AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here’s our complete list of Advertisers.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is one of four personal co-branded Delta cards offered by American Express. It provides substantial value for cardmembers who can take advantage of the perks and benefits the card offers.
Some of its highlights include a Delta Main Cabin companion certificate each account anniversary for a round-trip ticket within the U.S., the Caribbean, or Central America, plus a free first checked bag and discounts on eligible award redemptions. The card also lets you accelerate Delta status through spending, offers a statement credit for airport security program application fees, and includes annual travel and dining credits.
However, with a $350 annual fee (Rates & Fees), it's critical that you take advantage of benefits repeatedly to justify the cost of keeping this card in your wallet year after year.
So, are the benefits worth it? Is this the right Delta card for you? Let's take a closer look at the Delta Platinum Amex to find out.
(Terms apply)
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. 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. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express 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 Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Page Contents
Delta Platinum Amex Pros
- First checked bag free, priority boarding, and 15% savings when using miles on select Delta flights.
- Annual companion certificate, good for Delta Main Cabin flights.
- Significant value of annual travel and dining credits.
- No foreign transaction fees (Rates & Fees).
Delta Platinum Amex Cons
- $350 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Delta SkyMiles can be hard to redeem for outsized value.
- Monthly credits may be hard to utilize every month.
Delta Platinum Amex Welcome Offer
If you're a new and eligible applicant for the Delta Platinum Amex, you can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles – 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases with your new card, plus 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the card, both within the first 6 months of account opening (offer ends 04/01/2026).
On average, AwardWallet users redeem Delta SkyMiles for 1.35¢ apiece. That makes the full value of the welcome offer worth approximately $1,340 towards award travel booked through Delta.
For an idea of how this welcome offer compares to what the Delta Platinum Amex has provided in the past, check out our list of past credit card offers from American Express.
Delta Platinum Amex Earning Rates
The Delta Platinum Amex has a handful of bonus categories. Here's how you'll earn SkyMiles on various kinds of purchases:
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Some cards can reward you more handsomely, depending on what you're buying. Consult our list of the best credit cards for each spending category to see if another card better aligns with your spending.
Delta Platinum Amex Benefits
The Delta Platinum Amex is best suited to those who regularly fly with Delta and want perks typically reserved for those with elite status. It's also well-suited to those who want perks without the much higher annual fee levied by Delta's premium credit cards.
Let's look at the card's benefits one by one to help you understand their value.
Annual Travel and Dining Credits
Delta Platinum Amex cardholders can take advantage of three separate travel and dining credits:
- Up to $120 Resy credit (available as $10 per month): get up to $120 in statement credits to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
- Up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month): earn up to $120 in statement credits after using your card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
- Up to $150 Delta Stays credit: get an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your card to book prepaid hotels worldwide or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
If rideshare is a common expense, this is a credit that can be valued close to face value. For the others, make sure you understand if you'll get much value from them.
$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit
Cardholders can receive access either to a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck application fee.
MQD headstart and boost
Cardholders can also receive a $2,500 MQD boost to get closer to status each Medallion Year. This is a helpful addition to earning $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases spent on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, providing a path to Delta Medallion status through card spending.
Related: What Is a Medallion Qualification Dollar? How to Earn MQDs and Unlock Delta Status
15% discount on Delta award travel
Delta offers a 15% award discount to cardmembers of nearly all Amex Delta cards — both personal and business credit cards.
Cardholders get the 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights. All you have to do is log into your Delta SkyMiles account and redeem your award through Delta's website or the Fly Delta app.
The discount is automatically reflected in the award search results for eligible flights, and it does not apply to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
First checked bag free
Modern air travel can be painful with all its add-on fees — levied on everything from checked bags to onboard food. Delta Platinum Amex cardmembers can avoid some of these fees when flying Delta thanks to getting the first checked bag free of charge.
In addition to the primary cardmember, this benefit extends to up to eight additional people on your same reservation, as your Delta SkyMiles number is listed on the reservation. For large families, this benefit alone can provide immense savings.
Annual companion certificate
The annual certificate allows another passenger to fly with you free of charge, paying only government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $250. Seats are limited to specific fare booking classes, and only the primary traveler accrues miles for the companion fare. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply, and Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit. However, companions traveling on a Delta Companion Certificate are eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Priority boarding
Delta Platinum Amex cardholders plus companions traveling on the same reservation receive Zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights. Priority boarding is granted to a maximum of nine passengers traveling on the same reservation, meaning you and up to eight companions!
In-flight savings
The Delta Platinum Amex entitles cardmembers to 20% off eligible pre-purchased meals plus in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights. The savings are issued in the form of a statement credit when you charge in-flight purchases to your Delta Platinum Amex.
This benefit doesn't extend to in-flight Wi-Fi purchases, though the good news is that Delta is continuing to roll out free onboard Wi-Fi across its fleet for all SkyMiles members.
Travel and purchase protections
When traveling and making purchases with your Delta Platinum Amex, you may be covered in the following ways:
- Baggage insurance plan: Covers up to $1,250 per person for carry-on or $500 for checked baggage, including up to $250 for high-risk items. This is in excess of coverage provided by your carrier.
- Trip delay insurance: Covers delays of more than 12 hours by a common carrier, with a maximum of $300 per covered trip and no more than two claims in a 12-month period.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Coverage is secondary and provides coverage of up to $50,000 per rental. If you need primary rental coverage, check out our list of all the cards that offer primary car rental insurance.
- Extended warranty: This coverage adds another year of warranty coverage on an original U.S. manufacturer's warranty of five years or less, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.
- Purchase protection: Covers purchases made with the card against theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date and $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year. Coverage is limited to $500 in the event of a natural disaster.
- Cell phone protection: Pay your monthly phone bill with your card to receive coverage for repairing damaged phones or replacing a stolen phone, up to $800 per claim. There's a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, plus a $50 deductible per approved claim.
Redeeming SkyMiles With the Delta Platinum Amex Card
The most obvious use of Delta SkyMiles is for flights. You aren't restricted just to Delta flights, either, as the airline is part of SkyTeam alliance, opening the doors to book flights on Air France, Aeromexico, KLM, Korean Air, and more.
Unfortunately, Delta Air Lines no longer publishes an award chart and uses dynamic award pricing, so expect to fork over more miles when cash fares are high. To remove the mystery of what you might pay for an award booking, we have assembled an unofficial Delta redemption chart.
Application Restrictions
There are several American Express application rules to navigate before you know if you're eligible for a welcome bonus on the Delta Platinum Amex. On the card's application page, we see these terms:
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
This means there are two ways that you might not be able to earn the bonus on this card:
- Carrying the Delta Reserve now or in the past.
- Having the Delta Platinum Amex now or in the past.
Additionally, American Express only allows you to have five of its credit cards at a time. If you have this many already, you'll need to close one before applying. You're also unlikely to be approved for more than two Amex cards in a 90-day period.
Related: How Can I Receive Welcome Offers From Multiple Delta Amex Cards?
Cards That Compete With the Delta Platinum Amex
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can be a worthwhile option for many Delta flyers, but it isn’t the best fit for everyone. If it's not for you, here's a look at other cards you might find more interesting.
- If you want more Delta benefits like lounge access, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. You’ll get access to Delta Sky Club lounges (15 visits per year, with the option to unlock unlimited visits after spending $75,000 on the card) as well as Amex Centurion Lounges. You’ll also continue to enjoy complimentary upgrades, a free checked bag, priority boarding, 15% off award Delta bookings, and faster MQD elite status earning through card spending. Learn more in our full review of the Delta Reserve.
- If you want a Delta credit card with a lower annual fee, the Delta Gold Card may be a better fit. It has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees), and you can earn a $200 Delta credit through card spending after you make $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year. If the Companion Certificate, MQD boost, and some of the credits offered by the Platinum Delta Amex don’t interest you, this card will likely be your best choice. Learn more in our full review of the Delta Gold Card.
- If you want points you can use with Delta and other airlines, look into the Amex Gold. You’ll earn Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to 20 airline and hotel programs. You’ll also get up to $120 per year in dining credits and Uber Cash (issued as up to $10 per month), along with more flexibility in how you redeem your points. And it comes with several additional benefits and fantastic earning rates. Learn more in our full review of the Amex Gold.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
$650Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$325Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
Related: Which Delta Credit Card Is Right for You? A Breakdown of Benefits & Perks for Each
Final Thoughts
The Delta Platinum Amex is our personal favorite of the co-brand Delta cards. Overall, it splits the difference well between the lower tier Delta Gold Card and the Delta Reserve.
With the opportunity to earn additional MQDs from spending, the card can help boost your chances of reaching Medallion elite status, plus it offers perks like a free checked bag, spending discounts on eligible Delta purchases, an annual companion ticket, and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
These are quality benefits, but you'll need to use them regularly to offset the $350 annual fee. If you don't check bags and aren't chasing elite status, you might find the fee difficult to justify.
(Terms apply)
- Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. 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. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express 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 Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights and save up to $70 per person on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $350 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
![Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions [2026]](https://awardwallet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/corinne-kutz-using-computer-featured.png)
