Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review: One standout perk
Editors’ Take: Delta loyalists will appreciate the simple pleasures this card offers, like free checked bags and priority boarding. It also comes with a generous companion certificate, but lacks lounge access.
Image: hands-thumbs-upGreat for flying with friends or family
Image: cashAnnual fee: $350
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 705
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $13,652
Explore more about this card:
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $13,652, with $1,000 being the most common.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 705, with 815 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Member stats
Updated daily
Image: low-utilization29%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
Image: meetup45 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
Image: cash-give-1$105,129
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesWelcome bonus provides a fast-track to award flights
Image: yesCompanion certificate cuts the cost of flying with friends and family
Image: yesNice award flight discounts
Image: ConNo Delta SkyClub lounge access
Image: ConExpensive annual fee
Image: ConDelta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review
Updated November 8, 2024
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: Tim Devaney
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Is it worth it?
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a good pick for frequent flyers who are loyal to Delta.
If you’re looking for a more streamlined travel experience, this card provides free checked bags and priority boarding. It also comes with a generous companion certificate.
But it doesn’t offer some of the high-end perks available on some more expensive cards.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card at a glance
- Annual fee: $350
- Estimated bonus value: Up to $1,449
- Standout benefit: Companion certificate
- Standout rewards rate: 3X on Delta purchases
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card best perks and features
Your next award flight could be closer than you think
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000in eligible purchases in the first 6 months after opening your account. We estimate that’s worth up to $1,449 depending on how you redeem your miles.
That could give you a head start on your next award flight.
Plus, you’ll receive 15% off award flights when you use your miles to book, which helps stretch your SkyMiles further.
You’ll also earn …
- 3 miles for every $1 spent on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels
- 2 miles for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets
- 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
Fly with a friend for next to nothing
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a companion certificate. If you typically travel with others, this is a great way to save money on your trip.
This valuable benefit allows a friend or family member to fly with you at a low cost (no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights). After you pay for your own ticket, you’ll only have to pay the taxes and fees on theirs.
The value you get from the companion certificate depends on the cost of the flight. Just keep in mind that the annual companion certificate doesn’t kick in until after your account anniversary, so you won’t be able to use one during your first year with the card.
Don’t forget about the free checked bag and priority boarding
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers some of the standard perks we’ve come to expect from airline cards like priority boarding and a free checked bag.
If you fly a lot and prefer to check a bag or want to make sure you can stow your carry-on luggage overhead, these perks can be quite valuable.
What are the drawbacks of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card?
The annual fee is still pretty expensive
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card charges a $350 annual fee.
While it’s not the most expensive Delta credit card, it’s a lot of money for a card that doesn’t offer many high-end perks. You’ll want to take advantage of the companion certificate each year to help recoup that value.
No access to Delta Sky Clubs
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card won’t get you into Delta Sky Clubs, which is pretty disappointing for a card of its stature.
Consider whether you stand to save from other perks or if you’d rather go for another card with complimentary lounge membership.
How to redeem Delta SkyMiles®
Delta SkyMiles® can only be redeemed directly through Delta.
The best way to use your Delta SkyMiles is to book flights, where we estimate your miles will be worth 1.61 cents each.
Keep in mind, you can redeem your SkyMiles for more than just Delta flights. You can also use them for seat upgrades, vacation packages and even to book flights with Delta’s partner airlines.
Other cards to consider
If the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card doesn’t seem like the right fit, here are some other travel cards you might be interested in.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This card has a less expensive annual fee and may be a good choice for people who still want perks such as a free checked bag.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card has a more expensive annual fee but is a good choice for people who want better perks when they fly.
- Platinum Card® from American Express: This card is worth considering for people who want a more versatile travel card that offers rewards beyond travel.
Credit Karma’s methodology
Credit Karma uses qualitative and quantitative measures to review travel and premium credit cards. Our goal is to help you understand a card’s most useful features — and where it may fall short compared to other options.
We take into account factors such as unique rewards and benefits, ease of redeeming rewards, fees and rates, transfer partners, lounge access and rewards rates.
Credit Karma editors have also built some proprietary metrics to measure the value of rewards credit cards.
Our point valuations estimate how much rewards programs are worth. We look at both the value you could get by redeeming your points directly through a credit card issuer, as well as the value you could get by transferring your points and miles to an airline or hotel rewards program.
Instead of just telling you how many miles you could earn, the editors’ estimated bonus value multiplies the sign-up bonus by the reward program’s point valuations to tell you how much we believe they’re worth.
Our goal is that these metrics will help you decide whether the card’s rewards and benefits are worth it for you.
FAQs about the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
This card no longer gives you access to Delta Sky Clubs. This feature, which was previously available with this card, was removed in January 2024.
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card hard to get?
American Express looks at factors such as your credit history and income when determining your eligibility.
While Credit Karma can’t say for sure whether you’ll be approved, we’ve found that two-thirds of our members who have this card or similar cards have good or excellent credit scores. But it’s not uncommon for someone with a fair or poor credit score to have this card or a similar one in their wallet.
We’ve found that Credit Karma members who have the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or similar cards have a wide range of credit limits.
You may find you’re approved with a small credit limit of less than $3,000. But a nearly equal proportion of members have credit limits between $10,000 and $20,000.
It typically depends on your personal financial situation.
Member reviews
Most helpful positive review
June 24, 2023
Solid card if delta is your airline
— Credit Karma Member
First off, solid card as far as airline cards are concerned. Being able to upgrade with miles at a discount is nice and the extra/free bag is great. Biggest perk that covers the annual fee is the companion certificate. That alone covers the cost, everything else is a bonus. Don't need to fly more than 2-3 times a year to make it worth it if you know what you are doing.
Most helpful negative review
November 15, 2023
Delta just trashed the value of this card
— Credit Karma Member
Thanks to Deltas recent changes, this cards value diminished greatly. No MQM bump after a certain spend threshold anymore bc they made it all about MQD...and the paltry amount they provided doesnt make this card worth it anymore. Go get the American card. Their program lets you hit status much easier than Delta now.
*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.