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Delta Platinum Card Review

Updated

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers elite-like perks and an excellent welcome bonus. It's a great choice if you fly Delta and can use the card's valuable benefits — including the annual anniversary companion certificate and a 15% discount on Delta award flights.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Insider’s Rating
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4.3/5
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Perks

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

Annual Fee

$350

Intro APR

N/A

Regular APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Intro Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus miles

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Pros
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns bonus miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee
  • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You get a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
Cons
  • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee
Insider’s Take

Delta's mid-tier card is a good choice for frequent flyers who can take advantage of money-saving benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, an annual companion certificate, and a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. However, if you're unlikely to maximize these perks or you don't fly Delta that often, a travel credit card with a lower annual fee is a better choice.

Product Details
  • 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.
  • 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 Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
  • 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.

Delta Platinum Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is one of four personal Amex Delta credit cards in the Amex Delta family. This card can be worth its $350 annual fee (rates and fees) if you frequently fly with Delta and can make use of the card's perks.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Each year on your card anniversary, you'll receive a Delta companion certificate to use when you book an eligible paid Delta flight. A companion can come along with you for just the cost of taxes and fees — and on expensive routes, the savings can be substantial.

On Delta flights, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card members also receive a free first checked bag (worth $35) and priority boarding for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation, and a 20% discount on inflight purchases. Cardholders can also take advantage of the TakeOff 15 discount, which gives cardholders a 15% discount when they redeem miles for Delta-operated flights. Terms apply.

Delta Platinum Card Rewards

Delta Platinum Card Welcome Bonus Offer

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. According to Personal Finance Insider's latest points and miles valuations, that's worth about $660 in flights.

How to Earn Miles With the Amex Delta Platinum

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card isn't just a good card to use when you're flying Delta — it offers bonus categories that can earn you more miles on everyday expenses, too. Cardholders earn (Terms apply):

  • 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta (including airfare, upgrades, miles, seat selection, Delta Sky Club membership, and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights)
  • 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels (prepaid third-party hotel bookings aren't eligible, but purchases charged to your card at the hotel at check-in/checkout qualify)
  • 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (excluding superstores and warehouse clubs)
  • 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide (excluding bars, nightclubs, cafeterias, and convenience stores)
  • 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

How to Use Miles From the American Express Delta Platinum

You can redeem Delta miles for flights on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. Delta no longer publishes an award chart, so the number of points required for an award ticket varies depending on paid ticket price, demand, and time of year. 

The airline sometimes runs unannounced flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way for domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. Delta SkyMiles deals come and go, so it's worth checking frequently to see if you can snag a discounted award flight on the route or destination you want.

One perk offered to all Amex Delta cardholders is the ability to use miles to offset the cost of a paid ticket. The Delta Pay With Miles program allows members to redeem at a rate of 1 cent per mile in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is useful if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash. Plus, the welcome bonus alone is worth $800 off the cost of paid tickets. Terms apply.

If you don't want to redeem SkyMiles for flights, there are other options, but you'll typically get a lower value in comparison:

  • Seat selection and upgrades
  • Delta Sky Club lounge memberships
  • Certain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)
  • Gift cards
  • Magazines
  • Tour vouchers
  • Charity donations
  • Delta Vacations packages
  • Premium drinks in Delta Sky Club lounges
  • Delta SkyMiles Experiences 

Delta miles don't expire, so there's no pressure to redeem them immediately if you don't have travel plans just yet.

Delta Platinum Card Benefits and Features

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a wide variety of travel and shopping benefits that can more than offset the annual fee.

Annual Delta companion certificate

Each year on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card anniversary, you'll receive a Delta companion certificate valid for Zone 5 domestic, Central America, Caribbean, or Mexico roundtrip flights to select destinations. If you buy an eligible paid ticket, a companion can join you for just the cost of taxes and fees on the same itinerary — and if it's an expensive fare, you could end up saving hundreds of dollars (baggage charges and other restrictions apply, see terms and conditions for details). Terms apply.

Elite Status Boost and Head Start (new in 2024)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card cardholders get an automatic boost toward elite status qualification with this new benefit. Cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) each Medallion Qualification Year toward their elite status qualification requirements, and earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Terms apply.

Up to $120 Resy Restaurant Credit (new in 2024)

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card cardholders can earn a statement credit of up to $10 a month when they use the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to pay their bill at participating US Resy restaurants. You have to enroll your credit card with American Express in order to qualify for this benefit. Terms apply.

Up to $150 Delta Stays Credit (new in 2024)

You can earn up to $150 per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com/stays. Unlike the Resy credits mentioned above, this benefit is calculated from your total spend with Delta Stays each year. Terms apply.

Free First Checked Bag

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card members and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive a free first checked bag on Delta flights (worth $35 each way). This perk can be worth much more than the annual fee even if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year, especially if you travel in a group or with your family. Terms apply.

Priority Boarding

Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Delta Zone 5 priority boarding — even when flying Basic Economy — which means you'll have more time to get settled into your seat and find room in the overhead bins for your bags. Terms apply.

The Zone 5 group boards after passengers flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or those flying in basic economy.  

TakeOff 15 Discount

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card cardholders qualify for the TakeOff 15 benefit — and literally can take 15% off the price of award tickets on Delta-operated flights. As long as the primary cardholder has their card linked to their SkyMiles account and books through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app, they'll receive the discount. Terms apply.

This is a nice deal for those who redeem Delta miles frequently, but there are a few conditions to keep in mind. Most importantly, the discount doesn't apply to flights on partners, and authorized users aren't eligible for the benefit. 

Delta Status Boost

You'll earn 1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $20 spent in a calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. That can help you qualify for an elevated Medallion status. Terms apply.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® Application Fee Credit

The Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® trusted traveler programs can save you a ton of time waiting in line at the airport, and if you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to pay the application fee, you'll be reimbursed (up to $120 for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85  for TSA PreCheck® every 4.5 years) after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider. Terms apply.

20% Back on Inflight Purchases

You'll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to pay for inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights. Terms apply.

Car Rental Insurance

You can receive secondary car rental insurance when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to pay for an eligible car rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. This coverage is for theft or damage only (not liability) and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms and conditions. Terms apply.

Trip Delay Insurance

If you've paid for eligible round-trip travel with your card and your trip is delayed 12 hours or more, the Platinum card's trip delay insurance benefit could reimburse you for up to $300 in reasonable expenses, such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication, up to two times per 12-month period. Terms apply.

Purchase Protection

When you pay for an eligible item with your card, purchase protection could cover you for loss or damage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 per year. Terms apply.

Extended Warranty

Cardholders can also get an extended warranty on eligible items when they use their Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to pay — up to one additional year added to eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less. Terms apply.

Baggage Insurance

If you pay for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you can be covered for baggage loss or damage, up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. This credit card travel insurance has exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details. Terms apply.

Global Assist Hotline

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a little-known perk that can be a lifesaver if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, and translation services. The service itself is complimentary, but you're responsible for any third-party costs. Terms apply.

Amex Offers

Like other American Express cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with targeted discounts or bonus miles at participating merchants through Amex Offers**. Using these offers can be a great way to save money on your everyday purchases and help you offset the card's annual fee. Terms apply.

Delta Platinum Card Fees

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has a $350 annual fee (rates and fees), up from $250 as of February 2024.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so it's a good card to use if you're traveling abroad. Avoid carrying a balance if you can, because the card charges a 20.24% - 29.24% Variable APR (rates and fees).

There are also fees for other activities, including:

Compare the Delta Platinum Credit Card

The Delta Platinum isn't for everyone. If you're not sure this card is the best fit for your travel habits, here are two other options for you to consider. 

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

If you don't fly Delta often enough to justify the Delta Platinum card's $350 annual fee, you may want to consider a lower-tier option with some of the same travel benefits.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is one step below the Delta Platinum card in terms of benefits and annual fee. The Gold card also offers the same free checked bag, priority boarding, TakeOff 15 benefit, and inflight discounts that you'd get with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Terms apply.

Delta Gold cardholders earn 2 miles on Delta purchases and at U.S. Supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and 1 mile on all other eligible purchases. Cardholders can also earn a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 or more on the card within a calendar year.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150 and a welcome bonus offer of 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

Read our full Gold Delta SkyMiles Amex card review

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

If you fly Delta frequently enough to value airport lounge access and complimentary upgrades when available, you might need the Delta Reserve in your wallet.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is Delta's highest-tier credit card. While the annual fee on this card is a whopping $650, cardholders can get significant value for their money if they travel frequently enough to maximize all of the perks.

Reserve cardholders earn a Delta companion certificate each year on their card renewal anniversary —  but Reserve cardholders can also apply their companion certificate toward first- and Comfort+ flights, while Platinum cardholders are limited to booking Zone 5 (economy class) travel. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also have access to the Delta Sky Club airport lounges as well as the famous American Express Centurion lounge network; the same credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® that Platinum cardholders receive; and access to complimentary upgrades when available. Reserve cardmembers have 15 visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card currently has a welcome bonus of 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. 

Read our full Delta Reserve review to learn more about this card. 

American Express cards vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

If you want the opportunity to earn Delta miles but don't want to be locked into a single loyalty program, you should also consider cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Delta is an American Express transfer partner, so you can earn Amex Membership Rewards and transfer them to Delta as needed at a 1:1 rate.

Read more about the best American Express cards and the best American Express business cards.

Delta Platinum Card Cardholder Insights

Personal Finance Insider reviews consumer feedback on various credit cards across a number of Internet forums such as FlyerTalk and Reddit.

Delta hiked annual fees on six Delta SkyMiles cards in early 2024, which made it harder for many card members to continue justifying the cost of keeping this card. As a general rule, cardholders suggest that frequent Delta travelers who can effectively utilize the companion certificate are the best demographic for holding and keeping the Delta Platinum.

Travelers who want lounge access should opt for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card instead, while infrequent Delta flyers would do best with the $0 intro for the first year, then $150-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for priority boarding and free checked bag benefits, or even the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for 2x miles on dining and Delta purchases, as well as the 20% discount on inflight purchases.

Delta Platinum Card Frequently Asked Questions

Is Delta Platinum card hard to get?

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To be considered for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you'll need a good to excellent credit score, which means a FICO score of at least 670. Applicants with a credit score of 750 or higher have a high chance of being approved for this card. 

What does a Delta Platinum card get you?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card's best benefits include an annual companion certificate, 3 miles per dollar on Delta and hotel purchases, travel insurance, and credit toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Terms apply.

Is Delta Platinum better than Gold?

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The Delta Platinum is a good card for frequent Delta travelers to consider because of travel benefits such as an annual companion certificate and credit toward Global Entry and TSA PreCheck®. But the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a better fit for infrequent Delta flyers because it still offers priority boarding and a free checked bag on every flight, with a lower annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150.

Does Delta Platinum come with Global Entry?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a statement credit of up to $120 for Global Entry every four years, or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® every 4.5 years. Terms apply.

Does the Delta Platinum have lounge access?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card does not come with access to either Delta Sky Clubs or American Express Centurion Lounges. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Delta Platinum Card

Personal Finance Insider's credit card team compared the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to other Delta and airline credit cards based on criteria that included:

  • Ease of use — Is the card's miles earning and redeeming straightforward? Do you have different options for using rewards?
  • Earning potential — If the card has bonus categories, are they broadly useful for travelers, and are any of them limited to a certain amount of spending?
  • Annual fee — If there's an annual fee, is it worth it considering the card's benefits and rewards?
  • Benefits — Does the card come with valuable benefits that can save cardholders money or make their travel experience easier?

You can find out more about our methodology by reading about how we rate credit cards at Personal Finance Insider.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

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