Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex review: Mid-tier benefits for Delta loyalists

Name: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Brand: American Express

and

Sept. 14, 2024

•

11 min read

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

Editor's Note

This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

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 companion certificate each year after renewing your card, priority boarding 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. It offers attractive perks for Delta loyalists in exchange for a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees), including an annual companion certificate (Main Cabin U.S., Mexico, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights each year after your card is renewed), solid earning rates and other perks.

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 Qualification Dollars.

Let's dig deeper into the Delta Platinum Amex to determine whether it's the right card for your wallet.

Delta Platinum Amex pros and cons

Pros	Cons
A fast track to Medallion status by spending on the card Receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year First checked bag free	Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency

Delta Platinum Amex welcome offer

The Delta Platinum Amex currently offers new cardmembers 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Based on TPG's October 2024 valuations of Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, this bonus is worth $720.

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.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

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.

Delta Platinum Amex benefits

The Delta Platinum Amex offers many perks for Delta flyers; let's take a closer look at all of the card's perks and benefits. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.

Elite status perks

Delta has overhauled how its credit cards help cardmembers earn elite status with one metric: Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). Delta Platinum Amex cardmembers earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent with no limit on how many MQDs can be earned through credit card spending.

They also receive an MQD boost of 2,500 MQDs each year.

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.

This certificate covers travel to all 50 U.S. states (including Hawaii and Alaska), Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

If you use this certificate for expensive flights, you can easily cover most (or all) of the card's annual fee.

One TPG reader received strong value from the Delta Platinum Amex's welcome bonus and plans to continue to enjoy the annual companion certificate:

"Mileage bonus and reduced companion fare each year. The bonus helped me receive free tickets for an overseas trip and the companion fare will be used to go to visit a friend in Florida." — TPG reader via X

Note: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG's opinions of these cards.

Other travel perks

The Delta Platinum Amex also offers several other benefits you may find helpful, including:

Hertz Five Star status*
An annual up to $120 Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) on eligible U.S. Resy restaurants
An annual up to $120 ride-hailing credit with select providers per calendar year (up to $10 monthly)
An annual up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit every calendar year
A 15% discount off award redemptions for Delta flights
The first checked bag free for yourself and up to eight companions on the same flight
Priority boarding
20% off inflight purchases as statement credit (excluding Wi-Fi purchases)
$120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

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.

Additionally, cardmembers who are not SkyMiles Medallion Members are eligible to receive complimentary upgrades for Delta One (within the U.S.), first class and Delta Comfort+ after Medallion Members and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cardmembers.

*Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required; terms apply

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 hotels
2 miles per dollar on purchases made at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets
1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases

Since TPG's September 2024 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles 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.

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.

Despite that, 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 nonalliance partners.

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 managing editor of news Clint Henderson recently redeemed just over 73,000 SkyMiles for a flight from Mexico City to Brisbane, Australia. With this redemption, Clint was able to secure a Delta One seat from his connection in Los Angeles to Brisbane.

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 $150 ($0 introductory fee for the first year; see rates and fees). Terms apply. To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex.
If you want Delta Sky Club access: The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a higher annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees) but offers more Delta perks, including lounge access (terms apply, subject to limitations beginning Feb. 1, 2025). To learn more, 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. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.

For additional options, check out our full lists of the best airline credit cards and best American Express credit cards.

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 annual fee may seem high compared to the lower-annual-fee Delta Gold Amex, but you get useful benefits in return, like the annual companion certificate that can provide significant value.

However, having the card may be hard to justify if you don't fly Delta often enough to maximize this card's benefits.

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.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.