$0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
For American Express products listed in this page, 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.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex card is a solid option for small business owners and frequent Delta Air Lines travelers, offering benefits such as a first checked bag free, priority boarding, and the ability to earn SkyMiles on business-related spending. With a relatively low annual fee (after the first year), it provides a good balance of travel perks and rewards for those who want to maximize their Delta loyalty.
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent directly with Delta
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at restaurants
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 on U.S. shipping purchases and on U.S. advertising in select media (capped at $50,000 per category, per year)
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on other eligible purchases
For American Express products listed in this page, 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.
$650 Annual Fee
🏆 Best Delta Luxury Card
🏆 Best Delta Luxury Card
$350 Annual Fee
🏆 Best for Marriott loyalists
🏆 Best for Marriott loyalists
Annual Fee: $650
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
At Daily Drop, our mission is simple: to help you explore the world affordably and experience life-changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Here at Daily Drop, we score cards based on six different categories: annual fee, welcome offer, point redemption value, rewards rates, benefits, and travel protections. You’ll notice that APR is not considered because we never recommend carrying a credit card balance if your goal is to maximize miles and points for travel. While these scores are opinion-based, our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and has traveled to almost every country in the world. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.
Read our full methodology for more information.
This is one of those business cards that quietly does a lot more than it gets credit for. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a solid pick for anyone who flies Delta at least a couple times a year and wants to get started in the world of points and perks without paying for an ultra-premium card. One of the standout features here is the free checked bag on Delta flights which adds up quickly.
You’ll earn miles back on Delta purchases, U.S. advertising, U.S. shipping, and at restaurants, which are pretty standard categories for many small businesses. There’s also no annual fee in the first year, then just $150 after that (see rates and fees). You get a 15% discount on flights when booking with miles through Delta, priority boarding and a few helpful business tools from Amex. So yeah, this card can easily pay for itself even with minimal Delta travel.
[.pro] Free checked bag on Delta flights (for you + up to 8 companions) [.pro]
[.pro] Priority boarding on Delta flights [.pro]
[.pro] No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) [.pro]
[.pro] 15% off award flights booked with miles on Delta.com [.pro]
[.con] Miles can’t be transferred to other airline programs [.con]
[.con] No lounge access or elite status perks [.con]
[.con] Not ideal if you don’t fly Delta often [.con]
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 spent directly with Delta
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 at restaurants
[.redeem] 2x [.redeem] per $1 on U.S. shipping purchases and on U.S. advertising in select media (capped at $50,000 per category, per year)
[.redeem] 1x [.redeem] per $1 on other eligible purchases
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Redeeming your SkyMiles for non-travel options like merchandise or gift cards [.dontreco]
These typically offer lower value per mile compared to flight redemptions. For example, using miles for gift cards may yield a value of less than 1 cent per mile, which simply isn't the best deal.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Using miles for domestic economy flights when cash prices are high [.sometimesreco]
This way, you're getting a reasonable value per mile. But, always compare the redemption value to cash fares before booking. In these cases, use the "Pay with Miles" feature, which allows you to offset the cost of a ticket by redeeming miles at a rate of $50 per 5,000 miles.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Redeeming miles for international business class flights or premium cabin upgrades [.alwaysreco]
This gives you especially great value with Delta's SkyTeam partners. By booking award travel through Delta's partners, you can access a broader range of travel spots and premium perks, making your miles that much sweeter.
Unlike American Express Membership Rewards, SkyMiles cannot be transferred to other travel partners, so what you earn is what you use with Delta. But, you can still redeem for flights with Delta’s SkyTeam partners like Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and more, all directly through the Delta site.
The main strategy here is finding award redemptions with Delta and partners that give you great value for your miles. Keep an eye on Delta’s flash sales and monthly SkyMiles deals for some super good redemptions.
Why? The Delta Gold Business is great for everyday business spending and Delta flights, but it sadly doesn’t come with any lounge access. That’s where the Amex Platinum comes in. You’ll get access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, plus Amex Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. It also earns solid points back on flights booked through Amex Travel and comes with plenty of credits for things like Uber, digital entertainment, and hotel stays. If you travel regularly and want a more premium experience, pairing the Platinum with your Delta Business card can round out your setup nicely. Think of the Gold Business as your go-to for earning and the Platinum as your travel luxury toolkit.
Why? This card earns 2x Membership Rewards points on all purchases (up to $50,000 per year), making it a great catch-all card for your everyday spending. While the Delta Gold Business is great for Delta-specific perks, the Blue Business Plus gives you a way to earn flexible points on everyday expenses that don’t fall into a bonus category. And since Amex Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta, this duo actually gives you more ways to earn SkyMiles, just with a little extra flexibility. Plus, there’s no annual fee, so it’s super low-commitment.
1. The Delta Loyalist
If Delta is your airline of choice and you fly at least a couple times a year, this card is a no-brainer. You’ll save money with the free checked bag and priority boarding, and earn extra miles while you’re at it.
2. The Small Business Owner
You run your own business, freelance, or have a side hustle, and you need a card that rewards you for your business spending and helps you earn points toward future trips. If you ship products, run ads, or take clients out to lunch, this card could be a smart move. Even if you don’t fly every month, this card still delivers enough value through Delta perks and a modest annual fee. The waived first-year fee makes it even easier to try it out without any major risks.
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 670, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the Delta Gold Business Amex, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
A decent credit score of 670-850 is recommended for the Delta Gold Business Amex. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, use the reconsideration line, and be granted this card. The worst they can say is “no,” and more often than not, we’ve found these people want to help!