What the Delta American Express Platinum card offers
The Delta American Express Platinum card is a co-branded travel rewards card designed for frequent Delta flyers. It earns points on Delta purchases and other spending, offers statement credits for certain travel expenses, and includes perks like checked baggage fees waived and priority boarding. The card charges an annual fee, currently $250, which American Express may adjust.
The card's main value comes from its Delta-specific benefits rather than a flat cash-back rate. If you fly Delta regularly or value the travel credits and baggage waiver, the annual fee may offset itself. If you rarely fly Delta or prefer flexible rewards, a different card structure might suit you better.
Key Takeaways
- The Delta Platinum card waives your first checked bag on Delta flights and gives you priority boarding, benefits that recur on every trip.
- You earn 10 points per dollar on Delta purchases and 3 points per dollar on restaurants and travel booked through American Express Travel, but only 1 point per dollar on most other purchases.
- The card includes a $100 annual statement credit for Delta purchases, which reduces the $250 annual fee to an effective $150 if you use it.
- Companion certificates and other promotional offers vary by year and are not may provide, so check your card terms before deciding based on them.
- The card does not earn points on gas, groceries, or everyday purchases at the same rate as some non-airline cards, so it works best for people whose spending is already Delta-heavy.
How points and statement credits work
The Delta Platinum card earns 10 points per dollar on Delta purchases (flights, seat upgrades, and Delta-branded services). You earn 3 points per dollar on restaurants and travel booked through American Express Travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Points do not expire as long as your account remains open and you earn or redeem at least once every 24 months.
The card includes a $100 annual statement credit for Delta purchases. This credit posts automatically once per year and applies to any Delta purchase—flights, seat selections, baggage fees, or in-flight purchases. The credit does not roll over if unused, so you lose it if you do not spend $100 on Delta in that year.
Points convert to miles in your SkyMiles account at a 1:1 ratio. You can redeem miles for flights, seat upgrades, or other Delta services. The value of a mile varies depending on what you book, so the effective return on your spending depends on how you redeem.
Baggage, boarding, and other travel perks
The card waives the first checked bag fee on Delta flights for you and up to two companions traveling on the same ticket. This benefit applies every time you fly Delta with the card, which can save $35 to $40 per round trip if you check a bag. The second checked bag and any additional bags still incur standard fees.
You receive priority boarding (Group 1 or 2, depending on your SkyMiles status) on all Delta flights when you present the card. This benefit lets you board earlier and find overhead bin space, which matters on full flights. Companions on your ticket do not automatically get priority boarding unless they also have elite status or a co-branded card.
The card includes $0 foreign transaction fees, which is standard for premium American Express cards and useful if you travel internationally. You also get access to American Express Travel, which lets you book flights, hotels, and rental cars and earn points on those purchases.
Annual fee and whether it pays for itself
The Delta Platinum card has a $250 annual fee, charged each year on your account anniversary. American Express may change this fee, so check your card terms for the current amount. The $100 annual statement credit for Delta purchases reduces the net cost to $150 per year if you use the full credit.
Whether the card pays for itself depends on your flying habits. If you fly Delta at least twice a year and check a bag both times, you save $70 to $80 on baggage fees alone, which covers nearly half the net annual fee. Add the $100 statement credit and the points you earn on Delta purchases, and the card can be worthwhile for frequent Delta travelers. If you fly Delta less than twice a year or never check bags, the fee is harder to justify.
Compare the card's benefits to your actual spending and travel patterns before explore. Some readers find that a cash-back card with no annual fee works better if their Delta spending is light or if they value flexibility over airline-specific perks.
Points redemption and SkyMiles program details
Points you earn on the Delta Platinum card go into your Delta SkyMiles account. You can redeem them for flights, seat upgrades, checked baggage fees, or other Delta services. Redemption rates vary—a flight might cost 5,000 miles on a short route or 50,000 miles on a long international flight, depending on demand and availability.
The card does not give you elite status in the SkyMiles program automatically, but the points you earn count toward elite qualification spending. If you reach elite status through other means, you unlock additional perks like free seat upgrades and extra baggage allowances.
Points do not expire as long as your account stays open and you earn or redeem at least once every 24 months. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, miles may be forfeited, so keep that window in mind if you take a break from flying.
How the Delta Platinum card compares to other options
The Delta Platinum card is one of three Delta co-branded American Express cards. The Delta Gold card has a $95 annual fee, earns 5 points per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else, and waives the first checked bag. The Delta Reserve card has a $550 annual fee, earns 10 points per dollar on Delta purchases, includes a $250 annual statement credit, and adds perks like lounge access and a companion certificate.
If you fly Delta frequently and want the most perks, the Reserve card's higher fee may be worth it. If you fly Delta occasionally, the Gold card's lower fee might be a better fit. If you do not fly Delta at all, a general-purpose rewards card with no annual fee or a flat cash-back card may serve you better.
Non-airline cards like the American Express Blue Business Plus or Chase Sapphire Preferred earn rewards on a broader range of purchases and offer more flexibility in how you redeem. Choose based on whether your spending is concentrated on Delta or spread across many categories.
Promotional offers and terms to verify
American Express periodically offers sign-up bonuses for the Delta Platinum card, such as a statement credit or bonus miles after you meet a spending requirement. These offers change and are not may provide. Check the current offer before you explore, as the bonus can significantly affect the card's value in your first year.
Some years, the card includes a companion certificate (a free round-trip ticket for a companion when you book a paid ticket) or other limited-time perks. These benefits are not permanent, so do not assume they will be available when you explore. Read the full terms and conditions on American Express's website to see what is included with the current offer.
The card's terms, fees, and benefits can change. American Express notifies cardholders of changes, but it is your responsibility to stay informed. Review your card terms annually or before a major trip to confirm what benefits are active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Delta Platinum card give me free checked bags for my family?
The card waives the first checked bag for you and up to two companions on the same ticket. Your companions must be listed on your reservation. If your family members book separate tickets, they do not get the waived bag fee unless they also have the card or elite status.
Can I use the $100 Delta statement credit on seat upgrades or other fees?
Yes. The credit applies to any Delta purchase, including flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases. It is not limited to base fares. The credit posts once per year and does not roll over, so plan your Delta spending to use the full amount.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your SkyMiles account and do not disappear when you close the card. However, if your SkyMiles account goes inactive for 24 months with no earning or redemption, Delta may forfeit the miles. Keep your account active even after closing the card if you want to preserve your balance.
Is the Delta Platinum card worth it if I only fly Delta once a year?
Probably not. One checked bag waiver saves $35 to $40, and the $100 statement credit requires you to spend $100 on Delta. Together, these benefits cover about 54% of the $250 annual fee. Unless you also value the points you earn on Delta purchases or plan to increase your flying, a card with no annual fee may be better.
Can I earn points on Delta purchases made through a travel agent?
Points are earned based on how the charge appears on your credit card statement. If the travel agent charges your card directly, you earn points. If you book through Delta directly or through American Express Travel, you earn points. Check with your travel agent about how charges will appear before booking.