Updated: October 28, 2024
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The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card is the better choice if you’re indifferent between Alaska Airlines and Delta. It offers 3X miles on Alaska purchases and an annual Companion Fare.
However, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers strong rewards on groceries and dining, making it appealing for diverse spenders. Both cards provide valuable airline-specific perks, but brand loyalty may be the deciding factor.
The Alaska Airlines Signature card is better for frequent Alaska Airlines travelers who want to maximize their miles on Alaska purchases. It offers 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and a Companion Fare. However, it may not be suitable for those who do not frequently travel with Alaska Airlines, as the rewards on non-Alaska purchases are limited to 1X miles.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold card is better for frequent Delta flyers who want to maximize their rewards. It offers 2X miles on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, along with a generous sign-up bonus. The card also provides free checked bags and priority boarding on Delta flights. However, if you rarely fly with Delta, the card's value diminishes, and the $150 annual fee after the first year may not be justified.
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card compares in areas like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you're focused on airline rewards, Alaska Airlines Signature offers 3X miles on its purchases, while Delta SkyMiles Gold provides 2X miles on Delta purchases. This makes Alaska Airlines Signature better for maximizing rewards on its flights.
Regular APR: Delta SkyMiles Gold
Delta SkyMiles Gold is better for regular APR. Its APR range starts at 20.49%, which is slightly lower than Alaska Airlines Signature's 20.74%.
Annual Fee: Delta SkyMiles Gold
Delta SkyMiles Gold is better for the annual fee, offering a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $150. In contrast, Alaska Airlines Signature charges a $95 annual fee.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither Alaska Airlines Signature nor Delta SkyMiles Gold offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: Alaska Airlines Signature
The Alaska Airlines Signature card is better for rewards, offering 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases and 2X on gas, EV charging, cable, streaming and local transit. Delta SkyMiles Gold offers 2X miles on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets and restaurants.
Welcome Offers: Alaska Airlines Signature
Delta SkyMiles Gold is better for welcome offers, providing 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in six months, compared to Alaska Airlines Signature's 60,000 miles and a companion fare with the same spending requirement in 90 days.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both Alaska Airlines Signature and Delta SkyMiles Gold cards require a recommended credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they cater to individuals with good to excellent credit.
Penalties and Fees: Tie
Both Alaska Airlines Signature and Delta SkyMiles Gold cards have similar penalties and fees. They charge up to $40 for late payments and have a penalty APR of around 29.99%. Cash advance fees differ slightly, but neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
Issuer Satisfaction: Delta SkyMiles Gold
The Delta SkyMiles Gold card is better for issuer satisfaction, with American Express scoring higher than Bank of America. This reflects a stronger customer service experience for Delta cardholders.
Card Benefits: Alaska Airlines Signature
Alaska Airlines Signature is better for card benefits, offering perks like a companion fare and inflight discounts, valued at $978.6. Delta SkyMiles Gold provides a $200 flight credit and award travel discounts, valued at $910.63.
The Alaska Airlines Signature and Delta SkyMiles Gold cards both offer competitive benefits for frequent travelers. The Alaska Airlines Signature card provides higher rewards on airline and gas purchases, making it a strong choice for those who frequently fly with Alaska Airlines or drive often. Meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers better rewards on dining and groceries, appealing to those who spend more in these categories.
Both cards use airline miles as their rewards currency, valued at approximately 1.4 cents each. This similarity in unit value means that the choice between the two may come down to which spending categories align better with your habits.
The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the rewards categories and rates for each card, allowing you to easily compare and decide which card best suits your spending patterns.
Category | Alaska Airlines Signature | Delta SkyMiles Gold |
|---|---|---|
Alaska Airlines | 3X miles | 1X mile |
Delta | 1X mile | 2X miles |
Groceries | 1X mile | 2X miles |
Dining | 1X mile | 2X miles |
Gas | 2X miles | 1X mile |
EV Charging | 2X miles | 1X mile |
Internet & Cable | 2X miles | 1X mile |
Streaming Services | 2X miles | 1X mile |
Taxi & Ride Share | 2X miles | 1X mile |
All Other Transit | 2X miles | 1X mile |
Other | 1X mile | 1X mile |
Alaska Airlines Signature miles can be redeemed for flights with Alaska Airlines and oneworld Alliance partners, with no expiration or blackout dates. Delta SkyMiles Gold offers flexibility: it is redeemable for flights, upgrades and more, and has no expiration. Delta's broader redemption options may appeal to those seeking versatility.
Alaska Airlines Signature offers more value in perks, especially with its Companion Fare, which is ideal for travelers flying with a companion. Both cards provide free checked bags, but Alaska Airlines Signature covers up to six guests, while Delta SkyMiles Gold covers eight. Priority boarding is a shared benefit, though Delta's card includes more companions. Delta's $200 flight credit is valuable but requires significant spending, making it less accessible for some.
Travel Perks
Credits & Discounts
Travel Perks
Status
Insurance & Protections
Credits & Discounts
All Other Perks
The Alaska Airlines Signature card has a $95 annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles Gold card has a $0 introductory fee for the first year, then $150.
The Alaska Airlines Signature card offers 3X miles on Alaska Airlines purchases, while the Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers 2X miles on Delta purchases.
Both cards have no foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
The Alaska Airlines Signature card offers 60,000 bonus miles plus a Companion Fare. The Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first six months.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers priority boarding and a $200 Delta flight credit, while the Alaska Airlines Signature card offers a Companion Fare and free checked bags.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the "Airline" category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
