The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card occupies the number-two spot among co-branded Delta Air Lines credit cards, in terms of annual fee and benefits it provides. Sitting just below the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum comes with an annual fee of $350 (see rates & fees) but provides enough benefits to offset its cost, and then some. In fact, it may be a better choice for many Delta flyers than the Reserve card.
Besides the perks you’d expect from an airline card of its level — like free checked bags and priority boarding — the Delta SkyMiles Platinum has a benefit that can, all by itself, provide more value than the annual fee: a companion certificate that allows someone to fly with you for only the cost of taxes and fees on select Delta routes.
Just having the card can also provide you with a significant chunk of Delta’s Medallion Qualification Dollars — which count towards elite status — not to mention the best mileage earnings on common everyday expenses of all the Delta-branded credit cards. Then you have a spate of credits that can further offset the annual fee and discounts on flights booked with Delta miles.
As a frequent Delta flyer, I’ve had the card since 2014, regularly use its perks and credits, and can recommend it to people who fly Delta more than a handful of times a year. If you’re a Delta loyalist and want only one credit card to use for all your expenses, this one should be at the top of your list, unless you truly value access to airline lounges. The only thing this card won’t do for you as a Delta devotee is get you into Sky Club lounges, but for everything else, it’s a top contender.
