Delta Platinum Card Review

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has 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.

Review: Is the Delta Platinum Card the Best Credit Card for You?

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is one of four personal Amex Delta credit cards in the Amex Delta family. Although it has a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card annual fee, it's well worth it if you fly Delta frequently and can make use of the card's perks.

It's currently offering a limited-time elevated welcome bonus of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card . That's worth around Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card - Featured Reward Value in flights, according to Insider's latest points and miles valuations.

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 $30) and priority boarding for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation, and a 20% discount on inflight purchases. In addition, the card just added a brand-new perk called TakeOff 15, which gives cardholders a 15% discount when they redeem miles for Delta-operated flights.

If you don't fly Delta often enough to justify the card's annual fee, there's another option with some of the same benefits. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card annual fee is just Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and it has a welcome bonus offer of Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card — plus the same free checked bag, priority boarding, TakeOff 15 benefit, and inflight discounts as the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.

Alternately, if you want the opportunity to earn Delta miles but don't want to be locked into a single program, you should also consider cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. Delta is an American Express transfer partner, along with 19 other airline and hotel programs — so you'll have the flexibility to use your points for lots of other redemptions.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to Earn Miles With the Delta Platinum Amex

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:

• 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 Delta Miles

Insider's points and miles valuations peg Delta SkyMiles as worth 1.1 cents each, on average, so if you're getting that rate or better when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, you're getting a good deal. 

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. 

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 

Because Delta miles don't expire, you don't have to feel pressured to redeem them if you're not ready to travel just yet.

Delta Platinum 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 round-trip, domestic economy class travel within the contiguous 48 states. 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.

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 $30 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.

Priority boarding

Cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Delta Main Cabin 1 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.

The Main Cabin 1 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 new 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 book through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app, they'll receive the discount. 

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

If you spend $25,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , you'll receive 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) — up to two times — that can help you qualify for elite status. 

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 $100 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.

20% back on inflight purchases

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

Discounted Delta Sky Club access

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card  members can get a reduced rate of $39 per person for single visits at Delta Sky Club airport lounges when they use the card to pay and are flying Delta or a Delta partner airline that day. The rate also applies to up to two guests or immediate family traveling with you.

Car rental insurance

If 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, you can receive secondary car rental insurance. 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.

Trip delay insurance

If you've paid for eligible round-trip travel with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card  and your trip is delayed 12 hours or more, you could be reimbursed for up to $300 in reasonable expenses, such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication, up to two times per 12-month period. 

Purchase protection

When you pay for an eligible item with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , you can be covered 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fees and Costs

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card  has a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card annual fee, and there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so it's a good card to use if you're traveling overseas.

As with most other cards, there are fees for late payments, returned payments, and cash advances.

Compare Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex vs Other Delta Credit Cards

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express vs Other Airline Credit Cards

American Express Delta Platinum Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is eligible for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card?

If you've ever had the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card , you won't be eligible to earn the bonus again because of Amex's one bonus, per card, per lifetime rule across all of its products. 

However, each Delta card is considered a different product, so if you already have or had other Delta cards, like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, you could still qualify for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card .

What credit score do you need for the Amex Delta Platinum card?

To be approved 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. If you're not quite at that level yet, read our guides to improving your credit score and how using credit cards can help boost your score.

If I cancel my Delta Platinum card, will I lose my SkyMiles?

If you've tried out the card for at least a year but then decide the benefits aren't worth it for you, you won't lose your miles if you cancel. Your miles are kept in your Delta frequent flyer account, not your Amex account.

However, closing a card before you've had it for a year may result in Amex taking back the welcome bonus offer, so it's not a good idea to cancel a card until your first 12 months is up.

Do I need to use the Delta Platinum credit card to get a free checked bag?

You do not need to use your Delta credit card to pay for your ticket to get benefits like a free checked bag or priority boarding. Provided the primary cardholder's Delta SkyMiles number is added to the reservation, these benefits should automatically kick in.

Bear in mind only the primary cardholder (not authorized users) qualifies for these perks. That said, if authorized users are traveling on the same reservation as the primary cardholder, they'll also receive a free checked bag and priority boarding. These benefits extend to up to eight companions on the same reservation.

Which is better, the Delta Platinum or Delta Gold?

The best Delta card for you depends on how often you fly Delta and if you can use all the perks that come with each card. If you're a frequent traveler and can use benefits like an annual Delta companion certificate and Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, it could be worth paying the higher annual fee on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card .

For occasional Delta flyers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is usually sufficient. Here's our comparison of the Delta Gold and Delta Platinum to help you choose the right version for you.

Is earning a Delta Companion Certificate worth it?

Provided you'll pay for at least one eligible round-trip Delta flight with a companion each year, the Delta Companion Certificate can be extremely valuable and worth many times the card's annual fee.

It's particularly handy if you fly expensive routes or tend to book pricey last-minute tickets. For just the cost of taxes and fees, your companion can fly along with you, even if their ticket would normally cost hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.