Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Review
The mid-tier Delta card whose annual companion certificate typically pays for the entire $350 fee.
Welcome bonus
75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. Occasionally elevated to 90,000+ via targeted offers.
Rewards structure
- 3xDelta purchases
- 3xhotels booked directly with the hotel
- 2xrestaurants worldwide
- 2xU.S. supermarkets
- 1xeverything else
Perks & benefits
- Annual companion certificate for a domestic round-trip main cabin ticket
- $1,500 MQD boost per calendar year toward Medallion status
- First checked bag free for cardholder and up to 8 companions
- Priority boarding
- 20% back on inflight purchases
- $120 annual Resy dining credit
- $150 annual Delta Stays credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Who this card is for
- Regular Delta flyers taking 4–8 trips per year
- Domestic couples who fly Delta together and can use the companion certificate
- Anyone chasing Delta Silver or Gold Medallion status
Pros & cons
Pros
- Companion certificate saves $300–500 on a single trip, recovering the $350 fee entirely
- $1,500 MQD boost meaningfully accelerates Medallion qualification
- $120 Resy + $150 Delta Stays credits, if used, offset another $270 of the fee
- Great sweet spot between the entry-level Gold and premium Reserve
Cons
- Companion certificate excludes many peak-season dates and premium routes
- Coupon-book credits require specific redemption behaviors (Resy dining, Delta Stays)
- SkyMiles remain locked to Delta — no transferable-points flexibility
- No Sky Club access — that is Reserve territory
Our take
The Delta Platinum is the card in Delta's lineup that Delta loyalists actually recommend. The companion certificate is the reason. Book one main cabin round-trip domestic ticket, and Delta lets you bring a companion for just taxes and fees — typically $75–150. On a $500 fare, that saves you $350–425 on a single trip. The fee is done.
Beyond the certificate, the MQD boost is the perk that quietly matters for status chasers. Delta Medallion tiers require MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) alongside miles, and $1,500 of assumed MQD is roughly 15% of the Silver Medallion threshold. Stack this with a Delta Reserve for another $2,500 MQD boost and you're materially closer to elite status without extra flying.
Where the card gets weaker is against the Reserve. If you fly Delta 20+ times a year, Sky Club access matters and the Reserve ($650) is worth the step up. If you fly 4–10 times a year and travel with a partner, the Platinum wins. If you fly Delta 2–4 times and just want free bags, the Gold ($150) is the answer. The Platinum is the middle answer for the middle Delta flyer — and for that audience, it is exceptional.