Is the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card Worth Its Annual Fee?

Deciding whether to sign up for any credit card involves weighing the potential benefits against the known cost, i.e. the annual fee. This comparison varies from traveler to traveler, but it’s possible to nail down the tradeoffs by looking at the most important benefits. Let's look closer to see if the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is worth its annual fee.

» Learn more: Gold Delta SkyMiles Business review: Decent perks and rewards

The cost of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

The annual fee of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is now $0 intro for the first year, then $150 ( see rates and fees ). This is similar to most airline credit cards that offer similar benefits. Terms apply.

You can rack up Delta miles quickly when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card to earn 2x miles on direct Delta purchases as well as spending on U.S. shipping and advertising and at restaurants (up to $50,000). Otherwise, you'll earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Terms apply.

How to know if the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is worth it

Ask yourselves these questions to estimate the dollar value you'll get from using the card's perks.

Do you plan to fly with checked bags?

One perk of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card that can have a serious impact on your bottom line is the free checked bag benefit. Cardholders receive the first checked bag free, which can save upward of $60 round-trip. This means you only need to fly round-trip on Delta twice a year to offset the annual fee.

And to sweeten the deal, up to eight additional passengers traveling on the cardholder’s reservation qualify for this benefit. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Delta Air Lines baggage fees: How they work, how to avoid them

Can you earn the welcome offer?

Here's the current welcome offer for new cardmembers of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

In addition, cardholders who spend $10,000 on their Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card in a calendar year will also receive a complimentary $200 Delta flight credit. Terms apply.

Will you take advantage of business-centric perks?

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has several additional benefits to consider when deciding whether the annual fee is worth it:

Add employee cards at no cost

You can add additional employee credit cards for free. Many business cardholders like this perk because it creates more ways to earn points or miles.

American Express® Business App access

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers complimentary access to the American Express® Business App, which allows users to oversee business card transactions and expenses directly from a smartphone. Users can add receipts, save notes, manage transaction categories and create expense reports, all within the app.

Simplify paying vendors with Bill.com

Vendors can be paid automatically when you enroll your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card in payment management through a special partnership with Bill.com. This perk is free for the first user.

Will you use the general perks offered to all cardholders?

Beyond business-centric perks, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card also offers the following:

• Priority boarding. Cardholders and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation can join the other happy flyers in the Zone 5 boarding group.

• Discounts on in-flight purchases. In-flight food, drink and audio headset purchases onboard will earn you a 20% statement credit with this card. Just remember to pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.

• Save 15% on award flights. When you redeem your miles for Delta flights, you'll get a 15% discount on the number of miles needed to book.

• No foreign transaction fees. Buh-bye, unexpected expenses from your credit card while traveling overseas. Terms apply.

» Learn more: NerdWallet’s best cards with no foreign transaction fees

The bottom line

With as many as 5,500 daily flights to more than 300 destinations in over 50 countries, Delta can make a great airline choice for many travelers. This extensive flight network (which doesn’t even include its expanded partner route network) makes a compelling reason to earn Delta SkyMiles through the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card if you find yourself flying often.