Delta Business Travel Guide

If you’re traveling for business, you’ll know that Delta Air Lines is one of the preferred airlines for getting to major cities and convention destinations (conveniently and affordably, too). Currently, Delta flies to 275 destinations in 50 countries, but offers service to more than 1,000 destinations and 60 countries through Delta Connection carriers and partner airlines.

As one of America’s premium airlines, Delta offers a level of convenience, benefits and customer service that you may not receive with budget airlines, especially if you upgrade to a premium seat. Delta offers many options for business travelers of all types, and in this guide we’ll cover business travel with Delta, as well as the best Delta credit cards for business travelers.

Delta Business Travel Overview

Delta Business can help you improve your business travel, no matter the size of your business, with our travel programs, tools, resources and more. Some of the benefits businesses can take advantage of include:

• Access to private trips. With Delta, it’s easy to charter a flight or book a jet for large groups of professionals.

• Delta’s SkyBonus Rewards Program. In addition to earning miles through the Delta SkyMiles program – which can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades and Delta Sky Club membership, among other options – companies can earn SkyBonus points on fares and qualifying upgrades. Points can then be redeemed for flights, Medallion status and more.

• Business programs and resources. Benefits like Corporate Priority can help businesses access priority boarding, better seating and more (conditions apply). Businesses can also benefit from benefits such as personalized offers, exclusive experiences, access to the Delta Sky Club and much more.

• Delta Business Credit Cards. Delta offers three corporate credit cards co-branded with American Express, all of which can help you (and your employees) earn rewards (and other benefits) while traveling on business. It’s also worth noting that employee cards have no additional fees and you can set custom spending limits.

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Does Delta have business class?

Delta no longer actually has a class called “business class”; it sees Delta One, introduced in 2016, as its new business class. Delta One is an upgraded Business Class option available on long-haul international flights and select long-haul domestic flights. It offers business travelers private and spacious suites with full height walls, door, customizable lighting, 180 degree flat seat, outlets, USB ports and more.

Yet Delta offers business travelers many class choices with varying levels of comfort, service, and price. For high-end business travel, you might want to consider Delta One, First Class, or Premium Select fares. For an elevated master cabin experience, you’ll want to consider Comfort+ fares.

Best Delta Business Credit Cards

Delta offers three corporate credit cards that earn Delta SkyMiles, all of which can help you earn more miles and exclusive travel benefits.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card: Ideal for luxury business travel

If your goal is to achieve Medallion Status and receive complimentary upgrades, you may consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, which offers Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) as part of the welcome offer: you can earn 60,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in your first three months of card membership.

As a premium business travel card, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card comes with an annual fee of $550. For rewards, it offers 3X ​​miles on qualifying Delta purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases. Once you’ve spent $150,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn 1.5 times the miles on all purchases.

In addition, this card offers notable benefits like access to Delta Sky Club, free access to the Centurion and Escape lounges, two unique Delta Sky Club passes each year, up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, free upgrades, and access to Status Boost, where you can earn 15,000 MQMs after making $30,000 in qualifying purchases on your card in a calendar year (up to four times per year).

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card: Best for Luxury Perks Without the High Price

If you’re looking for luxurious travel perks, but don’t want to pay the high annual fee of the Delta Reserve Business Card, you might want to consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, which comes with a $250 annual fee. For starters, you can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) after spending $3,000 in your first three months.

You’ll also earn 3X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, 3X miles on purchases made directly from hotels, 1.5X miles on qualifying one-time purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 50,000 additional miles per year), and 1X miles on all other purchases. Key card benefits include priority boarding; up to $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry; an accompanying certificate for a return Main Cabin domestic flight each year after the renewal of the card; and the chance to earn 10,000 MQMs through Status Boost after making $25,000 in qualifying purchases in a calendar year (up to twice a year).

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card: Ideal for occasional business travelers

If you travel less frequently for business or don’t want to pay a high annual fee for a Delta Business Card, you should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business Card from American Express. This card comes with an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $99 per year. As a new cardholder, you can earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $2,000 in your first three months of card membership. You’ll also earn ongoing rewards: 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, 2X miles on select U.S. advertising and U.S. shipping purchases, 2X miles at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the United States) and 1X miles on all other purchases.

It’s worth noting that you can recoup the cost of the annual fee after the first year with the only $100 Delta Flight Credit, which you can earn after spending $10,000 in a calendar year. Other perks include your first checked bag free on Delta flights, priority boarding, a 20% discount on qualifying in-flight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.

The bottom line

If you travel a lot for business and are interested in a luxury flight, Delta offers amenities and space you may not find with other airlines. And if you use a Delta SkyMiles business credit card from American Express, you can earn more miles and benefits to make your business trip with Delta even more comfortable and luxurious.