Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card Review: For Business Savy Delta Loyalists

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For frequent travelers aiming to boost their Delta status, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card offers a 70,000-mile bonus, priority boarding and an annual Companion Certificate to enhance your travel. While the $350 annual fee might seem steep, the card’s top-tier benefits may make it worthwhile for dedicated Delta travelers.

For business travelers who want elite status boosts with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card could be a top contender. This card offers substantial travel perks and rewards for an annual fee of $350, a mid-tier choice from the Delta Amex business card lineup.

Compared to the other Delta SkyMiles business cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card has an excellent intro offer of 70,000 miles after spending $6,000 in the first six months, designed to deliver value to those who want to boost their status with Delta’s rewards program. Cardholders also enjoy top-tier perks like the companion certificate each year after renewal, as well as priority boarding, free checked bags and up to $200 annual statement credit for Delta Stays.

However, the card comes with a fairly steep $350 annual fee. You may want to consider more flexible options like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, which offers broader rewards and transferable points to various travel partners.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex's rewards system is ideal for business owners with travel, transit and shipping expenses.

With this card, you can earn:

• 3X miles on eligible Delta purchases and hotels
• 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping purchases and single purchases of $5,000 or more
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Redemption Options

Reward flights and flight upgrades are the best redemption options because they typically offer the maximum value per mile, which is usually between 1.4 and 1.5 cents per mile. They are worth considering, especially for international and premium-class flights.

Other redemption options include hotels, car rentals, gift cards and experiences, though these may offer less value. One of the standout features of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex is that your miles never expire, giving you the flexibility to use them when it suits you best.

With a wide range of valuable perks for frequent Delta travelers, this airline card is one to compete with. From a generous introductory offer to travel-related benefits like priority boarding and complimentary upgrades, this card is designed to enhance your travel experience.

• Companion Certificate: One of the most valuable perks is the annual companion certificate. This allows you to bring a companion on domestic or international flights for just the cost of taxes and fees, which can be up to $80 for domestic flights and $250 for international flights. If used strategically, this benefit alone can easily offset the $350 annual fee.

• High Intro Bonus: The card offers a high intro bonus of 70,000 miles after spending $6,000 in purchases within the first six months. This is a great way to jumpstart your SkyMiles balance, especially if you can meet the spending requirement.

• Priority Boarding and Free Checked Bags: Priority boarding and free checked bags are essential perks for frequent flyers. Priority boarding allows you to board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner. Free checked bags can save you up to $70 per round trip, which adds up quickly if you travel often.

• Elite Status Earning: The card helps you earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), which is the point system for achieving Medallion status with Delta. You'll receive $2,500 MQDs each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases.

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travelers, the absence of foreign transaction fees is a significant advantage. You can make purchases abroad without worrying about extra costs, making this card a good choice for those who travel internationally.

• Annual Statement Credit for Delta Stays: The card offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using it to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. This benefit can add value, especially if you frequently book accommodations through Delta.

• Monthly Credits for Rideshare and Resy Purchases: You can earn up to $10 back each month after using the card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers and up to $10 monthly in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases. While these perks may not be as universally valuable as the travel-related benefits, they still provide additional value.

If you’re looking to upgrade or need a reliable airline card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card has some notable drawbacks to weigh.

• High Annual Fee: $350 can be a steep price for an annual fee if you’re not fully utilizing the travel perks and rewards. This fee might outweigh the benefits for occasional travelers, making it less appealing. However, this fee can be worth it for loyal business Delta fliers, considering the MQD earning potential and the ability to waive the MQD requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum status by spending $25,000 annually on the card.

• No More Lounge Membership: As of January 1, 2024, the Platinum Business Amex Card no longer includes lounge access benefits (previously offered at a discount). If you’re looking for access to Delta Sky Clubs or Centurion Lounges, you’ll need to consider upgrading.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card offers substantial value with a $350 annual fee and a 70,000-mile intro bonus. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, though with a higher $650 fee, provides a 80,000-mile bonus, a First Class Companion Certificate and complimentary lounge access.

If you're seeking premium perks like elevated travel comfort and exclusive lounge access, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the better choice. However, for those looking to enjoy substantial benefits at a more affordable price point, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card strikes an outstanding balance of value and rewards.

By pairing your airline card with another cash back card, you can leverage your business expenses to get the most out of your rewards.

Pairing the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card with the  Ink Business Preferred® Card maximizes rewards for frequent travelers. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex offers premium perks like priority boarding, a 70,000-mile bonus and a valuable Companion Certificate.

It's ideal for Delta fliers who value complimentary upgrades. Meanwhile, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card provides another 90,000-point bonus and 3X points on key business expenses, with flexible redemption options. Together, they offer elite travel benefits and broad rewards for everyday spending.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Amex Card is worth it if you're a frequent Delta traveler focused on earning elite status and valuing perks like priority boarding and the annual Companion Certificate. However, the $350 annual fee is important to consider when weighing your options.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Amex could be a better alternative if premium perks and lounge access are must-haves. Though it comes with a higher $650 annual fee, it offers the potential for 80,000 bonus miles and 3X miles on Delta purchases, making it ideal for frequent flyers seeking more luxury.

We evaluated the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card by reviewing 100 cards. Our evaluation considered several key features with the following weights:

• Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to.
• Effective Reward Rate (15%): Measures how well the card rewards the consumer.
• Expected Value for Travelers (15%): Assesses the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees.
• Dining Rewards Rate (10%): Measures rewards earned on dining expenses.
• Issuer Satisfaction (10%): Measures customer fulfillment based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the card's annual fees from 1 to 5, where 5 is no annual fee.
• Offer ROI (10%): Considers the rate of return on the introductory bonus offers.
• Hotel Rewards Rate for Travelers (5%): Measures rewards earned on hotel expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Gas Rewards Rate (5%): Measures rewards earned on gas expenditures.