Delta Air Lines’ (NYSE:DAL) most popular Delta card is the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card, which I personally think is one of the friendlier frequent flyer programs ever since the Delta SkyMiles program was revamped. This official card, issued by American Express (NYSE:AXP), gives you miles that never, ever expire – even if you don’t chalk up any mileage for an indefinite period (unheard of with major airline mile perks).

Delta actually has 3 different card versions: Gold, Platinum and Delta Reserve. The Gold card has the lowest annual fee of $95, Platinum Delta has an annual fee of $150 and Delta Reserve has a hefty annual fee of $450. If you think you’ll spend less than $50k a year on your credit card, the Gold Delta SkyMiles is the best choice of card for you, as the Platinum and Reserve cards will better suit those who spend more than $50k annually.

Below I’ll tell you about the pros and cons of the Gold Delta SkyMiles from American Express, one of the more popular frequent flyer credit cards, so that you can decide if it is the right card for your needs.

Things We Like About This Card

No annual fee during the first year, which saves you $95 which you would have to pay otherwise. After this first year, you must pay an annual fee of $95.

Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 on purchases with your card during the first 3 months. 30,000 SkyMiles equal $300 when using Pay with Miles, which you can use to pay for your flights, either partially or in full. You basically earn $300 in miles for just for having the card!

Earn 2 miles for every $1 you spend on Delta purchases. This includes Delta Vacations packages, as well as any Delta flights you purchase with your credit card.

Earn 1 mile for practically every $1 you spend on other purchases. For every purchase you make, you will earn miles which you will later be able to redeem for your travels. You even earn miles on your monthly phone bills!

Redeem starting at just 10,000 miles for $100 off any Delta flight. Do note that such Pay with Miles tickets are not eligible for the Best Fare Guarantee.

Check your first bag on Delta Airlines for free. Each time you make a reservation and book a Delta flight with your card, the first bag you check in will be free. With this offer, up to 9 people in your reservation can each save up to $50 on a round-trip. So when you travel with your family or companions, you can save a huge amount of money.

Enjoy priority boarding and 20% discount on Delta in-flight purchases. As long as you use this credit card to pay for your in-flight purchases, such as movies, food, drinks, video games and earphones, you will only have to pay 80% of the original price. The 20% discount will be added as statement credit to your account within 6-8 weeks of making your purchase.

SkyMiles never expire – ever. Almost all airlines impose an expiration on your earned miles if you don’t travel within a 24-month or 36-month period. But in early 2011, Delta announced that your SkyMiles will be yours forever, doing away with the old rule that they expire if you don’t have any mileage activity for more than 24 months.

Our Least Favorite Things About This Card

$95 annual fee after the first year. The first year’s annual fee is $0. If you travel at least once a year with a companion, this card will more than pay for itself as you’ll get your first bag checked in for free for up to 9 tickets that are paid with your Gold Delta card.

Doesn’t give you bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), which you need to earn if you want a Medallion status. Delta’s Medallion program is reserved for elite members where you can get Medallion benefits ranging from free seat upgrades, early boarding opportunities to mileage bonuses. Both the Platinum Delta Card and the Delta Reserve Card offer bonus MQMs every year when you spend a certain amount on the card annually. Below is a screenshot showing how many MQMs you need for the various categories of Medallion status.

Our Verdict: 4.8/5 Stars

The Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express is a credit card made especially for those who fly Delta frequently and who want to take advantage of the SkyMiles program which lets you save money by allowing you to use the miles you earn to pay (fully or partially) for your flights instead of having to pay the full amount. A bonus incentive for new cardmembers is that you get 30,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in the first 3 months which is equivalent to a $300 travel credit when using Pay with Miles.

When using this card, you will be able to earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases, as well as 1 mile for each dollar spent on other purchases. Each time you book a Delta flight with your card, your first bag will be checked in for free, up to a maximum of 9 people.

If you fly often or find yourself often flying on Delta, and would like to earn miles on your everyday purchases to later redeem for free or cheap flights, then the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is the perfect card for you. Apply online now and you will get a decision within 60 seconds.

Click here to go to the official American Express website to apply for Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card now.

For more details about Platinum Delta SkyMiles or Delta Reserve, click here to go to the official site.