Is Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card's Annual Fee Worth Its Benefits?

The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card is ideal for business owners who only fly Delta a few times a year. A free checked bag (worth up to $210 on just three trips), priority boarding and 15% savings on award flights deliver big value. You’re essentially getting two key Silver Medallion perks — without the hassle of chasing elite status.

Also, cardholders who spend more than $10,000 per calendar year (an average of $834 per month) can qualify for a Delta flight credit of up to $200, which can more than offset the annual fee.

Aside from that, the card is pretty light on airline perks. You won’t get lounge access, a companion pass or a statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck®. Plus, spending doesn’t help you earn Medallion status. If you fly frequently with Delta and can use these types of benefits, consider stepping up to a higher-tier card like the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card.

Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Regular purchase APR: 19.99% - 28.99% Variable (see rates & fees)

Foreign transaction fee: None (see rates & fees)

Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/25.

Rewards: 1X - 2X miles

• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of eligible purchases per category, per year.
• Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
• Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
  

Other benefits:

• Free first checked bag on Delta flights
• Zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights
• 15% discount on award travel*
• Up to $150 Delta Stays credit
• Up to $200 Delta flight credit when you spend $10,000 in a calendar year

Recommended credit: Good / Excellent

• Earn extra miles on Delta purchases and select business spending

  With your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card, you can earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of eligible purchases per category, per year. Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

  The higher rate includes eligible Delta purchases made directly with Delta and on business expenses, including shipping providers and advertisements in select media.

  Note that after your annual spending hits $50,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will only earn 1X miles on future U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising in select media.

  LendingTree values Delta miles at 1.1 cents each. So 100,000 points would be worth approximately $1,100*.

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology.

   

• Generous welcome offer

  Currently, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card has a welcome offer that lets you earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/25. Our estimates make this offer worth approximately $990, as we value Delta miles around 1.1 cents each*.

  This is pretty generous and made our list of the best credit card welcome offers.

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology.

   

  Did you know? According to a LendingTree study, the average welcome offer on airline credit cards is 50,000 points or miles. The Delta credit cards, including the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card, typically exceed that amount.

   

• Free checked bag on Delta flights

  One of the main reasons to get the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card is its free checked bag benefit. At up to $70 saved per traveler each round trip, the card can quickly pay for itself. This benefit applies to up to eight additional travelers on the same reservation, so a family of four saves up to $280 every flight.

  Warning: Codeshare flights are not eligible for the free bag waiver.

  The first checked bag fee waiver only applies to segments that originate on a Delta or Delta Connection® carrier when you check in for a flight that’s marketed and operated by Delta. That means, if you primarily fly on codeshare flights overseas, you may lose out on the free checked bag benefit.

  Note that the waiver is also invalid for those who already receive one or more checked bags free. This includes Medallion Status holders and active duty military members.

   

• Board earlier with priority boarding

  Your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card lets you board with Zone 5, ahead of Zones 6 to 8. For main cabin and economy travelers, this means beating the rush and finding overhead bin space before non-elite SkyMiles members.

• Stretch your SkyMiles further with 15% savings on award travel

  One of the standout perks of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card is the TakeOff 15 benefit, which gives you 15% off the miles needed for Delta award flights. This discount applies automatically when you book through Delta, helping your SkyMiles stretch further every time you redeem. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.

  Even if you don’t use the card for everyday spending, the ongoing mileage savings can add up quickly.

• Cover a hotel stay with up to $150 annual Delta Stays credit

  You’ll get up to $150 each year on eligible prepaid bookings when you book with your Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card. This benefit alone offsets the card’s annual fee.

  Depending on your desired destination and dates of travel, the credit could cover all or most of the costs of a two-night stay. For example, two weeknights at the La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Nashville South is $81 per night. You would owe just $12 with the $150 credit.

  However, you may not always find the best deals through Delta Stays. Cardholders in online forums report that booking through Delta Stays is sometimes more expensive than booking directly with the hotel.

  What if you need to cancel your reservation?

  Cardholders have shared on Reddit that if you cancel your reservation, the credit is revoked and may not apply to future bookings. But, not everyone’s experience is the same; some say that the credit remained on their account even after canceling their stay.

   

• Potential to unlock a $200 Delta flight credit

  You can earn a $200 Delta flight by spending $10,000 on your card each year (including authorized user spend) — or around $834 per month. You’ll get an eCredit in your SkyMiles account that can be used on future Delta purchases, including the airfare portion of Delta Vacations packages.

  If you don’t use your full credit on a purchase, you can apply the balance to another purchase. The only catch? The credit must be redeemed within one year of the issue date.

  How we’re using Delta perks

  “I’ve used my miles to fly across the country and to rent a hotel room when I got to my destination. I don’t get to travel as often as I’d like (but that’s OK, because the miles don’t expire), so I often use my annual $200 flight credit to help make it easier for my out-of-state family to visit me.”

  –Carol Pope, senior staff writer at LendingTree

   

• Turn miles into instant discounts

  If you’re short on miles, you can use the “Pay with Miles” option to cover part of your airfare on eligible flights. Just 5,000 miles saves you $50. Got 10,000 miles? You’ll save $100. This can be a handy option if you don’t fly with Delta frequently enough to save up for a trip.

  There’s no additional cost to this and no limit on how many miles you can use each time you pay with miles.

  → Learn more in our Delta SkyMiles Guide

• Spend globally with no foreign transaction fees

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card won’t charge foreign transaction fees if you use it outside of the United States. That said, while American Express is accepted in over 200 countries worldwide, you may find more limited acceptance in other countries. It’s good to have alternate forms of payment when you travel far from home.

  → See where American Express cards are accepted

• Built-in travel and purchase protections

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card offers a couple of protections that may be helpful if you ever lose your luggage or have an accident while in a rental car.

  • Baggage insurance plan¹:
    Get up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and up to $500 for checked bags, in case your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged on a trip you paid for with your card. (New York residents have a $10,000 total trip limit.)
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance²:
    Pay for your rental with your card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver, and you’ll get coverage if the car is damaged or stolen. This is secondary to your personal auto insurance, but it’s a valuable backup when you’re on the road.
  • Purchase protection⁴:
    Covers you for up to 90 days in case an eligible item is accidentally damaged or stolen. The coverage is limited to up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year.
  • Extended warranty⁴:
    Get up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty for eligible warranties of five years or less.

  Note, if travel insurance is a priority for you, you may be better served by a travel card with a larger set of protections. The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is one of the best, since it offers primary rental coverage and trip interruption/cancellation protection.

  → See more credit cards that offer car rental insurance

• Annual fee

  For a lower-tier travel card, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card has a higher-than-average annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150). Benefits like free bags on Delta flights and travel credits can more than offset this fee if you travel with Delta just a couple of times per year, but the benefits are still pretty light.

  If you’re not traveling on Delta often enough to take advantage of these perks, the card may not be worth having.

  → See our top picks for the best credit cards with no annual fee

• Delta SkyMiles are worth less than average

  Airline miles values vary considerably by program, but Delta miles are near the bottom of the list in terms of value. LendingTree estimates that Delta SkyMiles are worth about 1.1 cents each, which is less than the average of 1.3 cents.

  Airline	Frequent Flyer Program	Average Value of One Mile	Compared to Average (%)
  American Airlines	AAdvantage	$0.017	31%
  Southwest Airlines	Southwest Airlines	$0.013	0%
  United Airlines	MileagePlus	$0.013	0%
  Delta Air Lines	SkyMiles	$0.011	-15%
  JetBlue	TrueBlue	$0.010	-23%
  Average		$0.013

  Based on LendingTree’s value methodology.

   

  If you don’t live near a Delta hub or rarely fly with the airline, another travel rewards card may be a better fit. The Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card offers greater flexibility by allowing you to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners. That way, you can book flights with the carriers you prefer and maximize the overall value of your rewards.

  → Look at our top picks for travel credit cards

• Lacks lounge access

  Airport lounge access is a highly valued perk of travel credit cards, generally offered by cards that come with heftier annual fees. As a lower-tier card, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card doesn’t offer it.

  If you want more luxurious perks, including Delta Sky Club® and Centurion® Lounge access, consider the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card.

  → Check out our top picks for the best credit cards with lounge access

• Doesn't contribute to elite status

  Your spending with the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card doesn’t help you earn Delta SkyMiles Medallion status.

  If you’re interested in earning Medallion status, consider one of the cards that earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), such as the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card.

There are three co-branded Delta cards from American Express, with the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card having the lowest annual fee and fewest perks. See how they stack up against each other:

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card vs. Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card

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| Disclosures

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card*

Learn More

Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card*

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 19.99% - 25.99% Variable

Annual Fee $95

Rewards Rate Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• Member FDIC

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

Excellent

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*The information related to the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

Cardholders earn 3X points on several common business expenses, including dining and travel. Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. Points transfer to more than 10 travel partners, including United and Southwest, so you’re not stuck with redeeming your rewards with just one airline or hotel. And you’ll get some of the best credit card travel protections, including primary rental car protection and up to $10,000 in trip cancellation/interruption protection per covered trip.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card vs. American Express^® Business Gold Card

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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

| Disclosures

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

|Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 19.99% - 28.99% Variable

Annual Fee $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Rewards Rate Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of eligible purchases per category, per year. Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.… Read More

Highlights

• Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
• Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/25.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Additionally, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year.
• Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
• Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
• Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
• Terms and limitations apply.
• Rates & Fees

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

Good / Excellent

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While the $375 annual fee is steep (see rates & fees), the American Express^® Business Gold Card makes up for it with powerful rewards and protections. You’ll earn up to 4X Membership Rewards® points on your top two eligible business categories each billing cycle (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year), helping you maximize points where your company spends the most. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.* Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.* Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. Terms Apply

You can transfer points to 20 hotel and airline loyalty programs, including Delta SkyMiles. Just keep in mind that you can’t carry a balance with this card, so careful cash flow management is key to avoiding surprises at the end of the month.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

How Does LendingTree Get Paid? How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

| Disclosures

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

|Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 19.99% - 28.99% Variable

Annual Fee $350

Rewards Rate Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.… Read More

Highlights

• Click APPLY NOW to apply online.
• Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/25.
• Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta Platinum Business Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
• Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With the $120 Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Terms and limitations apply.
• Rates & Fees

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It delivers strong value thanks to its annual companion certificate and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit (enrollment required).

While it carries a $350 annual fee (see rates & fees), that cost is balanced by elevated rewards on Delta purchases and a suite of statement credits — including up to $120 in rideshare credits*, up to $120 in Resy dining credits*, and up to $200 in Delta Stays credits. Its ability to earn Medallion status is a huge plus for Delta loyalists who want its additional benefits.

→ Discover other credit cards that offer Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® reimbursement.

The Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card is a solid choice if you’re a loyal Delta traveler who doesn’t fly frequently. If you can make use of the highest value perks such as the free checked bag, 15% award discount* and hotel statement credit, the card easily pays for itself.

More frequent fliers, or those not near a Delta hub, should consider a card that offers more flexible rewards. If you are looking for a general travel card, the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card is a top choice due to its higher earning rate, low annual fee and flexible redemption options.

We take a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify the best travel credit cards. We use an objective rating and ranking system that evaluates over 200 credit cards from more than 50 issuers. All recommendations are made by LendingTree’s editorial team, completely independent of affiliate partnerships or compensation. Every card is selected based on its merit and ability to help people achieve their financial goals. We use the following criteria to make our picks:

• Average value over two years (80% of rating): We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
• Flexibility of rewards (15% of rating): We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
• Other features (5% of rating): We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.