Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card Review: Low Annual Fee with Limited Benefits

Overview of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card

For business owners eager to explore the Delta cobranded card options, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card serves as a great entry point. It features a low $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $150 annually; see rates and fees) along with some appealing benefits. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Delta Air Lines offers a variety of cobranded cards for business owners, whether you're a sporadic traveler or fly weekly.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card serves as the entry-level option in Delta's business card collection, featuring valuable perks and a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by an annual fee of $150. A credit score of 670 is recommended.

This card is designed for individuals who want to accumulate SkyMiles and enjoy elite-like benefits when flying with Delta, but may not travel frequently enough to warrant a higher annual fee.

Let’s examine how this card compares to other Delta offerings and non-Delta alternatives.

Pros and Cons of the Delta Gold Business Amex

Welcome Offer for the Delta Gold Business Amex

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex provides new cardholders with a welcome offer that allows them to earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first six months of card membership.

According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, this offer is valued at $720.

With a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $150 annually), this card is a good option for business owners who fly Delta occasionally.

American Express restricts who can apply for this card, and if you've held it previously, you typically won't qualify for the welcome bonus. They may also consider other factors for eligibility but will notify you whether you can receive the welcome offer before doing a hard credit inquiry.

Benefits of the Delta Gold Business Amex

Although the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex card lacks the high-end features of its pricier Delta business card alternatives, it still offers several advantages for Delta flyers:

• Discount on award flights: Enjoy a 15% discount on award redemptions for Delta flights when paying taxes and fees with this card.
• Delta Stays credit: Get a $150 annual statement credit each calendar year for bookings made through Delta Stays, the hotel travel portal.
• Flight credit: Receive a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in purchases within a calendar year.
• First checked bag free: You and up to eight companions on the same reservation get your first checked bag free on Delta-marketed and -operated flights. At $70 for a round-trip bag, this can lead to significant savings for frequent travelers.

• Priority boarding: Enjoy Zone 5 boarding on Delta flights for yourself and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
• Inflight discount: Receive a 20% statement credit on inflight purchases, such as pre-purchased meals, snacks, alcoholic drinks, and audio headsets when using this card (Wi-Fi purchases are excluded).
• Baggage insurance plan: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen while using the card for travel, you can receive up to $1,250 for a carry-on and up to $500 for a checked bag.*
• Car rental insurance: Your eligible rental car is covered for damage or theft when you use the card to book and decline the rental company's insurance. Note that this coverage is secondary and does not include liability.**
• Shopping protections: The card includes an extended warranty that adds up to an extra year to the original manufacturer's warranty of five years or less. Purchase protection covers items against accidental damage or theft for up to 90 days post-purchase if paid with this card.

*Eligibility and benefits vary by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. For more details, visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Earning Miles with the Delta Gold Business Amex

This card allows you to earn:

• 2 miles per dollar on eligible purchases directly made with Delta
• 2 miles per dollar on U.S. shipping and advertising (limited to $50,000 spent annually; 1 mile per dollar thereafter)
• 2 miles per dollar on restaurant dining
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

While these earning rates aren't particularly impressive, it's beneficial to see some non-travel categories included, allowing business owners to earn on a wider range of purchases beyond just Delta travel.

According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, you can expect an effective return of 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively.

Redeeming Miles with the Delta Gold Business Amex

The best options for redeeming your miles are award flights with Delta or its SkyTeam partners. Although Delta's dynamic award pricing can complicate the maximization of SkyMiles, you can still find value in the program if you invest the time in searching and remain flexible when redeeming your miles.

Delta often runs flash sales and promotions on its website, providing great redemption opportunities for both international and domestic flights.

For instance, we've observed domestic award deals starting at just 2,000 SkyMiles one-way and flights from New York to Bogota, Colombia, in Delta One for as low as 12,000 SkyMiles one-way.

SkyMiles can also be used for seat upgrades. However, keep in mind that since Delta does not publish award charts, you won't know the mileage cost for those premium seats until you are ready to make your reservation.

SkyMiles upgrades are available on specific flights operated by Delta partners such as Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and Aeromexico when you use Mileage Upgrade Awards after booking your flight.

You can redeem your SkyMiles for various options like gift cards, magazines, unique SkyMiles Experiences, online shopping, and more, although these alternatives typically offer suboptimal returns.

TPG's senior editorial director Nick Ewen utilizes his SkyMiles for domestic journeys, benefiting from the TakeOff 15% discount. This effectively decreases the number of miles he needs to redeem for Delta flights.

What are the competing cards for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex?

While the Delta Business Gold Amex offers a robust array of benefits for its annual fee, you might prefer a card that provides even more Delta perks or greater flexibility.

• For flexible rewards: The American Express® Business Gold Card allows you to earn American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles and other loyalty programs. Although it lacks Delta-specific benefits, it offers 4 points per dollar on your top two business spending categories each billing cycle (up to $150,000 in combined purchases, then 1 point per dollar), including transit and U.S. restaurant spending. For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Business Gold Card.
• If you frequently fly Delta: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card provides extra Delta advantages like an annual companion certificate and expedited access to elite status, making it a more suitable choice for regular Delta flyers. For further information, see our full review of the Delta Platinum Business Amex.
• For Sky Club access: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card grants lounge entry (limited to 15 visits per year starting Feb. 1, 2025). However, this comes with a steeper annual fee of $650 (refer to rates and fees). For additional insights, check out our full review of the Delta Reserve Business Amex.

For more options, take a look at our complete list of the best travel cards and best American Express cards.

Is the Delta Gold Business Amex a good investment?

To justify the annual fee of the Delta Gold Business Amex, you should aim to make the most of benefits like a free first checked bag and discounts on inflight purchases, totaling over $150 in value each year. Even if you fly Delta only a few times annually, achieving this shouldn’t be difficult.

In summary

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex is a suitable choice if your business requires a credit card that offers essential Delta benefits such as a complimentary checked bag and priority boarding, all without incurring hefty annual fees.

However, if your goal is to help you achieve elite status, one of the other Delta business credit cards would be a more appropriate choice.