Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers the first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation. If you travel with a large family, or even a partner, this card could save you money by just taking a single trip each year. It’s also got a few other Delta-focused perks.
Review: Is the Amex Delta Gold Business the best credit card for you?
If you fly Delta with any regularity, you need a Delta credit card — and if you’re a small-business owner, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is an excellent choice with great perks for a moderate annual fee of Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
Even if you rarely use the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card for purchases, its ongoing benefits can save you many hundreds of dollars each year. From free checked bags (a value of at least $60 per round-trip) to a potential $100 Delta credit after meeting a spending threshold to priority boarding and inflight discounts, this card can prove to be one of the best airline credit cards for a Delta lover.
The card also currently offers a welcome bonus of Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. That’s worth Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card in travel, on average, based on Insider’s valuations. This is 20,000 points higher than the previous offer — making it $220 more valuable, on average.
If you don’t fly Delta too often but still want to accrue Delta miles, you may instead consider opening a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points, like The Business Platinum Card® from American Express or The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express. You can transfer these points instantly to Delta — and Amex points earning cards often come with a better return rate for everyday spending.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn miles from the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card isn’t a fabulous choice for everyday spending. Here’s what you’ll get:
2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases2 miles per dollar at restaurants2 miles per dollar on eligible U.S. purchases for shipping and advertising in select media1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
Insider estimates that Delta miles are worth 1.1 cents each. That means your average return rate is between 1.1% and 2.2%, on average, toward travel. There are several Amex Membership Rewards cards that earn higher returns for spending — and you can transfer those points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio — so if your motivation to open the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Cardis to earn Delta miles through spending, this card may not be your best option.
Delta miles don’t expire, so you can freely earn them without fretting as to when you’ll be able to use them.
How to use Delta miles
You can redeem Delta miles for much more than just travel, but we recommend that you don’t; the value you’ll receive from your rewards is almost always worth the most when used for flights.
Insider’s valuation of Delta miles (again, 1.1 cents each) is based on the average value you’ll get when booking award seats. You can redeem Delta miles for flights on Delta as well as its SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners (Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, etc.). In other words, you can get to just about anywhere in the world with Delta miles.
Delta prices its award seats based on demand, season, cash price, and perhaps many other factors. To see how many miles a flight costs, you’ll have to search the exact date and time on Delta’s website.
You’ll occasionally find excellent sale prices, both domestic and international. If you’re willing to let the deals guide your vacations, you can easily get many times the value Insider places on Delta miles. Coach flights as low as 2,000 miles one-way for domestic routes and 9,000 miles one-way for international routes crop up here and there.
Another redemption option this card unlocks is the ability to use Delta Pay With Miles to effectively offset the cash price of a ticket with miles. You’ll get a value of 1 cent per mile, and you must redeem in increments of 5,000 (or $50). For example, if a flight costs $610, you could book the trip with 60,000 miles and $10.
Other ways to redeem your miles (again, often at an unreasonable redemption value) include:
Seat selection and upgradesDelta Sky Club lounge membershipsCertain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)Gift cardsMagazinesTour vouchersCharity donationsDelta Vacations packagesPremium drinks in Delta Sky Club loungesDelta SkyMiles Experiences
Delta Gold Business card benefits and features
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card comes with benefits that are helpful for much more than just business travelers.
Free first checked bag
You and up to eight companions on your reservation receive a free first checked bag on Delta flights. Delta regularly charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, so this benefit can offset the card’s annual fee even if you and a travel buddy fly Delta once per year.
And if you travel as a family, you can get a huge value — four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally incur fees of $240 for their luggage.
Priority boarding
Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Delta Main Cabin 1 priority boarding — even when flying Basic Economy — which means you’ll have more time to get settled into your seat and find room in the overhead bins for your carry-on bag.
The Main Cabin 1 group boards after passengers flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or those flying in basic economy.
$100 Delta flight credit
If you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, you’ll receive a $100 Delta flight credit. This credit is valid toward Delta flight purchases or the flight portion of a Delta Vacations package, but you can’t use it for ancillary fees like checked bags or change fees.
20% back on inflight purchases
When you use your card to pay for inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights, you’ll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.
Car rental insurance
This card offers secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver. Coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your card, you can be covered for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence and $50,000 per year.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less.
Baggage insurance
If you pay for a covered trip with your card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags, and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Global Assist Hotline
This card also comes with a little-known perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you’re away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex’s Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services. The service itself is complimentary, but you’re responsible for any third-party costs.
Amex Offers
Similar to other American Express cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card includes targeted discounts and bonus rewards at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. This can be a great way to save money on everyday purchases you’d probably make anyway.
Fees and costs
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card annual fee is Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. The card waives foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good card to use when traveling abroad.
As with most other cards, you’ll be charged for late or returned payments and cash advances.
Comparison: Gold Delta SkyMiles Business credit card vs other Delta business cards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Annual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Rewards rate
2x miles on eligible Delta purchases
2x miles on eligible US purchases for advertising in select media and on eligible US shipping purchases
2x miles at restaurants
1x miles on all other eligible purchases
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases
3x miles on eligible purchases made directly with hotels
1.5x miles on single transactions totaling $5,000+ (up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year)
1x miles on all other eligible purchases
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases
1.5x miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year (through the remainder of the calendar year)
1x miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus offer
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Travel benefits
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
$100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year
20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
Annual Delta companion certificate
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
Discounted Delta Sky Club access
Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25,000 on purchases in a calendar year (up to two times)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
Annual Delta companion certificate, valid for up to first class
Access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta
Access to Amex Centurion Lounges when you pay for your airfare with your card and fly Delta
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 on purchases with your card in a calendar year (up to 4 times per year)
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
Review
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card review
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card review
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card vs other airline business credit cards
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
United℠ Business Card
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Annual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
United℠ Business Card
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Rewards rate
2x miles on eligible Delta purchases
2x miles on eligible US purchases for advertising in select media and on eligible US shipping purchases
2x miles at restaurants
1x miles on all other eligible purchases
2x miles on United purchases
2x miles on dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and local transit and commuting
1x miles on all other purchases
2x miles on American Airlines purchases
2x miles at telecommunications merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants, and gas stations
1x miles on all other purchases
Welcome bonus offer
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
United℠ Business Card
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Travel benefits
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
$100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year
20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit
Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year
Free first checked bag on United flights*
Priority boarding on United flights
25% back on United inflight purchases
$100 United credit after making seven or more United flight purchases of $100 or more each card anniversary year
5,000 bonus miles each card anniversary when you have the United Business Card and a personal United credit card
500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases (up to two times per calendar year)
Expanded access to United award flights
Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries
Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases
Domestic companion certificate when you spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year and renew your card
Review
Chase United Business Card review
CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select card review
*When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket
Amex Delta Gold Business frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who is eligible for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card?
Because this is a small-business credit card, you can only qualify if you’ve got a business venture. Even if you’ve only got a side-gig, you may be eligible.
For example, if you’re a petsitter on Rover, if you drive for Lyft or Grubhub, or if you’re a freelance writer, you’ve got a small business.
Also, note that you won’t qualify for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card welcome bonus offer if you’ve previously held this card. American Express limits customers to one welcome bonus offer per card, per lifetime.
However, each Delta credit card is considered entirely different. If you already have or had other Delta cards, like the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or the personal Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you are still eligible for this card’s welcome bonus offer.
What credit score do you need for the Amex Delta Gold Business Card?
We suggest to anyone with a credit score below 700 to stay away from travel credit cards until they’ve nurtured their credit a bit more. Still, it’s possible to be approved for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card if you have anywhere from a good to excellent credit score (as low as 670, per FICO).
Check out our guides for improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.
If you cancel the Delta Gold Business Card, will you lose your miles?
When you earn Delta miles with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, your rewards will automatically deposit into your Delta account. They aren’t saved on your card, therefore you won’t lose them when you cancel your card.
Do you need to pay for your ticket with the Amex Delta Gold Business Card to get a free checked bag?
As long as you hold an annual fee-incurring Delta credit card and your loyalty number is attached to your flight reservation, you do not need to pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
Only the primary cardholder (not authorized users) qualifies for this benefit. But as long as authorized users are traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardholder, they’ll get a free checked bag and priority boarding, as the primary cardholder’s free checked bag benefit extends to up to eight companions on the same reservation.
Is the Gold or Platinum Delta Business card better?
The best Delta card for you depends entirely on the value you’ll get from each card’s ongoing benefits. If you’re a frequent traveler and can use benefits like an annual Delta companion certificate and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, it’s likely worth paying a higher annual fee to hold the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
If you’re only an occasional Delta flyer, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is likely the better card for you. Read our comparison of the personal Delta Gold and Platinum to help you get an idea of which is right for your situation.