Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Review

By Cynthia Measom

October 19, 2021

GOBankingRates Score

4.9

Our take: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card won the No. 1 spot in GOBankingRates' rankings of the Best Airline Credit Cards of 2021 for more than one reason. It offers a variety of ways to earn rewards, with its top rewards tier offering 3x miles per $1 spent. It also offers valuable benefits for Delta travelers, such as priority boarding and your first bag checked for free. The main drawback is that there's a sizable annual fee, but it just may be worth it once you see what this card has to offer.

• Sign-Up Bonus
  4.9
• Rewards Rate
  4.8
• Bonus Categories
  4.9
• Regular APR
  5.0

How did we calculate this?

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Overview

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card features a generous sign-up bonus and five different rewards categories to choose from, including top-tier rewards of 3% for Delta purchases and hotel accommodations. Plus, the card has a host of benefits and perks that can make being a cardholder well worth it if you enjoy flying Delta. Additionally, the card’s starting regular purchase APR comes in under the national average for credit cards that incur interest. However, the card does carry an annual fee. The good news is that it’s not one of the highest annual fees among airline credit cards.

Benefits and Rewards

When evaluating whether a card is right for you, benefits and rewards matter. Here’s what you need to know.

Competitive Rewards Rate

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card’s competitive top-tier rewards rate of 3x miles per $1 is comparable to many other airline credit cards on the market. The 3x miles per $1 rewards rate applies to both Delta purchases and hotel accommodations worldwide. You can also earn 2x miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery, 2x per $1 for purchases at U.S. supermarkets and 1x per $1 for all other eligible purchases.

Competitive APR

The starting APR for the card is also competitive at 15.74%, which is lower than the national average for credit cards that incur interest, according to the Federal Reserve. The card’s APR does go up to 24.74%, however. The rate you will be assigned depends on your creditworthiness and other credit factors.

Sign-Up Bonus

For a limited time, if you sign up by Nov. 10, you can earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you make $3,000 in purchases with the card within the first three months.

Miscellaneous Travel Benefits

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers a host of valuable travel benefits, including your first checked bag for free, which means a savings of up to $60 on each round-trip flight for both you and your companions traveling on the same reservation.

The following benefits are also available when you use your card:

• Priority boarding for both you and companions traveling on the same reservation
• One domestic main cabin round-trip companion certificate each year you renew your card. Up to $75 worth of taxes and fees may apply.
• Access to the Delta Sky Club for $39 per visit, per person
• 20% statement credit on in-flight purchases, which include eligible prepurchased meals, audio headsets and in-flight purchases of food and alcoholic beverages on Delta-operated flights
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Status Boost after $25,000 and $50,000 in eligible purchases

Disadvantages

Of course, just like any other airline rewards card, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has its disadvantages. Here’s what you should know.

High Annual Fee

While it’s not the highest fee on the market for an airline rewards card, you’ll still pay a $250 annual fee to be a cardholder. However, the perks and bonuses you receive may make it worth it if you use this card to fly Delta.

Credit Score Requirement

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card requires you to have good to excellent credit. According to the FICO credit-scoring model, the minimum threshold for good credit is 670. So if your credit score is lower, you may not be approved.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card vs. Other Delta Cards

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card isn’t the only Delta credit card American Express offers. If you’re not sure if this particular credit card would meet your needs the best, here’s a look at how the other Delta cards stack up.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Right for You?

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card scored No. 1 among GOBankingRates’ picks for the Best Airline Credit Cards of 2021 due to several of its features. Not only does the card offer five different rewards categories — Delta purchases, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and all other eligible purchases — plus a substantial welcome bonus, but cardholders will also receive a free, round-trip companion ticket each year that they renew as a cardholder. The free airline ticket alone should make up for the expense of the $250 annual fee.

Additionally, every time you fly, both you and your companions traveling on the same reservation will get one bag checked for free, which equals a savings of up to $60 round trip for each person. Add to that priority boarding for you and your companions, a 20% statement credit for in-flight purchases, and access to the Delta Sky Club for $39 per person, per visit, and it’s easy to see that this airline card delivers. The catch? You’ll have to fly Delta to reap some of the card’s biggest rewards.

Methodology: GOBankingRates identified the best airline credit cards by analyzing the following factors: (1) rewards earn rate; (2) any foreign transaction fees; (3) annual fees; (4) regular APR for purchases; (5) sign-up bonuses; (6) total airline destinations; (7) total number of enplaned passengers in 2019; and (8) miscellaneous travel benefits. Miscellaneous travel benefits include free checked bags, access to airport lounges, priority boarding, any flight discounts, discounted companion fares, access to free Wi-Fi on flights and TSA PreCheck access. All fees and rates are subject to change at the credit card issuers’ discretion. Some offers might no longer be available on the credit card issuers’ websites, depending on how you access the webpage. Data was sourced from each financial institution’s or airline’s website or promotional material between Aug. 2, 2021, and Sept. 27, 2021. Please verify terms and conditions before opening an account.

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About the Author

Cynthia Measom

Cynthia Measom is a personal finance writer and editor with over 12 years of collective experience. Her articles have been featured in MSN, Aol, Yahoo Finance, INSIDER, Houston Chronicle, The Seattle Times and The Network Journal. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.