Why I Keep My Delta Amex Card Even Though I Rarely Fly Delta

I’ve had my Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card for nearly a year, and in that time, I’ve only flown Delta once. Even so, this card is a no-brainer to keep in my wallet and pay the annual fee when it comes time to renew.

Here’s how I think the card pays for itself with easy-to-use statement credits and benefits that are essential to saving money and miles when I do fly Delta.

Fantastic First-Year Annual Fee

The Delta Gold Business card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (rates & fees). That relatively low number made it easy and economical for me to test out the card and its benefits for my small business for the first year, before making a renewal decision.

It also has an attractive welcome offer that we value at up to $1,080:

• Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 11/4/26.

The card earns 2x SkyMiles on Delta purchases, 2x SkyMiles on eligible purchases at shipping providers and advertising purchases in select media (on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases per category, per year.), and 1x SkyMiles on all other purchases.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

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 ins and outs 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, free checked bags, and discounted award flights.

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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card

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

Welcome Offer

Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 11/4/26.

90,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,080

Annual Fee

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

APR

19.74% - 28.74% 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 card application.

Good to Excellent

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

• Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 11/4/26.
• $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.
• 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 eligible purchases per category, per year.
• Earn 2 Miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
• Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights worldwide for you and up to 8 travel companions in your reservation. Plus, as a Basic Card Member, you can check your second bag for free on domestic Delta flights.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• NEW: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after your first Card renewal when you use your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. That's up to $120 back annually. Enrollment required.
• 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: 19.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card shares many of the same benefits if you are interested in a personal card rather than a business one.

Statement Credits I Actually Use

I’ve only flown Delta once in the year I’ve owned the card, but even if I never did, the card’s statement credits would basically offset the annual fee in the second year and beyond.

Delta Stays Credit

The first credit I used was the up to $150 Delta Stays credit. I needed a cheap hotel near the Bucharest airport, and earning or redeeming loyalty points wasn’t a strong option for my plans. I found a Wyndham property that fit my budget and used the majority of my credit on this prepaid booking. The price on the Delta Stays portal was comparable to booking direct, so I didn’t feel I was paying an inflated rate just to use my credit.

Rideshare Credit

The other credit I’m looking forward to upon my card’s first renewal is the up to $120 rideshare credit, which provides up to $10 in monthly statement credits on eligible U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers (including Uber and Lyft). This new benefit was added to the card in June 2026 and requires enrollment.

Essential Benefits I Value When Flying Delta

Having recently flown Delta for the first time in years, I found that several of the Delta Gold Business card’s benefits delivered incredible value given the card’s annual fee.

15% Award Discount

When I was searching for flights to visit Niagara Falls this past summer, Delta quickly came to my attention with an affordable award ticket to Buffalo (BUF). Using the card’s TakeOff 15 benefit, I saved 15% on the SkyMiles award and booked round-trip flights for just 12,000 SkyMiles each. On this booking, I saved about 8,500 SkyMiles across 4 tickets. Considering we value SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, that’s more than $100 in savings.

I’m now eyeing Delta more in my flight searches, and I’ve seen similarly cheap award flights to Detroit (DTW) for a trip this fall to Cedar Point amusement park. Domestic flights made even cheaper with the TakeOff 15 discount are a fantastic way to redeem Delta SkyMiles.

Complimentary Checked Baggage

When it came time to travel, I knew it’d be easy to take checked luggage since my card includes the first checked bag free for myself and up to 8 companions on my reservation. I also get a second bag for free on domestic Delta flights. This made it easy for us to travel light as a large family with our bags checked and on their way. For the 3 bags we checked, the savings on this vacation were $270 round-trip.

Priority Boarding and Other Perks

When the flights were ready to board, I enjoyed Zone 5 priority boarding for myself and up to 8 companions on my reservation. This is ahead of the 3 zones for Main Cabin boarding, so the chances of finding a place to store your carry-on in an overhead bin are still good.

Additional perks, such as 20% back on inflight purchases, a $200 Delta flight credit for future travel after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, and travel and shopping protections, round out the benefits of the Delta Gold Business card.

Final Thoughts

In its first year, my Delta Gold Business card has already delivered hundreds of dollars in value from statement credits and benefits, even though I rarely fly Delta. It has a low annual fee that I can easily offset, and the 15% off award discount and free-luggage benefits make Delta a more attractive and affordable choice for my large family.