Marriott Bonvoy Boundless vs Delta SkyMiles Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.

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• The card has an introductory annual fee for the first year before a standard annual fee applies, but it helps you save abroad with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees).
• Cardholders receive valuable travel perks like a free first checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation, plus priority boarding on Delta flights.
• You can earn double miles on several everyday spending categories and get more value from your rewards with a 15% discount on Delta award flights.

_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Valuable travel perks: Enjoy a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions, plus priority boarding on Delta flights.
• Strong rewards structure: Earn double miles on purchases with Delta, at restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus, get a discount on award flights booked with miles.
• Helpful cardholder extras: The card comes with no foreign transaction fees and provides access to Amex Offers, which can unlock additional savings on everyday purchases.

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Cons

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• Lacks premium travel benefits like complimentary lounge access or a companion certificate, which are found on higher-tier cards.
• The rewards structure is less competitive for spending outside of select categories, and the card doesn't offer statement credits for programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• Infrequent flyers may find the annual fee hard to justify, as the card's value is tied heavily to maximizing its Delta-specific perks.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® or Delta SkyMiles® Gold, comes down to your specific travel style. Both cards are excellent choices for frequent travelers, but they serve different loyalty ecosystems.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is best for frequent travelers who are loyal to Marriott properties, as it helps maximize rewards and elite status benefits within the hotel's loyalty program.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Also tailored for frequent travelers, this card specifically caters to those who regularly fly with Delta Air Lines and want to earn miles and enjoy airline-specific perks.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, primarily for free nights at participating hotels and resorts. You can also use points for other travel-related rewards, such as flights and car rentals, by transferring them to partner programs.

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Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Miles are redeemed through the Delta SkyMiles program, most often for booking flights with Delta or its extensive network of airline partners. Miles can also be used for other travel perks like seat upgrades, vacation packages, and exclusive member experiences.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is built for the Marriott Bonvoy hotel ecosystem. Its main perks include an annual Free Night Award after your account anniversary and automatic Silver Elite Status, which provides benefits like bonus points on stays. It does not charge foreign transaction fees, but airport lounge access is not a standard feature.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This card’s ecosystem is centered on Delta Air Lines. It offers airline-specific benefits like a first checked bag free on Delta flights, priority boarding, and no foreign transaction fees. While it doesn’t include complimentary lounge access, cardholders can enter the Delta Sky Club for a fee. Members can also earn a flight credit after reaching a specific spending amount each year.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a powerful tool designed to help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best match for your spending habits.

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• Test drive any credit card to see personalized calculations of your potential earnings based on your real spending data.
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• Track spending, monitor your credit score, and manage all your credit cards in one platform.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent guests of Marriott properties who want to maximize their loyalty. It also appeals to value-conscious travelers and status seekers, offering an annual free night award and 15 elite night credits to help fast-track to higher tiers. Furthermore, with accelerated earning on everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and dining, the card allows members to rack up points even when they are not on the road.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express card is an excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers, as the free checked bag benefit can easily offset the annual fee for those who travel several times a year. It also appeals to individuals who dine out or buy groceries often, thanks to its 2X miles earning rate at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Furthermore, travelers looking to maximize their rewards will appreciate the TakeOff 15 benefit, which offers a 15% discount on award flights booked with miles, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Alternatives to Consider

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express comparison highlights two strong co-branded options, but they certainly aren't for everyone. If you're looking for more flexible rewards or different travel perks, several other cards are worth considering.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most travel rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending – Make sure you can comfortably meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer without overspending.
• Know your rewards goal – Research how you’ll use your points, whether for hotel stays, flights, or other redemptions.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer’s rules – Be aware of any application restrictions that could affect your approval odds.
• Align with your loyalty – Co-branded cards offer the most value if you are a frequent customer of that specific hotel or airline.
• Time your application for the best offer – Issuers may limit how often you can earn a welcome offer for the same product.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and Delta SkyMiles?

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Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles, typically at a 3:1 ratio, but transferring Delta SkyMiles to Marriott Bonvoy is not an option. This one-way flexibility allows you to top off your airline miles balance using your hotel points.

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Which card is better for everyday spending?

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For general, non-bonus category spending, both cards typically offer a base rate of 1 point or mile per dollar. Your choice should depend on whether you value accumulating hotel points or airline miles more for your unbonused purchases.

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Do the rewards earned from these cards expire?

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Delta SkyMiles do not expire, regardless of account activity. Marriott Bonvoy points, however, will expire if your account is inactive for 24 consecutive months, though earning or redeeming points with the card will keep them active.

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