Bottom Line

Even with the annual fee of $150 waived the first year, if you want a Delta-specific business card, we recommend either the Reserve or the Platinum. Your choice depends on how often you fly Delta and whether you prioritize flying First Class (or avoiding the Main Cabin). The only reason to choose the Gold over the other two cards is if you plan to fly Delta just once in the first year, by yourself, and want to avoid paying an annual fee. If you expect to fly Delta more than once or with a companion during that first year, it’s worth considering the other two cards. Beyond the initial year, the best option depends on your loyalty to Delta and how frequently you fly with Delta or its SkyTeam partners.

Why You Might Want This Card

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card is the entry-level Delta-specific business card from American Express, offering a 60,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $4,000 in the first six months. This can be a good starter card if you want to explore airline-specific credit cards, but the limited benefits make it less appealing once the annual fee of $150 (waived the first year) takes effect. You do receive $150 in Delta Stay credits each year, which can offset that annual fee, but other perks are minimal.

You can also get $200 in flight credits by spending $10,000 within a certain period. However, considering you only need $4,000 to earn the sign-up bonus, spending an extra $6,000 might not make sense if you could meet a different sign-up bonus elsewhere. Additional benefits include a 15% discount on award travel, 20% off in-flight purchases, Zone 5 priority boarding, and one free checked bag. If you fly Delta once a year, this might be enough. However, if you fly Delta more frequently or usually travel with a companion, the Reserve or Platinum cards likely offer more long-term value despite their higher annual fees.

Exceptions To The Rule

Here are some exceptions where the card might not be good for you:

• You fly Delta more than once per year and would get better value from the Reserve or Platinum card.
• You want this card but prefer to wait for a higher sign-up bonus; this card has offered 90,000 points in the past.

About Delta SkyMiles

• Delta SkyMiles are super easy to accumulate with American Express cards, whether they're specific for earning SkyMiles or American Express cards that have completely transferable and instant 1:1 ratio Amex points.

Redeeming SkyMiles isn’t difficult, but you might find that their value isn't as high as you'd think -- especially if you do a side-by-side comparison with our personal favorite, United. Delta’s redeeming quality, however, is the fact that they fly to over 325 locations. So sometimes when you want to go somewhere that United doesn't, you’ll find Delta’s got your back.

When Delta removed its online reward charts in 2015, no one was happy. Now, the more flexible you are, the more value you can squeeze out of your Miles -- especially when Delta runs one of its regular award sales that offer some deep discounts in economy and Delta One.

But the real ace up the sleeve here is booking international Business or First Class using alliances like China Eastern or one of their non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic. This can be done for fewer points than if you booked directly through the Delta website -- as long as the flight is operated by Delta, Delta Connections or Virgin Atlantic. Searching around for Delta’s flash sales based on region or utilizing one of their partners can get you a pretty impressive trip.

Where Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Fits In This Point Ecosystem

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card is the lowest-tier business card offered by Delta. Its sign-up bonus and benefits are significantly lower than those of the Reserve or Platinum. Although the $150 annual fee is waived in the first year, the lack of a companion certificate (available with the other two cards) greatly reduces its overall value. The Reserve has a $650 annual fee and the Platinum has a $350 annual fee—neither is waived the first year—but each provides enough perks to justify the cost, in our opinion.

Personal Experience