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.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Which Is Best for You?

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Business owners who frequently travel and want to earn miles on purchases can benefit the most from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. MoneyGeek compared the two to help you choose which card is better for your needs.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

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).

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card at a Glance
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Delta 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 Credit
Good–Excellent
Good–Excellent

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.
- 1.5–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $550Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
High earnings on Delta purchases
Generous welcome bonus
Free Delta Sky Club access
Bonus miles after meeting the spending threshold

Cons
Comes with a hefty annual fee
Potentially high APR
Good to excellent credit needed
Benefits are limited to Delta
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
Earn 3 miles for every dollar you spend directly with Delta
After hitting $150,000 in annual spending on your card, get 1.5 miles per dollar for the rest of the year
With $550 annual fee
Regular APR 20.99%–29.99% (variable)
Enjoy a 15% discount on award travel with TakeOff 15, applicable only to Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Enjoy Delta Sky Club® access for relaxation before Delta flights or during connections. Receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes annually to share the experience. Starting February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members get 15 annual Delta Sky Club visits. Earn unlimited yearly visits from February 1, 2025, with $75,000 in eligible card purchases between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each subsequent year. After using 15 visits, eligible members can buy additional visits at $50 each using the card.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge - The Centurion® Studio Partner. After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that's an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
Book a Delta flight with your card and gain complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge
With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.* MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

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
- $99Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
With welcome bonus offer
Get discounts and perks from Delta
No foreign transaction fees
No annual fee for first year

Cons
Rewards have caps and categories
With annual fee after first year
Rewards can be complicated
Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
Save 15% on Award Travel with Delta when using delta.com or the Fly Delta app (excludes partner flights, taxes and fees)
First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
Earn 2 Miles per dollar on U.S. shipping and select U.S. advertising (capped at $50,000 in purchases per category starting 1/1/2024)
Earn 2 Miles per dollar with Delta and at restaurants
Earn 1 Mile per dollar on other eligible purchases
Receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in a year
No foreign transaction fees when traveling overseas
$0 annual fee for the first year, then $99
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

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.

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

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.

*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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