Getting to Know the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card is a solid premium airline rewards card from American Express. The card earns double miles for all purchases made directly with Delta, and single miles everywhere else. New cardholders also earn 80,000 bonus miles for spending just $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That bonus rises to 100,000 miles after the first year. That’s because cardholders get an additional 20,000 miles on their first cardmember anniversary. The card also offers the whole host of great perks, including in-flight discounts, priority boarding, complimentary baggage, and heavily-discounted lounge access.

How It Works

Cardholders can expect the following from the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card.

How to Earn Rewards:

• Fly with Delta Airlines: Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card members can earn 3X miles on qualifying flights with Delta Airlines.
• Flying with SkyTeam Partner Airlines: SkyMiles®are also earned when booking travel with any SkyTeam partner carrier.
• Hotel Stays: Cardholders earn triple miles at hotels. 3X miles only apply to purchases made directly with hotels.
• Dining and Groceries: Cardholders earn 2X miles on both dining and groceries. This double mile addition is a great perk of the Gold Card, one that previous versions lacked.  2X miles on dining is worldwide. 2X on groceries, however, is limited to the U.S.
• Everyday Purchases: All other purchases made with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card earn 1 mile for every dollar spent.
• Shopping with Delta Airline or SkyTeam Partners: SkyMiles® members can use their Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card to earn SkyMiles®  miles when they shop with select Delta Airlines or SkyTeam retail partners.

• Booking Trips and Hotels with Delta: Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card cardholders who use their card to book hotel stays, hire rental cars, book cruises, or entire vacation packages through Delta Vacations earn bonus SkyMiles® miles.

How to Redeem Miles:

• Travel: SkyMiles®members can use their miles for travel on Delta Airlines, SkyTeam airlines, and partner airlines on flights to over 1,300 destinations worldwide.
• Seat Upgrades: SkyMiles® members can use their bonus miles to purchase seat upgrades on Delta Airlines or flights with other SkyTeam carriers.
• Status Upgrades: SkyMiles® members can use their miles for purchasing or renewing Sky Club status, including lounge access and complimentary, premium in-flight drinks worldwide.
• Vacations: Use SkyMiles to purchase vacations through Delta Vacations.
• Gift Miles: Gift SkyMiles to friends and family members.
• Spending with Delta Retail Partners: Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card members can apply miles towards qualifying retail partners through Delta’s SkyMiles Marketplace portal: full of impressive goods and services from thousands of leading retailers worldwide.

Today’s Bonus Offer

Earn 80,000 SkyMiless® after spending $3,000 on purchases with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card within the first 3 months. Earn an additional 20,000 SkyMiles on your first cardmember anniversary. This introductory bonus totals 100,000 miles, one of the highest bonus amounts Delta’s ever offered!

The Plane Facts

Can you expect a smooth flight from the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card or will there be turbulence?

• Annual Fee: The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card has an annual fee of $250. This fee isn’t too bad – especially as many other platinum-level airline rewards cards often have a considerably higher annual fee. While many other cards offer complimentary lounge access, these are usually only for 1 to 2 visit per year. The Platinum SkyMiles® Card offers a reduced rate of lounge access of $29 per, per visit, which, while not free, can offer huge savings if used repeatedly over a calendar year. This perk, combined with in-flight savings, a complimentary first checked bag on Delta flights, and more make the $195 yearly fee a great value.

Airline and Airport Perks:

• Priority Boarding: Cardholders receive priority Main Cabin 1 boarding when flying with Delta Airlines.
• Free Baggage: Platinum SkyMiles® Card cardholders receive their first checked bag free on all Delta flights – a value of $60.
• In-Flight Discounts: Cardholders receive a 20% in-flight discount on Delta in-flight purchases.
• Annual Companion Certificate

Cardholder Protections:

• Fraud Protection: Cardholders have complete protection from all fraudulent or unauthorized transactions made on their Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card.
• Roadside Assistance: Cardholders receive premium roadside assistance courtesy of American Express.
• Purchase Protection: Cardholders don’t have to worry about damaged r stolen purchases when they pay for the purchase using their American Express card.

Additional Benefits:

• No foreign transaction fees
• Exclusive Sky Club® Rates: Cardholders receive impressive savings when they use their Platinum SkyMiles® Cards to purchase access to Delta’s Sky Club® lounges. Members can access the lounges for just $29 per person when they use their card to pay the entry price – this is an impressive saving which, with frequent use, can quickly surpass the value other cards offer with 2 lounge visits complimentary per year.

The Perks That Make the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card Worthwhile:

What are some of the Pros that set this card ahead of the rest?

• Companion Pass: The addition of a companion certificate each year on a renewal is a great perk. Take a friend on a round-trip journey anywhere in the Continental US. All you’ll pay is taxes and fees!
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees, making this card a great tool for world travelers.
• Discounted Lounge Access Fee: Platinum SkyMiles® Cardholders pay just $39 per people, per visit when they use their Platinum Delta SkyMiles®, Credit Card, to purchase Sky Club® lounge access.
• Introductory Offer: Cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus SkyMiles when they make just $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. This intro bonus is a great Kick starter towards Sky Club® Silver membership status.
• First checked a bag free on Delta flights
• 20% in-flight savings

Potential Turbulence with the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card:

What are some cons that take the wind from beneath this card’s wings?

• No Intro APR: Unlike other similar rewards cards, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card does not offer an introductory APR benefit for new members.

Thoughts Before Takeoff

The Platinum SkyMiles® Card offers cardholders exceptional value for its $195 yearly price tag. Cardholders can receive 80,000 SkyMileswhen they make $3,000 in purchases with their card within the first 3 months. This is a solid introductory bonus that can help supercharge a push towards higher Sky Club® status.

With regular use, the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card earns double miles for purchases made directly with Delta, and single miles for all other purchases. SkyMiles® cam be redeemed for a wide array of rewards, including flights with Delta or other SkyTeam alliance carriers, vacations through Delta Vacations, as gifts for friends or family, or purchases through Delta’s dedicated SkyMiles Marketplace,

The great value of the card continues past the initial earnings; however, as cardholders also receive complimentary first checked bags on Delta flights, in-flight savings, priority boarding, and more. Members can even use their Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card to purchase access to Sky Club lounges at an extremely discounted rate of just $29 per person, per visit.

Overall, the Platinum SkyMiles® Card is a very good choice for those who either frequently travel with Delta or another SkyTeam airline, and plan to use their card regularly while they travel. While there are other cards that may offer more perks, they either come at much higher yearly price-point or suffer from other serious flaws – from which the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card does not suffer.