Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business vs Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business
Side-by-side comparison
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $150 | $550 |
| Welcome offer | ||
| Advertising | 2% | 1% |
| Shipping | 2% | 1% |
| Office supplies | 1% | 1% |
| Phone & internet | 1% | 1% |
| Travel | 2% | 3% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $654 | $546 |
| Points type | Locked to Delta SkyMiles | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Amex | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 90,000 miles | 125,000 miles |
| To earn it | $6,000 in 6 months | $15,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,404 | $1,246 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $504 | $-4 |
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | Yes — Centurion, Delta Sky Club |
| Annual credits | None | None |
| Points & redemptions | Locked to a single program | Locked to a single program |
On perks and redemptions, only the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business gets you into airport lounges. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Neither card earns transferable points, so redemptions are cash-back or fixed portal value on both, roughly a cent per point. There is no airline or hotel transfer angle to separate them.
The verdict
On a typical year of business spending, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business earns about $654 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business about $546, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business charges $550, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business delivers more total value, about $508 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on advertising and shipping. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business if your spending leans toward advertising, shipping. Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business if your spending leans toward travel.