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For business owners looking to dip their toes into the Delta Air Lines cobranded card lineup, the is a solid starting point. With perks like priority boarding, free checked bags and inflight discounts, it’s built to give Delta travelers useful benefits without the higher annual fees charged by Delta’s more premium business cards. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Delta Gold Business Amex: The basics
Business owners loyal to Delta have no shortage of cobranded cards to choose from, whether they’re casual travelers or in the air every week.
The is the starter product in the Delta business card lineup. This card is designed for those who want to earn Delta SkyMiles and enjoy a few Delta-specific perks but might not travel with the airline enough to justify a more premium card.
This card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then a $150 annual fee thereafter (see rates and fees).
To increase applicants’ chances of approval, we recommend having a good to excellent credit score before applying.
Delta Gold Business Amex pros and cons
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Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex benefits
While the card doesn’t have the same premium perks as its more expensive Delta business card counterparts, it comes with several benefits when flying on Delta.
Delta travel perks
- Free checked bags: You and up to eight companions on the same reservation get your first checked bag free on flights worldwide — cardholders also get their second checked bag free on U.S. domestic flights — when flying on Delta-marketed and -operated flights. That can add up quickly if you travel regularly.
- Inflight discount: Receive a 20% statement credit on inflight purchases, including prepurchased meals, food and beverages, when paying with your card.
- Priority boarding: Receive Zone 5 boarding on Delta flights for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
- TakeOff 15: Enjoy 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights, known as TakeOff 15 (not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees).
Statement credits
- $200 Delta flight credit: Receive a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- $120 annual ride-hailing credit: Receive up to a $120 statement credit (up to $10 each month) for eligible U.S. ride-hailing purchases starting after your first card renewal. Enrollment is required.
- $150 Delta Stays credit: Receive up to a $150 annual statement credit per calendar year on eligible prepaid bookings with Delta Stays, Delta’s hotel portal.
Travel and purchase protections
Beyond its travel protections, the card also charges no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), making it a logical choice for business owners who frequently travel abroad.
*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. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Related: How to maximize the statement credits on the Delta Amex cards
How to earn and use your rewards
When you understand how you can earn and redeem your miles from the , you can maximize the card’s overall value.
Earning miles
- 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 2 miles per dollar spent on U.S. shipping and advertising in select media (up to $50,000 spent per category each calendar year, then 1 mile per dollar thereafter)
- 2 miles per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
These aren’t show-stopping earning rates, but it is nice to see some nontravel bonus 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.
Related: How to earn Delta SkyMiles, from using credit cards to online shopping
Redeeming miles
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 runs flash sales and other promotions that create excellent redemption opportunities for both domestic and international itineraries.
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 four airlines are close partners with Delta.
You can redeem your SkyMiles for gift cards, magazines, unique SkyMiles Experiences and online shopping, among other options, as well, though those options almost always yield less-than-optimal returns.
I recently used SkyMiles to book a domestic trip and was able to take advantage of the card’s TakeOff 15 benefit. A 15% discount might not sound like much at first, but when you’re booking award flights for a family, those savings can add up quickly.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Downsides to consider about the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex
The covers the basics well, but it isn’t the right fit for every business traveler.
For starters, you won’t receive lounge access. If you regularly spend time in airports and need a quieter place to work or relax before your flight, you’ll want to look at a more premium Delta card that offers Delta Sky Club access.
You’ll also miss out on some of the perks offered by the and the , including companion certificates and additional opportunities to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars toward elite status.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business’ earning rates outside of Delta purchases are also fairly average. If your goal is maximizing rewards on everyday business spending, you’re probably better off with a card that earns transferable points or miles rather than SkyMiles.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business
If you find yourself flying Delta more often, you may eventually outgrow the card and want to step up to the card.
It carries a higher annual fee but offers valuable benefits, including an annual companion certificate and opportunities to earn MQDs toward Delta elite status.
Related: How I leveraged my Amex Business Platinum benefits for Delta Medallion status
Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex worth it?
For the to be worth its annual fee, you’ll want to take advantage of perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and the card’s statement credits. Even if you only fly Delta a few times each year, that may not be difficult to do.
The value proposition gets even stronger if you can take advantage of benefits like the annual up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit, the up to $120 in annual ride-hailing statement credits (for select U.S. providers; enrollment required) and the $200 Delta flight credit after you meet the annual spending requirement.
When to apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex
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 ends July 15.
This offer is worth $1,080 based on TPG’s July 2026 valuations. It’s also tied for one of the highest welcome offers we’ve seen on this card, making now an excellent time to apply.
American Express limits who can apply for the card, and you’re generally ineligible for the welcome offer if you’ve previously held this card because of the issuer’s once-per-lifetime restriction. American Express may also look at other factors when determining welcome offer eligibility, but it will inform you whether you’re able to receive a card’s welcome offer before performing a hard pull on your credit score.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex
While the comes with a solid portfolio of perks for its annual fee, you may want a card that offers more rewards flexibility or additional Delta-specific benefits.
- 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 business spending 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. 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) 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 additional options, check out our full lists of the best business credit cards and the best American Express cards.
Bottom line
You’ll want to consider the if your business needs a credit card with basic Delta perks like a free first checked bag on flights worldwide, a 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 ton on annual fees.
However, if you want benefits like airport lounge access, companion certificates and additional opportunities to earn Delta elite status, you may be better served by one of Delta’s higher-tier business cards.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business Amex, click here.
