Delta Platinum Card: A Comprehensive Guide to Rewards and Benefits

The Delta Platinum Card is a premium credit card that offers a wide range of rewards and benefits to its holders. With a $550 annual fee, you can expect to earn a generous 3X miles on Delta purchases, as well as 1X mile on all other purchases.

One of the standout features of this card is its ability to earn SkyMiles quickly. In fact, with a $3,000 spend in the first 3 months, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles. These miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel perks.

In addition to earning miles, the Delta Platinum Card also offers a range of travel benefits, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, and access to Delta Sky Clubs. This can be a huge time-saver and stress-reducer, especially for frequent travelers.

The rewards offered by the Delta Platinum Card are quite impressive. You can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, which is a great way to rack up miles quickly. You'll also earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.

Here are the earning rates for different categories:

The card also offers a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card, which is a great perk for frequent flyers.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers a range of valuable ongoing rewards that can help you earn miles and save money on flights.

You'll earn 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, which is a great way to rack up miles quickly.

At restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets, you'll earn 2 miles per $1 spent.

For all other eligible purchases, you'll earn 1 mile per $1 spent.

Here are some specific rewards you can expect:

With these rewards, you can earn a significant number of miles over time, which can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other travel perks.

By taking advantage of these ongoing rewards, you can make the most of your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card and enjoy a range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience.

The Companion Certificate is a fantastic perk of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. It's a Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate valid for travel within the US and to select destinations in the Caribbean or Central America.

You'll receive this certificate every year on your card anniversary, after paying the $350 annual fee. This certificate allows you to bring a companion on one round-trip domestic flight without buying another ticket, with taxes and fees not exceeding $80 for round-trip domestic flights and $250 for round-trip international flights.

The certificate is electronic, so you don't have to worry about physical tickets or certificates. You can use it to book a round-trip Main Cabin flight for your companion, saving you hundreds of dollars on the second ticket.

To redeem the certificate, you'll need to pay the government-imposed taxes and fees for the second traveler on the reservation. Also, keep in mind that the certificate is only valid for travel in the L, U, T, X, and V fare classes, and you can't combine it with eCoupons.

Here's a summary of the Companion Certificate benefits:

The Delta Platinum Card's welcome bonus offer is a great incentive to sign up for the card. You can earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months.

This bonus offer is worth about $660 in flights, according to Personal Finance Insider's latest points and miles valuations. To put that into perspective, the annual fee for the card is likely to be less than $660, making the bonus offer a great value.

To earn the bonus, you simply need to spend $3,000 on your new card within the first 6 months of card membership. The bonus should post to your account within 8-12 weeks after you meet the spending requirement.

Here's a summary of the welcome bonus offer:

The Delta Platinum Card offers a wide range of benefits and features that can make your travel experiences more enjoyable and cost-effective.

You'll earn a $120 annual rideshare credit, which can be redeemed in $10 increments each month after using your card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.

Having the Platinum Delta Card also gives you a first checked bag free, which can be a significant savings, especially if you're traveling with a group.

With the card, you'll receive a free checked bag for you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation, as long as you pay for your Delta flight with your eligible card.

You'll also get priority boarding, which can help you find space for your carry-on and get to your seat sooner.

The card offers a 20% statement credit for eligible pre-purchased meals, and in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets, on Delta flights.

Additionally, you'll earn a $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com, and a reimbursement for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once every 4 to 4.5 years.

Here are some of the key benefits and features of the Delta Platinum Card:

• 20% statement credit for eligible pre-purchased meals and in-flight purchases

• First checked bag free for you and up to 8 traveling companions

• Priority boarding

• $120 annual rideshare credit

• $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings

• Reimbursement for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once every 4 to 4.5 years

• Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) earned for every $20 spent on the card

• 2,500 MQDs annually for having the card

• Annual Delta companion certificate for Main Cabin fare

These benefits can help you save money, earn rewards, and enhance your travel experiences.

Using your Delta Platinum card miles can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, I've got you covered. You can redeem Delta miles for flights on Delta and its SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.

The number of points required for an award ticket varies depending on paid ticket price, demand, and time of year. Delta no longer publishes an award chart, so it's hard to predict exactly how many miles you'll need.

Delta sometimes runs unannounced flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way for domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. Keep an eye out for these deals to snag a discounted award flight.

The Delta Pay With Miles program allows members to redeem at a rate of 1 cent per mile in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is useful if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash.

If you don't want to redeem SkyMiles for flights, there are other options, but you'll typically get a lower value in comparison. Here are some examples:

One last thing to keep in mind: Delta miles don't expire, so there's no pressure to redeem them immediately if you don't have travel plans just yet.

The Delta Platinum Card is a premium offering with a hefty annual fee of $350, up from $250 as of February 2024.

This fee is non-negotiable, but it does come with some perks. For example, you won't have to worry about foreign transaction fees when traveling abroad.

However, it's essential to be mindful of the card's APR, which ranges from 19.99% to 28.99% Variable. This means you should avoid carrying a balance if possible.

In addition to the annual fee and APR, there are other fees to consider, including a cash advance fee, late payment fee, and returned payment fee.

Here's a breakdown of some of the fees you can expect:

If you're considering the Delta Platinum Card, you might also want to look at other options. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express are two cards that offer similar benefits, but with some key differences.

The Delta Platinum Card isn't for everyone, and that's okay. If you're not a frequent Delta flyer, you might want to consider the Gold Delta Amex, which offers basic perks for the occasional flyer.

The Delta Platinum Card has a WalletHub rating of 3.4, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a rating of 4.1. The Platinum Card from American Express has a rating of 3.3.

Here's a quick comparison of the three cards:

If you want the opportunity to earn Delta miles but don't want to be locked into a single loyalty program, you should also consider cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards points.

To be considered for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, you'll need a good to excellent credit score, which means a FICO score of at least 670.

Applicants with a credit score of 750 or higher have a high chance of being approved for this card.

You can add an Amex Delta Platinum card authorized user to your account without incurring any costs, as long as the user is at least 13 years old.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card comes with a statement credit of up to $120 for Global Entry every four years, or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years.

The card does not come with access to either Delta Sky Clubs or American Express Centurion Lounges.

You can visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details on eligibility and benefit levels, as well as terms, conditions, and limitations that apply.

The Delta Platinum Card offers several travel protections to give you peace of mind on your next trip. You can receive secondary car rental insurance when you pay for an eligible car rental in full with your card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver.

This coverage is limited to theft or damage, not liability, and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully.

If your trip is delayed 12 hours or more, the Platinum card's trip delay insurance benefit could reimburse you for up to $300 in reasonable expenses, such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication, up to two times per 12-month period.

You can breathe a sigh of relief with the Platinum Delta Card's travel protections.

The card offers baggage insurance, providing up to $500 per person for checked bags and $1,250 per person for carry-on luggage. This can be a lifesaver if your bags get lost or damaged during your trip.

One of the most valuable benefits is the first checked bag free, which can save you money on flights. This perk is limited to the primary cardmember and up to nine people traveling on the same reservation.

If you're planning a trip, it's essential to know that tickets must be paid for with your eligible card to receive these benefits.

In case of unexpected delays, the Platinum card's trip delay insurance benefit can reimburse you for up to $300 in reasonable expenses, such as meals, lodging, toiletries, and medication, up to two times per 12-month period.

You can also enjoy secondary car rental insurance when you use your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card to pay for an eligible car rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver.

Here's a quick rundown of the key travel protections offered by the Platinum Delta Card:

Purchase Protection is a valuable benefit that can provide peace of mind when shopping with your credit card. You can receive up to $1,000 in coverage if an item is damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase.

Coverage is limited to $50,000 per year, which is a generous amount to have in case of an unexpected loss.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers a cell phone protection benefit, which covers stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephones.

With the Delta Platinum card, you can earn and redeem miles in various ways. You can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.

You can redeem your miles for award flights on Delta and partner airlines, with flights starting at 10,000 miles. However, international award flights can be more expensive, especially in premium classes.

You can also use your miles to upgrade your seat or pay fees for same-day confirmed flights, redeposits of award miles, or changes. Additionally, you can redeem miles for Delta Sky Club membership and premium drinks, such as a glass of Dom Pérignon Champagne for 2,600 miles.

The Delta Platinum card offers a 15% savings on SkyMiles award flights when traveling exclusively on Delta. This can be a valuable perk, saving you around 1.2-1.3 cents of value per mile.

Here's a summary of the redemption options:

You can also earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart, earning $1 MQD for every $20 spent on the card.

The Delta Platinum Card offers a wide range of benefits that can help make your travel experiences more enjoyable and rewarding.

You can more than offset the annual fee with the various travel and shopping benefits this card provides. This card is a great option for frequent travelers.

The card offers a wide variety of travel benefits, including those related to Delta SkyMiles. You can learn more about the card's features and benefits by reading our full review of the Delta Reserve card.

If you're a small business owner, you might want to consider the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card instead of the personal Delta Platinum Amex.

This business card earns 1.5x miles on purchases of over $5,000, up to 50,000 bonus miles annually, which is a significant earning potential.

You'll also get an annual Delta Stays credit of up to $200, which is a more lucrative benefit compared to the personal card's credit of up to $150.

The business card's benefits are similar to the personal card, with 3x miles on Delta purchases and hotel purchases, but the earning potential on large purchases is where it differs.

The Delta Platinum Amex is a solid choice for frequent flyers, especially Medallion members who can benefit from the annual companion certificate.

The annual fee can be easily justified by the credits earned with rideshares, Resy, and Delta Stays.

For those who don't need to use the companion pass to purchase tickets, the card still offers value, as one user has found.

With a card like the Delta Platinum Amex, it's worth considering how you can use the benefits to offset the annual fee.