Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card Review

Who Is the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card From American Express Good For?

If you fly on Delta and are trying to reach or maintain elite status, the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great tool. This premium card offers a welcome bonus and allows you to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that count toward elite status.

Although the Platinum Delta card does come with a higher annual fee than both the basic and Gold Delta SkyMiles cards, it offers a greater potential for earning miles, with a slightly higher welcome bonus, as well as the ability to earn more bonus miles if you spend more.

You can use Delta SkyMiles to book flights on Delta, as well as on 20 other partner airlines, most of which are SkyTeam alliance members. In addition to flying comfortable jets that offer excellent customer service, Delta is the most punctual domestic airline, with the best on-time performance among the big three.

Welcome Bonus:

The current welcome bonus is 50,000 miles. You will need to spend at least $3,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership to qualify for the welcome offer. In addition, you can earn an Annual Companion Certificate each year upon renewal of your Delta SkyMiles Platinum card.

There have been better welcome offers in the past, though, including a 70,000-mile bonus that you can earn in the first three months of having the card. It may be worth waiting to see if it’s offered again.

Miles Earned:

You will get 3 miles for every dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels. When you shop at U.S. supermarkets od dine at restaurants, you will earn 2X miles. And you will earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases. Here’s miles earning at a glance:

• 3X miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta
• 3X miles on hotel purchases made directly with hotels
• 2X miles on dining at restaurants, including take out and delivery in the U.S.
• 2X miles on groceries (at U.S. supermarkets)
• 1X miles on other purchases.

In addition to miles earning, you can save 15% when booking award travel on Delta flights. You will need to use Delta.com or the Fly Delta app to qualify for the discount. Plus, you can get 20% back on in-flight purchases. The savings will be credited to your account in the form of statement credit after you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.

What Do Your Miles Get You?

Delta usually has excellent award seat availability to Europe, Asia and Australia, even during peak travel times. That includes good availability in business class.

In addition, Delta has strategic partnerships with some of the best airlines in the world, like Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Korean Air. It’s also worth noting that there are no fuel surcharges on Delta flights not originating in Europe, or on most of the airline’s partners.

Usage Perks:

• Cardholders get priority boarding and preferred seating
• Free first checked bag
• Annual companion ticket upon renewal
• No foreign transaction fees
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck^®
• Global Assist^® hotline

Usage Quirks:

• Annual fee
• Fuel surcharges on flights originating in Europe
• No stopovers allowed
• High change and cancellation fees

How Far Do Your Miles Go?

In general, Delta award levels in economy are on par with American and United. In business class, however, Delta typically costs more than its peers, though United’s expensive redemptions on its partner airlines are an exception to that rule. These are what the three big airlines charge for a business class award between North America and Europe:

• American: from 75,000 miles
• United: from 100,000 miles
• Delta: from 170,000 miles

It can be difficult to find the cheapest economy rate on some popular domestic routes. However, Delta recently started offering discounted rates on select short flights in the U.S. For example, it’s possible to get a round-trip flight between New York and Charlotte for only 20,000 miles, instead of the standard domestic redemption rate of 25,000 miles.

Additional Cardholder Benefits:

• 20 percent savings on in-flight purchases
• Extended warranty
• Trip delay insurance
• Purchase protection
• ShopRunner
• Baggage insurance plan
• Car rental loss and damage insurance
• Cell phone protection
• Dispute resolution
• Year-end summary
• Plan It^®
• Send & Split^®