Delta SkyMiles Gold Vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Ivan Pantic / Getty Images

Key takeaways

Choosing between these two airline credit cards can be difficult as both cards allow for solid redemption of miles on flights and other purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers a higher welcome bonus and has a lower annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a better earning rate on Delta purchases and offers lounge access.

Choosing an airline credit card isn’t always easy, and that’s just as true for people who have a favorite frequent flyer program. After all, most major airlines boast co-branded cards geared toward different types of travelers, including premium cards with lounge access and basic airline cards with only a handful of perks.

If you’re a Delta loyalist, you have probably noticed the variety of Delta credit cards, each with different benefits and fees. Two of the most popular Delta cards are also two of the most different: the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

If you’re hoping to fly with Delta Air Lines more often and want to earn miles while scoring frequent flyer benefits, read on to learn how these two airline credit cards compare.

Main details

	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Welcome bonus	Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.	Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards rate	Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.	Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Annual fee	$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Frequent flyer benefits	First checked bag free on Delta flights $200 annual Delta credit after spending $10,000 in one calendar year 15% off when using miles to book Delta flights on delta.com No foreign transaction fees 20% discount on in-flight purchases Zone 5 priority boarding	First checked bag free on Delta flights No foreign transaction fees 20% discount on in-flight purchases Main Cabin 1 priority boarding Earn MQDs toward elite status Companion certificate upon annual renewal Delta Sky Club membership + two free guest passes Upgrade priority for elite members Complimentary Centurion lounge membership

Delta SkyMiles Gold vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve highlights

As you compare these two airline credit cards, you’ll notice some similarities as well as some significant differences. Each card stands out in the following key categories:

Welcome bonus winner

If your goal is to start out with as many Delta SkyMiles as you can, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers the better welcome bonus overall. Not only do you earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months, but you also earn $2,500 in Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) at the start of each qualification year plus one MQD for every $10 in eligible purchases on your Reserve card throughout the year. MQDs go toward elite status with Delta.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, on the other hand, earns 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first six months of account opening. So, while the Reserve’s welcome offer could earn you 20,000 additional points, the Gold Card’s spending requirement is significantly less. If you’re unsure if you can responsibly spend $6,000 within six months, then you may need to reconsider the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card.

Rewards rate winner

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card just edges out its competitor in this category, since it earns 2X miles in everyday spending categories like restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, as well as on Delta purchases. This earning rate will make it much easier to rack up miles as you use your card on everyday purchases.

In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card earns 3X miles on Delta purchases but doesn’t have any bonus categories outside of spending with the airline beyond the 1X miles you’ll earn on everyday purchases. Unless you fly with Delta very frequently, it will likely be easier to build up your miles pool with the Delta SkyMiles Gold.

Annual Fee winner

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card wins in this category due to its $0 annual fee the first year, as well as the fact the card will only set you back $150 annually after year one.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card charges a $650 annual fee, which is a lot harder to justify if you don’t fly with Delta that often or if you may not use the lounge access benefit that much.

Foreign transaction fee winner

Neither of these travel credit cards charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad, which is standard among cards in this niche.

As a result, both the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card are good options if you travel internationally and want a card that won’t tack on extra charges.

Which card earns the most?

If you spend a ton of money on Delta flights each year, earning 3X miles per dollar spent on airfare with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card could get you ahead. But if you plan to use your card more for everyday purchases, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card could leave you with more miles at the end of the year.

The following spending example shows how much the average family could earn in miles with both cards:

Spending example

Let’s say you’re a family of four with parents under the age of 50 and two kids ages eight and 10. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), you might spend an average of $15,933.60 per year ($1,327.80 per month) on groceries on a “moderate” budget. For the sake of example, let’s say you also spend $4,800 per year ($400 per month) on dining out (including takeout and delivery), $5,000 on flights with Delta each year and $12,000 per year ($1,000 per month) on miscellaneous purchases.

Here’s how the earnings pan out for each card:

	Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
U.S. supermarket spending	31,867 miles	15,933 miles
Dining out	9,600 miles	4,800 miles
Delta flights	10,000 miles	15,000 miles
Other spending	12,000 miles	12,000 miles
Total miles	63,467 miles	47,733 miles

If you plan to use the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card for everyday spending, especially at U.S. supermarkets or while dining out, you’ll accumulate miles much faster. However, this is only one spending example, and if you travel more than you dine out, your results may lean in the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card’s favor.

Why should you get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card?

For the most part, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is geared toward Delta enthusiasts who want basic benefits but aren’t willing to pay a premium for lounge access. Here are some of the main factors to consider as you look over this card’s offer.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card doesn’t come with lounge access or help you earn elite status with the airline, but you do get Delta Gold perks like discounts on in-flight purchases, Zone 5 priority boarding and a free checked bag when you fly with Delta.

Because the free checked bag applies to up to eight other guests on the main cardholder’s itinerary, and since Delta checked bags typically cost $35 each, this benefit can be worth up to $280 per round-trip flight for a family of four.
You can redeem miles for flights with Delta or its SkyTeam partners to more than 1,000 destinations worldwide. You can also use miles for seat upgrades, Delta gift cards, Delta vacation packages, magazine subscriptions and more.
Like most of the best travel credit cards, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is geared toward consumers with good or excellent credit. That usually means having a FICO Score of 670 or higher, although you’ll have a better chance at approval if your credit score is 700+.

Why should you get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card?

While the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card charges a $650 annual fee, there are plenty of reasons frequent flyers sign up in droves. Consider the following factors before you sign up for this premium airline credit card.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card comes with more perks overall, including complimentary membership with Delta Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges. Considering Delta Sky Club membership can be purchased for $695, it’s easy to see where this card’s annual fee makes sense.

Also, note how this card makes it easier to earn elite status with Delta. You’ll earn $2,500 in Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) at the start of each qualification year plus one MQD for every $10 in eligible purchases throughout the year, which helps you work toward the MQD requirement for Delta Silver status.

Also, remember this card comes with all the perks of Delta Gold, such as a free checked bag, priority boarding and discounts on in-flight purchases. Cardholders also get a companion certificate upon card renewal each year, upgrade priority with their elite status and two free guest passes for Delta Sky Clubs.
Miles earned with this card are the same as those you earn with Delta Gold, so you can use them for flights to more than 1,000 destinations around the globe. However, this card does qualify you for upgrade priority if you achieve elite status, meaning you may spend more time in premium cabins as a result of being a cardholder.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is geared toward consumers with good or excellent credit. This means a FICO Score of 670 or higher, although you are more likely to be approved if your credit score is 700+.

The bottom line

If you can’t decide between these two airline credit cards, you should remember that you can theoretically have both of them over time. That’s because American Express has a “once per lifetime” rule that lets you earn the bonus once with each of its card products.

First, though, you need to decide which of these two cards would serve you best. In the meantime, you can also consider other travel credit cards, including other airline credit cards that work with different frequent flyer programs, like American AAdvantage or United MileagePlus.

Did you find this page helpful?

Help us improve our content