Delta Skymiles Platinum American Express Card Review 2024

Delta Air Lines offers a handful of co-branded American Express credit cards, and the card_name is one of its mid-tier options. The card has a annual_fees annual fee, making it more expensive than competing cards, including the card_name with its annual_fees annual fee. That said, this Platinum card offers higher earning rates on Delta purchases, a premium companion certificate, and travel insurance protections that can make paying the annual fee worth it.

Before you sign up, however, you should compare this card to other Delta credit cards and Amex credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points that transfer to Delta. Read on to learn the ins and outs of the card_name and how it compares to other card options.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

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Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Credit score needed

credit_score_needed

Annual fees

annual_fees

Bonus rewards

bonus_miles

TIME’s Take

Because of changes made to the Delta SkyMiles program that start in 2024, the card_name offers less value than in previous years. For example, this card once came with a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waiver and a Status Boost promotion that let users spend their way to elite status with Delta, but those benefits are no longer available as of January 1, 2024. The card_name also let cardmembers visit Delta Sky Clubs for a per-visit rate in the past, but that benefit is also no longer an option.

These days, Delta enthusiasts will want to target the card_name for its annual companion certificate, accelerated earning rate on Delta purchases, and the frequent flyer benefits it offers.

Pros & Cons

Who is the card for?

Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam partners fly to more than 1,050 destinations in 166 countries worldwide, making this card a good choice for people who fly with Delta but might also book flights with airlines like Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.

Benefits like an annual companion certificate and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership add value to this card and make its annual_fees annual fee more palatable. Also note that Delta credit card members get 15% off award flights, which makes a flight that costs 50,000 miles cost 42,500 miles instead.

Keep in mind that, due to elite status requirement changes that begin in 2024, a co-branded Delta credit card can still help you reach Delta Medallion faster. While the MQD waiver and Status Boost program have gone by the wayside, the updated Delta SkyMiles program still awards Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) based on co-branded credit card spending. A new program called MQD Boost also gives cardholders an additional $1 MQD for every $20 spent on this card or $50 MQDs for every $1,000 in purchases charged.

For reference, earning Silver Medallion status requires $5,000 MQDs in 2024 for the 2025 status year, Gold Medallion status requires $10,000 MQDs, Platinum Medallion status requires $15,000 MQDs, and Diamond Medallion Status requires $28,000 MQDs.

Rewards structure

The card_name has a generous welcome offer: bonus_miles_full. This offer could be worth one or more round-trip domestic flight awards, depending on the destinations and dates.

The airline credit card has a straightforward rewards structure that benefits frequent travelers. Cardholders earn at the following rates:

• 3x miles on Delta purchases made with Delta.
• 3x miles on direct hotel bookings.
• 2x miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 2x miles on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
• Terms Apply.

The fine print

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
• Purchase Intro APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration.
• Balance Transfer Intro APR: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration.
• Cash advance APR: cash_advance_apr.
• Penalty APR: 29.99% variable.

Fees

• Annual fee: annual_fees.
• Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees.
• Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee.
• Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee.
• Late fee: late_payment_fee.
• Returned payment fee: Up to $40

Additional hidden perks

While the card_name has fewer ongoing benefits than it did prior to 2024, there are still plenty of available perks, including:

• Annual companion certificate: Receive a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon card renewal.
• Cell phone insurance¹: Qualify for cell phone insurance worth up to $800 per claim when you pay your phone bill with your card. A limit of two claims per year applies, plus a $50 deductible for each claim made.
• Discount on in-flight purchases: Automatically get 20% back on in-flight purchases of food and beverages made with the card.
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: Get up to $100 in credit toward Global Entry membership every four years or TSA PreCheck membership every 4.5 years.
• First checked bag free: Cardholders and up to eight companions on their itinerary get a first checked bag free when flying with the airline.
• TakeOff 15: Cardholders automatically get 15% off award flights with Delta.
• ShopRunner membership: This membership gives you free two-day shipping at more than 100 retailers.
• Baggage insurance plan²: Coverage worth up to $1,250 for carry-on luggage and up to $500 for checked bags for travel booked with a common carrier.
• Extended warranty²: One extra year of extended warranty coverage on eligible purchases that come with a manufacturer's warranty of five years or less.
• Global Assist hotline³: Call into this hotline for emergency services including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and more when traveling away from home.
• Purchase protection²: Protects you against damage or theft for eligible purchases worth up to $1,000 per occurrence and up to $50,000 per calendar year. Good for the first 90 days after purchase.
• Secondary auto rental coverage⁴: This coverage is available for eligible rental periods when you pay for car rentals with your card. However, coverage is secondary to your own insurance.
• Trip delay insurance¹: Pays for incidental expenses when a trip is delayed by 12 hours or longer. Coverage is good for up to $300 in expenses per trip, and a maximum of two claims per 12-month period applies.

What could be improved?

The card_name has plenty of benefits that increase its value, but its annual_fees annual fee can be difficult to justify if you don't always fly with Delta. This is especially true since the card_name charges a annual_fees annual fee that's waived the first year, yet you still get benefits like a free first checked bag, priority boarding, and discounts on eligible in-flight purchases.

Consumers with the card_name can definitely use it to inch closer to the MQD requirements for Delta Medallion status in 2024 and beyond, but program changes like the loss of the MQD waiver make the card considerably less useful on that front. Also note that you cannot gain entry into Delta Sky Clubs with the card, even if you're willing to pay a per-visit rate.

This leaves you having to pay a $650 annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express if you want a Delta Sky Club membership through a travel credit card. Even then, annual limits apply to the number of entries.

Card alternatives

Bottom line

The card_name offers a great earning rate on Delta purchases and hotels, an annual companion certificate, and a handful of frequent flyer benefits and travel insurance protections. With its annual_fees annual fee, however, this card will be difficult for many to justify.

If you want basic frequent flyer perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, look into the card_name instead. Also, consider the card_name if you are willing to give up some perks to have a co-branded Delta credit card with no annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Learn More

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Credit score needed

credit_score_needed

Annual fees

annual_fees

Bonus rewards

bonus_miles

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do you get card_name?

The Platinum Card® from American Express earns American Express Membership Rewards points instead of airline miles with a specific program. However, you can transfer your points to a range of Amex airline and hotel partners, including the Delta SkyMiles program.

How do you qualify for card_name?

The card_name is geared for consumers with good to excellent credit scores. You can qualify by filling out an application and providing information such as your full name, address, household income, monthly housing payment, and Social Security number.

What credit score do you need for the card_name?

American Express doesn't list minimum credit score requirements for its cards. However, the card is geared to consumers with good to excellent credit scores.

How much is the card_name?

The card_name charges an annual fee of annual_fees.

¹ Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

²Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

³Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

⁴Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.