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Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express review

Kliment Dukovski
Kliment Dukovski
Last updated:  
Please note: All information about Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by Finder and this card is no longer available through this site.

A valuable companion for frequent Delta flyers and world travelers — even if it’s a little pricey.

finder.com’s rating: 4.0 / 5.0

★★★★★

  • Get this card if you want excellent travel benefits and Delta perks.
  • Pick something else if you don’t fly Delta often or you don’t need bonus rewards for Medallion Status.
  • Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher.

35,000

Miles as welcome offer

Up to 2x

Miles

$195

Annual fee

17.24% to 26.24%

Purchase APR (variable)

Details

Product NamePlatinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Card typeAmerican Express
Annual fee$195
Purchase APR17.24% to 26.24% variable
Balance transfer APR17.24% to 26.24% variable
Balance transfer fee$5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Cash advance rate26.74% variable
Cash advance fee$10 or 5% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater
Penalty APR29.99% variable
Foreign transaction feeNone
Interest free periodUp to 25 days
Late payment feeUp to $39
Returned payment feeUp to $39
Additional cardholder fee$0
Rates & feesrates & fees

Expert review

Kliment Dukovski

Review by

Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.

Expert review

This card has a $195 annual fee that increases to $250 on January 30, 2020. For the price, however, you’ll enjoy 2x miles on eligible Delta purchases, in addition to the 5x miles you earn as a SkyMiles member.

You’ll also get a suite of Delta perks, including an annual companion certificate, free checked baggage, priority boarding, special pricing for Delta Sky Club access and inflight savings.

As you might have guessed, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is best for regular Delta flyers. You’ll accumulate miles anyway as a regular SkyMiles® member, and the card simply sweetens the deal.

Changes coming for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Delta is preparing to relaunch the Delta SkyMiles line of cards, with the new versions of the cards touching down on January 30, 2020. As part of this relaunch, the annual fee of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is increasing to $250.

Also, there are upcoming changes to some of the card’s benefits. Specific details aren’t announced yet, but we know that the following changes will take effect starting January 1, 2020:

  • Added trip delay reimbursement
  • Reduced extended warranty period from two years to one year
  • Reduced purchase protection coverage from 120 days to 90 days
  • Removed travel accident insurance
  • Removed roadside assistance
  • Removed return protection
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How much are SkyMiles® worth?

The value of SkyMiles® depends on the service or product that you wish to redeem them for. For example according to the SkyMiles® website as of June 2018, you could use your miles to:

  • Buy a $250 Delta gift card for 35,700 miles — 0.70 cents per mile.
  • Buy a $60 American Tourister 4 Spinner 21″ suitcase for 16,300 miles — 0.36 cents per mile.
  • Buy a $849 Apple MacBook Air 13″ for 201,500 miles — 0.42 cents per mile.
  • Buy round-trip domestic fares. Fares worth $130 start at 10,000 miles — 1.30 cents per mile. Taxes and fees are not included.

To make the most of your Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you may want to redeem your miles only for flights, as they have the highest value per mile.

How does the Delta SkyMiles program work?

The perks

  • Welcome offer.

    When you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after your account is open, get 35,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Also, get a $100 statement credit after your first Delta purchase within the same time period.

What are Medallion Qualification Miles?

Collect Medallion Qualification Miles to achieve higher Medallion Status tiers in the Delta SkyMiles® frequent flier program.

  • Silver. 25,000 MQMs
  • Gold. 50,000 MQMs
  • Platinum. 75,000 MQMs
  • Diamond. 125,000 MQMs

You can also achieve higher status by collecting Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs) and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). To learn more about Medallion Status, check out the Delta website.

  • Earn miles.

    Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases like flight tickets, food or beverages and movies. That’s on top of the 5 miles per dollar spent you get as a SkyMiles® member. Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases. Redeem miles for flights on Delta and Delta’s partner airlines.

  • Miles boost.

    When you spend $25,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year, you’ll earn 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs. When you spend another $50,000 or more on purchases, you’ll get another 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs. This will help you achieve a Silver Medallion Status, which will give you exclusive benefits.

  • Companion certificate.

    Each year you renew your Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you’ll receive a domestic main cabin round-trip companion certificate. This allows you take a guest on a round-trip domestic flight for only the cost of taxes and fees.

Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express companion certificate: A great value

The companion certificate can be worth hundreds of dollars, helping you cover the card’s annual fee.

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express isn’t the only Delta product with a companion certificate. You’ll also find the benefit with the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express.

How to earn Delta SkyMiles quickly

You’ll also like …

  • Reduced price for Delta Sky Clubs®.

    You can buy reduced-price entry into the Delta Sky Club® for $29 — and bring up to two guests for $29 each. Normally, a Single Visit Pass costs $59. If you often visit Delta Sky Clubs®, consider the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, which gives you complimentary access.

  • First checked bag free.

    For up to nine passengers traveling on the same reservation as the cardholder, first checked bag fees are waived. Save up to $60 per round trip.

  • Priority boarding.

    Settle into your seat sooner with a Main Cabin 1 priority boarding for you and up to eight passengers traveling on your reservation.

  • No foreign transaction fees.

    Since this is a travel card, use it freely when traveling abroad and you won’t pay any international transaction fees.

  • In-flight savings.

    Get 20% savings as a statement credit when you make in-flight purchases of food, beverages and audio headsets.

  • Baggage and car rental insurance.

    Receive insurance on eligible car rentals, protecting you from liability for loss or damage. And your lost, damaged or stolen baggage is covered when you purchase your transportation fare with your Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express.

  • Global assistance.

    When you travel more than 100 miles from home, you get 24/7 access to legal, medical, financial or any other emergency service you may require.

  • Purchase protection.

    You bought an item and you don’t like it, but now you can get a refund even if the merchant won’t take it back within 90 days of the purchase date. Get 2-day free shipping with ShopRunner and protection against damage and theft of your phone or other eligible items.

You’ll find gems among the Delta Sky Clubs®.

Delta has been renovating its Sky Clubs®, and you’ll find superb lounges in its portfolio. A few of the newer lounges include those at Newark Liberty International Airport and Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport. Consider visiting the Sky Club® at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which comes with an open-air Sky Deck®.

Gold Delta SkyMiles Sky Deck

A Single Visit Pass to a Delta Sky Club® costs $59. With the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you can buy a pass for $29.

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Case study: Jon’s experience

profile pic

Jon Brodsky
Finder CEO, USA

I’ve been using the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express for several years after switching away from the Amex Platinum Card. Delta is my primary airline, so I wanted a card that’d let me earn miles for the routes I travel constantly.

The thing I love most about this card is that the miles just show up in my Delta account, where I can then share them with my family so we can book reward travel. When I’ve used credit card concierge services in the past to book my travel, I always had a hard time converting points to miles and found it super frustrating.

I also love the lack of foreign transaction fees for overseas travel (difficulty in getting Amex cards accepted elsewhere notwithstanding), the free checked bag and the priority boarding even when I don’t have status. And the Pay with Miles option for flights, which lets you split the cost between miles and cash, is really convenient.

The downside of the card is that my wife, who’s on my account, doesn’t get the free bag or priority boarding that I get unless she’s traveling with me. And I’ve never used my free companion tickets. Every time I’ve considered them, the cost of buying the full-price ticket required for the free one is way more money than simply buying two tickets on Flight Finder.

What to watch out for

  • Annual fee.

    The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express comes with a $195 annual fee.

  • Not as widely accepted overseas.

    Because this is an American Express card, you may have limited opportunities to use it overseas.

  • Steep penalty for late payments.

    Making late or returned payments could cost you a penalty APR as high as 29.99% variable. You may also incur late and returned-payment fees as high as $39.

  • Taxes and fees on companion certificate.

    You’ll receive an annual round-trip companion certificate for a domestic flight, but you need to pay taxes and fees up to $75 out of pocket.

  • High APR on purchases and balance transfers.

    All Amex Delta cards have relatively high APR ranges on purchases and balance transfers when compared to other cards. The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express has a 17.24% to 26.24% variable APR, while the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, for example, has a 14.49% to 25.49% variable APR (see rates & fees).

Compare Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express vs. Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

Compare cards with travel rewards

Updated November 22nd, 2019
Name Product Welcome offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
American Express® Green Card
American Express® Green Card
30,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
3x Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, 3x points at restaurants and 1x points on all other purchases
$150
Earn 3x Membership Rewards® points on all eligible travel, 3x points at restaurants and 1x points on all other purchases. Rates & fees
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Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
20,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
1.25x miles on all purchases and 10x miles at hotels.com/venture
$0
Earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
See offer
View details
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, plus $50 when you make a Delta purchase in the same timeframe
2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Earn 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months, plus $50 when you make a direct Delta purchase in the same timeframe. Rates & fees
Apply now
View details
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
75,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases
$0
Earn 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees
Apply now
View details
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
2x miles on all purchases and 10x miles at hotels.com/venture
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
See offer
View details

Compare up to 4 providers

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What should I know before I apply?

To apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, you must be:

  • At least 18 years old.
  • A US resident.

You’ll need to provide information, including:

  • Your full name and contact information.
  • Your Social Security number and date of birth.
  • Your annual income and source of income.

What credit score do I need?

Apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher. You’ll have a better chance of being approved for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express if you have a stable income in addition to a high credit score.

What do customers say about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express?

Customers love the companion certificate, the miles boost and the overall travel perks that come with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express. Inflexible company policies and poor customer support are cited in most customer complaints.

Trustpilot has given American Express a TrustScore of 3.1 out of 10, while the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has rated the credit company with an A+. Customers have given American Express a composite score of 3.78 out of 5 on the BBB website.

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How to apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

  1. Click apply now.
  2. Complete the application form.
  3. Review your application and submit it.

How long will it take to get my Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express?

You’ll likely find out whether you’ve been approved quickly thanks to American Express’s automated preapproval system. If further review is needed, it could take up to several weeks to get a decision.

Upon approval, you’ll receive the card within 7 to 10 business days.

I got the credit card. Now what?

  • Pay on time. Create an account on the American Express website or download the Amex® mobile app to set up automatic payments.
  • Avoid paying interest. After the close of each billing cycle, you have a grace period of 25 days to pay your balance. If you do, you won’t pay interest on your purchases.
  • Avoid paying fees. Though the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express comes with no foreign transaction fees, you will pay a fee on balance transfers and cash advances. Late and returned payments also come with hefty fees up to $39.
  • Make balance transfers quickly. You can only initiate balance transfers within 60 days after opening your account.
  • Enroll in ShopRunner. Get 2-day free shipping from more than 100 online retailers. If you don’t like the item, return it for free.
  • Contact customer service. For any questions you may have, call American Express customer service at 1-800-528-4800 or chat with a customer representative on the Amex website.

Bottom line

If you spend less than $25,000 on purchases with your Delta card per year, the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express may be a better option. Otherwise, you’ll find that the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is a powerful travel card with a strong welcome offer, useful perks for Delta customers that can offset the annual fee and a robust suite of travel protections.

You may want to compare other credit cards before settling to find one that best suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

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Images: AmericanExpress.com

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