The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Card is a very popular airline credit card — no doubt. It comes with a number of benefits like some pretty decent bonus categories, 20% back on in-flight purchases, and free checked bags. But one benefit that stands out is the $100 Delta flight credit. But how does this credit actually work and is it really worth it? In this article, I will break it all down for you.
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Table of Contents
What is the $100 Delta flight credit?
The $100 Delta flight credit is a special credit issued to select Delta credit cardholders that spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year on their Delta SkyMiles Gold Card.
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Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold overview
- 2X on Delta
- 2X on restaurants
- 2X on US supermarkets
- First Checked Bag Free
- Priority Boarding
- $100 flight credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99 annual fee that is often waived the first year.
Limitations to the credit
The $100 credit can be used on purchases of Delta-marketed flights made on delta.com or with Delta Reservations. The credit may also be applied toward the Delta airfare portion of a Delta Vacations package.
Something to note is that this $100 credit is only valid for the payment of tickets which include the fare, surcharge, and government-imposed taxes and fees imposed on the air transportation.
This means that you cannot use the credit for incidental expenses which would be things like baggage fees, change fees, unaccompanied minor fees, upgrades or any other type of ancillary purchase. That type of limitation is pretty standard for an airline credit like this so it’s not a major drawback.
Related: Delta SkyMiles Value Guide
Expiration
Your $100 Delta credit will expire one year from the date of issuance. Note: it might take up to two weeks after meeting the spending requirement for the credit to be issued.
Tip: If you would like to avoid potential complications with delayed credits, make sure that the name on your American Express card matches with the name on your Delta SkyMiles account.
You must make your redemption on or before the expiration date but you don’t have to use it all on one single redemption. If you are able to find a really cheap flight and you still have credit left over from your $100 credit you will still be able to use the residual value in another transaction as long as that transaction occurs before the expiration date.
Your credit will be sent to you in the form of a Delta eCredit. You will be able to find this credit in “My Profile” on delta.com under “Certificates, eCredits, and Vouchers.”
The certificate number, a redemption code, and redemption instructions will also be sent to the email address listed on your Delta SkyMiles account.
Each member will be limited to one credit per calendar year.
you cannot transfer this credit to another member but you can apply it towards someone else’s ticket. Also, you can combine this credit with up to two additional Delta eCredits.
Related: Delta Companion Certificate Rules and Guide
Product changes
If you were to product change from a different type of Delta SkyMiles Card product to the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, any eligible purchases that you made on your prior Delta card during the calendar year will count towards your $10,000 spend requirement (but only after you make your first transaction on the new card).
So if you spent $6,000 on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card and then downgraded to the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, you would only need to spend $4,000 more to earn the $100 credit.
Authorized users
This benefit is only available to the primary cardmember but purchases made by authorized users will count towards the purchase requirement. Remember, you can use the credit to cover a flight for anybody so in effect you can still use this credit for an authorized user.
Related: Delta Sky Club Guide: (Access & List of Locations)
Is the $100 Delta flight credit worth it?
The annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is $99 so taking advantage of this benefit can completely offset the annual fee. From that perspective, this benefit can clearly be worth it.
The issue is that it requires you to spend $10,000 in a calendar year for only $100 in rewards. If you were to spend $15,000 in a calendar year you could earn a free night with Hilton which could be worth several hundred dollars or even over $1,000 if optimized fully.
So in terms of bang for buck you’re not getting a whole lot for your spend.
With that said, if you already had plans to put $10,000 in spend on a Delta card then you might as well take advantage of this perk and it could be well worth it in that case. I just don’t think I would go out of my way to earn a $100 credit considering the alternatives — and that’s without even factoring in welcome bonuses you can earn.
Related: Delta Air Lines Boarding Policy Guide
Final word
Overall, this is a pretty simple perk that is easy to earn and use. I’m not crazy about the value you get in return for so much spend but it is a benefit that completely offsets your annual fee with one use and I always like to see those perks. I think if you are somebody already putting a good amount of spend on your Delta card, then this benefit can be well worth it. But if you are eyeing other alternatives, chances are you can find a better return in value for your spend.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.