Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Annual fees: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard $99/yr, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard on dining, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card on dining.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAmerican Express · $150/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard$99LowestWaived first yearDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card$150Waived first year
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard80,000 milesDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAs high as 80,000 miles — offers vary
- Rewards
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardAmerican AAdvantageDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles
- Foreign transaction fee
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardNoneDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardNone
- Network
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardMastercard World EliteDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard2xDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2x
- Gas Stations
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard2xHighestDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard1xDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard1xDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- $180 Turo credit
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- $200 Delta flight credit
- $100 Delta Stays
- 20% inflight purchases · $20 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard—Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
- Airline perks
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- $125 American Airlines Flight Discount
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 4 companions
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- Save 25% on inflight food and beverages
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
- Other perks
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Citi Entertainment®
- No foreign transaction fees
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- Amex Offers
- 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
- Baggage
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard—Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
- Rental car
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard—Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Secondary car rental insurance coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard—Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Purchase protection for new items
- Extended warranty
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard—Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- Comprehensive identity theft monitoring
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- First year annual fee waived (then $99)
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 4 companions on domestic AA flights
- 2x miles on American Airlines purchases, restaurants, and gas stations
- 80,000 bonus miles after $3,500 spend in 4 months
- Preferred boarding for cardholder and companions
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- First checked bag free for you + 8 companions; second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights
- Priority boarding in Main Cabin 1
- $120 rideshare credit ($10/month after first renewal; enrollment required)
- 2X miles on Delta, restaurants, and supermarkets
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
- No lounge access included
- Free checked bag is domestic-only (no international flights)
- Only first bag free (not second bag like Executive card)
- 1x earning on non-bonus spending is below average
- Miles locked to American Airlines and partners
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card- $150 annual fee after first year ($0 intro year)
- No companion certificate included
- No Delta Sky Club access
- Only 1X on most purchases
- SkyMiles have variable redemption value
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 1 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you.
Gas Stations
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
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 | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $195 Credits (our usable estimate): $90 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $186 Year one: $1,325 | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $219 Year one: $369 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $780 Credits (our usable estimate): $90 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $771 Year one: $1,910 | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $781 Year one: $931 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card costs $150/yr — that's $51 more than the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard ($99/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $51 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card includes travel credits, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $51 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $51 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card needs roughly $51 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on dining and grocery stores and everyday spend.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard $99/yr, Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr — a $51 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card costs $150/yr vs $99/yr for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $51 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card also lists travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard or Delta SkyMiles Gold 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 Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard have that the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card doesn't?
- The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard offers travel credits. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard or the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard has a lower $99/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $150/yr.
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Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.