Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The welcome offer, the Companion Certificate and status boost, every credit and its catch, the insurance, and whether the $350 fee pays for itself.
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Airline cards · American Express
Welcome offer
As high as 90,000 miles + $300
Annual fee
$350
As high as 90,000 bonus miles after $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months, plus a $300 statement credit after the same spend. Limited time; ends November 4, 2026. Not available to anyone who has had this card or the Delta Reserve.
Foreign transaction fees: NoneRewards: Delta SkyMiles
The Atelier Take
Worth it for the companion fare and status boost; skip it for points alone.
Who it suits
Delta flyers chasing Medallion status who travel with a partner and will use the Companion Certificate each year.
Who should skip it
Anyone who won’t use the Companion Certificate: without it, the Gold card covers bags for $150.
Every credit, and the catch
The Companion Certificate is the reason to hold this card; the monthly credits are extras.
Companion Certificate
One companion round trip a year
Delta Main only, round trip within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. Taxes and fees of $22 to $250 apply, and Basic fares are excluded.
Resy credit
Up to $120 a year
U.S. restaurants marked eligible on Resy only.
Rideshare credit
Up to $120 a year
U.S. rides with select providers only.
Delta Stays credit
Up to $150 a year
Prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays only.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Up to $120 every 4 years
What it earns
Rewards: Delta SkyMiles.
3x
Delta purchases
Bought directly from Delta
3x
Hotels booked directly
2x
U.S. restaurants
Including takeout and delivery
2x
U.S. supermarkets
1x
Everything else
TPG values SkyMiles at 1.2¢ each, below most airline and bank currencies. Delta prices awards dynamically, so value varies widely by route and date.
Status, bags and other Delta benefits
MQD Headstart
$2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion year.
MQD Boost
$1 MQD for every $20 spent on the card.
Complimentary upgrades
Eligible for upgrades on Delta when not a Medallion member.
Checked bags
First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, worldwide; second bag free on domestic Delta flights. Without the card Delta charges $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second, each way, in the U.S.
Priority boarding
Board in an earlier zone on Delta flights.
Hertz Five Star status
Once a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards number is added to the SkyMiles account and the offer is enrolled at delta.com/hertz.
TakeOff 15
15% off award flights on Delta booked at delta.com or in the Fly Delta app; not on partner flights, taxes or fees.
20% back on in-flight purchases
As a statement credit on food and drinks bought on Delta flights.
Will the $350 fee pay off?
Enter what would go on this card. The result values points at TPG’s valuation, adds the credits that would actually be used and, in year one, the welcome offer, then sets the total against a no-fee card that pays 2% back on everything.
1 · Spending on this card
Example figures are filled in; replace them with real ones.
Delta flights and other Delta purchasesBought directly from Delta
3x
Hotels booked directly
3x
U.S. restaurantsIncluding takeout and delivery
2x
U.S. supermarkets
2x
Gas
1x
Everything else
1x
2 · Credits that would be used
Tick only what would be used anyway, at full value.
3 · Assumptions
The result
The Companion Certificate arrives after each renewal, so it starts in year two; its value is an example. Not counted: MQD Headstart and Boost toward Medallion status, priority boarding and the insurance.
Insurance and protections
Pay for the trip or purchase with the card to be covered. Travel cover is secondary: it pays after any other insurance. Amex’s Guides to Benefits have the full terms and exclusions.
Trip delay
Up to $300 per trip after a delay of more than 12 hours, for up to 2 claims per 12 months. The round trip must be paid entirely with the card. Secondary.
Cell phone protection
Up to $800 per claim for theft or damage, after a $50 deductible, for up to 2 claims per 12 months. The monthly phone bill must be paid with the card.
Baggage insurance
Covers lost, damaged or stolen bags on trips paid with the card; limits are in Amex’s Baggage Insurance Plan guide. Secondary.
Car rental loss and damage
Up to $50,000 for theft or damage to a rental car, for rentals up to 30 days, when the rental company’s damage waiver is declined. Secondary.
Purchase protection
Theft or accidental damage within 90 days of purchase: up to $1,000 per item and $50,000 a year.
Extended warranty
Adds up to one year to manufacturer warranties of five years or less: up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 a year.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Companion Certificate alone can exceed the fee
- $2,500 MQD Headstart plus MQD Boost help toward Medallion status
- Bag, boarding and award discounts
- Cell phone protection and trip delay cover
Cons
- $350 fee for a single-airline card
- SkyMiles value is low
- The certificate excludes Basic fares and long-haul routes
- Trip delay cover only after 12 hours
Card terms change often and some offers are personalized; the issuer’s page is the final word.