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

Shield Insurance

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Both cards provide valuable Delta loyalty benefits, but the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is the better choice for frequent Delta travelers. It offers superior rewards and perks like a companion certificate and 3X miles on Delta purchases, though it comes with a higher annual fee.

While the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is more budget-friendly with no annual fee, its benefits are limited for those who do not fly Delta often.

Credit Card logo for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Credit Card logo for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.9/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Who Delta SkyMiles Blue Is Best For

The Delta SkyMiles Blue is likely better for budget-conscious travelers who want to earn 2X more Delta rewards without paying an annual fee. It also offers 2X miles on dining. However, it may not suit those who fly frequently, as it does not have a companion certificate.

Who Delta SkyMiles Platinum Is Best For

The Delta SkyMiles Platinu suits frequent Delta flyers who find a companion certificate, priority boarding and a generous welcome bonus valuable. However, if you don't fly Delta frequently, the high annual fee may not be worthwhile.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

A point-by-point comparison of the Delta SkyMiles Blue and Platinum cards covers APRs, fees, rewards and more, helping you decide which one to get based on specific needs. For instance, if hotel rewards matter, Platinum offers 3X miles, much more than Blue's.

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    Regular APR: Tie

    Delta SkyMiles Blue and Platinum have a regular APR of 20.49%–29.49% variable.

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    Annual Fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue

    Delta SkyMiles Blue has no annual fee. In contrast, Delta SkyMiles Platinum charges $350 annually.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Neither Delta SkyMiles Blue nor Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.

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    Rewards: Delta SkyMiles Platinum

    Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 3X miles on Delta and hotel purchases, compared to Delta SkyMiles Blue's 2X miles on Delta and dining.

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    Welcome Offers: Delta SkyMiles Platinum

    Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in six months, compared to Delta SkyMiles Blue's 10,000 miles for $1,000. Platinum's higher ROI makes it more rewarding despite the higher spending requirement.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Delta SkyMiles Blue and Platinum require a credit score of 670–850, making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: Tie

    Both Delta SkyMiles Blue and Delta SkyMiles Platinum charge up to $40 for late payments, a 29.99% penalty APR and cash advance fees of either $10 or 5% of the amount. Neither card has foreign transaction fees.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Tie

    Both the Blue and Platinum cards are issued by American Express, resulting in identical issuer satisfaction scores.

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    Card Benefits: Delta SkyMiles Platinum

    Delta SkyMiles Platinum has better card benefits, like a Companion Certificate and travel credits, valued at $1,147.89. Delta SkyMiles Blue provides fewer benefits, with an expected value of $154.83, which includes in-flight discounts.

Rewards Comparison

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers better rewards value due to its higher earning rates on Delta purchases and hotel bookings. The card benefits frequent travelers who can take advantage of the 3X miles on these categories. While offering no annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles Blue card provides lower earning rates. It's more suitable for occasional travelers or those who prioritize dining rewards.

Both cards use Delta SkyMiles as their rewards unit, valued at approximately 1.4 cents each.

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the rewards categories for each card, allowing you to see where you can maximize your earnings at a glance.

Category
Delta SkyMiles Blue
Delta SkyMiles Platinum

Delta Purchases

2X miles

3X miles

Hotels

1X miles

3X miles

Dining

2X miles

2X miles

Groceries

1X miles

2X miles

All Other Purchases

1X miles

1X miles

Redeeming Rewards

The Delta SkyMiles Blue allows you to redeem miles for Delta flights with no expiration as long as your account is active. However, redemption options are limited compared to the Delta SkyMiles Platinum. The Platinum card offers a wider array of redemption choices, including airfare, upgrades and hotel stays, with miles not expiring if the account is active every 12 months.

Card Benefits Comparison

The Platinum card offers superior benefits, especially for frequent travelers, including an annual Companion Certificate and a free first-checked bag. The Blue card's perks, like car rental insurance and Pay with Miles, cater to budget-conscious travelers. Both cards offer 20% savings on in-flight purchases, but the Platinum card's additional perks make it more valuable for those who travel often.

Delta SkyMiles Blue Perks

Delta SkyMiles Blue offers a range of perks that cater to budget-conscious travelers and those who want to maximize their rewards on everyday purchases, providing value through travel flexibility and practical savings.

Travel Perks

  • Up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed with Pay with Miles

Insurance & Protections

  • Secondary coverage for damage or theft of rental cars

Credits & Discounts

  • 20% savings on eligible Delta in-flight purchases
  • Free 2-day shipping and return shipping on eligible items at 100+ online stores

All Other Perks

  • Exclusive access to ticket presales and card member-only events

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Perks

Delta SkyMiles Platinum's perks 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
  • Annual companion certificate for domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights

Status

  • Annual Medallion Qualification Dollar award to help achieve Medallion status
  • Earn Medallion Qualification Dollars for every $20 spent

Insurance & Protections

  • Travel insurance for trip delays and rental car damage

Credits & Discounts

  • Up to $120 in rideshare credits annually
  • Up to $120 in dining credits at U.S. Resy restaurants
  • $150 credit for Delta Stays bookings
  • Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application
  • 20% savings on in-flight purchases

All Other Perks

  • 15% off award travel bookings
  • Hertz Five Star Status for enhanced car rental experiences
  • Free ShopRunner membership for expedited shipping

FAQ: Delta SkyMiles Platinum vs. Delta SkyMiles Blue

What are the annual fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue and Platinum cards?

How do the rewards rates compare between the Delta SkyMiles® Blue and Platinum cards?

What is the introductory offer for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum card?

Do both cards offer a companion certificate?

Which card is better for frequent Delta flyers?

Methodology

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.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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