Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offer excellent rewards for small business owners who love flying with Delta. MoneyGeek compares these two American Express credit cards so that you may make an informed decision on which option is the best fit for your situation.
Updated: December 5, 2024
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Using the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card can be highly rewarding for professionals and business owners who often fly with Delta Air Lines. The two credit cards offer perks like priority boarding on Delta flights and have no foreign transaction fees.
However, there are significant differences between the Platinum Business Card and Gold Business Card. We explored this and other notable divergences between the two credit cards to help you decide which one is best for you.
Comparison Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
- Hotel Benefits
- Airline Benefits
- Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
- Has Foreign Transaction Fee
- Recommended CreditGood–ExcellentGood–Excellent
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card At a Glance
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is well-suited for frequent Delta flyers, as cardmembers earn up to 3X miles per dollar on Delta purchases and associated hotels. If you enjoy elite perks, the Status Boost feature can help you achieve Delta’s Medallion Status faster. This card lets you enjoy priority boarding and your first checked bag for free, saving you up to $60 per round-trip flight. You also receive a 20% statement credit on all eligible in-flight purchases.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
A great card for frequent business travelers who want to enjoy Delta travel perks and pursue elite traveler status
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- $350Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Companion Certificate each year
- High intro bonus
- Priority boarding and free checked bags
- Purchases count towards Medallion status
Cons
- Moderately high annual fee
- Introductory Offers
- Earn 70,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $6,000 in the first six months with your new card.
- Rewards
- Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, as well as on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more.
- Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after card renewal, with applicable taxes and fees.
- Save 15% on Award Travel when using miles on Delta flights booked through delta.com and the Fly Delta app.
- Receive up to $10 back each month on eligible U.S. rideshare purchases.
- Board early with Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
- Get an annual statement credit of up to $200 for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Access the Complimentary Upgrade list for eligible ticket holders who are not Medallion Members.
- Benefit from a $120 Resy Credit, earning up to $10 per month on eligible Resy purchases.
- APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee of 19.99%-28.99%. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card At a Glance
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card provides opportunities to earn 2X miles per dollar spent on dining at restaurants, U.S. shipping and advertising in select media, and direct purchases with Delta. Cardmembers can use the miles they earn toward flights, merchandise, seat upgrades and more. Having no foreign transaction fees means this card is ideal for international travelers.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Great rewards for Delta loyalists
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- High introductory bonus miles offer
- First checked bag free on Delta flights
- Car rental and damage insurance
- Priority boarding on Delta flights
Cons
- Limited rewards on non-Delta purchases
- High spending requirement for bonus miles
- Annual fee after the first year
Introductory Offers
- Earn 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership.
- Enjoy a $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150 thereafter. See Rates and Fees
Rewards
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and dining.
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on U.S. shipping and advertising in select media, up to $50,000 per category annually.
- Earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Perks & Benefits
- First checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights.
- Receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in a year.
- Get up to $150 annual statement credit for bookings through Delta Stays.
- Save 20% on eligible Delta in-flight purchases.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No foreign transaction fees. See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek’s Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card comparison explores the details of these two co-branded credit cards to help you decide which one is right for your needs.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | Both cards offer purchase protection against theft, accidental damage and more, in addition to rental car loss and damage insurance. However, only Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offers cell phone protection and trip delay insurance that can reimburse your non refundable expenses up to $10,000 per trip, up to $20,000 per year. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card |
Welcome Bonus | The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers 50,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit when you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card welcome offer is 100,000 miles when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card |
Rewards | Cardholders will become members of the Delta SkyMiles Program, where they’ll earn miles that don’t expire and are redeemable for flights, seat upgrades, gift cards and more. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card lets you earn up to 3X miles on eligible purchases, while the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card lets you earn only up to 2X miles. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card |
Annual Fee | The annual fee for the Platinum Business Card is $250, whereas the Gold Business Card is free for the first year, after which you’ll pay $99. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card |
Loyalty Programs | Both cards belong to the same loyalty program. Winner: Tie |
Which Card Should You Get?
Determining whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card is right for you boils down to several critical factors, including your spending habits and the benefits you want.
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card?
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card benefits small business owners with employees who frequently fly with Delta Air Lines. This card is also useful for those who don’t mind paying a higher annual fee for enhanced benefits.
Frequent flyers who want to fast-track their Delta elite status earn 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 spent on purchases.
If you often travel with another person or associate, this card’s companion certificate could help you save hundreds of dollars each year.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
If you’re a small business owner who wants to enjoy travel benefits without paying the high annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is ideal for you.
International travelers who wish to avoid paying foreign transaction fees.
Individuals who want to redeem their miles on flight-related upgrades rather than on hotel or car reservations.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
For most small business owners that fly a few times per year, the Delta Gold Business Card provides enough benefits without an overkill of benefits. However, if you fly more than a few times per year and are interested in earning status with the airline, it may be worth paying the annual fee for the Platinum Business Card. In fact, it could be worth paying the annual fee for the first year, earning the welcome bonus and then revisiting the decision between the two cards.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Despite understanding the differences between the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card and Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card, you may be undecided about which one to choose. MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision.
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card better than the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is better than the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card in terms of benefits. However, the Platinum card also costs more and the welcome bonuses are more expensive to obtain. Consider whether the benefits vs. extra expenses of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card will benefit you and help you save in the long run.
Can you get the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Yes, it’s possible to apply for both cards.
Can you transfer points from Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
This isn’t necessary as both cards will group the points earned into the same Delta SkyMiles account.
Can you switch from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Yes. If one card no longer meets your spending needs, you can ask for a product change by contacting a customer service representative.
What’s harder to get, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score to meet approval guidelines.
How much do you have to spend for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to get the welcome bonus?
With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, you have to spend $3,000 in the first three months to earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs). On the other hand, with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, you only need to spend $2,000 in your first three months to earn 50,000 bonus miles.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
If neither of these two American Express Delta SkyMiles business cards are calling your name, you may consider other travel credit card or business credit card options.
Learn more about credit cards in general
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- American Express. "Delta SkyMiles GoldBusiness American Express Card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
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