Which Delta business credit card is best for you? – February 2019
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Business owners who fly Delta could benefit from these travel cards.
American Express offers three Delta business credit cards, each aimed at how frequently you fly for business and your annual business spending. Regardless of the card you select, if you fly often, you’ll offset the annual fee.
Aside from Delta-specific perks, you’ll get general travel benefits. Plus, you get American Express business benefits, which let you manage your account and expenses, set alerts or connect to QuickBooks.
Business owners who occasionally travel with Delta Air Lines could save money with this card. Miles earning are on par with its more expensive sibling cards, and you can redeem miles for Delta and partner flights. In addition, you’ll pay for the annual fee with the money you save on first checked bags once you make two round trips a year.
First checked bag fee.
Save up to $50 on a round trip for you and your passengers traveling on the same reservation. Two rounds trips in a year, offsets the annual fee.
Priority boarding.
Get Zone 1 priority boarding. Without the card, you’ll pay $15 per flight to use this perk.
Discounted Delta Sky Club access.
Visit Delta Sky Club lounges for $29. Regular single visit pass is $59. If you visit Delta Sky Club three times a year, that’s another $90 saved.
In-flight savings.
Save 20% for in-flight purchases on Delta operated flights, which you’ll get as a statement credit to your account.
Travel accident insurance.
Get up to $100,000 in insurance for accidental death or dismemberment when you travel on a common carrier. Also, receive baggage insurance of up to $500 for checked bags and up to $1,250 for carry-ons for lost, stolen or damaged bags. And your rental car is insured against theft or collision damage when you pay for it using your card.
High penalty rate.
For two late payments in a 12-month period, a returned payment or if you fail to make the minimum payment by the closing date you’ll pay a variable penalty APR of 29.99% for at least 12 months.
Best for the frequent flyer: Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card
Earn 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) plus 35,0000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
Business owners who often fly Delta and spend between $30,000 and $50,000 per year with their card could find the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card more valuable than the other two Delta cards. You get all the perks and benefits of the entry-level Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card, plus you get a better welcome offer while spending the same amount.
With this card, you can easily reach Silver Medallion status and enjoy premium perks like unlimited complimentary seat upgrades, preferred seats, priority check-in, discounts on Delta vacations and benefits at SkyTeam partner airlines.
Companion airfare.
Get a domestic main cabin companion ticket each year you renew your card. Taxes and fees of up to $75 aren’t included.
Miles boost.
Spend $25,000 in one calendar year and earn 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Spend an additional $25,000 and earn another 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs. These MQMs are enough to reach Silver Medallion status.
High penalty APR.
Two late payments in a 12-month period or a returned payment may land you a variable penalty APR of 29.99%, which can apply for at least 12 months.
Best for the ultimate flyer: Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card®
Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card®
Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 3 months.
Business owners who spend more than $50,000 per year, and who want the ultimate benefits when flying Delta, may find the Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card® has the best value. In addition to all the perks and benefits of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card, you get complimentary Delta Sky Club access, a dedicated concierge service and a miles boost when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.
With this perk, you’ll quickly reach Gold Medallion status or higher, and you’ll get even better perks, such as higher mile earnings on Delta flights, unlimited complimentary seat upgrades, expedited baggage service, priority security line access, priority baggage handling, SkyTeam lounge access and higher status in the Hertz car rental program.
Delta Sky Club access.
Get complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and a discounted pass for up two guests for $29 each when flying with Delta. With single visit passes at $59, you can save $708 in a year if you visit Delta Sky Club once a month.
Concierge service.
Enjoy 24/7 concierge service to book a restaurant, arrange a special event or when you need help picking out the right gift. Call 800-525-3355 and the concierge staff will assist you.
Miles Boost.
Spend $30,000 in a year and earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles. Add the 10,000 MQMs from your welcome offer and you’ll reach Silver Medallion status. Spend $60,000 in a year and earn additional 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles to upgrade to Gold Medallion status, if you haven’t reached that tier already.
Companion certificate.
Get a domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin round trip companion certificate each year when you renew your card. Taxes and fees of up to $75 not included.
Premium roadside assistance hotline.
Whenever you need assistance with a flat tire or you need a locksmith, call the roadside assistance and American Express covers any emergency assistance fees up to four times per year.
Penalty APR.
Returned payments or two late payments in a 12-month period land you a variable penalty APR of 29.99%. To remove the penalty APR, make timely payments of at least the minimum amount due for 12 consecutive months.
Consider a top card from another brand
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases - with no limit to the amount you can earn
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Picking a Delta business card is easy — just consider how often you fly and what kind of benefits you’d like to earn.
For the occasional flyer, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card could be the best option. You’ll offset the annual fee with the first checked bag free perk after two round trips and you can earn reward flights.
If you frequently fly with Delta and you spend between $30,000 and $50,000, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card gets you the perks of the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card and a companion ticket, earning you MQMs to help you reach a Medallion status.
The Delta Reserve® for Business Credit Card® is aimed at the business owner who spends more than $50,000 annually, and who wants the best out of the flyer program. You get all the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card perks plus complimentary Delta Sky Club access, premium roadside assistance and more. How does the Delta SkyMiles program work?
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can book an award flight through Delta’s website with the following airlines:
Aeroflot
Aerolineas Argentina
Aeromexico
Air France
Alitalia
China Airlines
China Eastern
China Southern
Garuda Indonesia
GOL
Hawaiian Airlines
Jet Airways
KLM
Korean Air
Mandarin Airlines
Middle East Airlines
Saudia
Shanghai Airlines
Tarom Airlines
Vietnam Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Australia
WestJet
Xiamen Airlines
SkyMiles’ value depends on what you redeem them for. According to the SkyMiles website as of September 2018 miles can be redeem at the following values:
Shopping — one mile is worth 0.5 cents.
Gift cards — one mile is worth 0.7 cents.
Flights — one mile is worth more than 1 cent.
This is a tiered program for Delta’s most loyal customers where you get benefits unavailable to other travelers.
There are many strategies to earn Delta SkyMiles quickly. One way is to get the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express in addition to your Delta business card and earn 2x miles at US restaurants — this is the only Delta card that offers this option. You won’t pay an annual fee and you can easily clear the welcome offer and get additional miles.
Reach Medallion status by earning Medallion Qualification Miles, Medallion Qualification Segments and Medallion Qualification Dollars.
Earn Medallion® Qualification Miles from the distance you fly and your ticket fare class.
Earn Medallion® Qualification Segments based on the number of flights you take.
Earn Medallion® Qualification Dollars based on the amount you spend on Delta and its partners’ flights.
Kliment Dukovski is a writer who specializes in global financial markets and personal finance, with a focus on credit cards. His main goal is to deliver honest and accurate information to help you make the right financial decision. When he's not writing about finance-related subjects, he writes sci-fi stories.
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