Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card vs. AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026 · Independently reviewed
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
American Express
4.1
Free first checked bag. 2x on Delta, restaurants, supermarkets.
Full review →
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Barclays
4.0
60,000-mile bonus after first purchase. Free checked bag on AA flights.
Full review →WealthSpott Verdict
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® wins on more measurable categories — particularly annual cost. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may still win for your wallet depending on your spending patterns.
Feature
Delta SkyMiles® Gold
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red
Annual Fee
$150/yr
$99/yr Best
Sign-up Bonus
40,000 miles
60,000 miles
Rewards Rate
1x-2x
1x-2x
Rewards Type
Miles
Miles
0% Intro APR
N/A
N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-29.49% Variable
21.49%-29.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
Recommended Credit Score
670-850
670-850
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Pros
- Free first checked bag on Delta ($60+ per round trip)
- Priority boarding on Delta flights
- 2x on Delta, restaurants, and supermarkets
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $150 annual fee
- Miles tied to Delta only
- Modest everyday earning rate (1x)
AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®
Pros
- 60,000-mile bonus after just one purchase
- Free first checked bag on AA flights
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $99 annual fee
- Low everyday earning rate (1x on most)
- Miles tied to American Airlines only
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