American Express
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Large welcome offer worth an estimated $840
- Annual fee
- $350
- Welcome offer
- ~$840
- Annual benefits value
- $340
- Est. 1st-year value
- $1,180
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Our review
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is the sweet-spot card in Delta's personal lineup for travelers who fly Delta regularly but do not need lounge access. Its defining benefit is an annual companion certificate, which for many households can cover most or all of the annual fee with a single domestic round trip. Around that sit first checked bag free, priority boarding, and a discount on in-flight purchases.
This card ranks in the upper middle of the Delta group because it balances a moderate annual fee against benefits that are easy to use without being an elite-level flyer. You do not need to visit a Sky Club or fly dozens of segments to get your money's worth; you mostly need to take at least one Delta trip a year where the companion certificate and free checked bag apply.
SkyMiles here work the same as across the Delta family: they are a Delta-and-partner travel currency with no fixed award chart, so award pricing moves with cash fares. The Platinum is aimed at the flyer who books Delta a few times a year, wants to save on bags and boarding, and appreciates a companion certificate that rewards routine domestic travel.
The Platinum also offers a head start toward Delta Medallion status through card spending, which can appeal to travelers who are close to an elite tier and want a nudge over the line. As with all Delta cards, the exact status contribution and thresholds are set by Delta and can change, so treat them as a bonus rather than the core reason to hold the card.
Overall, the Platinum is best for the occasional-to-regular Delta flyer who wants meaningful travel perks without a premium annual fee. Travelers who want lounge access should step up to the Reserve, while those who fly Delta rarely may prefer the lower-fee Gold or the no-fee Blue.
Why we like it
- An annual companion certificate that can offset much of the annual fee for travelers who use it.
- First checked bag free for you and companions on the same reservation.
- Priority boarding on Delta flights.
- A discount on eligible in-flight purchases on Delta.
- A head start toward Delta Medallion elite status through card spending.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Who it's best for
- Occasional-to-regular Delta flyers who want strong perks without a premium annual fee.
- Households that take at least one Delta round trip a year and can use the companion certificate.
- Travelers who want to save on checked bags and boarding on Delta.
Welcome bonus
The current public welcome offer shown above is in the range of 70,000 Delta SkyMiles after meeting a spend requirement within the first several months of card membership.
American Express offers are often targeted and vary by applicant, and Amex generally limits welcome bonuses to once per lifetime per card product, so prior holders of this card may not qualify.
Use the estimated value shown above as a guide rather than a guaranteed cash figure; actual value depends on how you redeem.
Using your rewards
Delta SkyMiles are best redeemed for Delta and SkyTeam partner award flights.
There is no fixed award chart, so award prices track cash fares; flexibility helps you find better redemptions.
SkyMiles do not expire.
Airport lounge access
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum does not include Delta Sky Club access.
If lounge access is a priority, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve is the card in this family that provides it.
Foreign transaction fees
This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, so it is comfortable to use on international trips.
American Express acceptance can be more limited abroad than Visa or Mastercard, so a backup card is wise when traveling internationally.
Major credits & annual benefits
An annual companion certificate is issued after meeting the card's requirements, with the certificate type and any spend condition set out in the terms.
First checked bag free and priority boarding apply on Delta flights.
Cardholders receive a discount on eligible in-flight Delta purchases.
Card spending contributes toward Delta Medallion status through a Medallion Qualification head start, with amounts and thresholds set by Delta and subject to change.
Insurance & protections
American Express travel and purchase protections may apply when you pay with the card, with the details defined in the benefit guide.
Coverage terms and limits vary, so review the current benefit documents and pay with the card to trigger eligibility before relying on any specific protection.
Fees & tradeoffs
The mid-tier annual fee is easy to justify for travelers who use the companion certificate, but it delivers less value if you rarely fly Delta.
SkyMiles are tied to Delta and priced dynamically, so redemption value is less predictable than a flexible points currency.
There is no lounge access, so frequent flyers who want a Sky Club should consider the Reserve.
Final verdict
The Platinum's welcome bonus plus its annual companion certificate, free checked bag, and boarding perks can comfortably outweigh the annual fee for a regular Delta flyer.
It is the natural pick for someone who flies Delta a few times a year and does not need lounge access; lighter users may prefer the Gold or the no-fee Blue.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $825
- Welcome offer
- $840
- Annual fee
- −$350
- Estimated first-year net
- +$1,315
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 70,000 points after $4,000 in spend within 6 months
$840
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$690
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
Companion Certificate Annual Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate after spending $25,000 in a calendar year. Issued in January following the qualifying year. | Annual | $300 |
Free First Checked Bag First checked bag free on Delta flights for cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation. Estimated value ~$35 per checked bag (typical domestic first-bag fee). | per_visit | $35 |
$100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Resets every 4 years. | One-time | $100 |
$150 Delta Stays Credit Up to $150 back each year on prepaid hotels and vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays. | Annual | $150 |
$10/mo Resy Credit Up to $10 in monthly statement credits at U.S. Resy restaurants (enrollment required). | Monthly | $120 |
$10/mo Rideshare Credit Up to $10 in monthly statement credits on eligible U.S. rideshare purchases (enrollment required). | Monthly | $120 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- Large welcome offer worth an estimated $840
- Ongoing benefits can outweigh the annual fee if used
Maybe skip it if
- Verify current terms with the issuer before applying
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- $350
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- American Express
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Delta SkyMiles
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | $350 | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$840 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $1,180 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | $340 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 4.7 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
