Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Steep Annual Fee for an Added Companion

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For frequent Delta travelers, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers many benefits, including earning 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and receiving a Companion Certificate. You'll also enjoy priority boarding, travel insurance and free checked bags. The $350 annual fee might make you think twice, but the perks you get from the card can offset its cost. If you often fly with Delta and can take full advantage of the card’s benefits, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum could be a great fit.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Card is ideal for frequent Delta travelers seeking top-notch perks. It earns 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotel bookings and includes an Annual Companion Certificate — a benefit allowing you to bring a guest on a round-trip flight for a low fee.

The card's $350 annual fee may deter some, especially compared to other no-annual-fee airline cards. But the BOGO deal you get from the Annual Companion Certificate could easily offset the card’s hefty annual fee. Without even considering the Delta SkyMiles you can get from the card, its travel perks alone can save you hundreds of dollars annually.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers a robust rewards program tailored for frequent Delta flyers. Cardholders can earn miles on various purchases, with higher rewards for Delta-related spending.

You can earn:

• 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotel bookings
• 2X SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets
• 1X SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases

Redemption Options

Despite several alternative redemptions, the best option is to use your Delta SkyMiles for award flights. Aim to redeem your flight for around 1.4 cents per mile.

However, redeeming those miles requires a bit of strategy. Delta’s dynamic pricing means the miles needed for a flight can vary wildly, depending on when and where you’re flying. There’s no fixed chart to guide you, so it pays to be flexible and plan ahead. Your Delta SkyMiles' value can go toward flights, upgrades or even partner airline bookings, but navigating the options can feel like a game of strategy.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card stands out with its annual Companion Certificate, arguably its most valuable perk. Renew your card, and you can bring a companion to a round-trip in the main cabin for just the cost of taxes and fees — capped at $80 for domestic flights. It's a smart way to save, especially during peak travel seasons in the Caribbean or Central America.

Add in no foreign transaction fees and priority boarding, and you've got a reliable top-tier card. If you’re keen on pursuing elite status, this card allows you to earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) for each $20 of purchases made on your card in a calendar year, which will give you a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for the next Medallion Year.

Travel Perks

• Companion Certificate: Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central American round-trip flights each year after renewal of your card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• First Checked Bag Free: Save up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four, that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Priority Boarding: Enjoy Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, allowing you to board earlier and secure overhead bin space.
• Travel Insurance: Includes trip delay insurance, rental car reimbursement and baggage insurance, providing peace of mind during your travels.
• 20% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Receive 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after using your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.

Rewards and Bonuses

• 90,000 Bonus SkyMiles: Earn 90,000 Bonus SkyMiles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• 3X SkyMiles on Delta Purchases: Earn 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases and hotel bookings, maximizing your rewards on travel expenses.
• 2X SkyMiles at Restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets: Earn 2X SkyMiles on dining and grocery purchases, adding value to everyday spending.
• 1X SkyMiles on Other Purchases: Earn 1X SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases, ensuring you earn rewards on every transaction.

Miscellaneous Perks

• $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 monthly statement credits for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit: Get a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® application fees, speeding up your airport security process.

Status and Upgrades

• Annual MQD Award: Receive $2,500 MQD each Medallion Qualification Year, helping you achieve elite status faster.
• MQD Earning: Earn $1 MQD for each $20 spent on the card, boosting your progress toward Medallion Status.
• Complimentary Upgrade List: Card members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, enhancing your travel experience.
• Hertz Five Star® Status: With Hertz Five Star Status, you can enjoy enhanced car rental benefits, including upgrades and expedited service.

While the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card packs valuable perks, there are some potential downsides:

High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $350 annual fee, which can be steep for some users. Consider whether the travel perks and rewards outweigh this expense for your specific travel habits.

High Penalty APR: This card's penalty APR is 29.99%, which is quite high. If you miss a payment, this could significantly increase your interest charges. Manage your payments carefully to avoid this penalty.

Complex Rewards Redemption Process: Redeeming miles can be a bit complicated, especially with fluctuating redemption rates and limited options for non-Delta flights. If you prefer a more straightforward rewards program, this might not be the best fit for you.

If you’re seeking similar benefits with a lower fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great alternative, offering many perks without the hefty price tag.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers higher rewards rates and more perks, like a Companion Certificate, but comes with a $350 annual fee. In contrast, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a lower annual fee of $150 ($0 for the first year; see rates and fees and a more straightforward rewards structure. Frequent Delta flyers who can leverage the Platinum card's benefits may find it worth the higher fee, while the Gold card is more budget-friendly.

If you're thinking about other Delta SkyMiles® co-branded cards, here's how they stack up against the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex Card:

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card can also work if paired with another card that offers flat-rate cash back. The Delta card's high rewards on Delta purchases and travel perks make it ideal for frequent flyers. Pairing it with a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card that offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases can help you earn rewards on everyday spending.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card complements the Delta card for everyday spending where you're not earning bonus miles. This combination allows you to maximize rewards across different spending categories while keeping fees low.

If you frequently travel with a companion, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex is a clear winner. Its $350 annual fee is offset by perks like the annual Companion Certificate, which lets you bring a guest for just $99 plus taxes. Other benefits include a free checked bag for up to 8 people and priority boarding.

However, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex is more cost-effective if you often fly solo. With a $150 annual fee (waived the first year) and still offering a free checked bag and 2X SkyMiles on Delta purchases, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex provides solid value without the extra cost.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex is also a strong pick for loyal Delta travelers who can take advantage of its perks. If you’re often in the air with Delta, the 3X SkyMiles on Delta purchases, annual Companion Certificate and no foreign transaction fees can easily justify the $350 annual fee.

We evaluated the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card by reviewing 98 cards and focusing on key features. Our scoring weights to generate rankings are as follows:

• Expected Value for Travelers (20%): Measures the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for a traveler who vacations two to three times yearly.
• Airline Rewards Rate for Travelers (15%): Evaluate the rewards earned on airline expenditures for someone who travels two to three times per year.
• Airline Scope (15%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which is important for understanding the card's utility.
• Issuer Satisfaction (10%): Evalutes customer fulfillment based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study.
• Effective Reward Rate (10%): Calculates how rewarding the rewards earned are using different reward multipliers.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the annual fees from 1 to 5, where 5 is no annual fee.
• Airline Rewards Rate for Elite (10%): Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for elite travelers.
• Dining Rewards Rate (5%): Measures rewards earned on dining expenses.
• Hotel Rewards Rate for Travelers (5%): Measures rewards earned on hotel expenditures for someone who vacations two to three times per year.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card please click here.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.