Delta SkyMiles Card in Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Version

back Delta SkyMiles – Gold, Platinum and Delta Reserve

compare

Apply Now

add a review

intro purchase APR no intro offer	regular APR16.24 - 25.24% (V)
intro BT APR 16.24-25.24%	3% BT fee $5 min
rewards 1-2 miles/$1	+30,000 bonus miles

• get 30,000 miles bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• get $50 statement credit if you make Delta purchase in the first 3 months
• 2x miles on Delta purchases
• 1 mile for $1 on other purchases

excellent required

Terms and Conditions

Editors Review

Pros

• 30,000  miles sign-up bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
• Get $50 statement if you make Delta purchase in the first 3 months
• 2x miles on Delta purchases
• 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• First checked bag free on Delta, priority boarding

Cons

• For Gold card: $95 annual fee, waived for the first year
• For Platinum card: $150 annual fee
• For Reserve card: $450
• No intro APR
• High regular APR – 16.24%-25.24%

Medallion Qualification Miles and additional benefits for Platinum and Reserve cards

• Gold card does not offer Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) – miles that you need to earn towards your elite Medallion status.
• Platinum card offers you a 5,000 MQM miles after spending $1000 in the first three months, annual Companion Certificate on card renewal. It also gets you 35,000 miles for spending $1000 in the first 3 months and a $100 bonus credit for your first Delta purchase in the first 3 months.
• If you spend $50,000 on a card annually, you get a miles boost – 20,000 miles and 20,000 MQM’s
• Reserve card gives you 10,000 MQM after your first purchase. Miles boost for annual spending over $30,000 is 15,000 miles and 15,000 MQM’s. You can earn additional 15k miles and 15k MQM’s after spending $60,000 on a card.

Verdict

A good card for a Delta frequent traveler, but I personally would not take the offer because of the annual fee. I think it makes more sense economically to get a Barclaycard Arrival Plus with its 2x miles on all purchases or a BoA travel rewards cards with 1.5 points for all purchases. The ease of redeeming that miles or points to any travel makes these travel rewards cards a perfect alternative to airline programs.

On the other side, Delta Sky Miles card and other airline cards offer you airline specific benefits like a priority boarding, free checked bags, and free companion tickets. If you value these perks, then airline cards are your best choice.

Gold card is the cheapest with its $95 annual fee (waived for the first year), then goes the Platinum with $195 fee, and last comes the Reserve with a $450 annual fee. Platinum and Reserve offer you more bonus rewards for spending and MQM miles that go towards your elite status with Delta.