Supercharge Your Amex Points with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card
Hey friends, Phillip here with Points with Phillip! If you're already rocking American Express charge cards like the Gold or Platinum, you might be missing out on serious value when it comes to booking Delta flights. That's where the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card swoops in to save the day.
Think of this card as a way to supercharge your existing Amex setup. It unlocks Delta-specific perks, gives you savings when redeeming points, and makes your Membership Rewards transfers go further. Let's get into why this pairing makes so much sense!
The Alluring Sign-Up Bonus
Let's kick things off with a bang: the sign-up bonus. Right now, the Delta Gold is offering 80,000 SkyMiles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. That's easily worth over $960, according to NerdWallet's baseline valuation, and potentially much more if you're strategic with your redemptions!
The real magic happens when you combine these SkyMiles with the Membership Rewards you're already earning on your Amex Gold, Platinum, or even Green card.
Amex + Delta Gold: A Powerful Pairing
This card is the perfect companion if you're already collecting Membership Rewards. You can transfer those points directly to Delta at a 1:1 ratio, which is a solid deal.
Think about it: You can earn points on everyday spending. Maybe you're getting 2x points per dollar on everything with the Blue Business Plus, 4x on dining and groceries with the Amex Gold, and 5x on flights booked with the Platinum. This setup massively increases your ability to earn points that you can then funnel towards Delta flights.
And in my experience, Delta redemptions can often be the best way to fly, especially compared to award availability with Virgin Atlantic or Air France.
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Unlock a 15% Discount on Award Redemptions
With the Delta Gold card, you unlock a 15% discount on award redemptions. This is a huge perk you won't get without holding a Delta card of Gold status or higher. It means your Amex-earned points stretch even further!
One thing to keep in mind: when transferring Amex points to domestic airline partners like Delta or JetBlue, you'll pay a small excise tax fee. Definitely pay that fee with cash, not points – the conversion rate is terrible. But even with the fee, the savings on award redemptions can make it worthwhile.
Okay Multipliers
The multipliers on the Delta Gold aren't the best compared to your other Amex cards, but they aren't bad either. You’ll earn:
2x at restaurants
2x on Delta purchases (though the Amex Green gets 3x MR points, and the Platinum gets 5x MR points on flights!)
2x at U.S. supermarkets (likely coding the same as the Amex Gold, so Target and Walmart might not qualify)
1x on everything else
These multipliers mean you're still earning something while you're working on that sweet sign-up bonus.
Delta-Specific Travel Perks
Here's where the Delta Gold really shines, offering perks your Amex charge cards don't cover:
Free Checked Bags: Get your first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your reservation – that's a potential goldmine for families.
Priority Boarding: Tired of boarding in group 7 or 8? With the Delta Gold, you'll board in Group 5! This can make a huge difference in getting settled, securing overhead bin space, and just generally starting your flight off right.
Instead of just moving your MX points into Delta, this card helps you to get more value once they're there, right? That's free check bags of priority boarding. It's nice.
Credits and Savings
$100 Delta Stays Credit: A yearly credit for hotels booked through Delta Stays. You have to pay with your Delta card to get the credit, but it can help offset the annual fee.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: After spending $10,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year, you'll receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit for future travel.
20% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Save 20% (as a statement credit) on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages. Enjoy that discounted Jack and Coke!
No Foreign Transaction Fees: While you might not use this card for all your international spending, it's nice to have the option.
Real-World Numbers: Why It Matters
Let's put some real-world numbers behind this to show why the Delta Gold Amex is a game-changer if you already have Amex charge cards:
New York to Paris (International Redemption): A standard Delta award might be 50,000 SkyMiles roundtrip in economy. With the 15% discount, that drops to 42,500 SkyMiles – a savings of 7,500 points, enough for another one-way flight within the US!
Los Angeles to New York (Domestic Example): 25,000 SkyMiles roundtrip in economy becomes 21,250 with the discount, saving you 3,750 miles.
Atlanta to Cancun: A 35,000 SkyMiles roundtrip becomes 29,750, saving you 5,250 points, which could cover a one-way domestic flight.
And remember, that's just the point savings! Add in the free checked bag perk, which saves you $70 per person roundtrip, and the savings stack up fast.
This card helps you stretch your Amex Membership Rewards further when you transfer them to Delta and cuts real cash costs on top of it. It's not a replacement for the Amex Gold's 4x on dining and groceries, but it's a great way to keep your Delta balances growing while pairing with those Membership Rewards transfers.
Bottom Line
If you already hold an Amex Gold or Platinum and transfer points to Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex is almost a must-have. It turns those transferred points into discounted flights, gives you day-of-travel perks Delta flyers actually use, and doesn't cost a fortune to keep long-term.
This card isn't about being the perfect standalone card, but more about being the secret weapon that supercharges your Amex setup.