Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card vs Delta SkyMiles® Gold
Side-by-side comparison
| Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $249 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 miles | |
| Dining | 2x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $340 | $382 |
| Points type | Locked to Avianca LifeMiles | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | American Express | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 60,000 miles | Up to 90,000 SkyMiles |
| To earn it | $4,500 in 90 days | $5,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $691 | $1,332 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $91 | $432 |
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | Yes | None |
| Annual credits | None | ~$200/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card gets you into airport lounges; the Delta SkyMiles® Gold carries the heavier credit stack (about $200 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card earns about $340 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card charges $249, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold charges $150, but carries about $200 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold delivers more total value, about $241 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Avianca LifeMiles American Express® Elite Card if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Gold if your spending leans toward groceries.