9 Things to Do With Your New Delta SkyMiles Gold Business AmEx Card

If you’ve signed up for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, chances are you’re a small-business owner who was attracted to this card’s affordability. In other words, you’re thrifty and you’re always looking for ways your business can get the most value for your buck.

The annual fee for this card is $0 intro for the first year, then $150. Plus, the card offers a nice welcome bonus offer: Earn 55,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

With that in mind, here are nine things to do as soon as your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card arrives in the mail.

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

1. Activate your card

The clock is ticking on earning the welcome bonus offer. Don’t risk missing out because you waited weeks to activate and begin using your card. Activate your card as soon as it arrives, and start using it to knock out that spending requirement.

2. Plot your way to completing the minimum spend

Maybe meeting the spending requirement is a piece of cake for your business. Maybe not. If getting there is a stretch, start planning by taking a bird’s-eye view of your spending. Do you need new business equipment, like a tablet computer or printer? Do you need little stuff like paper or toner?

This is a good time to consider those purchases. But keep yourself in check: Frivolous spending defeats the purpose of earning miles for award travel.

3. Plot your way — or don’t — to $10,000 in charges in a year

Cardholders can earn a $200 Delta flight credit by spending $10,000 in a calendar year. That’s nice, but it’s nowhere near as appealing as the welcome bonus offer. Think about whether you can prudently charge that much on the card in a year and, more importantly, whether the perk is valuable to you.

A $200 flight credit is only worth having if you actually plan to purchase a Delta fare. Think about your future travel and your spending habits to decide whether you should aim for this perk.

If you have other rewards credit cards, remember that every dollar charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a dollar not earning rewards elsewhere. So spend a moment thinking about where spending is best channeled.

» Learn more: Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get?

4. Search some sample fares on Delta.com

Delta doesn’t use a traditional award chart to decide how many miles you need for a flight. Instead, the redemption rates vary by flight and demand. However, with Delta's TakeOff 15 deal, cardholders will get 15% off award travel booked with Delta.

With that in mind, we suggest you surf over to Delta's website and search for a few award flights you might want to book in the future. Check different times of year to see how much the redemption rates can vary.

Then, you’ll have an idea of how far your welcome bonus offer can take you or how much more earning you’ll have to do before you can book your dream vacation or business trip.

5. Get to know Delta’s partners

Sometimes you really want to earn frequent flyer miles on one airline, but you’re flying to a destination that airline doesn’t serve. That’s where partnerships come in handy. You can earn Delta SkyMiles flying on more than 20 other airlines, including Air France, Alitalia and Virgin Atlantic.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Delta partners: Earning, redeeming, elite perks

Earning rates, qualifying miles toward elite status and redemption rates vary by partner. Familiarize yourself with these partners so you’re ready to put your Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card welcome bonus offer to good use.

6. Read up on your auto rental coverage

It's pretty handy when your car rental agent asks if you want to purchase insurance, and you can politely decline because your credit card has you covered.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card comes with car rental loss and damage insurance when you use your card to reserve and pay for the rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental car counter. Coverage is restricted in certain countries and is only secondary, meaning this insurance kicks in after your private policy. Terms apply.

7. Use your card for in-flight purchases

A nice perk of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is the 20% discount on in-flight purchases like snacks and drinks. Just be sure to use this card for those purchases, and you’ll receive the discount in the form of a statement credit. Terms apply.

8. Start maximizing category bonuses

Does your business spend money on shipping, advertising or schmoozing clients at elegant eateries? Then remember to keep this card top-of-wallet. You’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent in these categories. Terms apply.

9. Sit back and enjoy premium travel perks

Get ready to enjoy a few luxuries when flying Delta, like priority boarding. You’ll also be able to check your first bag free, and get baggage insurance that gives you peace of mind knowing your belongings are protected. Terms apply.