Reviewed: Platinum Delta SkyMiles by American Express
The Platinum Delta Skymiles American Express card might just be the travel card for you. If you love travel perks, this card has plenty to offer to make it worth your while. This review breaks down every detail so you can make an informed decision.
Frequent travelers benefit most from cards that yield miles, and few cards are quite as useful as the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card.
The card comes with a host of different benefits.
Despite being an American Express card, which often gets a bad rap for less representation, the Delta SkyMiles card can be used to net huge amounts of miles for relatively little effort.
If you travel for business a lot or if you just want to make the most of your card via travel hacking, the SkyMiles is a great card to look into.
What is the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card?
There are travel reward cards, and then there is the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card.
This card is a high-yield travel rewards card aimed specifically at Delta flyers. Not only does it help them attain higher loyalty rewards more easily, but it makes it easy to maintain their current loyalty status for the year to come.
Despite being a travel rewards card, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is well balanced and serves all the functionality of a standard credit card—no funky spending habits required.
Target Demographic
This card is clearly made for those that fly Delta a lot, whether for business or pleasure.
That said, it likely benefits business travelers a bit more than leisure travelers simply because of the nature of the card.
The high yearly cost can make it difficult to recoup your investments unless you spend quite a bit on travel, something that most leisure travelers attempt to avoid.
People that fly Delta for rewards programs (or even those that live in Atlanta, Delta's home hub) will get much more out of this card than someone that prefers a different airline.
It's kind of in the name—why get this card if you aren't a fan of Delta?
Issuing Bank
The Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card is issued through American Express Bank.
Rates and Fees
Understanding the rates and fees of a credit card is one of the most important aspects of determining whether the card is right for you.
High fees mean you'll need to spend more to make your rewards worthwhile.
Here is a breakdown of all the rates and fees you may encounter with the SkyMiles credit card.
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Interest Rates
The purchase APR ranges from 16.74% to 25.74% based on your creditworthiness, but this rate can also vary based on the Prime Rate. The balance transfer APR is the same as the purchase APR and subject to the same Prime Rate variance.
If you take out a cash advance, the interest rate is 26.24%, but also subject to the Prime Rate. If you miss a payment and become subject to a penalty APR, you'll see a rate of 29.99% on any unpaid amounts.
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Annual Fees
The main sticking point for this card is the annual fee. At $195 per year, it's quite high and it requires regular use to make the most out of the card without actually losing money.
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Foreign Transaction Fees
As with any great travel rewards card, there are no foreign transaction fees when using the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card.
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Other Fees
The remaining fees fall well within the market average. When you initiate a balance transfer, you'll pay either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater.
The same amount applies to cash advances. If you make a late payment, the fee can be as much as $38, and there is also a $38 fee for a returned payment.
The bright side is that there are no fees for going over your limit.
Credit Limits
The credit limit on this card varies from person to person and is based on your income, credit score, and a host of other factors.
Some cardholders report being approved and granted a limit as high as $12,000. Others received much lower credit scores.
The amount you receive will be based on your individual situation.
How to Increase Your Limit
If you have had the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card for a while and have made regular, on-time payments but have not received a credit limit upgrade, call the customer service number on the back of the card and request one.
If you are denied, ask the customer service representative what you can do to increase your limit.
Most credit card companies are willing to work with you to give you a higher limit if you aren't a financial risk to the company.
Rewards
Now onto the part where the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card truly excels—its rewards program.
This card yields high value rewards to cardholders, as well as a number of secondary benefits that, in our opinion, make it well worth the high annual cost. Check these out.
- Earn 1 mile per dollar on everything from groceries to gas
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases
- Get your first bag checked for free on Delta flights
- No foreign transaction fees, no matter where you go
- One free Domestic Main Cabin round-trip ticket for your companion (Coach ticket)
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you spend $25,000 on eligible purchases within a calendar year
- Earn 35,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 or more within the first three months of opening your card
- Earn a $100 statement credit if you make a Delta purchase within the first three months
That's a lot of rewards—plus, there's no limit to how much you can earn. You can redeem your miles towards travel with Delta and more than 15 other partners.
Travel Benefits
If you're a frequent traveler, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card offers benefits that make up for the yearly cost on their own.
If you want to join Delta Sky Club, you'll receive a discounted rate.
You and two friends can enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi access, television, and more for just $29 per person if you charge the fee to your Delta SkyMiles card.
If you make any purchases in-flight, such as food, beverages, or audio headsets, you can receive 20% savings via a statement credit.
Just make sure the purchase is eligible; not all in-flight purchases qualify for these savings.
Like many other travel rewards cards, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card gives you car rental insurance that protects against loss and damage.
Just make sure to use your card to reserve and pay for the vehicle rental, but decline the collision damage waiver.
There are exceptions to this, so make sure to read the fine print, especially if you are outside the United States.
Frequent travelers are familiar with misplaced luggage - it's one of the worst things that can happen while traveling and can put a major dampener on your trip.
The Baggage Insurance Plan covers you for any eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage if you purchase the entire fare on your card.
Coverage maxes out at $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked baggage.
You'll also receive access to the Global Assist Hotline.
When you're more than 100 miles from home, you'll have 24/7 access to medical, legal, and other emergency coordination and assistance services.
However, you are responsible for paying the fees of any third-party services you use.
Shopping and Entertainment
No matter your personal shopping habits, these should make your ears perk up.
One big benefit of the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is the Extended Warranty. This warranty matches your purchases for up to one additional year when you use your American Express card to make the purchase.
Another benefit is the Return Protection feature:
If you want to return an item within 90 days of purchase but the seller won't accept it, you may be eligible for a refund. This is limited to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per calendar year.
Theft and accidental damage are also covered under Purchase Protection. This is limited to within 90 days of the purchase of the item and $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
On a more members-only level, you'll receive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events near you.
Additional Services
You're protected against fraudulent charges. If you find a charge on your report that you don't remember making or that you suspect is wrong, call customer service.
Pros and Cons
No matter how great a card may seem, there are always certain areas where it can be improved—and certain areas where it excels over the competition.
Check out the pros and cons for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card.
- There are no foreign transaction fees.
- You have payment flexibility if you carry your balance from one month to another.
- This card is great for frequent Delta flyers.
- You'll receive 20% off on all in-flight purchases.
- There is an annual membership fee of $195.
- You need an excellent credit score in order to be approved.
Customer Reviews
Take a look at what other customers have to say about the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card.
"I have had this card for several years and have liked it. Since I do a fair amount of flying, the frequent flyer miles are a huge bonus for me. I use this card for every purchase I make. At the end of the month I pay it off in full and reap the miles! For the downsides, I don't like the high annual fee. Some places still don't accept American Express so that can make certain purchases difficult. This might not be the best card for young people but if you can swing the annual fee and would use it enough to make the miles worthwhile, I highly recommend getting this card."
- Andrew Freeman
"Don't sign up for Platinum Delta AMEX. I signed up for the Companion Ticket benefit only to find out there are loopholes. You have to be a member for over a year to use it and then you paying $200 to be a member, then it is still difficult to use. Card isn't worth the cost of the membership when you take away the companion fare, sounds good in theory but not practically."
- William Sizemore
Most Common Complaints
By far the most common complaint was the "Companion Ticket" benefit.
Many users found it difficult to use, and many said the restrictions placed on its eligibility all but made the benefit useless.
With such a high annual fee, users felt the companion ticket should be easier to obtain without jumping through hoops.
Applying and Managing Your Account
American Express makes it easy to apply for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card. You can apply online via American Express or Delta. It asks for the following information:
- First name
- Last name
- Email address
- Social security number
- Date of birth
- Phone number
- Home address
- Total annual income
- Non-taxable annual income
- Income source
- Referral
- SkyMiles enrollment status
- Delta SkyMiles number
Once you click "continue," you may be asked for more information beyond this.
After you complete the application, you can receive a decision in as little as 30 seconds—although you should be prepared for it to possibly take longer.
Eligibility Requirements
A card with high-yield rewards usually has stringent eligibility requirements. The first is that a cardholder must be 18 years of age or older.
The second is that you must have an excellent credit rating in order to qualify, as is the norm for most rewards cards.
Although specific requirements beyond this are not listed, it is safe to assume you'll need to have a decent income and the ability to pay your credit card bill in full each month in order to qualify.
Managing Your Online Account
Managing your account online grants a number of different features.
Not only are you able to see all the points you've earned, pay your bill, and update your personal information, but you also gain access to the benefits that come with the card.
You'll be able to see what shopping and entertainment benefits are available to you, reach out to customer service to dispute credit card charges, check out a year-end summary, and much more.
Arrival Time
Once you have been approved for your Platinum Delta SkyMiles card, you can expect to receive it within five to seven business days.
If you do not receive an instant decision, you will be provided with a link. This link will allow you to check the status of your credit card application.
Payment Options
Not sure about how to pay your credit card bill? Here's how.
Minimum Payments
There is no set minimum payment—the amount you owe will be based on your current balance.
If you have missed a payment in the past, you will also own any outstanding payments, additional interest fees, and other charges you may have accrued.
Late Payment Repercussions
If you make a late payment, you'll be charged a late fee of up to $38 and the penalty APR will be applied to your account for up to six months.
The penalty APR is 29.99%, and will continue until you have made six months of on-time payments.
Where and How to Make Payments
You can make payments online via your account, through the mobile app, or by check or money order. If you choose to pay via check or money order, mail your payment to this address with the account number on the front of your payment:
First Class Mail
American Express
P.O. Box 650448
Dallas, TX 75265-0448
Express Mail
American Express
Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing
1200 W 7th St, L2-200
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Verdict
If you are a frequent flyer, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card is absolutely worth it.
The discounted access to airport lounges is well worth it, as is the companion ticket you earn each year.
The other benefits that come with card ownership—discounts, travel insurance, etc.—more than make up for the $195 annual cost.
On the other hand, if your credit score isn't great or you don't travel often, other cards might be better options.
The requirements to qualify for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles card, and the people that benefit most from this card are those that fly with Delta often.
If you prefer another company, or there simply aren't many Delta flights near you, it will not benefit you as much.
