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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
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Offer ends October 23, 2024.
- Receive a Companion Certificate for First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip flights within the U.S., Caribbean or Central America each year after card renewal. Companion tickets require payment of taxes and fees up to $80 for domestic and $250 for international round-trip flights. Baggage charges and restrictions apply.
- With the card, you can earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases.
- The card offers up to $10 back each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
- Save 15% on Award Travel when booking Delta flights. This discount does not apply to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
- If you are not a Medallion Member, the card allows you to be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list with an eligible ticket after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- Card membership includes a free checked bag on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip per person. A family of four can save up to $280 on a round-trip.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner when you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card.
- Priority Boarding on Delta flights is provided with Zone 5, allowing early boarding and faster access to stow your carry-on.
- The card includes an annual statement credit of up to $250 for bookings of prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- $650 annual fee; see rates and fees.
- There are no foreign transaction fees when using the card overseas. 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
- 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 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.
*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.