OPEN: The Small Business Network From American Express and Delta Air Lines Launch Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card

Business Wire, August 6, 2002

Business Editors & Travel Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2002

New Credit Card Provides Small Businesses With the Richest Opportunity

to Earn Free Travel On Delta Air Lines

OPEN: The Small Business Network(SM) from American Express and Delta Air Lines today announced the launch of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles(R) Business Credit Card. The co-branded airline card offers small business owners one of the fastest ways to earn free travel of any major airline credit card and provides a wide array of premium benefits and services, including:

-- Free Companion Certificate Each Year Upon Renewal. Cardmembers will receive
one free companion domestic coach class ticket on Delta Air Lines every year
the card is renewed.

-- 10,000 Bonus Miles Plus 5,000 Bonus Base Miles. New Cardmembers receive
10,000 miles and 5,000 base miles upon using the Card for the first time. Base
miles apply towards elite, Medallion status. Customers who earn 25,000 base
miles within a calendar year achieve Silver Medallion status, which delivers
additional benefits including special check-in privileges, complimentary
upgrades, Preferred boarding and Preferred Seating.

-- 10,000 Bonus Base Miles Each Year. Ten thousand base miles will be awarded
to Cardmembers every year their annual card spending reaches $25,000 or more in
purchases.

-- No Mileage Cap. There is no limit to the number of miles Cardmembers can
earn in a calendar year.

-- Always Double Miles. Cardmembers earn two miles for every eligible dollar
charged to the Card for purchases at supermarkets, gas stations, drugstores,
home improvement stores, the U.S. Postal Service, wireless phone bills and
Delta Air Lines.

-- OPEN Small Business Network benefits. Cardmembers enjoy all of the tools,
services and savings available through the OPEN Network(SM), including the
Everyday Savings Program, which provides Cardmembers with negotiated savings on
everyday business expenses from industry leaders including Dell(TM),
ExxonMobil(R), FedEx(R), Hertz and The Hilton Family of Hotels. Cardmembers
also enjoy Card benefits such as Global Assist Hotline, Car Rental Loss and
Damage Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance.

"Our research has shown that travel is the number one item purchased with charge or credit cards by small businesses, and we want to enhance the value of the products we offer small business owners who are frequent travelers," said Kerry Hatch, executive vice president and general manager, OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express. "The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card offers a superior array of mileage-earning opportunities and rewards that will appeal to our current customers while attracting new ones."

"The new Platinum Business Card from Delta and American Express offers small businesses a variety of benefits including the opportunity to earn unlimited miles," said Christine Pierce, Delta's director of Partnership Marketing. "Miles earned by 'flying and buying' can be redeemed for upgrades, Crown Room Club memberships or award travel on Delta or its SkyTeam partner airlines."

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card has an annual fee of $135. For Cardmembers who already have a charge card from OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express, the annual fee is $80. The interest rate for purchases is prime plus 9.99%. Terms and conditions apply.

For more information or to apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Business Credit Card, call 1-800-NOW-OPEN. To enroll in the SkyMiles program, please visit delta.com.

About OPEN: The Small Business Network

OPEN: The Small Business Network is a division of American Express that offers small business owners a wide range of tools, services and savings designed to meet their evolving needs, including convenient access to working capital and credit information, instant decisioning on all card products and savings on business services from an enhanced lineup of OPEN Network partners. To obtain more information about the OPEN Network, visit OPEN.americanexpress.com or call 1-800-NOW-OPEN to apply for a card or loan.

About the Delta SkyMiles Program

Miles earned on the SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express can be redeemed for upgrades, Crown Room Club memberships and award travel on more than 5,898 flights each day to 429 destinations on Delta, Delta Express, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection and Delta's international and SkyTeam partners. SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers can quickly and easily check for award seat availability and redeem miles at delta.com. Cardmembers may take advantage of the SkyChoice Awards option to avoid award travel capacity controls. SkyChoice awards allow for travel anytime as long as there is a seat available in the applicable class of service at the time the reservation is made. For more information, please go to delta.com.