Delta Gold vs. AmEx Gold: AmEx Gold Boasts More Glitter

The American Express® Gold Card, on the other hand, is a better fit for anyone looking for more flexibility, since it earns AmEx Membership Rewards. Plus, you’ll earn a higher rewards rate at grocery stores and restaurants, two popular categories that you’ll definitely spend money in (you have to eat, after all).

Both cards charge somewhat steep annual fees, which can chip away at the value you’d get. But unless you’re Delta-loyal, the American Express® Gold Card comes out ahead.

The $250 annual fee on the American Express® Gold Card is enough to give anyone pause, but if food is a major portion of your budget and you use the card’s other perks, you can offset that cost. The card’s generous welcome bonus helps, too.

In addition to the welcome offer, here’s what you’ll earn on an ongoing basis:

• 4 points per $1 at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.).

• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year.

• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

• 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.

The American Express® Gold Card earns rewards in the form of AmEx Membership Rewards points. NerdWallet values Membership Rewards points at 1 to 2.8 cents each when used to book travel. Point values can vary even more when you redeem them in other ways, such as requesting a statement credit, buying a gift card or using points at checkout with participating merchants.

Specifically, NerdWallet values Membership Rewards points at 2.8 cents each when transferred to one of AmEx’s multiple airline and hotel partners, which includes Delta. So if you spend $10,000 in groceries in a year (that’s around $192 per week) and earn 40,000 points, that can be worth more than $1,100 when transferred to an eligible partner.

The American Express® Gold Card offers several statement credits with specific merchants:

• Up to $120 per year (up to $10 per month) at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.

• Up to $120 per year (up to $10 per month) in Uber Cash, which you can use for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card charges an annual fee — $0 intro for the first year, then $150 — which is also on the pricey side for a card in its class. (Competing cards from other airlines tend to charge just under $100 per year.) But the card does offer some compelling perks for Delta fliers, such as a generous checked-bag benefit, various discounts and credits, not to mention a solid welcome bonus. Terms apply.

For the annual cost, however, the card lacks other benefits you see with other general travel cards at this price point, including airport lounge access and statement credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card earns:

• 2 miles per $1 on restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. 

• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets.

• 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases.

• 1 mile per $1 on other purchases.

NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each. Let’s compare $10,000 in supermarket spending with this card versus the example above. With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you’d earn 20,000 miles this way. At 1.2 cents each, they’re worth $240 total. That puts the American Express® Gold Card on top in this area.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers:

• A free checked bag for up to nine passengers on the same reservation. This normally would cost $30 per passenger each way for the first checked bag. A family of four flying round trip will save $240, more than offsetting the annual fee.

• A $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year.

• A $100 credit when you book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta’s travel portal, Delta Stays. 

• 15% off when booking award travel on delta.com or the Fly Delta app.

• 20% off in-flight food and beverage purchases.

If you fly Delta multiple times per year and check bags, you’ll get value out of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. But the American Express® Gold Card is the winner in terms of the value of your earned rewards points. Plus you get much more flexibility when you redeem those points, making it a better fit for anyone who isn’t loyal to one specific airline.