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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Updated: September 26, 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
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
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of card membership. Offer Ends October 23, 2024.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn 3X miles on eligible Delta and hotel purchases.
- Earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. If a purchase qualifies for a category with a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
- Earn 1X miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Make your way to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases.
- Save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. The discount is not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With the $120 Resy Credit, you can 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.
- 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.
- Annual fee of $350 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
- 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 10/23/24.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. See rates and fees
- Save 15% on Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when booking through delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
- Receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 on purchases in a year.
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. shipping providers and U.S. providers for advertising in select media, up to $50,000 per category per year.
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants.
- Earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
- Your first checked bag is free on Delta flights. Enjoy Zone 5 priority boarding.
- 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 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees
- Terms and limitations 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
EXPERT OPINION
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
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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 Platinum Business American Express Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
- American Express. "Delta SkyMiles GoldBusiness American Express Card." Accessed September 26, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.