100 Delta flight credit if you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year
• Get 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
• No foreign transaction fees
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 per year (see rates & fees)

Click Here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

• Earn 90,000 SkyMiles after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership. This limited-time offer ends on Aug. 3, 2022. 
• Check your first bag free on every Delta flight, savings of at least $60 on each round-trip flight, per person
• Priority boarding (even with a Delta basic economy ticket)
• Get a domestic main cabin roundtrip Delta companion certificate each year upon card renewal – one of this card's best benefits!
• Earn 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
• Earn 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases, and at hotels
• Receive up to a $100 credit to cover the cost for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every four years
• Get 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
• Get into the Delta Sky Club when you're flying Delta by paying $39 (and bring up to two guests for $39 each)
• No foreign transaction fees
• $250 annual fee (see rates & fees)

Click Here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card.

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.

The Platinum version has an annual fee of $250 each year, which is not waived for your first year of card membership.

The Gold version, meanwhile, has an introductory annual fee of $0 – that's right, you won't pay anything for your first year with the card. After that you'll pay just $99 a year to keep your Gold Card open.

Just what you get in exchange for that annual fee differs – we'll take a look at that shortly. However, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card waives the $99 annual fee in the first year (see rates & fees).

Regardless of any other benefits, that makes it the clear winner in this category.

Read more: The Best for Delta Fans: A Full Review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card.
 

Winner: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Welcome Bonuses on Delta Gold vs Platinum Cards

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card: Earn 70,000 SkyMiles after you spend $2,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership. This limited-time offer ends on Aug. 3, 2022. 

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 90,000 SkyMiles after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months of card membership. This limited-time offer also ends on Aug. 3, 2022. 

While the card carriers a much heftier annual fee, in a vacuum, the welcome offer bonus on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is stronger.
 

Winner: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Although the annual fee is more and you'll have to pay it in year one, you will simply earn more SkyMiles with the current offer on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card.

Companion Pass

Perhaps the biggest and most important difference between the Gold and Platinum versions of the Delta SkyMiles cards is the annual 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 in the continental U.S. – sorry, buy one get one (BOGO) flights to Hawaii or Alaska are out. Simply pay for your ticket and you can bring your companion at no additional cost.

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. Many Delta flyers have had some difficulty putting these companion tickets to use recently.
 

Make sure to read our full guide to using the Delta companion certificate – including some great tips to find the fares 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 $250 annual fee. And since the Gold version of the card does not offer a companion certificate, it makes the Platinum card the clear winner in this category.
 

Winner: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Earning More SkyMiles

Once you've earned the big welcome offer bonus, these two cards still earn SkyMiles differently.

The Gold Delta SkyMiles card earns 2x SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants, including delivery and takeout, U.S. supermarkets, and on purchases with Delta.

Just like the Gold Card, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card will earn 2x SkyMiles on both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets like the Gold card. But it also earns 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at hotels – giving it a slight edge in this category.

Both cards will also provide you with 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit. However, these in-flight discounts generally will not be offered on Wi-Fi service.

Other travel credit cards out there can be much more lucrative for racking up points on your everyday spending. That's why we tell travelers not to swipe your 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) American Express® Gold Card.

But if a Delta card is all you've got, there's a clear winner in this category.
 

Winner: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Other Benefits

A few years back, Delta and American Express made some big changes to all of the co-branded Delta cards. This included a new look and a lot of new benefits.

One great perk is that Platinum cardholders can get into Delta Sky Clubs by paying $39 per person (so long as you're flying Delta that day). Those day passes are no longer available to Gold cardholders.

Both cards still get you – and up to eight others booked on your reservation – a free checked bag on every Delta-operated flight. Considering checking a bag costs at least $30 each way, those savings can add up fast. Best of all, you don't need to pay for your flight with your Delta card to get that benefit.

But on the Delta Platinum SkyMiles card, the biggest new benefit is a $100 application credit every four years to cover the cost of either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Membership in both programs is good for five years.

Yet one benefit I love even more is on the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. If you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you'll get a $100 Delta flight credit to use towards future travel. This is available in year one (when you won't have an annual fee), and every year thereafter. This allows you to easily offset the cost of your $99 annual fee.
 

Winner: The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card from American Express

While the Platinum Card offers more benefits, the Gold card offers an easy way to offset your $99 annual fee cost each and every year.

Delta Gold vs Platinum: Which Wins?

By the numbers, The Platinum version wins three categories to the Gold card's two wins. But every cardholder 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.
 

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 $250 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: The 7 Best Delta Credit Cards for Travelers in 2022

Bottom Line

For the majority of Delta flyers, the Platinum or Gold SkyMiles cards are your best bet. Which one is the right pick is ultimately up to you and your travel goals. But at the end of the day, you can't go wrong with either one.

And remember: American Express allows you to eventually get both of them and earn the bonus on each.