American Express Delta SkyMiles Gold Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card
Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x
Groceries
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 2.4% 2x
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x
Hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 4.5% 6x
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card 1.2% 1x base rate
What the numbers are doing
Delta SkyMiles Gold Card tops dining at 2.4% only because this table values its points at 1.2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card wins that category instead.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Delta SkyMiles Gold Card $150 and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card $650 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
Where they differ: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card takes everything else and hotels; Delta SkyMiles Gold Card takes dining, groceries and flights.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card1.5% |
| Dining | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4% |
| Groceries | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4% |
| Flights | Delta SkyMiles Gold Card2.4% |
| Hotels | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card4.5% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%
Groceries
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%
Flights
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 2.4%
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%
Hotels
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 4.5%
- Delta SkyMiles Gold Card — 1.2%
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