Amex Business Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business: Which Is Better In 2026?

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (See Rates & Fees).

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• It offers a suite of premium travel benefits that enhance the airport and in-flight experience for frequent Delta flyers.
• The card provides an accelerated path to earning elite Medallion status with Delta, unlocking even more perks.
• It includes business-friendly features that help owners manage employee spending and streamline expenses.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Premium travel perks including complimentary access to Delta Sky Club® lounges and an annual Companion Certificate.
• An accelerated path to earning Delta Medallion® status, which unlocks additional elite travel benefits.
• Convenient travel benefits like a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and no foreign transaction fees.

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Cons

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• The card carries a substantial annual fee and its benefits are heavily skewed towards Delta, offering little value to those who fly other airlines.
• Maximizing the card’s value and unlocking its best benefits requires a significant spending commitment.
• Key benefits, such as the annual Companion Certificate, come with restrictions that can limit their flexibility and usability.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business, depends entirely on your company's primary spending habits and priorities. Each card is tailored to a distinct type of business user, offering unique advantages based on their specific needs.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is an excellent choice for business owners with varied expenses across different categories. It is designed as a versatile tool for growing companies that value flexibility in how they earn rewards.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: This card is built for frequent travelers, specifically business owners and professionals who regularly fly with Delta. It provides premium perks to enhance the travel experience for loyal customers of the airline.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: This card earns points that offer significant flexibility, allowing you to transfer them to various airline and hotel partners or redeem them for travel, gift cards, and statement credits. This versatility makes it ideal for businesses that want to keep their redemption options open (Terms apply).

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Rewards earned with this card are deposited as SkyMiles, which are best redeemed for flights with Delta and its partner airlines. Redemptions are primarily focused on enhancing your travel experience within the Delta ecosystem (Terms apply).

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a tool designed to help you compare top-rated cards and maximize your rewards by analyzing your actual spending habits.

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• The 'Test Drive' feature lets you simulate potential earnings from different cards using your real transaction history before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards with Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Use the autofill feature at checkout to ensure you're always using the best card for each purchase to maximize rewards.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is tailored for established businesses with significant and fluctuating expenses, particularly those spending over $50,000 annually. It's an excellent fit for companies that can consistently maximize the 4X Membership Rewards® points (Terms Apply) on their top two eligible spending categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per year before the rate drops. This card best serves entrepreneurs who value a flexible rewards structure that automatically adapts to their changing business needs without requiring manual category selection.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express card is tailor-made for business owners and professionals who are loyal, frequent flyers with Delta Air Lines. It's an ideal choice for those who value premium travel experiences, such as complimentary Delta Sky Club access and a faster path to elite Medallion status. Companies with significant travel expenses or multiple employees who travel will also find immense value, especially with benefits like a free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight companions.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Business Gold vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit for your wallet, don't worry—there are plenty of other excellent business credit cards to consider.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium business cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending strategy – Ensure you can meet the Welcome Offer threshold and maximize ongoing benefits.
• Review the card’s unique benefits – Understand how features like bonus categories or travel perks align with your business spending.

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Application Strategy

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• Target cards that match your spending – Consider if your top expenses are varied, like those covered by the Amex Business Gold, or concentrated with one partner, like the Delta Reserve Business.
• Have your business details ready – Prepare your EIN, annual revenue, and other business information for a smoother application process.
• Review issuer-specific offer eligibility – Some issuers limit how often you can receive a Welcome Offer for a particular card.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for flexible rewards?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card earns Membership Rewards® points, which can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners. In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card earns SkyMiles, which are primarily used for flights with Delta and its partners.

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Which card offers better travel perks?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is packed with Delta-specific benefits like airport lounge access and an annual companion certificate (Terms apply). The American Express® Business Gold Card offers more flexible statement credits that can apply to various business purchases.

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Can I have both the Amex Business Gold and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cards?

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Yes, you can hold both cards simultaneously since they are different products. This can be a good strategy for business owners who want to earn both flexible rewards and premium Delta travel benefits.

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