24 Benefits of the Amex Delta Gold Business Card

If your business involves travel, having a travel rewards credit card should be a priority for many reasons. Earning rewards on every purchase your business makes and taking advantage of perks that make your travel more comfortable are just a couple of the benefits.

If your business involves frequent travel on Delta Air Lines, there can be additional reasons to consider a Delta-branded business credit card.

American Express issues several Delta-branded credit cards that are designed to provide flight benefits for Delta flyers, accelerate the earning of Delta SkyMiles, and even make it easier to qualify for Delta Medallion elite status.

But for today we’re going to talk specifically about Delta’s entry-level business card, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card.

The card offers value for the Delta business flyer who doesn’t want to pay a high annual fee but would still enjoy Delta benefits, earning Delta SkyMiles, and savings.

Let’s look at what the card has to offer and if it’s an appropriate match for your level of Delta travel.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

1. A Generous Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonuses change, but after meeting minimum spending requirements, you can expect to receive Delta SkyMiles.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Receive 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases, priority boarding, a free checked bag, and discounted award flights.

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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card

Receive 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases, priority boarding, a free checked bag, and discounted award flights.

Welcome Offer

Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

APR

19.99% - 28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If Delta Air Lines is your first choice for business travel, and you’re always looking for more ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, this could be a great card option.

Being able to board the plane early and check your bag for free makes all the difference for a smooth flight. Plus, getting discounts on inflight purchases keeps money in your pocket and your small business.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 on U.S. purchases for advertising in select media and on U.S. shipping purchases on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year.

Cons

• Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
• Doesn’t offer as many perks for rewards as other Delta cards

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Card Highlights

• Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• 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.
• Additionally, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of 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.
• Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
• Terms and limitations apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

This spending requirement must be met within the first 3 months after card approval. Once completed, the welcome bonus miles will be deposited into your SkyMiles frequent flyer account, ready to redeem.

2. Earn More on Delta Purchases

You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on your card for all Delta purchases. Qualifying purchases include any purchase where Delta is the vendor. This includes flights, Delta vacations, inflight beverages, headsets, inflight food, and purchasing miles.

3. Earn Double Miles on Specific Business Categories

You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar spent on U.S. shipping purchases and U.S. select media advertising. Qualifying media includes television, online advertising, and radio ads. This benefit will have a cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year.

4. Earn When Dining Worldwide

Restaurant purchases worldwide will earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on the card.

5. Earn on Every Purchase You Make

All purchases other than the previously mentioned bonus categories earn 1 mile per dollar spent on the card, so you’ll always be earning SkyMiles when spending on your card.

6. Earn for Referring a Friend

Earn at least 5,000 Delta SkyMiles or more when a friend you refer is approved for the Gold Delta Business card or other eligible Delta Amex card.

7. Additional Users

There is no charge to add additional users to your card (rates & fees). Adding employees can help you control and track expenses, plus you’ll be earning additional SkyMiles.

Bottom Line: Earn double miles on Delta purchases, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. select media advertising, and restaurant purchases worldwide. 

Delta Travel Benefits

Travel benefits that come with the card can save you money and make your trip more pleasant. You can expect these benefits by having the Gold Delta Business card.

8. Priority Boarding

Board the plane early with Zone 5 priority boarding for you and up to 8 of your traveling companions on the same reservation.

9. Free Checked Bag

Checking bags can be expensive. The free checked bag benefit that comes with your card could save you hundreds of dollars each year if you’re a frequent Delta traveler.

Receive 1 free checked bag for you and up to 8 companions traveling on the same reservation.

10. Delta Flight Credit

Spend $10,000 in a calendar year on your card and receive a $200 credit towards a future flight.

11. Delta Stays Credit

Earn up to $150 for an annual statement credit after using your card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.

12. Inflight Discounts

Purchase beverages, inflight meals, or headsets during your flight and receive a 20% statement credit based on the total amount of your purchases.

Bottom Line: Having the Gold Delta Business card can save you money with a free checked bag for you and your traveling companions, a flight savings voucher, and discounts on inflight purchases.

Redeeming Your Miles

You’ll be earning a lot of SkyMiles on your Gold Delta Business card and, fortunately, there are scores of ways to redeem them.

While most of these redemption options are not specifically card benefits, we’re including the options so you get the full scope of available options for redeeming your SkyMiles.

13. Pay for Your Flights With Miles

The Pay With Miles benefit that comes with your card is a key feature that allows you to use miles to pay for eligible flights. Each 5,000-mile increment results in a $50 credit towards the cost of your flight. You can pay for just a portion of your flight cost or the entire flight.

Best of all, you’ll earn bonus miles when you fly your Pay with Miles itinerary and Medallion Qualifying Miles on the portion you paid for with your card.

14. Redeem Miles for Delta Award Flights

Delta award flight pricing is quite dynamic, and while there is no published award chart, you can find flights starting at just 10,000 SkyMiles.

For international itineraries, you’ll pay much more, of course, but you can still find good value and tremendous deals when Delta runs their flash sales.

15. Redeem Miles for Flights With SkyTeam Alliance and Partner Airlines

Your SkyMiles can take you around the world when you redeem miles for award flights with partner and SkyTeam Alliance airlines.

16. Redeem for Seat Upgrades and Ticket Fees

With the Upgrade with Miles benefit, you can use miles to upgrade your flights during the booking process. Eligible flights will automatically offer this option when you are logged in to your SkyMiles account.

You can also use miles to upgrade an existing reservation. If a flight is eligible, you will see a banner at the top of your reservation indicating the cost of the upgrade.

Additionally, miles can be used for ticket changes fees, same-day flight confirmation fees, and award redeposit fees.

For more information on upgrading to business and first class with Delta, you’ll not want to miss our article on this hot topic.

17. Redeem Miles at the SkyMiles Marketplace and More

Gold Delta Business card and Medallion Elite members enjoy access to the SkyMiles Marketplace where over 6,000 products and services are available including car rentals, cruises, hotels, merchandise, and more. Redeem your miles wisely on the marketplace as not all redemption options are a good value.

You can also redeem your miles for gift cards and magazines.

Hot Tip: There are so many ways to redeem your SkyMiles but the best value can be realized when redeeming for Delta and partner airline flights. Never redeem your SkyMiles for less than 1 cent each as there is much better value possible. For ideas on maximizing your SkyMiles, we’ve put together a collection of options to consider. 

Business Benefits

18. Ways to Manage Your Business Expenses

The Gold Delta Business card comes with benefits specifically designed to help you manage your business expenses:

• Free employee cards
• Mobile account management
• Set alerts for unusual transactions
• Upload receipt images, add notes, and organize your transaction with ReceiptMatch
• Add an account manager other than the cardholder
• Online monthly and year-end summary statements
• Connect to Quickbooks
• Pay vendors digitally

Having a business credit card is essential for a lot of reasons and we’ve written extensively on the topic. Check out our overview of why you’d want a business credit card and our recommendations to consider.

Travel Protection and Benefits

Your Gold Delta Business card provides valuable travel and shopping benefits when you use your card to purchase travel or for eligible items.

19. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Use your card to reserve and pay for your rental car, decline the agency’s collision damage waiver coverage, and receive coverage for damage, theft, or loss of use.

Coverage is secondary to any other insurance you have that would cover the loss.

Having the Gold Delta Business card, however, allows you access to purchase Amex Premium Car Rental Protection for a low fee that covers the entire rental period. This premium coverage is primary and is a good value with pricing that ranges from $12.25 to $24.95 each rental period.

Hot Tip: If you rent cars frequently, you’ll want to read our article on the best credit cards for primary car rental insurance.

20. Baggage Insurance Plan

Pay for your entire common carrier fare with your eligible card and receive up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked baggage for theft, loss, or damage.

Coverage is secondary to any other coverage that may apply, including the airline’s coverage.

21. Global Assist^® Hotline

Receive assistance planning your trip or help 24/7 when you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home. Services include help after losing a passport, emergency transportation assistance, and medical/legal referrals.

22. No Foreign Transaction Fees

With no foreign transaction fees to worry about, you can use your card when traveling abroad (see rates & fees).

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Have peace of mind knowing your purchases made with the card will receive these added protections.

23. Purchase Protection

It can be frustrating to purchase an item and have it break shortly after you acquire it. Having Amex Purchase Protection can be a real saver if an item you buy with your card is damaged or stolen in the first 90 days after purchase.

Coverage is provided for up to $10,000 per covered purchase for a maximum of $50,000 per eligible card.

24. Extended Warranty

Manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less will be extended for 1 additional year for eligible items purchased with your card. Coverage limits are $10,000 per purchase, $50,000 maximum per eligible card.

Note that this list is not totally inclusive of all benefits and protections that come with the card and we’ve also abbreviated the coverage descriptions. The ultimate source for the terms and conditions that dictate coverage can be found in the card’s Guide to Benefits.

Delta SkyMiles Card Alternatives For Medallion Elite Status

The Gold Delta Business card does not offer the ability to earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) for attaining Delta elite status.

These features can be found on the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, and the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t considered a Delta-branded credit card lately, it’s time to take a fresh look at the new earning enhancements, benefits, and expanded redemption options.

The Delta Gold Business card lacks some of the benefits that come with other Delta-branded business cards such an annual companion flight certificate, a faster path to elite status, and TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement. If these are important to you, one of the other Delta-branded cards would serve you better.

Also, if you have elite status with Delta, you may already be receiving benefits that come with a Delta-branded card such as priority boarding, or free checked bag. You might also be flying more airlines than just Delta Air Lines.

If so, you may want to consider The Platinum Card^® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express which also offer Sky Club and Centurion lounge access plus additional premium travel benefits such as hotel elite status and flight redemption rebates.