Delta Platinum Credit Card Review

Delta Platinum Benefits

The Delta Platinum comes with a range of benefits that can help justify its annual fee.

Free First Checked Bags

Delta Platinum cardholders receive a first free checked bag on Delta flights for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation. That’s a generous perk compared to what other airline credit cards typically offer and can save you a bundle, especially if you fly with a large group of family or friends. Delta charges $35 for the first checked bag, so a family of four people who each check a bag could save $280 on a round-trip journey.

Status Helping Hand

Those chasing Delta Air Lines Medallion® status will appreciate the card’s $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) Headstart every year. Plus, the card’s MQD Boost benefit will earn you $1 MQD for every $20 in purchases you make on the card. The first rung on the Delta status ladder, Silver Medallion, starts at $5,000 MQDs and comes with perks like unlimited complimentary upgrades and higher earning rates on paid flights. Just owning the Delta Platinum Card gets you halfway there.

Faster Airport Experience

The Delta Platinum Card offers an application fee credit of up to $120 for Global Entry every four years or up to an $85 credit every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck. These Trusted Traveler Programs get you access to shorter security lines and the ability to go through TSA screening with your shoes on and your laptop in your carry-on bag.

Hundreds of Dollars in Statement Credits

Delta Platinum cardholders can take advantage of a range of statement credit opportunities toward eligible purchases:

• Up to $120 per year in rideshare credit: Earn up to $10 per month as a statement credit toward U.S. rideshare purchases made with your card; enrollment required
• Up to $150 per year in Delta Stays credit: Book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your card through Delta Stays on delta.com, and earn up to $150 each year as a statement credit
• Up to $120 per year in Resy credit: Use your card at U.S. Resy restaurants to receive up to $10 per month as a statement credit; enrollment required.

Delta Platinum Drawbacks

While the Delta Platinum Card comes with an impressive list of benefits, you’ll have to put in a bit of effort and be wary of some restrictions to make the most of them.

Companion Certificate Has Restrictions

A companion pass perk is only a valuable feature if you can actually use it. If your travel plans don’t include the U.S. or the eligible spots in the Caribbean and Central America, the Delta Platinum’s companion certificate won’t be meaningful to you. Additionally, the certificate is only good for flights on Delta planes and doesn’t include partner airlines, so if your desired spot isn’t served by Delta itself, there’s no workaround.

I found this out the hard way when I booked a hotel in Nicaragua for myself and my wife and planned to use the card’s companion certificate to save money on the flights to and from Managua. Unfortunately, Delta doesn’t fly to Nicaragua; in fact, it’s one of the only countries in Central America it doesn’t fly to. I made a rookie mistake when I saw in the card’s marketing that the companion certificate included Central America, but I didn’t check where in Central America. We’ll get there another way, but now I know better.

No Lounge Access

You might expect that a Delta credit card with a several-hundred-dollar price tag would offer at least some access to Delta Sky Club® airport lounges. Unfortunately, the card doesn’t offer Sky Club or any other airport lounge access.

15% Award Discount Has Limitations

The card’s TakeOff 15 discount on Delta award flight bookings can save you plenty of miles to use for your next trip, but again, you’ll only get that discount for flights on Delta planes, not partner or codeshare flights. I’ve found that to be annoying because I often want to use miles to book international Delta partner flights, and I have to pay the full award price.

It’s Still a Big Annual Fee

Although the Delta Platinum Card comes with the companion certificate and a host of other potential credits, it still requires some work to maximize those benefits. Essentially, you’re prepaying $350 each year for a companion ticket, credits for Delta Stays, the ability to enroll in rideshare credits and Resy credits, and day-of-travel benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. That may not appeal to you if you don’t want to keep track of numerous perks.

Who Is the Card Best For?

The Delta Platinum Card is best for someone who can make Delta their first choice of airline and is confident they can get more than $350 worth of value out of the card every year. For example, someone who flies cross-country with a partner at peak times can easily get their money’s worth with the companion certificate perk alone. Those who can also maximize the card’s other credits will get far more value than the annual cost of ownership.

But if using up those additional credits for rideshares, Delta Stays and Resy is too cumbersome, you may want to choose a Delta credit card with a lower annual fee and save the money to buy your companion their own ticket.

Is It The Right Card For You?

The Delta Platinum Card is right for you if:

• You fly Delta often, and at least once a year with a companion
• You enroll and can use the card’s rideshare, Resy, Delta Stays and Trusted Traveler Program credits
• You’ll take advantage of airline-specific perks like free checked baggage, priority boarding and complimentary upgrades when available
• You aren’t seeking a card with airport lounge access

Delta Platinum Card Alternatives

The Delta Platinum isn’t the only game in town when it comes to getting Delta perks with a credit card. Here are some alternative American Express cards to consider:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (an advertising partner): The Delta Gold charges a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. It’s a good pick for budget-conscious Delta flyers who still want perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights. It doesn’t come with as many bells and whistles as other co-branded Delta cards, but you’ll still earn a decent range of benefits, including up to $100 as a statement credit each year toward prepaid hotels and vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (an advertising partner): The Delta Reserve charges a hefty $650 annual fee, but it comes with a perk that makes it well worth it to frequent travelers. Cardholders receive access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta, with up to 15 visits per year included (with unlimited visits unlocked after spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year). Plus, when you use your card to book a Delta flight, you can access the American Express Centurion lounges. Other worthwhile benefits include similar perks to the Delta Platinum, including a companion certificate, but it’s the lounge access that makes the card stand out. Buying a separate Delta Sky Club membership starts at $695 annually.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express (an advertising partner): American Express lounge access is among the best out there, and frequent flyers can get massive value from the Amex Platinum, albeit at a $895 annual fee. Still, the card comes with up to 10 Delta Sky Club lounge visits per year when flying Delta, plus unlimited Centurion Lounge access, Priority Pass lounge access (enrollment required), Plaza Premium lounge access and more. The card also comes with hundreds of dollars in statement credit opportunities toward eligible dining, travel and retail purchases. Rewards maximizers can come out well ahead of that annual fee, but it does take some work. Notably, you can transfer the American Express Membership Rewards® earned with the card into your Delta SkyMiles account at a 1:1 ratio.