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3. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review: One terrific benefit, but other perks vary

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33 reviews from Intuit Credit Karma members

4.1

Rating: 4.1 out of 5.

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.

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Great for flying with friends or family

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Annual 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 $13,527

Explore more about this card:

• Pros and cons
• In-depth Editorial review
• Member reviews

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 $13,527, 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 810 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

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29.2%

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.

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44 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

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$104,912

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

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Annual companion certificate could justify card membership on its own

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Free checked bag for airport savings

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In-flight discounts for food and drinks

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High annual fee won’t be right for everyone

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No complimentary Delta Sky Club access

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In-flight discounts don’t cover internet

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card review

Updated October 24, 2024

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Written by: Tim Devaney

5 things to know about the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Benefits outweigh the annual fee

Total Benefit Value: $951

Ease of Use: Moderate

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has an estimated Total Benefit Value of $951 as of May 2022, based on Credit Karma’s calculation.

The Total Benefit Value measures how much a premium rewards card could be worth if you use each benefit once. We found the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card pays for itself with an extremely valuable companion certificate and other airline perks that are worth more than the $350 annual fee.

The companion certificate could cover the annual fee by itself

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with a hefty $350 annual fee, which might scare off some travelers.

But we think it’s likely to be worth every penny for Delta loyalists who tend not to travel alone.

That’s because cardholders receive a companion certificate each year after their account anniversary. This benefit allows you to bring a friend or family member along on round-trip main cabin tickets on domestic and select international flights once a year for just the cost of taxes and fees (no more than $80 for domestic flights or $250 for international flights).

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.

A good welcome bonus

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a current welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of opening the account.

Beyond the welcome bonus, you’ll earn …

• 3 miles for every $1 you spend on eligible purchases charged directly with Delta
• 3 miles for every $1 you spend directly with hotels
• 2 miles for every $1 you spend at restaurants around the world, as well as U.S. takeout and delivery
• 2 miles for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Those earning rates are better than what you get from some other airline-specific cards, but don’t compare favorably to what you’ll get from several popular travel cards with more flexibility.

A mixed bag of airline perks

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers cardholders a few perks on Delta flights.

• A Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $120
• First checked bag free for up to nine travelers on the same reservation
• Zone 5 Priority Boarding for up to nine travelers on the same reservation
• In-flight savings of 20% in the form of a statement credit for food, drinks and audio headsets

But it’s also missing some other travel benefits you might hope for as a Delta loyalist — and in-flight savings don’t apply to wireless internet purchases.

These benefits might offer clear value to you, but it’s important to remember that perks are only worth something if you use them. Consider whether you stand to save from checking bags, or if you’d rather go for another card with complimentary lounge membership.

Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card worth it?

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express certainly isn’t a perfect travel card. Many of the airline perks don’t stand out, especially given the $350 annual fee.

But if you fly with Delta Air Lines on a regular basis and travel with family and friends, you might be justified in carrying the card just because of the annual companion certificate. That benefit alone could be worth hundreds of dollars every year.

On the other hand, you might want to look into other travel cards that offer numerous benefits. While the value of the companion certificate is clear and relatively easy to earn, you may find that other cards offer a mix of potential savings and flexibility that better suits your needs.

Not sure this card is right for you? Consider these alternatives.

If you enjoy flying with Delta but think you could get more value elsewhere, check out one of these other travel cards.

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This card is good for Delta frequent flyers who’d prefer less of an upfront cost and don’t mind fewer perks.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card is best for Delta loyalists who want the most luxurious airline experience.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is a nice option for travelers who want more flexibility without giving up the ability to earn points for Delta flights.