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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card review: Low annual fee but limited perks
Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.
Chris Nelson is a credit cards writer for TPG. He specializes in budget travel, hotels, earning elite status through minimal spending and redeeming points for maximum value.
also contributed to this story
September 10, 2025 • 9 min read
DELTA AIRLINES
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Quick summary
A business travel card focused on Delta offers priority boarding, free checked bags and inflight discounts, making it appealing for those who fly Delta occasionally.
The card provides a 15% discount on award flights booked with Delta miles, plus annual credits for Delta hotel bookings and rideshare services (enrollment required).
Additional benefits include baggage and car rental insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection, though premium perks like lounge access are not included.
Best suited for business owners who want Delta-specific perks without committing to higher annual fees or more premium cards.
What to consider
Eligibility for the welcome offer is generally limited to first-time cardholders due to a once-per-lifetime rule.
The 15% award discount applies only to Delta-operated flights and not to partner airlines or taxes and fees.
Maximizing value requires using perks like free checked bags and inflight discounts to offset the annual fee after the first year.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how this card stacks up against more premium Delta options and flexible business rewards cards.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card overview
For business owners looking to dip their toes into the Delta cobranded card lineup, the is a solid starting point. With perks like priority boarding, free checked bags and inflight discounts, it’s built to make Delta travel smoother and more rewarding. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Business owners loyal to Delta Air Lines have no shortage of cobranded cards to choose from, whether you’re a casual traveler or in the air every week.
The is the starter product in the Delta business card lineup. This card is built for those who want to earn SkyMiles and take advantage of perks when flying Delta, but who might not travel with the airline enough to justify a more premium card.
This card has a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year) (see rates and fees).
To increase applicants' chances of approval, we recommend that they have a credit score of at least 670.
Let’s look at how this card stacks up against its Delta counterparts and other non-Delta alternatives.
Delta Gold Business Amex pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Priority boarding
Free first checked bag worldwide and free second checked bag on domestic U.S. flights)
Inflight discount (in the form of statement credits)
(Terms apply)
Annual fee after the first year
No Delta Sky Club lounge access
Delta Gold Business Amex welcome offer
The offers new cardmembers the chance to earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
This offer is worth $1,080 based on TPG’s April 2026 valuations.
THE POINTS GUY
American Express limits who can apply for the card, and you’re generally ineligible for the welcome bonus if you’ve previously held this card because of their once-per-lifetime restriction. American Express may also look at other factors when determining welcome offer eligibility, but they will inform you whether you’re able to receive a card’s welcome offer before performing a hard pull on your credit score.
Delta Gold Business Amex benefits
While the card doesn’t have the same premium perks as it's more expensive Delta business card counterparts, it comes with several benefits when flying on Delta (terms apply):
Award flight discount: 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights, known as TakeOff 15 (not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees)
Delta Stays credit: Up to $150 annual statement credit per calendar year on eligible prepaid bookings with Delta Stays, Delta’s hotel portal
Free checked bags: You and up to eight companions on the same reservation (so nine travelers total) get your first checked bag free on flights worldwide and second checked bag free on U.S. domestic flights when flying on Delta-marketed and -operated flights. Up to $70 a bag round-trip, that can add up quickly if you travel regularly.
Priority boarding: Receive Zone 5 boarding on Delta flights for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
Inflight discount: Receive a 20% statement credit on inflight purchases, including pre-purchased meals, food and beverages, when paying with your card.
Delta flight credit: A $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year
Ride-hailing Credit: Receive up to $120 statement credit (up to $10 each month) for eligible U.S. rideshare purchases starting after first annual card renewal. Enrollment is required.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Other benefits include:
Baggage insurance plan: If your luggage is lost, damaged or stolen when you use the card to pay for travel, you’ll receive up to $1,250 for a carry-on and up to $500 for a checked bag.*
Car rental loss and damage insurance: You’re covered if your eligible rental car is damaged or stolen when you use the card to reserve and pay for it and decline company insurance. (Note that this is secondary coverage and doesn’t include liability.)**
Shopping protections: The card comes with an extended warranty that adds up to one year onto an original manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less and purchase protection that covers items that are accidentally damaged or stolen if you paid for them with the card for up to 90 days after the date of purchase.*
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
These aren’t show-stopping earning rates, but it is nice to see some non-travel earning categories thrown in to help business owners earn miles on more than just Delta purchases. That said, we generally recommend putting non-Delta purchases on another card that earns transferable rewards.
Award flights on Delta or its SkyTeam alliance partners are your best redemption options. Delta’s dynamic award pricing often makes it hard to maximize SkyMiles, but you can still find value with the program if you can put in the time to do your own searches and be flexible when it comes time to redeem your miles.
Delta frequently offers flash sales and other deals on its website and offers excellent redemption options for international and domestic itineraries.
ZACH GRIFF/ THE POINTS GUY
You can also use your SkyMiles for seat upgrades. Just know that since Delta doesn’t have award charts, you won’t know how many miles those premium seats will cost until you’re ready to book.
SkyMiles upgrades are also valid on certain flights operated by Aeromexico, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic when using Mileage Upgrade Awards once your flight is booked. These three airlines are close partners with Delta.
You can also redeem your SkyMiles for gift cards, magazines, unique SkyMiles Experiences, online shopping and more, though those options almost always yield less-than-optimal returns.
TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen redeems his SkyMiles for domestic trips, taking advantage of the 15% TakeOff discount. This effectively reduces the number of miles he needs to redeem for Delta flights.
Which cards compete with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex?
While the Delta Business Gold Amex comes with a solid portfolio of perks for its annual fee, you may want a card offering even more Delta perks or flexibility.
If you want flexible rewards: The earns American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles and other loyalty programs. While it doesn’t have perks specific to Delta, it earns 4 points per dollar spent on your two highest-spend business categories each billing cycle (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases in a calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Business Gold Card.
If you fly Delta regularly: The offers additional Delta perks like an annual companion certificate and a faster path to elite status that could be a better fit for regular Delta travelers. (Terms apply.) To learn more, read our full review of the Delta Platinum Business Amex.
If you want Sky Club access: The gives you lounge access (limited to 15 visits annually unless you meet specific spending requirements; additional terms may apply) and comes with a higher annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees). To learn more, read our full review of the Delta Reserve Business Amex.
For the to be worth its annual fee, you’ll want to maximize perks such as getting your first checked bag free on flights worldwide, second checked bag free on U.S. domestic flights and inflight purchase discounts to surpass $150 in value each year. Even if you only fly the airline a few times a year, that shouldn’t be hard to do.
Bottom line
You’ll want to choose the if your business needs a credit card with basic Delta perks like a free first checked bag on flights worldwide, free second checked bag on U.S. domestic flights and priority boarding to help make travel easier, and you don’t want to spend a huge amount in annual fees.
However, if you hope to use your card to help you hit elite status, one of the other Delta business credit cards will be a better fit.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business Amex, click here.
