Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Review: A Mid-Tier Travel Card Packed with Delta Perks

If you fly Delta a few times a year and like the idea of using everyday spending to fund your next getaway, the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card might be just the travel companion you’re looking for. Imagine booking a trip and skipping baggage fees, breezing past the boarding line and knowing you’ve already saved miles on your flight thanks to the built-in 15% discount on award travel (terms apply). Add in a companion certificate that provides a two-for-one travel deal (baggage charges and other terms/restrictions apply), and it’s easy to see how the card’s $350 annual fee can pay for itself quickly.

Plus, your everyday purchases get you closer to your next Delta flight and even toward elite Medallion® Status. If you’re loyal to Delta, it’s a card that works hard behind the scenes. But if you prefer to shop around for flights or don’t travel often, a more flexible or lower-fee card might better suit your journey.

Annual fee: $350

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards: 1X - 3X miles

• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  

Intro purchase APR: N/A (see rates & fees)

APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable

Foreign transaction fee: None (see rates & fees)

Other benefits:

→ See the best airline credit cards.

• Generous welcome offer

  Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles are worth around 1.1 cents, depending on how you redeem them, making the welcome offer worth around $660.

  This welcome offer stands out because it typically provides enough miles for at least one round-trip flight, easily covering the card’s annual fee. It’s a great way to kick off your travels and start saving from day one.

  → Learn more about how many airline miles you need for a free flight.

• Earn Delta SkyMiles on travel and everyday purchases

  Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

  What sets this card apart is that you earn miles not just on Delta flights, which is ideal for frequent travelers, but also on directly booked hotels. On top of that, you earn extra miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarket purchases, so even your weekly grocery trips or nights out can help fund your next trip.

  That said, redemptions are worth around 1.1 cents per mile by our estimates, depending on how you redeem. Compared to other airline rewards programs, this tends to be on the lower side:

  	Average value of one mile*
  American Airlines AAdvantage	$0.017
  Southwest Rapid Rewards	$0.013
  United MileagePlus	$0.013
  Delta SkyMiles	$0.011
  JetBlue TrueBlue	$0.010

  *Based on LendingTree’s value methodology

  → Learn more about how much airline miles are worth.

• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card travel perks

  Path to Medallion Status

  You can get a head start on Delta Medallion Status with both an MQD Headstart and an MQD Boost. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card members can receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification Year, getting you halfway to Silver Medallion Status, which starts at $5,000 MQDs. Plus, you’ll earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on purchases with your card throughout the calendar year.

  Reaching this status unlocks valuable perks including complimentary upgrades, no baggage fees and other exclusive benefits with Delta and its partners (terms apply).

  15% off on Delta award flights

  Get 15% off when you book award travel with miles:

  1. Go to delta.com or the Fly Delta app
  2. Log into your Delta SkyMiles account
  3. Choose “Shop with Miles” when searching for Delta flights
  4. The 15% discount will automatically be applied to the miles needed (terms apply)

  Note: The discount applies only to the miles portion of Delta-operated award tickets and doesn’t cover taxes or fees. Partner-operated flights are not eligible.

  20% back on in–flight purchases

  Get a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.

  Annual companion certificate

  Get a main cabin round-trip companion certificate to select destinations each year after card renewal. The companion certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.

  First checked bag free on Delta flights

  Primary cardholders receive the first checked bag free on Delta flights for themselves and up to nine eligible passengers on the same reservation (terms apply). That’s a savings of up to $70 per person on round-trip flights. If you fly Delta frequently or with other people, this one card benefit may offer enough value alone to justify the card’s annual fee.

  Complimentary upgrade list

  Card members with an eligible ticket will be added to the complimentary upgrade list after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card members.

  Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

  Upon enrollment, you can receive one of the following:

  1. A statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry (up to $120)
  2. A statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85)

  You have to pay the application fee with your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. If approved for Global Entry, you’ll receive access to TSA PreCheck® at no additional charge.

  Hertz Five Star® Status

  Get Hertz Five Star® Status when you add your Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Account number to your Delta SkyMiles account associated with your card. Enrollment is required.

• Over $300 in statement credits

  Up to $150 Delta Stays credit

  Get an annual statement credit of up to $150 after you use your card to book prepaid hotel stays or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.

  Up to $120 Resy credit

  Get up to $10 in statement credits each month when you use your card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases — up to $120 in statement credits annually. Enrollment is required.

  Up to $120 rideshare credit

  Get up to $10 in statement credits each month when you use your card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers — up to $120 back each year. Enrollment is required.

• Travel and purchase protections

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card offers solid travel and purchase protections, especially for a mid-tier travel card. You’ll get:

  • Trip delay insurance¹
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance²
  • Baggage insurance plan³
  • Global Assist hotline⁴
  • Purchase protection³
  • Extended warranty³
  • Cell phone protection⁵

  However, there are a few drawbacks. Unlike some higher-tier travel cards, it doesn’t offer trip cancellation or interruption insurance, which could be a valuable safeguard for unexpected travel disruptions. The rental car coverage is secondary, meaning you’ll have to file with your personal insurance first. There are other mid-tier travel cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, that come with more benefits, including primary rental car insurance (terms apply).

  → See all of the top credit cards with travel insurance.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card vs. The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Platinum Card^® from American Express is a strong choice for travelers who want top-tier travel flexibility and luxury across multiple airlines. The card has a $695 annual fee (see rates & fees) — among the highest you’ll find — but it comes with more than $1,000 worth of annual credits that can make up for that fee. Also, among its luxury travel benefits, eligible card members get access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection®, which includes Delta Sky Club® lounges (subject to visit limitations).

The card also gets you entry to the American Express Membership Rewards® program and a host of redemption options. You can transfer points to more than 15 airline and hotel partner programs, including Delta SkyMiles.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card may be a better fit if you’re a frequent Delta flyer seeking premium perks and VIP treatment. There’s a much steeper $650 annual fee (see rates & fees), so it’s not for the occasional traveler, but you’ll get elite perks that the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card doesn’t offer. You’ll get 15 Delta Sky Club® visits per Medallion® year, Centurion® Lounge access and a more valuable companion certificate valid for first class, Delta Comfort+® or main cabin for select destinations (baggage charges and other restrictions apply). This card also delivers a stronger Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) boost, earning $1 MQD for every $10 spent, helping you reach elite status even faster.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

If you don’t travel as often or are hesitant about paying a higher annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card is a solid alternative. It covers the essentials with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. It also still includes valuable Delta perks such as a complimentary checked bag on Delta flights (terms apply).

While it doesn’t offer a companion certificate or MQD boost like the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, it does come with a $100 annual Delta Stays credit on eligible prepaid hotel bookings through delta.com (terms apply) and a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year. The rewards rate is slightly lower, but the card delivers strong value for more casual Delta travelers.

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card could be right for you if you fly Delta a few times a year and want to earn miles faster while enjoying valuable airline perks. Its Delta-focused benefits can easily justify the annual fee for loyal travelers.

However, if you travel less often or prefer a lower annual fee, the might be a better option. For luxury perks such as lounge access and enhanced elite status benefits, consider the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card. If flexibility is your priority, a general travel card like The Platinum Card^® from American Express may offer more versatile rewards.

→ See all of the best Delta credit cards.

We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

• Average value over two years (80% of rating): We calculate the value of rewards and perks for the average cardholder using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes the card’s sign-up bonus, annual bonus (including free night certificates) and travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
• Flexibility of rewards (15% of rating): We consider how easy the rewards are to use, looking at factors like expiration dates, minimum thresholds to redeem, blackout dates and the availability of flexible redemption options like travel statement credits and cash back.
• Other features (5% of rating): We also compare a card’s benefits, such as purchase protections, travel protections and elite status benefits against benefits from other cards.