Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Worth the $150 Annual Fee?
Yes. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold hands back up to $200 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $150 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $150 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
Every credit, broken down
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold offsets its fee with statement credits and benefits. Here is every one, with the most you can get from each per year. Remember that credits only count if you would have spent that money anyway, and some renew on a monthly or semi-annual schedule you have to use or lose.
| Credit or benefit | Up to |
|---|---|
| First checked bag free on Delta flights | varies |
| $200 Delta flight credit (after $10k spend/yr) | $200 |
| Total stated value | $200 |
If you use all of it, that is $200 back against a $150 fee, which covers the fee on its own.
What you earn on spending
Credits are only half the story; the card also earns rewards every time you swipe. On $29,160 of annual spending, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold earns about $382 a year at a flat 1 cent per point. The figure below is based on a typical household budget. See the full category breakdown in our Delta SkyMiles® Gold review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold costs $150 a year. Its credits return up to $200, and everyday rewards add about $382. That is a net of $432 in your favor every year you hold it, before any welcome bonus. First-year holders also collect a welcome bonus worth about $900, pushing the first-year total to roughly $1,332.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold worth the annual fee?
- Yes. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold hands back up to $200 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $150 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $150 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
- How do you offset the Delta SkyMiles® Gold annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the Delta SkyMiles® Gold offers up to $200 a year, enough to cover the fee by itself. Everyday rewards add roughly $382 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $150 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
