Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card review: Companion ticket, free checked bags and TSA PreCheck credit

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is a co-branded airline card designed for consumers who enjoy flying with Delta Air Lines and its partners. As you spend on the card, you can earn Delta SkyMiles that can be redeemed for free flights and vacations through Delta. In addition, you can enjoy several benefits, including free checked bags and discounted access to the Delta Sky Club airport lounges.

The card has a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees) — but is the card worth the investment? Select reviews the Delta Platinum card, analyzing its welcome bonus offer, rewards program and other perks to help you decide if it's the best card for you.

• Welcome bonus
• Benefits and perks
• How to earn and redeem Delta SkyMiles
• Rates and fees
• Card comparison
• Who this card is best for
• Bottom line
• FAQs

New Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card members may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

SkyMiles can be used to book free flights on Delta and its partners. If you fly with Delta often, this card can help bring you closer to achieving status with the airline, which includes coveted benefits like complimentary upgrades and bonus miles on flights.

Most cardholders will be able to get more value, as many points enthusiasts value SkyMiles around 1.3 cents per point.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card comes with a wide variety of benefits and perks for Delta flyers. When you have the card, you will have access to the following benefits:

• Solid spending categories: 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets2X miles for every dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• MQD Headstart: Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• First checked bag fee on Delta flights: You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Annual companion certificate*: Think of this as a buy-one-get-one free ticket. When you book a Main Cabin economy ticket on Delta, you can bring a friend or family member, and all you need to do is pay the taxes for the second person. This certificate is valid for a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit: Waiting in line for airport security is always a pain. With the Delta Platinum card, you can receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Travel coverages: The Delta Platinum card offers travel insurance coverage, including rental car insurance* and luggage insurance*.

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

There are two main ways to earn Delta SkyMiles: by using a Delta co-branded card or booking flights on Delta Air Lines.

Unless you travel regularly, it's unlikely you will be earning a significant number of SkyMiles from flying. So the most practical way for most people to earn airlines miles is by using a Delta SkyMile card or a card with transferable rewards like the American Express Platinum Card® or the American Express® Gold Card.

And a great way to get started is by spending enough to earn the welcome offer. If you're able to spend $4,000 within the first six months on your new Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card, you may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

You can have more than one Delta card, which means you could earn the welcome bonus on a handful of cards and amass a stockpile of SkyMiles. If you are loyal to Delta Air Lines, be sure to consider one of the other consumer cards:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: You may be eligible for as high as 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.* This card is great for someone who is just getting started earning points and miles as the card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. (See rates and fees.)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. This card is good for frequent Delta fliers who can make use of the Delta SkyClub®, annual companion certificate* and a TSA PreCheck or a Global Entry statement credit, along with chance to earn Delta elite status with the MQD Headstart. The annual fee is $650. (See rates and fees.)
  

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles

Once you earn Delta SkyMiles, the fun part is redeeming them for flights. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, Delta SkyMiles operates on a dynamic award chart, which means the number of miles needed for a flight can fluctuate depending on how many seats are available as well as how soon the flight is. Unfortunately, that means you can't predict how many miles you will need for a flight. Some airlines, including American Airlines, operate on a fixed award chart, where you always know exactly how many airline miles needed.

In order to manage the shifting cost of using miles for flights, keep in mind these few points:

• Value: Delta SkyMiles are estimated to be worth 1.3 cents per point. While a free flight is the end goal, it's also important to keep in mind how much your rewards are worth before you use them.
• Sales: From time to time, Delta offers deeply discounted award flights. If you're interested in stretching your miles even farther, look out for flash sales and SkyMiles award flight deals.
• Inflation: Travel rewards like airline miles and hotel points can be impacted by inflation. As costs continue to rise, airlines and hotels are likely to make their rewards worth less through devaluations. This happens regularly, and the best way to avoid it is to keep an "earn and burn" mentality. Don't hoard your points and miles and use them sooner rather than later.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a $350 annual fee*. It does not have any foreign transaction fees*

If you plan on carrying a balance month to month, this card may not be the best choice, as it has a high interest rate*. If you want to avoid accruing interest, consider a card with a 0% introductory APR offer.

Late payment fees can be up to $40*.

*See rates and fees.

Select analyzed two other travel cards with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card to see how they match up with one another.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

The next step up in the Delta American Express cobranded family is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.

This card is good for frequent Delta fliers who can make use of the Delta SkyClub® access, annual companion certificate* and a TSA PreCheck or a Global Entry statement credit, along with chance to earn Delta elite status with MQD Headstart. You'll also have access to Amex Centurion airport lounges.

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

The annual fee is $650, but can easily be recouped if the cardholder takes full advantage of the card's many benefits. (See rates and fees.)

If you're debating between the two cards, it really comes down to how much you fly and value the benefits offered by the Reserve. If you plan on flying once a month or more and are able to use the benefits in full (specifically the airport lounge access), the Delta Reserve may be the better option. If you only fly a few times per year, the Platinum may be the more cost-effective card for you.

*The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® (see rates and fees) is a well-known travel credit card thanks to its valuable rewards and modest $95 annual fee.

The card comes with a long list of benefits including *travel insurance and broad spending categories. As you spend on the card, you will earn:

• 5X points for every dollar spent on eligible travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points for every dollar spent on eligible dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services (excluding Target®, Walmart® and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points for every dollar spent on other travel purchases

The card is currently offering a welcome offer of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Ultimate Rewards points are transferable to 14 airlines and three hotel loyalty programs.

The airline partners do not include Delta. However, you can book Delta flights through the Chase travel portal, or transfer points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is partners with Delta Air Lines.

If you are deciding between the two cards, it comes down to what you value more. If you want flexibility with your rewards to use for different airlines or even hotels, along with excellent travel insurance coverage, consider the Sapphire Preferred. If you prefer to remain loyal to Delta and want to put effort towards earning elite status with the airline, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card may be the better of the two.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is a great choice for loyal Delta flyers who want a way to earn Delta elite status sooner. The MQDs you can earn through MQD Headstart will aid your progress toward earning a long list of benefits with the Delta loyalty program. Plus, $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.

In addition, if you fly enough to take advantage of the benefits such as using the TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit and complimentary checked bags, the card may prove its value quickly.

Lastly, if you travel internationally, this card will quickly save you money as there are no foreign transaction fees with this card.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card should be considered a top pick for regular Delta flyers who want to work toward elite status with the airline. And with the added benefits, the $350 annual fee (see rates and fees) can easily be recouped if you take full advantage of the card's many benefits.

Keep in mind that you do not need to focus your efforts on this single card. Consider a strategy where you have multiple cards, including the Delta Platinum Amex. This strategy can help you earn you heaps of travel rewards and build your credit score at the same time, as long as you make sure you can pay off your balance in full each month.

Is the Delta Platinum worth it?

If you travel enough on Delta Air Lines and are able to utilize the benefits, the card can definitely be worth the $350 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Is the Amex Platinum the same as Delta Platinum card?

No, the Platinum Card is a different card than the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. However, they do have similar benefits such as TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits (For the Amex Platinum, receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. They differ considerably in their annual fees, as the Delta Platinum charges $350 while Amex Platinum is $895. (see rates and fees)

*The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

*Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

*Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.