Right now until November 9, 2016, American Express is offering amazing sign up offers for both their Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card and their Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card. So there’s never been a better time to apply for the cards — the problem is deciding which one is best for you. To help you decide, we take a look at some of the most notable similarities and differences between the two.
Sign Up Bonus
The sign up offer for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card is an impressive 70,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) once you charge $5,000 in purchases in the first three months. They sweeten the deal by adding a $100 statement credit once you make a qualifying Delta purchase also in the first 3 months.
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Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
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$195 first year
$195 after first year |
Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) After you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Read Review » |
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Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.
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Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express |
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| Apply Now Add to Favorites | ||||||
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With the Gold Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card you will earn 50,000 bonus miles once you put $2,000 worth of purchases on the card in the first three months. You also get a $50 statement credit once you make a Delta purchase in the first three months.
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Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express
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$0 first year
$95 after first year |
Earn 50,000 bonus miles After you make $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within your first 3 months. Read Review » |
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Already have this card? Track it and maximize your rewards.
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Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express |
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| Apply Now Add to Favorites | ||||||
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| Read the FTG Review » | ||||||
Annual Fee
While the Gold card bonus is less flashy, so too is its annual fee. The annual fee is $95 dollars a year, and it’s waived in the first year. The Platinum card, however, carries an annual fee of $195, which is not waived the first year. It’s important to keep in mind those fees when you add up the value of the bonus.
Rewards from Spending
Both cards have the same reward structure: you get 2 SkyMiles per dollar you spend on purchases made directly with Delta. Cardholders earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Miles never expire and can be used for things like flights, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, a variety of merchandise, gift cards, charity donations and more.
Travel Benefits
Both the Gold and Platinum also provide cardholders with priority boarding and a 20 percent discount on qualifying in-flight purchases on Delta flights. They also offer benefits commonly associated with premium cards like extended warranty, purchase protection, rental car loss and damage insurance and travel accident insurance, to name a few.
APR
The APR is the same for both and is a variable rate of 15.49%, 17.49% or 19.49%. Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee.
Other Benefits
The Platinum does offer a couple of other enticing bonuses that could be of value to someone who flies often and who wants to accelerate their membership in Delta’s Medallion Program. Every year, upon your card’s renewal, you receive a round-trip companion certificate for a domestic main cabin seat (taxes and fees are not included). Additionally, Platinum card holders get 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs per calendar year once they reach $25,000 in purchases. Once they spend $50,000 in a calendar year, they receive yet another 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs.
If Delta is your airline of choice and you would take full advantage of a membership in the Medallion Program, then the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card may be a worthwhile investment. At the very least, the friend you give that free companion ticket to will certainly thank you for going Platinum. If you’re not a big spender and don’t fly often enough on Delta to justify the $195 annual fee, you’re better off going for Gold.
Do you think the Delta Gold or Delta Platinum Business Credit Card is better? Why?
[Image via Getty]