American Express Gold Card vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Annual fees: American Express Gold Card $325/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: American Express Gold Card on hotels, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
American Express Gold CardAmerican Express · $325/yr
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- American Express Gold Card$325LowestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card$350
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- American Express Gold CardAs high as 100,000 points — offers varyDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAs high as 90,000 miles — offers vary
- Rewards
- American Express Gold CardAmerican Express Membership RewardsDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles
- Foreign transaction fee
- American Express Gold CardNoneDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardNone
- Network
- American Express Gold CardAmerican ExpressDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- American Express Gold Card4xHighestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- American Express Gold Card4xHighestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2x
- Flights
- American Express Gold Card3xHighestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1x
- Hotels
- American Express Gold Card1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card3xHighest
- Everything else
- American Express Gold Card1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- American Express Gold Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $150 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- American Express Gold Card
- $120 Uber Cash · $10 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- American Express Gold Card
- $100 Resy credit · $50 every 6 months
- $120 dining credit · $10 monthly
- $84 Dunkin' credit · $7 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $10/mo Resy · $10 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
- Hotel status & programs
- American Express Gold Card
- $100 property credit at 1,400+ upscale hotels worldwide
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card— - Airline perks
- American Express Gold Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions
- Complimentary Upgrade List
- Other perks
- American Express Gold Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- American Express Preferred Access
- Events with Amex & Presale Tickets
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Amex Offers
- MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- American Express Gold Card
- Trip Delay Insurance up to $300
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours
- Baggage
- American Express Gold Card
- Baggage Insurance Plan up to $1,750
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
- Rental car
- American Express Gold Card
- Secondary rental car insurance for damage and theft
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Car rental insurance up to $50,000
- Purchase & returns
- American Express Gold Card
- Purchase Protection up to $10,000 per item for 90 days
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
- Extended warranty
- American Express Gold Card
- Extended Warranty up to one additional year · up to $10,000
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- American Express Gold Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
- Other protections
- American Express Gold Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
- Dispute Resolution and Fraud Protection
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- American Express Gold Card
- 4X points on dining worldwide - industry leading
- 4X at U.S. supermarkets up to $25k/year
- $424 in annual credits (face value) cover the $325 fee if you use at least $325 of them
- No foreign transaction fees
- Transfer to 20 airline and hotel partners
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America)
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
- Cons
- American Express Gold Card
- $325 annual fee with no waived first year
- 4X grocery excludes Costco, Walmart, Target
- No lounge access included
- Limited non-food spending categories
- Amex acceptance less universal than Visa/MC
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits
- Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal
- No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve)
- Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options
- Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard
Category-by-Category Winner
The American Express Gold Card wins in 1 of 1 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card leads in 0. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Hotels
Depends: via issuer travel portal
American Express Gold Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
Flights
American Express Gold Card earns 3X vs 1X
Dining
Depends: up to $50,000/yr
American Express Gold Card earns 4X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $25,000/yr
American Express Gold Card earns 4X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | American Express Gold Card | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $212 − Annual fee ($325) Ongoing: $67 Year one: $67 | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $212 − Annual fee ($325) Ongoing: $607 Year one: $607 | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr — that's $25 more than the American Express Gold Card ($325/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $25 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $25 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $25 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs roughly $25 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing American Express Gold Card means losing:
- -Free checked bags
- -Global Entry credit
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: American Express Gold Card $325/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr — a $25 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr vs $325/yr for the American Express Gold Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $25 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card also lists travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card doesn't?
- The American Express Gold Card offers dining credits. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection.
- Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the American Express Gold Card has a lower $325/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $350/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.