For small business owners who frequently fly Delta Air Lines, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card deserves strong consideration. As a long-time cardholder who utilizes this card extensively for my business travel needs, I wanted to provide an in-depth look at 7 key benefits and features that all applicants should understand before applying.
1. A Lucrative Welcome Bonus Makes the First Year Free
New cardholders can currently earn 50,000 bonus miles by spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Based on my experience redeeming Delta miles at a baseline value of 1.2 cents per mile, this sign-up bonus is worth $600 in air travel.
With the annual fee of just $99, this welcome bonus effectively covers the fee for the first 6 years of membership. However, to earn the full 50,000 mile bonus, be sure to spend the $2,000 minimum in the first 3 months. I easily hit this target by putting all my business expenses on the card.
Maximizing the bonus: Pay close attention to the bonus spending deadline and put as many expenses as possible on the card in those first 3 months. Meeting the minimum spend should be easy with some planning.
2. Checked Bags Fly Free – A Huge Savings
One of my favorite benefits of this card is an allowance for the first checked bag free on Delta flights for myself and up to 8 companion travelers on the same reservation. With Delta’s fees being $30 per checked bag each way, this perk can lead to major cost savings.
For example, checking 2 bags for a group of 2 on a roundtrip flight would normally cost $120 in bag fees. With this card benefit, that entire expense is eliminated, making the $99 annual fee pale in comparison. Tracking all my bag fee savings in the first year is what convinced me to renew my card membership.
Maximizing the savings: Take advantage of the free checked bags perk whenever you travel with companions on Delta. The cost savings really add up, especially if you travel regularly for business.
3. Early Boarding Means Never Gate Checking a Bag Again
As an entrepreneur who often hauls a lot of equipment on business trips, I love having Main Cabin 1 priority boarding with this card. It allows me and up to 8 travel companions to board the plane early, finding space for our carry-on bags in the overhead bins.
With priority boarding, I never have to gate check a bag anymore. This perk also gives me time to get settled in my seat and set up my workspace before the rest of the cabin boards. Having this luxury really makes a big difference in my airport and inflight experience.
Maximizing the benefit: Take full advantage of early boarding whenever you fly Delta with this card. Get to the gate early and line up accordingly. Having overhead space ensures you can keep all your gear with you onboard.
4. Strong Rewards Earning for a Low Fee Card
Given the reasonable $99 annual fee, I find the ongoing rewards earnings potential with this card to be very competitive. You earn 2x miles per dollar on all purchases directly with Delta as well as all dining worldwide. With frequent business meals and Delta flights for work, those bonus categories add up fast.
The 2x miles on U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising with select merchants is also useful for many business owners. Every non-bonus purchase earns 1 mile per dollar, with no cap on total earnings. Compared to other low-fee business cards, this earning rate is solid.
Maximizing your earnings: Take advantage of the 2x bonus categories that align with your highest business spending. The miles will accumulate rapidly across all your air travel, dining, shipping, and advertising purchases.
5. Multiple Options for Redeeming Miles
While Delta award prices have increased, I’ve learned it is possible to find sweet spots when redeeming SkyMiles. I often book short-haul economy flights for just 6,000 miles roundtrip. But you can also redeem for long-haul business class awards, upgrades, Delta SkyClub access, and through Delta’s extensive partnerships.
With a bit of knowledge, you can maximize the value of your miles. I recommend signing up for mileage-earning programs with Delta’s airline partners to access more redemption opportunities.
Maximizing redemptions: Do your homework on current best uses of SkyMiles to get the highest value from your earned rewards. Be flexible and consider less common redemption options you may not have thought of.
6. Invaluable Benefits for Business Travelers
This card provides important benefits that protect your business on the road. The auto rental insurance benefit gives me peace of mind when renting cars for work trips, covering theft or damage. Other benefits like purchase protection, extended warranties, and travel assistance services offer vital coverage.
As a business traveler, I’ve found these ancillary benefits to be invaluable given the frequency of my work trips across the country. Make sure to read the full benefit terms but rest easy knowing you have protections.
Maximizing the benefits: Fully understand the details of each benefit and which business purchases or travel expenses may qualify for added coverage protections with this card. File claims promptly whenever you experience an eligible loss or incident.
7. Business Management Tools for Easy Expense Tracking
With detailed spending reports, customizable employee cardholder limits, seamless accounting software integration, and automated receipt matching, this card provides robust tools to manage business expenses.
As an entrepreneur, real-time insight into cash flow is vital for me. The online dashboard makes it easy to closely track spending and set detailed budgets across employee cards. The accounting integrations also save me significant time.
Maximizing the tools: Take full advantage of the integrated expense management features tailored for business users. The capabilities for oversight and cash flow insights are extremely valuable.
Should You Get This Delta Business Card?
For any small business owner who frequently flies Delta, I firmly believe the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a smart choice. The priority boarding, free checked bag, 20% back on in-flight purchases, and solid rewards earnings make Delta travel much smoother and more cost-effective.
If you run a business with recurring Delta travel, the benefits easily outweigh the annual fee. I highly recommend adding this card to your wallet. Let me know if you have any other questions!
All information about The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CreditPolice. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
To view rates and fees of the American Express® Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Card, see this page.