Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex review: Mid-tier benefits for Delta loyalists
Editor's Note
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card overview
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a good choice for Delta loyalists who need a little help reaching their elite status goals. This card offers valuable perks, including a domestic companion certificate each year after renewing your card, the ability to purchase Sky Club access when flying Delta on a per-visit basis, and your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is one of the best credit cards for Delta travelers and currently offers new cardholders the chance to earn a decent welcome bonus.
This card has attractive perks for Delta loyalists in exchange for a $250 annual fee (see rates and fees), including an annual companion certificate, solid earning rates and other perks.
However, in September, Delta announced major (negative) changes to its SkyMiles loyalty program. So make sure to read our guides to how they are changing elite status requirements and lounge access benefits before deciding to apply for one of their credit cards.
The recommended credit score for this card is at least 670.
The Delta Platinum Amex is a good fit if you're chasing Delta Medallion elite status thanks to its earning structure for Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD).
Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer
The Delta Platinum Amex currently earns 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of account opening.
Based on TPG's valuation of Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, this bonus is worth $600, making this worth about $400 less than the best offer we've seen for this card. However, you likely won't be eligible for this welcome offer if you have the Delta Amex Platinum or have had it before. Amex may also consider the number of American Express cards you've opened and closed and other factors when deciding whether you're eligible to earn the welcome offer.
Luckily, Amex will notify you if you aren't eligible for a welcome offer, displaying a message soon after submitting your application. So, don't ignore any messages or warnings that appear after you hit submit.
Related: A complete guide to Amex one-welcome offer-per-lifetime restrictions
Delta Platinum Amex benefits
The Delta Platinum Amex offers many perks for Delta flyers, and we will take a closer look at all of the card's perks and benefits.
Elite status perks
In 2024, Delta will overhaul how its credit cards help cardmembers earn elite status with one metric: Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD). Delta Platinum Amex cardholders will earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending. Beginning in February 2024, they'll also receive an MQD boost of $2,500 MQDs each year.
Related: How to earn Delta Medallion elite status without flying
Annual companion certificate
The other primary benefit offered by the Delta Platinum Amex is an annual companion certificate.
You'll receive this perk each year after your account renewal. The Delta companion certificate is valid for round-trip, main cabin domestic travel booked in fare classes L, U, T, X or V. All you'll need to pay for the companion ticket is taxes and fees. Note that this excludes the carrier's basic economy tickets (which are booked into E fare class) and most higher-priced economy classes.
Nevertheless, if you use this certificate for expensive flights, you can easily cover most (or all) of the card's annual fee.
Related: What happens if you've used your companion certificate for a canceled flight?
Other travel perks
The Delta Platinum Amex also offers several other benefits you may find helpful, including a 15% discount off award redemptions for Delta flights, first checked bag free for up to eight companions, priority boarding in Main Cabin 1, 20% off inflight purchases as statement credit, a GlobalEntry/TSA PreCheck fee credit up to $100, and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).
Fortunately, Delta ties benefits such as the checked baggage allowance and priority boarding to your Delta SkyMiles account. So, you don't need to book flights with your Delta Platinum Amex to get access to these perks.
Related: 4 reasons why the Amex Platinum might be the ideal credit card for Delta flyers
Earning miles on the Delta Platinum Amex
You'll earn Delta SkyMiles when you make eligible purchases with the Delta Platinum Amex. In particular, you'll earn Delta miles with your card as follows:
- 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta and at hotels.
- 2 miles per dollar on purchases made at restaurants (including takeover and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets.
- 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.
Since TPG's valuations peg the value of value Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, you'll get an effective return of roughly 3.6% on purchases with Delta and at hotels, 2.4% on purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1.2% on other purchases. Though a loyal Delta traveler may enjoy earning bonus SkyMiles on these purchases, none of these returns are close to the best you can do in these categories.
Related: 9 Delta SkyMiles sweet spots worth saving up for
Redeeming miles on the Delta Platinum Amex
Delta's SkyMiles program doesn't have the best reputation among points and miles buffs. After all, Delta has devalued its miles many times over the years. And Delta doesn't publish an official award chart, meaning award costs can skyrocket overnight. But there are still some great ways to get value from the Delta SkyMiles program.
For example, Delta has frequent flash sales. In the past, we've seen deals like domestic awards from 2,000 SkyMiles one-way, awards to Alaska for as little as 5,000 SkyMiles round-trip, transcontinental awards from 10,000 SkyMiles round-trip and flights to Europe from 16,000 SkyMiles round-trip.
Consider snagging some great sweet spots when using SkyMiles to fly Delta partner airlines. This includes awards on SkyTeam partners such as Air France and Korean Air, but the program also has some non-alliance partners, including Air Tahiti Nui.
Just note that some partner awards don't show on Delta's website, including awards on Air Europa, Air Tahiti Nui, Czech Airlines and Kenya Airways. As a result, you'll want to use ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) or another SkyTeam website like Flying Blue to find availability before calling to book awards on these partners.
TPG's former executive director, Scott Mayerowitz, often utilized Delta SkyMiles for domestic trips with his family, taking advantage of flight deals.
Related: How to earn and maximize 100,000 Delta SkyMiles
Which cards compete with the Delta Platinum Amex?
If you are interested in the Delta Platinum Amex because you fly (or plan to fly) Delta frequently, you may also be interested in these options.
- If you want Delta perks with a lower annual fee, The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a good choice for getting Delta perks, like a free checked bag, but with a lower annual fee of $99 ($0 introductory fee for the first year, see rates and fees). For more information, check out our full Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex review.
- If you want Delta Sky Club access: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a higher annual fee of $550 (see rates and fees) but offers more Delta perks, including lounge access. For more information, check out our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex.
- If you want a card with more flexible rewards: The Platinum Card® from American Express gives you excellent travel benefits like comprehensive airport lounge access and earns rewards that you can transfer to any of American Express's travel partners. For more information, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of best airline credit cards and best American Express credit cards.
Read more: Best Amex credit cards
Is the Delta Platinum Amex worth it?
This card is great if you want Delta perks, like an annual companion certificate and a free checked bag. It's also good for earning bonus miles on your Delta flights, hotel, dining, and supermarket purchases. However, the $250 annual fee may be hard to justify if you don't fly Delta often enough to maximize this card's benefits.
Bottom line
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card can be a great addition to your wallet if Delta is your carrier of choice. Its $250 annual fee may seem high compared to the lower annual fee Delta Gold Amex, but you get a great welcome offer and valuable benefits in return, like the annual companion certificate that can provide significant value. Remember that to maximize your overall travel earning strategy, you'll likely want to pair the Delta Platinum with other cards offering higher bonus spending categories.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.