5 Delta SkyMiles Platinum Benefits You Didn’t Know About
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Written by
Harrison Pierce
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, an advertising partner, is the mid-tier option among Delta credit cards issued by Amex. It comes with a $350 annual fee, which can be easily justified if you use the numerous benefits it offers. Well-known benefits include a free checked bag on Delta flights, access to the complimentary upgrade list, a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and 20% off in-flight purchases.
I was a Delta Platinum cardholder for several years before American Express announced a major overhaul to the co-branded Delta card lineup. Simply put, I didn’t get enough value from the card to justify the annual fee. I downgraded to the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (also an advertising partner), which offers easy-to-use benefits and a much lower $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
However, after the changes to the cards went into effect in 2024, I’ve been rethinking this decision. There are several Amex Delta Platinum benefits that you may not be aware of, and each one makes me even more tempted to request a product change back to the card. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Discounted Award Redemptions
Arguably, the most lucrative and least discussed benefit of the Delta Platinum is TakeOff 15. When you use your SkyMiles to book an award flight on a Delta-operated flight, you’ll save 15% as a cardholder. This is a fantastic way to stretch your miles as far as possible. I’ve used this discount more times than I can count, and it’s saved me thousands of miles over the years.
You must be logged in to SkyMiles with the account linked to your card to see the discount automatically applied when searching for a flight. Note that partner flights and codeshares don’t receive this benefit, so be sure to search for Delta-marketed and operated flights. This discount makes the Delta Platinum Card one of the best airline credit cards for Delta frequent flyers.
2. Earn a Multitude of Statement Credits
Depending on who you ask, statement credits can be viewed as either a positive or a negative. Statement credits are a pillar of many American Express credit cards. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express, an advertising partner, offers so many statement credits that it’s challenging to keep track of them all. Luckily, the Delta Platinum offers just enough to get the most out of your card.
Rideshare Credits
You can earn up to $120 each year in U.S. rideshare credits, which are distributed in monthly statement credits of up to $10. Once you enroll, simply use your card for rideshare purchases to earn the credit. As long as you usually take one or two Uber rides a month, this is very easy to use.
Resy Credits
You can also earn up to $120 each year in increments of up to $10 per month at U.S. Resy restaurants. Once you enroll, use your card to purchase a U.S. Resy restaurant. This is easier to use than it sounds — as long as the restaurant you’re dining at offers reservations on Resy.com and the Resy app, and is live at the time of purchase, you’ll earn the credit.
Delta Stays Credit
Finally, you can earn a statement credit of up to $150 each year when you use your card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays. This platform is straightforward to use and is similar to other travel search engines like Expedia or Hotels.com. I just booked a stay at a Hyatt in Johannesburg through Delta Stays, which also allowed me to earn bonus SkyMiles on my trip.
3. Fast Track to Elite Status
If you’re working toward Delta Medallion® status, getting the Delta Platinum Card is one of the best things you can do. Each year, you’ll receive a Medallion® Qualifying Dollar (MQD) Headstart of $2,500 MQDs. This gets you halfway to Silver Medallion, the first tier of status. You’ll also receive an MQD Boost, where you can earn $1 MQD for every $20 you spend on your card each year.
You probably won’t be able to reach status from card spend alone since you’d need to spend $50,000 on your card to earn the remaining $2,500 MQDs. However, if you’re close to reaching status by flying, it’s a great way to push you over the cusp.
4. Buy-One-Get-One Flights
As a Delta Platinum cardholder, you can use an annual companion certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year. You’ll still have to pay taxes and fees, which can vary depending on your destination, but this is a phenomenal way to get more value from your card.
When I was a cardholder, the annual companion certificate could only be used on flights within the continental U.S., which was extremely limiting. As a full-time digital nomad, I didn’t often take domestic flights. I also typically fly by myself, so having a free spare ticket wasn’t super useful.
However, if you love traveling with a friend, partner or loved one, having a companion ticket each year can provide significant savings on your trip. It unlocks bucket-list destinations like Hawaii, Alaska or a Caribbean island.
If you are wondering how to choose an airline credit card, the ability to score free flights is likely at the top of your wishlist.
5. Best Earning Potential of All SkyMiles Credit Cards
The Delta Platinum Card offers the best earning potential of all the cards in the SkyMiles American Express lineup. Cardholders earn:
- 3x miles on Delta purchases and at hotels
- 2x miles on dining (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
- 1x miles on all other purchases.
For comparison, the Delta Gold Card earns just 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, dining and U.S. supermarkets. That’s 1 SkyMile per dollar less on Delta, and 2 SkyMiles per dollar less on hotel purchases. The premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, an advertising partner, isn’t any better. Cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. That means you’ll earn substantially less on dining, groceries and hotels than with the Delta Platinum Card.
For the Trip Delay Insurance and Cell Phone Protection on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefit sguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
For the Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance, Baggage Insurance Plan, Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amex Delta Platinum Benefits
Does Delta SkyMiles Platinum get you lounge access?
No, you do not receive access to Delta Sky Club locations with the Delta Platinum Card. To enter the lounge, you’ll need to purchase a premium ticket or hold elite status. Delta Reserve cardholders also receive 15 complimentary visits per year to Sky Club lounges when flying Delta, with the opportunity to earn unlimited visits by spending $75,000 on the card ins a calendar year.
Is the Delta SkyMiles American Express Platinum worth it?
Whether the Delta Platinum Card is worth it will depend on your individual travel and financial goals. However, if you are a regular Delta frequent flyer but don’t want to pay for the premium Delta Reserve Card, the Delta Platinum Card can make a lot of sense.
How do I use the SkyMiles Platinum annual companion certificate?
To use the annual companion certificate offered by the Delta Platinum credit card, you need to find your certificate in your SkyMiles account, then search for eligible flights. The certificate will be automatically applied to the second ticket.
Does the SkyMiles Platinum Card offer travel insurance?
Yes, the Delta Platinum Card offers several protections, including trip delay insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, a baggage insurance plan, purchase protection, extended warranty and cell phone protection.
