Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Review for 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is designed for business owners who fly with Delta Air Lines frequently and want to access in-flight savings and a free checked bag. This travel business credit card comes with a low annual fee of $99 and offers rewards in several categories, including advertising, shipping, and dining. However, it lacks a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) and doesn’t allow balance transfers.
If you wish to compare one card over another, choose a maximum of three cards on this page and click Add to compare to view the details in a side-by-side comparison.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
BEST FOR:
Delta Air Lines flyers and earning rewards outside of Delta purchases
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
- Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. advertising purchases in select media. Effective 1/1/2024, this benefit will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
- Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
- Additionally, receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- Low annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $100 Delta flight credit
Cons
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- No free or discounted Delta Sky Club access
- No 0% introductory APR
- Free checked bag: Check one bag for free for you and up to eight companions
- Savings on inflight purchases: Receive a 20% discount on inflight purchases you make with your American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card
- Baggage insurance: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, you’re eligible for coverage of up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked bags
- Car rental insurance: Coverage is primary, which means it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
- Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases at U.S. shipping providers and eligible U.S. advertising purchases in select media. Effective 1/1/2024, this benefit will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year.
- Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
- Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
- Additionally, receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- Low annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $100 Delta flight credit
Cons
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- No free or discounted Delta Sky Club access
- No 0% introductory APR
- Free checked bag: Check one bag for free for you and up to eight companions
- Savings on inflight purchases: Receive a 20% discount on inflight purchases you make with your American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card
- Baggage insurance: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, you’re eligible for coverage of up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked bags
- Car rental insurance: Coverage is primary, which means it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer when renting for business purposes; it provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the US and abroad
When grading a travel rewards business credit card like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, we first consider ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional card features. We also take into account the card’s annual fee and APRs.
Grading Criteria | Card Score | Highest Possible Score |
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | 18 | 25 |
Introductory Rewards | 20 | 25 |
Additional Features | 20 | 20 |
Annual Fee | 7 | 10 |
Introductory APR | 0 | 10 |
Ongoing APR | 5 | 10 |
Total Score | 70 | 100 |
Who the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Is Best For
- Those who fly with Delta Air Lines frequently and prefer a low annual fee card: With a low annual fee of $99―$0 for the first year―business owners who fly primarily with Delta Air Lines can use this card to capitalize on Delta-related rewards and enjoy travel perks like a free checked bag, in-flight savings, and priority boarding.
- Those with advertising, shipping, and dining expenses: This card offers unlimited rewards when you use it to pay for advertising in select media, United States shipping purchases, and dining at restaurants.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, see our recommended alternatives for other options.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Rewards
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 5,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
- 2x miles on every dollar spent on the following:
- Purchases made directly with Delta
- US purchases for advertising in selected media
- US shipping purchases
- Dining and restaurants
- 1x miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
- $100 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar
Miles Rewards Explained
You can redeem your miles through the Delta rewards portal and use them toward flights, seat upgrades, car rentals, merchandise, and gift cards. Redemption should be in increments of 5,000 miles, with a minimum of 5,000 miles per redemption. The redemption value of your Delta miles may vary depending on what you’re purchasing.
Use our rewards calculator to compute the potential rewards you can earn with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. Just input your projected monthly spending based on the categories, and let our calculator do the rest. Miles are worth around $0.01 each, which may vary depending on how they are redeemed.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Features
Travel Perks and Protection
- First checked bag free: The card allows you to check your first bag for free and save up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding: You can board early―when Main Cabin 1 priority boarding is called―when flying with Delta.
- 20% in-flight savings: You can enjoy 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on select in-flight purchases aboard a Delta flight when you use your card.
- TakeOff 15: Save 15% on Award Travel by visiting delta.com or your Fly Delta account and logging in to your Delta SkyMiles account. Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights so that the 15% discount will be reflected.
- Baggage insurance plan: This provides coverage in case your bag is stolen, lost, or damaged. You can be reimbursed up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage. New York State residents have a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per trip.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Use your American Express business card to rent a car. Then, decline the collision damage waiver from the rental company to be eligible for coverage.
- Global Assist® Hotline: Cardholders can call the Global Assist® Hotline for emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance.
Expense Management
- QuickBooks integration: When you add your credit card to QuickBooks, your business transactions are tagged with your QuickBooks categories automatically.
- Year-end summary: American Express offers a complete summary of all of your spending after the end of the year. This is categorized by the month and purchase type, which will help you track your business expenses down to the last detail.
- Free employee cards: You can earn rewards on purchases made on employee cards and stay on top of expenses with spending limits.
Purchase Protection
- Extended warranty: This offers a warranty of one additional year and is available for purchases with the original manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
- Purchase protection: Your items are covered for up to 90 days from the date of purchase if they’re stolen or damaged. The coverage has a maximum limit of $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per person, per calendar year.
- Dispute resolution: American Express will work with you to address any fraudulent or incorrect charge made with your card.
- Relationship Care® Service: Card members can be assured that a customer care professional is available 24/7 to answer any questions they may have on their card.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Fees
APR
- Introductory: None
- Ongoing: 20.74% to 29.74% variable, which changes with the Prime rate
- Cash advance: 29.99% variable, which changes with the Prime rate
- Penalty: 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate; will be applied to your account if you do one of the following:
- Make two or more late payments within the 12-month period
- Fail to pay the minimum payment due by the closing date of the billing period
- Make a payment that’s returned
Fees
- Annual: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99 per year
- Balance transfer: Transfers aren’t allowed
- Foreign transaction: None
- Cash advance: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Late payment: Up to $39
- Overlimit: None
- Returned payment: $39
Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period.
- Online or mobile banking: You can pay your credit card bills from either the Amex website or its mobile app.
- Phone: Call (800) 472-9297, state your card information when prompted, and then follow the prompts.
- AutoPay: Log in to your online account and click “Payments,” located in the blue navigation bar, then choose “Manage AutoPay.”
- Mail: You can send your credit card bills via courier or express delivery mail to either address below. Ensure to include your account number on the front of your payment for easy reference.
First Class Mail
American Express
PO Box 650448
Dallas, TX 75265-0448
Express Mail
American Express
Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing
20500 Belshaw Ave.
Carson, CA 90746
When To Consider Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Alternatives
You Prefer a Fixed-rate Travel Business Credit Card
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card lets you earn premium rewards on Delta Air Lines purchases. If you prefer to earn fixed-rate rewards instead, our recommendation is the Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business.
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
BEST FOR:
Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.99% variable
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
- You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
- Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
- Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck® once every four years.
- Purchase assurance: Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12-month period.
- Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase.
- Travel medical emergency assistance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.
- Offers 5x unlimited reward miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, unlimited 2x miles on any business purchase, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Allows you to get two free visits to a Capital One airport lounge each year
- Is our top-recommended business credit card for miles and one of our best business credit cards for travel
You Seek to Earn Points on Travel & Selected Business Categories
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers miles points on eligible purchases made at restaurants, shipping providers, and advertising in selected social media. If you prefer to earn points on purchases made on travel and selected business categories, consider the Chase Ink Business Preferred®.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
BEST FOR:
Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.24%-26.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interest-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the United States manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts―and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
- Lets you earn three points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases in four categories (travel, shipping purchases, advertising on search engines, and social media sites, and expenses on internet, cable, and phone services) each account anniversary
- Is one of our best business credit cards for our travel and top credit cards for new businesses with no credit history
You Want Discounted Access to the Delta Sky Club
One of the major drawbacks of Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is that it does not offer free or discounted access to Delta Sky Club. If you want access to the Delta Sky Club, our suggestion is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
BEST FOR:
Frequent Delta flyers who want to access premium business Delta features
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$250
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per Calendar year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5X).
- Delta Sky Club® Access – Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family while flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
- With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- In-flight savings
- Business management tools
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- No interest-free financing period
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- Delta benefits: Receive your first checked bag for free and access priority boarding.
- Travel accident insurance: Provides card owners with travel accident insurance up to $100,000.
- Purchase protection: Provides coverage for purchases that are damaged or stolen up to 120 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 for an item and up to $50,000 for all claims for one year.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.99% - 29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$250
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 Bonus Miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 6 months. Offer Ends 10/25/23.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per Calendar year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5X).
- Delta Sky Club® Access – Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family while flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
- With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- In-flight savings
- Business management tools
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- No interest-free financing period
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- Delta benefits: Receive your first checked bag for free and access priority boarding.
- Travel accident insurance: Provides card owners with travel accident insurance up to $100,000.
- Purchase protection: Provides coverage for purchases that are damaged or stolen up to 120 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 for an item and up to $50,000 for all claims for one year.
- Offers access to the Delta Sky Club, with a pre-visit rate of $39 per person
- Lets you earn 3x miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and with hotels, 1.5 miles on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, and 1x mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Is in our roundups of the leading business credit cards for miles and top business credit cards with airport lounge access
Bottom Line
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a great choice for business owners who travel with Delta Air Lines frequently and want to enjoy travel rewards and perks. It’s a good option if you don’t need to access the Delta Sky Club because it charges a lower annual fee compared to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business. For more on those cards, read our Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business review and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business review.
