Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® vs Delta SkyMiles® Gold
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® | Delta SkyMiles® Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles after $500 in 3 months | |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 2x | 2x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $352 | $382 |
| Points type | Locked to American Airlines AAdvantage | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® earns about $352 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold about $382, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. 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 Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® delivers more total value, about $20 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it skips the annual fee the other charges. 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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold if your spending leans toward dining.