Card guide · Delta SkyMiles
Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Card guide overview
A Delta card with a Companion Certificate, free checked bags, and MQD Headstart—best for annual Delta flyers who can use the companion ticket.
Key card attributes
| Issuing bank | Reward currency | Currency type | Network | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amex | Delta SkyMiles | Airline Miles | Amex | $350 |
Closest alternatives
At a glance
The card in three decisions.
The Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum is the mid-tier Delta card with a $350 annual fee. It earns 3X miles on Delta purchases and hotels, 2X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1X everywhere else. The headline benefit is an annual Companion Certificate for eligible round trips within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, which can offset the fee on its own.
The card includes a free first checked bag, Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, a 15% TakeOff 15 award booking discount, and 2,500 MQD Headstart toward Medallion status each year. There are also credits: a $120 rideshare credit ($10/month) and a Delta Stays credit.
Best fit
Annual Delta flyers who can use a Companion Certificate
If you fly Delta at least once a year with a companion, the Companion Certificate can easily cover the $350 fee. Add free checked bags and MQD Headstart for status seekers. Keeper Card 4/5 for cardholders who can use the certificate every year.
Current timing
As high as 90,000 bonus miles is an elevated offer
$3,000 spend in 6 months for as high as 90,000 bonus miles. The Companion Certificate arrives at your first renewal (year two), not at account opening—so the first-year value is the bonus miles plus free checked bags and MQD Headstart.
Main watchout
The Companion Certificate has restrictions
The certificate is valid for eligible round trips within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America; fare class, availability, taxes/fees, and other restrictions apply. You must use it before expiration.
Current & historical offer
As high as 90,000 bonus miles is an elevated offer.
We compare public offers with public offers.
Timing assessment
As high as 90,000 bonus miles is a strong elevated offer.
With $3,000 spend in 6 months, this is a good bonus. Even at a lower awarded amount, it beats the standard 50K.
Why someone may wait
100K has appeared before and could return.
The 100K maximum has been tracked historically.
Card benefits
The Companion Certificate is the headliner.
The tiers are a Points Brief editorial assessment of decision importance and rarity among mid-tier airline cards.
Tier 1 · Rare differentiators
Benefits that set this card apart.
Annual Companion Certificate
Each year after renewal, receive a Companion Certificate for one companion ticket on eligible round trips within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. You pay only taxes and fees for the companion.
- Valid for eligible round trips within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
- Companion pays only taxes and fees ($22 to $250).
- Must be used before expiration (typically one year).
Know the limits: Know the limits: fare class, availability, taxes/fees, and other restrictions apply. Book early for best availability.
MQD Headstart toward Medallion status
Receive 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) deposited into your SkyMiles account each year toward status. This gives you a head start on Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion.
- 2,500 MQDs deposited annually.
- Counts toward all Medallion tiers.
Tier 2 · Strong, with strings attached
Benefits that add value but come with conditions.
Free First checked bag free
First checked bag free on Delta flights for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation. Savings: $35 per bag each way.
Must pay for the ticket with this card.
15% TakeOff 15 — award booking discount
Take 15% off award bookings on Delta-operated flights.
Applied automatically at delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
$120 Rideshare credit ($10/month)
Up to $10 in monthly statement credits on U.S. rideshare purchases. Up to $120 annually. We rate Coupon Book 3/5 because the monthly credit requires active management—unused months do not roll over, making full value hard to capture.
Enrollment required. Unused monthly credits do not roll over.
Main 1 Main Cabin 1 priority boarding
Board in Main Cabin 1 on Delta flights.
Tier 3 · Expected card basics
Standard airline card and Amex protections.
No foreign transaction fees Travel baseline
No Amex foreign-transaction fee on purchases abroad.
Pay with Miles Delta program
Use miles at 1 cent each toward Delta flights.
Car rental loss and damage insurance Secondary
Secondary coverage for eligible rental cars.
Comparison method: Mid-tier airline co-branded cards including Delta SkyMiles Gold ($150), United Explorer ($95), and Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99); official public pages reviewed in July 2026.
Earning rates
3X on Delta and hotels, 2X on dining and groceries, 1X elsewhere.
Rates shown are Delta SkyMiles per dollar on eligible purchases.
Delta purchases
On purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.
Hotels
On eligible hotel purchases booked directly.
Restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
At restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
U.S. supermarkets
At U.S. supermarket locations.
All other eligible purchases
One mile per dollar on other purchases.
Credit interaction: Value context: Delta SkyMiles are estimated at ~1.1–1.3 cents each. The 3X/2X/1X earning structure is solid for a mid-tier airline card—better than the Delta Gold's 2X/1X. The Companion Certificate and MQD Headstart are the primary value drivers.
Delta SkyMiles program
One of the largest U.S. carriers with a growing global network.
Delta SkyMiles are airline-specific miles—not transferable from other programs and not convertible to other airlines. They can be redeemed for Delta-operated flights and partner airline awards. SkyMiles do not expire. Delta uses dynamic award pricing with no published award chart.
Key benefit
CompanionCertificate
The annual Companion Certificate can offset the $350 fee on its own.
Each year after renewal, you receive a Companion Certificate valid for eligible round trips within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. You pay only taxes and fees ($22 to $250) for the companion. Fare class, availability, taxes/fees, and other restrictions apply. If you would have bought a second ticket anyway, this benefit alone can cover the annual fee with significant savings.
Delta hubs & focus cities
Where Delta operates the most flights.
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
- New York (JFK/LGA)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Boston (BOS)
- Seattle (SEA)
SkyTeam alliance partners
Award bookings available on partner airlines.
- Air France
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Virgin Atlantic
- Aeromexico
- China Eastern
- ITA Airways
- Garuda Indonesia
Delta Platinum at a glance
What this card gets you.
- Annual Companion Certificate
- First checked bag free
- Main Cabin 1 boarding
- 2,500 MQD Headstart
- 15% off award bookings (TakeOff 15)
- 3X Delta, 3X hotels, 2X dining/groceries
- No Sky Club access
Delta card family
How this card compares to other Delta cards.
- Delta Blue: $0 fee, no free bags
- Delta Gold: $150, bags + credits
- Delta Platinum: $350, companion pass + bags
- Delta Reserve: $650, lounge access + companion pass
Sources and methodology
Sources for this page
- Last checked: July 30, 2026
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