Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card review: Worth it for the free checked bag and other benefits, even for occasional Delta flyers

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Review: Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express card the best credit card for you?

If you travel on Delta, even occasionally, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is worth considering. Along with a welcome bonus of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, cardholders receive perks that can save money and time when they fly Delta - including a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and a 20% discount on inflight purchases.

Read more: The best Delta credit cards

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has an annual fee of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card - Rates & Fees, but it's worth it even if you only use the benefits a few times a year. The card also earns 2x miles at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and on Delta purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else - and Delta miles never expire.

The card also comes with shopping protections like extended warranty and purchase protection, and big spenders can more than make up for the annual fee with another perk - a $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year.

If you want the ability to earn Delta miles but don't want to be locked into a single program, you should also consider cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Delta is an Amex transfer partner, along with over 20 other airline and hotel programs - so you'll have the flexibility to use your points for lots of other redemptions.

Comparison: Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold vs other Delta credit cards

* For 2021, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card members earn 25% more MQMs for meeting the same spending tiers (offer ends 12/31/21)

American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold vs other airline credit cards

How to use Delta miles

Based on Insider's points and miles valuations, Delta SkyMiles are worth, on average, 1.1 cents each, so if you're getting that rate or better when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, you're getting a good deal.

You can redeem Delta miles for flights on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, and WestJet. Delta no longer publishes an award chart, so the number of points required for an award ticket varies depending on demand, paid ticket price, and season.

The airline sometimes runs flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way for domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. Delta SkyMiles deals usually pop up unannounced, so it's worth checking frequently to see if the route or destination you want is on sale.

Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Delta miles

One perk offered to all Amex Delta cardholders is the ability to use miles to offset the cost of a paid ticket. The Pay With Miles program allows members to redeem at a rate of 1 cent per mile in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is handy if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash.

If you don't want to redeem SkyMiles for flights, there are other options, but you'll typically get a poor value in comparison:

• Seat selection and upgrades
• Delta Sky Club lounge memberships
• Certain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)
• Gift cards
• Magazines
• Tour vouchers
• Charity donations
• Delta Vacations packages
• Premium drinks in Delta Sky Club lounges
• Delta SkyMiles Experiences

Because Delta miles don't expire, there's no pressure to redeem them if you're not ready to travel yet.

Benefits and features

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers a wide variety of benefits when you fly Delta or use the card for travel and shopping.

Free first checked bag

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card members and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag. Because Delta normally charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, this perk can be worth much more than the annual fee even if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year.

Read more: Airline checked bag fees can eat into your travel budget - here's how to avoid them with the right credit cards

Families, in particular, can get a huge value - four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally incur fees of $240 for their luggage.

Priority boarding

Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding - even when flying Basic Economy - which means you'll have more time to get settled into your seat and find room in the overhead bins for your carry-on bag.

Read more: The best credit cards with priority boarding

The Main Cabin 1 group boards after passengers flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or those flying in basic economy.

$100 Delta flight credit

If you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you'll receive a $100 Delta flight credit. This credit is valid toward Delta flight purchases or the flight portion of a Delta Vacations package, but you can't use it for ancillary fees like or checked bags or change fees.

20% back on inflight purchases

When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to pay for inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights, you'll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.

Car rental insurance

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers secondary rental car insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.

Purchase protection

When you pay for an eligible item with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can be covered for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.

Extended warranty

Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to pay - up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturers warranties of five years or less.

Baggage insurance

If you pay for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.

Read more: The best credit cards with travel insurance

Global Assist Hotline

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comes with a little-known perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services. The service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs.

Fees and costs

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card annual fee is Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so it's a good card to use for international purchases.

Like most other cards, there are fees for late or returned payments and cash advances Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card - Rates & Fees.

Jasmin Baron is an associate editor at Personal Finance Insider, where she helps readers maximize rewards and find the best credit cards to fit their lifestyles. She has covered credit cards, points and miles, and loyalty programs for over seven years, and she's a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).