Delta Platinum AmEx Card Review

If you often travel with Delta, you have probably considered getting the company’s dedicated credit card to get some additional perks. Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express can indeed make your trips far more convenient, but there are also a few caveats to consider. As a premium category plastic, the card comes with a significant annual fee, so it’s important to understand whether it will be right for you before you pay.

In this Delta Platinum Card review, we will focus on the main things you should know—basic features, advantages, and disadvantages. Keep reading to find out what makes this card worth it.

Delta Amex Platinum Card Basics

One thing to keep in mind is that to be eligible for Delta Platinum Amex Card, you must have a good to great credit score.

Annual fee

As of 2024, having a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card will cost you $350 per year. As the fee is quite significant, you should thoroughly examine the card’s features to see if you will use it frequently enough to justify the cost.

Welcome bonus

A large welcome bonus is a strong selling point of this card. By spending $3,000 on the pre-se;ected categories within the first six months of ownership, you will receive 50,000 bonus miles as a welcome offer.

SkyMiles rewards program

When you purchase services and goods with an American Express Delta Platinum Card, you can earn reward points called SkyMiles. Here’s how the reward program works:

• 3 SkyMiles per dollar on direct Delta purchases and hotel spending;
• 2 SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants (including delivery and takeouts);
• 2 SkyMiles per dollar at supermarkets in the United States;
• 1 SkyMile per dollar on other purchases in the eligible categories.

The approximate conversion rate is 1.2 cents per bonus mile.

Absence of foreign transaction fees

As this is a travel-oriented card, it makes sense that holders will be using it abroad. Thankfully, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees when paying with this card.

Medallion Qualifying Dollars

Another perk of this card worth mentioning is that it allows you to receive Medallion Qualifying Dollars. MQDs are used towards gaining a Delta elite status—Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond, which vary in their benefits (priority check-in, upgrades, preferred seats, etc.).

With a Delta SkyMiles Platinum, you’ll get 2,500 MQDs every year. You can also earn 1 MQD for every $20 of your purchases annually.

Amex Delta Platinum Benefits

If you receive the welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus miles, it covers the cost of the first annual fee. But what about other Delta Amex Platinum benefits? Here are other perks of the card that add to its value: 

Free checked bag

With a premium Amex Card, the first checked bag on your flight is free. What is more, eight more people on your reservation can also enjoy the same benefit. If you board a plane with your entire family, having free checked bags means you can get your annual fee back at once.

Companion certificate

Arguably, the most valuable perk of the Platinum Card beyond the welcome bonus is its round-trip companion certificate, which is issued every year. The certificate covers the cost of Central American, Caribbean, and domestic flights for a single person traveling with you.

Note that the certificate can only be used for flights in the following fare classes: L, U, T, X, and V. You need to pay for the ticket with your Delta Card, and some fees and taxes still apply.

Delta Stays statement credit

Another benefit to mention is the $150 Delta Stay statement credit. You get the credit every year, and its intended use is for vacations and hotel bookings prepaid through Delta.

Resy restaurant statement credit

Those who enjoy eating out will be happy to hear about the $120 annual statement credit for Resy restaurants (located in the United States). One thing to keep in mind here is that you can’t use this sum all at once, and instead receive $10 every month.

Rideshare statement credit

The card provides rideshare credit of up to $120 a year with select service providers. Similarly to the Resy credit, you cannot use this one at once. Instead, you’ll receive up to $10 in credits each month. To take advantage of this opportunity, you’ll need an active account of your chosen provider.

Priority boarding

Another common travel card benefit that Delta Platinum has is priority boarding. Along with up to 9 other people on your reservation, you can get your seats earlier and find the best places for your carry-on luggage.

In-flight savings

The card also allows you to save not only on tickets but also on some eligible categories of in-flight purchases (drinks, food, etc.). You get a statement credit, which allows you to save up to 20% on such expenses.

Discount when using miles

We also have to mention the 15% discount you get on flights booked with miles using either the Fly Delta app or the delta.com website.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

Last but not least, cardholders get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits. The current statement credit for Global Entry is $100 (provided every 4 years), while for TSA PreCheck it is $85 (provided every 4.5 years). You need to enroll to benefit from this opportunity, and there are some additional eligibility requirements to meet.

Disadvantages of Delta American Express Platinum

Now that we discussed the main member advantages of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, it is necessary to talk about some of its drawbacks. Here are the things to consider before getting the card.

Fairly high annual fee

There is no denying that the $350 annual fee is significant. While it’s not the highest among the cards in this segment, it makes the offer worthwhile only if you are a frequent traveler and can get enough return for this investment.

Absence of lounge access

One of the more surprising disadvantages of this Delta Amex Сard is that it doesn’t provide you with any type of lounge access. Considering that the fee you pay is far from low, it is strange to see that such a basic travel card feature is not included.

Requires good credit score

Similarly to other cards with high-value rewards, getting a Delta Platinum requires a credit score of at least 670.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Delta Platinum Card offers plenty of excellent benefits for frequent travelers. It has an amazing welcome bonus, several statement credits, and some discounts that fully justify the annual fee for the first year. If you travel all the time, particularly with another person, this card will stay relevant after that initial period.

Also, the card is well-suited for you if you are a Delta Medallion status member. The reason is that the card will award you 2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars every year, with some additional points for daily purchases.