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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is one of four personal co-branded Delta cards offered by American Express and provides substantial value for cardmembers who can take advantage of the perks and benefits the card offers.
Highlights include an economy companion certificate for a round-trip domestic, Caribbean, or Central American ticket each account anniversary, first checked bag free on Delta flights, priority boarding on Delta, discounts on award redemptions for Delta flights, and the ability to accelerate your Delta status through spending. The Platinum Delta Amex also offers a statement credit for your application fee to airport security programs, plus 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 Platinum Delta Amex to find out.
- Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- 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.
- You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip 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.
- Rates & Fees
- 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.
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Platinum Delta Amex Pros
- First checked bag free, priority boarding, and in-flight purchase discount on Delta flights.
- 15% savings when using miles on Delta flights.
- Annual companion certificate, good for economy flights.
- Up to $440 worth of annual travel and dining credits.
Platinum Delta Amex Cons
- Significant $350 annual fee.
- Delta SkyMiles award bookings in premium cabins tend to have inflated costs, making SkyMiles less valuable than other airline currencies.
- Monthly credits may be hard to utilize every month
Platinum Delta Amex Welcome Offer
New cardmembers can earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
The Platinum Delta Amex occasionally runs increased welcome offers. For an idea of how this welcome offer compares to what the Platinum Delta Amex has provided in the past, check out our list of past credit card offers from American Express.
Platinum Delta Amex Benefits
The Platinum Delta 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
Added in February 2024, Platinum Delta Amex cardholders can take advantage of three separate travel and dining credits:
- Up to $120 Resy credit (available as $10 per month)
- Up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month)
- Up to $150 Delta Stays credit
- 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.
MQD earnings and boost
As of 2024, cardholders receive a boost of $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) in their account each year. This is a helpful addition to earning 1 MQD for every $20 spent on the card, providing a path to Delta status through card spending.
However, if earning Delta status is a key item you're looking for, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card instead, where the MQD boost provided by card spending is twice as good.
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. This card benefit discounts the number of Delta SkyMiles you need to redeem for Delta award flights by 15%. 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.
First checked bag free
Modern air travel can be painful with all its add-on fees — levied on everything from checked bags to in-flight Wi-Fi and even onboard food. Platinum Delta 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 certificate allows another passenger to fly with you free of charge, paying only fees and taxes of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic economy flights, and no more than $250 for round-trip return flights to the Caribbean and Central America.
Seats are limited to specific fare booking classes, and only the primary traveler accrues miles for the companion fare. However, companions traveling on a Delta Companion Certificate are eligible for complimentary upgrades.
Utilizing this annual companion certificate is a key piece of ensuring you get sufficient value out of your card.
Related: How To Earn and Use a Delta Companion Certificate
Priority boarding
Platinum Delta Amex cardholders plus companions traveling on the same reservation receive Zone 5 priority boarding on Delta flights. Priority boarding is limited to a maximum of nine passengers traveling on the same reservation, meaning you and up to eight companions.
In-flight savings
The Platinum Delta 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 Platinum Delta 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.
Fee credit for airport security programs
If you use your Platinum Delta Amex to pay the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, you can receive up to $120 as a statement credit to cover the cost. This credit is available every 4 years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Related: Expedited Security Screening Programs: How To Get Them for Free
Travel and purchase protections
Visit the feature and benefits page of Amex’s website for policy particulars on each of the listed benefits, but you can be covered in the following ways when making purchases with your Platinum Delta Amex:
- 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 per 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 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 Platinum Delta Amex 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.
Platinum Delta Amex Earning Rates
The Platinum Delta Amex improved its bonus categories back in January 2020. You'll now earn miles as follows on 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. There are cards available that will outperform the Platinum Delta Amex in pretty much all categories, even after American Express improved the card's earning rates.
Redeeming SkyMiles With the Platinum Delta Amex
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 no longer publishes an award chart. To remove the mystery of what you might pay for an award booking, we have assembled an unofficial Delta redemption chart. Delta uses dynamic award pricing, so expect to fork over more miles when cash fares are high.
Great redemptions include paying as little as 5,000 miles for a Main Cabin (economy) booking within the continental U.S. or as little as 54,000 miles to New Zealand. And those are before the 15% award discount.
Delta, unfortunately, tends to have inflated prices for its Delta One business class. Average redemptions here can show prices upwards of 400,000 miles to Europe, Oceania, or Asia. However, you may be able to find value paying fewer than 40,000 SkyMiles in business class to northern South America or looking for flights on partners that don't touch the U.S. — such as intra-Europe or intra-Asia flights.
Broadly speaking, Delta has really sucked the value out of their premium cabin redemptions, so don't expect killer deals.
Application Restrictions
There are several American Express application rules to navigate before you know if you're eligible for a welcome bonus on the Platinum Delta 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 that having the Delta Reserve now — or having had it in the past — affects your ability to get the Platinum Delta Amex, as does having the card now or having had 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: Can I Receive Welcome Offers From Multiple Delta Amex Cards?
Cards That Compete With the Platinum Delta Amex
- If you want more Delta benefits like lounge access, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. You'll have access to Delta Sky Club® lounges and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta that day, limited to 15 visits per year starting in February 2025. You'll also still have free checked bags and priority boarding, the 15% off benefit on award Delta bookings, and earn MQD elite status credits faster through credit card spending. You'll also get complimentary upgrades on flights. Learn more in our full Delta Reserve review.
- If you want a Delta credit card with a lower annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card may be for you. It has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees). You'll still enjoy a free checked bag, priority boarding, and the 15% off benefit on award bookings. Plus, you can earn a $200 Delta credit through card spending after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. If the Companion Certificate and credits offered by the Platinum Delta Amex don't interest you, this Delta card will likely be the best choice.
- If you want points you can use with Delta and other airlines, look into the American Express® Gold Card. You'll earn Membership Rewards points, which you can transfer to 21 airline and hotel programs, including Delta, Air Canada, Hilton, Marriott, and more. You'll also enjoy up to $120 per year in dining credits and up to $120 per year in Uber Cash (available as up to $10 per month), and have greater options for how to use your points. The card also earns handsomely on groceries and at restaurants, far exceeding the return by the Platinum Delta Amex. However, you won't get Delta perks like checked bags or priority boarding with the Amex Gold.
Amex Disclosure: To receive $10 monthly credits (up to $120 per year) in Uber Cash, you must add the American Express® Gold Card to your Uber account and select it as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction.
(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
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
(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: All Delta Credit Card Options, and How To Choose the Right Card for You
Final Thoughts
The Platinum Delta Amex is our personal favorite of the co-brand Delta cards. With the opportunity to earn additional MQDs from spending, the Platinum Delta Amex can help boost your chances of reaching Medallion elite status, plus it offers perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, in-flight spending discounts, an annual companion ticket, as well as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. It splits the difference well between the lower tier Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
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.
- Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- 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.
- You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip 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.
- Rates & Fees
- 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)
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