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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review

Delta SkyMiles<sup>®</sup> Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review

Welcome Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Regular Purchase APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Who is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card best for?

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is targeted squarely at Delta Air Lines’ Medallion elite level flyers. It comes with the cachet and many of the perks and benefits that you’d expect from a platinum-branded American Express card — but with a $250 annual fee, it’s a bargain compared to The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee).

Frequent flyers can tap the route networks of Delta and the SkyTeam alliance of 19 other global carriers, which serve more than 1,000 destinations. The card’s ties to Delta ensure you get perks designed to make travel easier.

The luxury Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with myriad perks and access to 24/7 assistance. This is one of two Delta cards — the other is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee), which comes with even more travel benefits — that offers a way to earn Medallion elite status.

This is a card to consider if you do most of your flying on Delta. If you’re looking for more premium travel benefits, however, you may want to consider another travel-branded card that does better in several categories, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express.

To see the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.
To see the rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click  here.
To see the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click  here.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card overview

    • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
    • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
    • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
    • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
    • 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 Mile on all other eligible purchases.
    • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
    • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
    • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
    • $250 Annual Fee.
    • Terms Apply.
    660 720 850
    Excellent/Good
  • Receive a 20% in-flight discount
  • Annual companion certificate
  • Discounted Delta Sky Club lounge rate
  • Free checked bag for up to eight persons on the same reservation
  • Priority Zone 1 boarding
  • Baggage insurance
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Terms apply

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A

Annual Fee

$250

Cash Advance Fee

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

N/A

Pros and cons of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Pros

  • Welcome offer
  • Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck
  • Annual companion certificate
  • Ability to earn up to 20,000 MQMs.
  • Foreign transaction fees of none

Cons

  • Limited to redeeming miles for reward travel on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance partners
  • High spend requirement for MQMs
  • Limited travel protections

What we like about the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  • Welcome offer

    New Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card cardholders can earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.

  • Status boost

    Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card cardholders can earn 10,000 MQMs after spending 25,000 on the card in a calendar year, up to two times a year.

  • Companion certificate

    Upon renewal of the card each year, cardholders receive a domestic main cabin round-trip companion certificate. Note, payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.

  • Free checked bags

    Up to eight people on the same reservation get a free first check bag, for a potential savings of $120 per person for a roundtrip flight.

  • Rewards rate

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

What to watch out for with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  • High spending required for MQMs

    Even with the Status Boost®, you need to spend $50,000 a year for 20,000 MQMs. MQMs are used to achieve Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Among other perks, Medallion Status allows for unlimited complimentary upgrades.

  • Limited travel protections

    This card doesn’t come with all the travel protections you’d expect from an airline card — trip interruption insurance and baggage delay reimbursement, for example —  although you do get baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance and extended warranty.

  • Restricted redemption options

    You have to really love Delta, because you can only redeem the miles you earn for reward travel, seat upgrades, merchandise on the Shop With Miles site, and SkyMiles Experiences.

    You’re limited to redeeming miles for reward travel on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance partners. Unlike other American Express cards, you can’t use your miles as a statement credit on your monthly bill.

How to achieve Medallion Status

Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) are earned based on the number of flights you take. Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) are earned based on your annual spending on Delta and on many partner flights.

Medallion level MQM, MQS and MQD requirement*
Silver 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and $3,000 MQD or MDQ waiver
Gold 50,000 MQMs or 60 MQSs and $6,000 MQD or MDQ waiver
Platinum 75,000 MQMs or 100 MQSs and $9,000 MQD or MDQ waiver
Diamond 125,000 MQMs or 140 MQSs and $15,000 MQD or MDQ waiver

Alternate travel rewards card to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Compare it to The Platinum Card® from American Express

| Disclosures
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$695
5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with
  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, and other participating providers. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
  • American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Learn more.
  • $189 CLEAR® Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Excellent/Good

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

 

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good alternative if you want a luxury American Express card that comes with higher points per dollar spent on airfare and hotels, along with some great perks. It does come with a $695 annual fee — among the highest in the luxury cards category — but this card more than makes up for that with its yearly fee credits.

New cardmembers can earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Use the points at the Membership Rewards® website for everything from hotels to airline flights.

Credits that come with the card include up to $200 Uber Cash for U.S. Uber rides which equal to $15 each month, plus a bonus of up to $35 in December (enrollment required); a $200 statement credit to cover airline fees on the carrier of your choice (enrollment required); and up to $100 in statement credits to cover enrollment fees for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.

The Platinum Card® from American Express includes Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite status (enrollment required). There’s also free access to airport lounges, including Delta Sky Club, Centurion® Lounge, international American Express lounges, Priority Pass Select, Airspace and Escape.

Under the Fine Hotels & Resorts program (enrollment required), receive free benefits with an average total value of $550, such as daily breakfast for two, room upgrade when available, a property amenity valued at $100, guaranteed 4 p.m. late check-out and noon check-in when available; and free Wi-Fi.

The Membership Rewards points you earn on The Platinum Card® from American Express can be transferred to 18 airline and three hotel loyalty programs. But if you transfer your points to an airline, you’ll be charged up to $99 each time. When you book airline travel on the card via Membership Rewards, there are no blackout dates or seating restrictions, and your points don’t expire.

Members have access to the Platinum Card Concierge, with staff specially trained to help with services such as custom travel itineraries, restaurant reservations and tickets to sports and entertainment events. The card also comes with cell phone protection, return protection, extended warranties and free Boingo internet access at more than 1 million hotspot locations worldwide.

The Platinum Card® from American Express also doesn’t come with travel protections like other luxury travel-branded cards do, such as baggage insurance.

To see the rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
To see the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.

Compare the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to similar cards

Comparison of four different credit cards
Delta SkyMiles<sup>®</sup> Platinum American Express Card The Platinum Card<sup>®</sup> from American Express Delta SkyMiles<sup>®</sup> Gold American Express Card Delta SkyMiles<sup>®</sup> Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card The Platinum Card® from American Express Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply
Welcome Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply. Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee
$250 $695 $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. $550
Regular APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable See Pay Over Time APR 20.24%-29.24% Variable 20.24%-29.24% Variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent/Good Excellent/Good Excellent/Good Excellent/Good
Card Details
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card The Platinum Card® from American Express Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Additional card details unavailable

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card right for you?

Think about what you really want in a luxury card. If you want to maximize the perks and benefits that come with an Delta-branded card — a VIP airport and airline experience, higher points per dollar spent on Delta-related purchases, in-flight discounts and access to reward travel —  then the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the one for you.

Know that access to Delta’s Sky Club airport lounges isn’t free. Delta Sky Club members may only use the lounge if they’re doing same-day ticketed air travel on Delta or its partner airlines, under a new policy that began on Jan. 1, 2019. Members no longer have access to Delta’s partner lounges.

Plus, the 20% in-flight discount can’t be used for Wi-Fi access. The annual companion pass, while a nice perk, is only good in the 48 contiguous states and you will end up having to pay taxes and fees of up to $80 roundtrip.

If you aren’t loyal to one airline, want to earn more points per dollar spent on airfare and hotels, get free access to airport lounges around the world, including Delta and receive statement credits, then The Platinum Card® from American Express may be a better fit.

To see the rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click  here.
To see the rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.
To see the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click  here.
To see the rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

Apply Now
on American Express's secure site
Terms Apply