American Express
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and enjoy 3X miles on Delta flights and hotels, plus premium travel benefits including annual companion certificate and priority boarding.
Annual fee
$350
Top rate
3x flights
Welcome bonus
$1,500
Quick look
100K Miles Bonus
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles with premium Delta benefits
3.9
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Frequent Delta flyers (3+ round-trips per year) who value elite status and can reliably use an annual domestic companion certificate.
The verdict
This card works brilliantly for people who fly Delta regularly—the annual companion certificate alone justifies the $350 fee if you book just one round-trip domestically each year, and the 100,000-mile welcome offer is genuinely substantial. The 3X earning on flights and hotels, paired with 10,000 annual Medallion Qualification Miles, makes sense for status-seekers who want to climb Delta's elite tiers faster.
But the rewards rates are mediocre for a premium card (ranking 19th–33rd across the catalog), and the loss of Sky Club lounge access in January 2024 significantly dulled the card's appeal. Unless you're a Delta loyalist with predictable annual travel plans and a clear use for that companion certificate, this fee is hard to justify when cards like the Amex Gold ($325) offer better rewards across dining and groceries, or the Delta Gold ($150) covers basics at a lower cost.
Pros
- Annual companion certificate covers round-trip domestic flights with only $22–$250 in taxes and fees—can be worth $300–500 if used strategically
- 100,000-mile welcome bonus is one of the best in the airline card category and easier to reach than many premium card bonuses
- $240 in annual credits (Resy and Rideshare) and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles meaningfully offset the $350 fee for frequent flyers
- 15% discount on award flights helps high-earners stretch their miles further, and 10,000 annual MQDs accelerate status progression faster than most cards
Cons
- Companion certificate doesn't activate until after your account anniversary—you'll pay the full $350 fee with limited benefits in your first year
- $350 annual fee is steep when the card's rewards rates rank 19th–33rd in the catalog; a casual traveler won't recoup this cost
- Removed Delta Sky Club lounge access as of January 2024, eliminating a key perk that once justified the premium fee
- Many benefits require active enrollment (annual Resy and Rideshare credits), and the card loses perceived value if you don't use them
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 3x | 3X miles on Delta purchases |
| Hotels & car rentals | 3x | 3X miles at hotels |
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | 2X miles at restaurants and takeout |
| Groceries | 2x | 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets |
| Everything else | 1x | 1X mile on all other eligible purchases |
The 3X on flights and hotels is solid, but it ranks 24th and 27th respectively in the catalog—you're paying a premium fee for middle-of-the-pack earning rates. The 2X on dining and groceries ranks even lower (32nd and 19th). Only the 15% award-flight discount and 10,000 annual MQDs differentiate this from cheaper airline cards; these are most valuable if you actively work toward or maintain elite status.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
At $350, this is expensive—but it can work out if you're a Delta loyalist. The companion certificate (after year one) is worth $300–500 in retail value, and the $240 in annual credits (Resy and Rideshare) bring the real cost down to roughly $110–150 in net fees. The catch: you must actually use these benefits. A casual traveler or non-Delta flyer will never recover this fee; even a modest Delta loyalist flying 2–3 times per year might struggle to justify it if they don't use the companion ticket every 12 months.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
100,000 miles is excellent—one of the highest in the airline card category. It requires $6,000 in spend over six months, which is reasonable for most serious travelers. At a typical 1¢-per-mile redemption value, this is worth roughly $1,000 in travel, but Delta loyalists can often squeeze more value by using miles for premium cabin upgrades or off-peak Delta One flights.
Similar cards
Lower-cost Delta alternative—$150 annual fee gets you some of the same Delta perks (free checked bag, priority boarding) without the companion certificate, better suited for casual Delta flyers
Same $350 annual fee, but rewards are tied to American Airlines instead—consider if you're an AA loyalist seeking comparable perks
Frequently asked questions
Is the $350 annual fee worth it if I only fly Delta once a year?
Probably not. The companion certificate arrives after your first account anniversary, so year one is essentially a $350 investment with modest perks. If you only fly Delta once annually, you'll get $22–$100 in companion-ticket tax/fee savings—nowhere near enough to justify the fee. This card needs 3+ round-trips per year to pencil out.
When does the companion certificate first appear?
After your card's account anniversary (12 months from opening). You'll pay the full $350 annual fee in year one without access to the companion certificate, which significantly limits the card's value in that period. This is a key consideration for new cardholders.
Do I need to do anything to use the $120 Resy and Rideshare credits?
Yes—both credits require active enrollment. Log into your American Express account and enroll in each benefit separately. If you don't enroll, you forfeit the credits entirely. The same applies to Delta's priority boarding and other benefits—nothing is automatic.
How are the 10,000 annual Medallion Qualification Miles calculated?
You receive 10,000 MQDs just for holding the card. Additional MQDs are earned based on eligible purchase activity (roughly 1 MQD per dollar of net spending). Combined, these can meaningfully accelerate progression toward Delta elite status (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond), which unlocks lounge access and other perks—but this math only works if you're actively pursuing elite status.
What happened to Delta Sky Club lounge access?
American Express removed Sky Club membership for new Platinum cardholders in January 2024. Existing cardholders retained access until their membership renewed. If you were hoping for lounge benefits, this card no longer delivers them—be sure to verify current benefits directly with Amex before applying.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026