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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Updated: May 1, 2024
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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card are two solid options for Delta flyers who often travel for business. Both cards allow you to earn miles through purchases. But which one is more suitable for you?
MoneyGeek compared the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card by looking at certain factors, including rewards programs, annual fees, introductory offers and other benefits. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has a high annual fee of $550, whereas the yearly fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is $99 (waived for the first year).
Comparison Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve 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
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card At a Glance
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is best suited for business travelers looking to earn miles on purchases and have luxury benefits along the way. You will earn 3X miles on every dollar spent made directly with Delta and 1X miles per dollar on all other purchases. The card also offers a hefty welcome bonus and valuable travel benefits that can make up for the $550 annual fee.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
A card that offers generous rewards for business travelers who fly Delta frequently.
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $650Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Complimentary access to premium airport lounges
- High rewards on Delta purchases
- Companion certificate
- Priority boarding and free checked bags
Cons
- High annual fee
- No introductory APR offer
- Limited lounge access in 2025
Introductory Offers
- Earn 80,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $10,000 in the first six months.
Rewards
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each year and earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and The Centurion Lounge with conditions.
- Receive an annual Companion Certificate for select flights, with applicable taxes and fees.
- Get up to $20 in monthly statement credits on eligible Resy purchases.
- Earn up to $10 back each month on U.S. rideshare purchases.
- Save 15% on Award Travel bookings with Delta.
- Enjoy priority boarding and a free checked bag on Delta flights.
- Receive up to $250 in annual statement credits for Delta Stays bookings.
- Travel without foreign transaction fees.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable See Rates and Fees
- Terms and limitations apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card At a Glance
Business travelers loyal to Delta can quickly earn value from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. You will earn 2X miles on every dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta, as well as dining at restaurants, U.S. shipping and advertising in select media. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for international travel.
- 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 broke down the differences between the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to help you choose the best business credit card for your needs.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage | Both cards have baggage insurance and rental car loss and damage insurance. However, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card also offers insurance coverage for trip delay, cancellation and interruption. You can be reimbursed up to $500 per trip if your trip is delayed for more than six hours and up to $10,000 if your trip is canceled or interrupted, provided that it was paid for using the card. Winner: American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business |
Welcome Bonus | The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card lets you earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 within three months of account opening. Meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card allows you to earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in your first three months. Winner: American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business |
Rewards | With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you earn 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles on other purchases. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card earns 2X miles per dollar on Delta purchases as well as on dining at restaurants and purchases related to U.S. shipping and advertising, and 1X miles on all other purchases. Winner: American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business |
Annual Fee | The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has an annual fee of $550. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has a $99 annual fee, waived the first year. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card |
Other Benefits | Both cards offer free checked bags. However, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card takes it up a notch by providing other travel benefits, such as access to Delta Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges, Status boost, priority boarding, companion pass and credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Winner: American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business |
Which Card Should You Get?
Considering your needs and situation is crucial when choosing between the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. The better option will vary depending on each person.
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is best suited for business travelers looking to earn miles through purchases and enjoy elite travel benefits.
International business travelers can make purchases abroad without any foreign transaction fees.
Loyal Delta flyers who want access to airport lounges and a boost towards elite status can take advantage of the benefits that come with this card.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Business owners who dine out often and make U.S. shipping and advertising purchases may find the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card valuable to keep in their wallets.
Business travelers looking for a simple rewards structure will enjoy the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
Delta flyers who want free checked bags and a travel credit can take advantage of this card's perks.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
If you travel with Delta regularly, the Reserve Business card is worth grabbing. However, if you only fly occasionally and your business isn’t equipped to handle a large annual fee, the Gold Business card can still provide value to you and your business.
Regardless of which card you select, remember that you’re earning Delta SkyMiles for your purchases, which can be used within the SkyTeam airline alliance which includes AirFrance, KLM, Aeromexico and more.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
To help you choose the best business credit card for you, MoneyGeek answered some frequently asked questions about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card vs. the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card.
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card better than the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Both cards are equally rewarding in their own way. But if you want luxury travel benefits like airport lounge access and companion passes, then the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the better option.
Can you get the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Yes, you can get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card even if you have the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card. However, you can only receive the welcome bonus once.
Can you transfer points from Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
All of the points earned from either card will be deposited into the same Delta SkyMiles account.
Can you switch from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
Yes, you can switch from one American Express Delta SkyMiles Business card to the other if you think the other card would better suit your needs.
What’s harder to get, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card?
You have high chances of being approved if you have a good to excellent credit score. You can get approval in as little as 30 seconds when you apply for either card.
How much do you have to spend for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to get the welcome bonus?
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card requires $4,000 within the first three months to earn 60,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs). Meanwhile, you must spend $2,000 in your first three months to get the welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus miles offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
If you’re still undecided about getting either the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, you can check out other cards in the travel or rewards categories to see if those options could be a better fit for you.
Learn more about credit cards in general
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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® Reserve Business American Express Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
- American Express. "Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card." Accessed January 7, 2022.
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