Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the better choice if you’re indifferent between Delta and American Airlines. It offers a higher rewards rate on airline fare purchases and a valuable companion certificate. However, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is recommended for American Airlines loyalists, especially with its annual fee waived for the first year.

Both cards provide airline-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, but the Delta card has broader accessibility and superior rewards.

The Citi AA Platinum Select is /likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who want to earn miles on flights, hotels and car rentals. It offers 3X miles on American Airlines purchases and 2X on hotels and car rentals. While it provides valuable perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, the card's companion certificate requires $20,000 in annual spending, which may not suit those with lower spending habits.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is a good choice for frequent Delta travelers who can benefit from its annual companion certificate and high rewards on Delta purchases. It has a generous welcome bonus and no spending threshold for the companion certificate. However, the high annual fee is not a good fit for those who don't travel frequently enough to offset the cost.

Detailed comparisons of key features like APRs, fees and rewards reveal nuances that a single score might miss. For instance, if you're focused on annual fees, the Citi card has not only a lower fee at $99 but it is also waived for the first year, unlike the Delta card, which is accompanied by a high $350 annual fee.

The Citi AA Platinum Select offers better value due to its higher unit value of miles of approximately 1.6 cents. On the other hand, Delta SkyMiles Platinum is valued at approximately 1.4 cents. Both cards offer rewards in miles, which can be redeemed for flights and other travel-related expenses.

For those indifferent between American Airlines and Delta, the choice may come down to the specific reward categories and spending habits. The Citi AA Platinum Select card provides rewards for dining and gas purchases, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers rewards for hotel stays and groceries.

The following table will detail the rewards categories for each card, allowing you to see the potential earnings based on your spending habits.

The Citi AA Platinum Select allows you to redeem miles for flights to over 1,000 destinations, with miles expiring if inactive for 18 months. Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers broader redemption options, including airfare and upgrades, with miles expiring after 12 months of inactivity.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card provides superior benefits with its annual companion certificate and comprehensive travel insurance, making it more valuable for frequent travelers. The Citi AA Platinum Select card offers preferred boarding and a free checked bag for up to eight companions, appealing to those who travel with family or groups.

The Citi AA Platinum Select card offers a range of perks that cater to frequent American Airlines travelers, providing significant savings and convenience.

Travel Perks

• Free checked first bags for you and up to eight companions on domestic American Airlines flights
• Preferred boarding for you and up to eight companions on American Airlines flights

Status

• Earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from purchases

Credits & Discounts

• $125 American Airlines flight discount after spending $20,000 annually
• Up to $25 back per day on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers a selection of benefits that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience.

Travel Perks

• First checked bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 per round-trip per person
• Complimentary upgrade list eligibility for card members with an eligible ticket

Status

• $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each year to boost status
• $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar for every $20 spent

Insurance & Protections

• Travel insurance covering trip delays, rental car damage and baggage loss

Credits & Discounts

• Annual companion certificate for domestic, Caribbean or Central American flights
• Up to $150 credit for Delta Stays bookings
• Up to $120 in rideshare credits annually
• Up to $120 in Resy dining credits annually
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application
• 20% back on in-flight purchases as a statement credit

All Other Perks

• 15% off Award Travel bookings on Delta flights
• Free ShopRunner membership for expedited shipping
• Hertz Five Star Status for enhanced car rental experiences

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.