The biggest drawback of the SkyMiles Platinum AmEx is that your spending on the card only earn miles toward Delta flights. While that’s also the main benefit for Delta loyalists like myself, there are times when I need to fly a different airline due to scheduling or convenience.
Card’s benefits and perks
The SkyMiles Platinum Amex has plenty of perks that every traveler will enjoy. The most notable is the Annual Companion Certificate, which allows you to add on an additional passenger when booking a ticket in the main cabin for travel within the US, Caribbean, and Central America and only pay government-imposed taxes or fees not exceeding $80 (terms apply). Previously, cardholders could only travel within the continental US, so this perk’s expansion just made it a lot more valuable. If you play your cards right, you can quickly recoup the annual fee cost, and then some, with this perk alone. This is likely my favorite benefit of the card, as it allows me to travel with family or friends for a significantly reduced price tag. For example. I’ve taken advantage of this perk to fly with my dad to Orlando, Florida, for his birthday.
Now, cardholders enjoy a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) headstart and boost, which all you to earn $1 MQD for every $20 you spend on your card throughout the year and an annual bonus of $2,500 MQDs. This is very helpful if you’re trying to chase elite status with Delta. Also new are the introduction of statement credits. Cardholders can receive up to $150 per year as a statement credit for purchases made through Delta Stays, up to $120 for US rideshare purchases, and up to $120 at Resy restaurants.
The SkyMiles Platinum AmEx makes your life easier at the airport as well. You get your first checked bag free on all Delta flights, no matter the fare, and a fee credit to enroll in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Cardholders will also be added to the complimentary upgrade list. And in the air, cardholders get 20 percent back on purchases. If you’re renting a car, enjoy Hertz Five Star status, which qualifies you for upgrades as available.
One of my favorite benefits of the card is the TakeOff 15 feature, which allows you to save 15 percent when booking award travel on Delta-operated flights. If you’re short on miles, this can be extremely helpful to get you where you need to go.
Current welcome offer
Right now, you can earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within six months of card opening. Act fast if you want to take advantage of this incredible offer, though: it ends on March 27, 2024.
Those 90,000 bonus miles can take you places far, far away. For example, you can fly nonstop in economy from New York City to San Francisco this spring for as little as 27,200 miles round-trip plus $12 in taxes and fees.
The other benefit to the current welcome offer is the bonus MQMs. Delta has four levels of medallion status: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. Each comes with benefits that frequent fliers will love—think priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, waived fees, and more. You need 25,000 MQMs per calendar year, determined by the distance flown and fare class, and $3,000 medallion qualifying dollars (MQDs), based on how much you spend on a Delta flight, to reach Silver Medallion.
How to earn points
With this card, you earn three miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases or directly with hotels. You also get two miles per dollar spent on restaurants worldwide and on US takeout, delivery, and supermarkets. Apart from that, you get one mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
