A valuable companion for frequent Delta flyers and world travelers — even if it’s a little pricey.
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★★★★★
30-second take
- 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.
| Product Name | Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card |
|---|---|
| Card Type | American Express |
| Annual Fee | $195 |
| APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for Purchases | 17.99% to 26.99% variable |
| Introductory Purchase APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer APR | 17.99% to 26.99% variable |
| Introductory Balance Transfer APR | N/A |
| Balance Transfer Fee | $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater |
| Cash Advance Rate | 27.49% variable |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None |
| Cash Advance Fee | $5 or 3% of the cash advance amount, whichever is greater |
| Interest Free Period | Up to 25 days |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to $38 |
| Returned Payment Fee | Up to $38 |
| Additional Cardholder Fee | $0 |
| Rates & Fees | Rates & Fees |
| Minimum Age | 18 years of age |
|---|
| Welcome Offer | 35,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles(MQMs) after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
|---|---|
| Rewards | 2x miles on Delta purchases and 1x miles for all other purchases |
| Base Rewards | 1x miles |
| Rewards Points Expiration | Never |
The basics
When you book Delta flights as a SkyMiles® member, you’ll get 5x miles. Booking your flight with your Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card gets you an additional 2x miles.
All said, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card can bring your total haul up to 7x miles. It will also bring you 2x miles on other Delta purchases, such as in-flight food and beverages. You’ll be able to earn 1x miles on all other qualified everyday purchases. And it offers small perks to enhance your Delta flights: Enjoy your first checked bag free, priority boarding and receive a 20% statement credit for all in-flight Delta purchases.
As you might have guessed, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card is best for regular Delta flyers. You’ll accumulate miles anyway as a regular SkyMiles® member, and the card simply sweetens the deal.
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, 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
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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.
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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 five 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.
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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.
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Companion certificate.
Each year you renew your Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, 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.
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.
You’ll also like …
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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, which gives you complimentary access.
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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 $50 per round trip. If you make a round trip once a month, you can save up to $600 on this perk alone.
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Priority boarding.
Settle into your seat sooner with a Zone 1 priority boarding for you and up to eight passengers traveling on your reservation.
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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.
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In-flight savings.
Get 20% savings as a statement credit when you make in-flight purchases of food, beverages and audio headsets.
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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. You’ll have a maximum coverage of $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked baggage.
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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.
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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®.
A Single Visit Pass to a Delta Sky Club® costs $59. With the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, you can buy a pass for $29.
What to watch out for
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Annual fee.
The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card comes with a $195 annual fee.
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Not as widely accepted overseas.
Because this is an American Express card, you may have limited opportunities to use it overseas.
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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 $38.
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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.
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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 has a 17.99% to 26.99% variable APR, while the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, for example, has a 15.24% to 26.24% variable APR.
Consider other cards if …
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You don’t fly often on Delta.
The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card is a good choice if you’re a regular Delta flyer. But you can only spend miles at Delta and Delta’s partner airlines. If you want flexible travel points, consider cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Barclaycard Arrival® Plus World Elite Mastercard®. If you regularly fly on an airline other than Delta, consider a co-branded airline card.
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You want cash back.
Consider cards like the Citi® Double Cash Card, which offers you cash back twice — 1% unlimited on purchases and an additional 1% when you pay for those purchases. Or you could look into the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express from American Express, which offers 6% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, and 1% after that. It also offers 3% cash back at US gas stations and select US department stores and 1% on all other purchases.
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You want a membership rewards card.
The American Express® Gold Card offers a generous welcome offer, and it lets you earn 3x points for flights booked directly with airlines. Plus, you’ll earn 4x points at US restaurants. At US supermarkets, earn 4x points on up to $25,000 per calendar year on purchases, then 1x points. If you travel often but don’t exclusively fly with Delta, this may be a better card.
Compare cards with travel rewards
What should I know before I apply?
To apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card, 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 if you have a stable income in addition to a high credit score.
What do customers say about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card?
Customers love the companion certificate, the miles boost and the overall travel perks that come with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card. 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.
How to apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
- Go to the American Express website.
- Find the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from the list of cards. Click Apply Now.
- Complete the application form.
- Review your application and submit it.
How long will it take to get my Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card?
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 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 $38.
- 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.
Want to earn more SkyMiles?
Another Delta card — the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express — earns 2 miles per dollar spent at US restaurants. This card has no annual fee, and you can easily clear the welcome offer for additional miles.
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 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
Disclaimer
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Images: AmericanExpress.com
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