Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Review

When you regularly travel, whether for business or pleasure, wishing to have an airline rewards card that maximizes miles earned makes all the sense in the world. And that includes getting as many bonus miles as possible. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card allows travelers to amass a considerable number of miles, which are applicable towards flights, hotels, seat upgrades, and much more.

SkyMiles Welcome Offer

The impressive travel perks of the Platinum SkyMiles Amex begin with a sizeable welcome offer. New accounts can earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in purchases on their new SkyMiles credit card in the first six months of card membership. That welcome bonus has a cash value of approximately $500 when booking award flights with Delta or another SkyTeam partner carrier.

How to Earn SkyMiles

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card earns its best rewards on select travel purchases. Naturally, these eligible purchases include Delta Air Lines flights, with cardholders earning 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta. Cardholders also earn 3X SkyMiles on vacation bookings through Delta Vacations.

SkyMiles® Platinum cardmembers also earn double miles (2X miles for every $1 spent) on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. This enhanced rate is double what the previous version offered, making this card a quality option for those who like to dine out (or eat in). Every other purchase with the card earns a single mile per dollar spent.

There is no cap or limit on the miles a member can receive. SkyMiles don’t expire if your account is open, active, and in good standing.

Delta SkyMiles Personal Card Comparison

The Amex Delta Air Lines credit card portfolio is robust, with multiple options for both business and personal use. Not sure which SkyMiles credit card is right for you? Here is a head-to-head comparison of the four Delta consumer credit cards from American Express:

SkyMiles® Blue	Delta SkyMiles® Gold	SkyMiles® Platinum	Delta Reserve
Earn 10K (after spending $1,000 within the first 6 months)*	Earn 65K (after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months)*	Earn 85K (after spending $4,000 within the first 6 months)*	Earn 85K (after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months)*
No annual fee	$99 annual fee ($0 year one)	$250 annual fee	$550 annual fee
2X Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and at at restaurants worldwide; 1X on all other purchases.	2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; 1X on all other purchases.	3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels; 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X Miles on all other purchases.	3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with Delta; 1X Miles on all other purchases.
20% inflight savings	20% inflight savings	20% inflight savings	20% inflight savings
No foreign transaction fees	No foreign transaction fees	No foreign transaction fees	No foreign transaction fees
–	First checked bag free	First checked bag free	First checked bag free
–	$100 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year.	Annual companion certificate	Annual companion certificate
–	–	Priority boarding	Priority boarding and upgrades; complimentary upgrades
–	–	Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®	Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®
–	–	Sky Club access for fee	Sky Club & Centurion Lounge access
*See Terms

How to Redeem SkyMiles

The Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program offers numerous redemption options for miles. The easiest way to use miles is through flight bookings with Delta Air Lines. To use miles for flights, you must book at Delta.com. Bookings with Delta also have the bonus of featuring no blackout dates, meaning you don’t need to worry about compromising your ideal dates.

Miles are redeemable not only on Delta flights but also on 30 additional airline partners via SkyTeam. Here’s a list of the current SkyTeam alliance partner carriers:

Other ways to redeem SkyMiles include seat and cabin upgrades through Delta, Delta gift cards, Delta Vacations or Experiences, and incidental fees when flying with Delta. Delta miles are also redeemable for gift cards or purchases made through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal.

Related Article: The Ultimate Guide to Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Delta Perks

Beyond the ability to quickly rack up SkyMiles, cardholders can also take advantage of an impressive array of members-only benefits. These benefits include a complimentary domestic main cabin round-trip certificate. This reward is available upon renewal of the card each year. Members also get their first checked bag free when flying with Delta.

There’s also a fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. After enrollment, cardholders receive either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or a statement credit for up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for a five-year plan.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card benefits also include main cabin priority boarding on all flights with either Delta or one of its 30 partner airlines, access to the Delta Sky Club for the cardholder, and up to two guests at an exclusive rate of $39. Holders also get 20% in in-flight savings when using their card (credited as a statement credit) and enjoy baggage insurance protection. This last benefit covers lost, stolen, or damaged checked items.

Other Card Features

Other noteworthy features of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card include EMV chip technology for an extra layer of security when shopping online or in-store, no foreign transaction fees when using the card globally, and American Express network protections:

American Express Ratings

How is Amex as a credit card issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for American Express from experts and the general public:

Should You Apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card?

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card features a hefty $250 annual fee. Still, it’s impressive bonus miles and traveler protections make it a solid choice for the frequent flier. However, those considering this card should always weigh its benefits with its limitations. While accepted at over 1.6 million places in the U.S., the acceptance of American Express abroad, compared to Visa or Mastercard, is limited.

Overall, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a robust, high-quality card for those who plan to use it daily. SkyMiles are a valuable commodity, and this card earns them in droves. The card offers significantly more value for money than the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.