The American Categorical Platinum Card® is one among our favourite playing cards for reserving flights and a beast at incomes on this class.
Past that, the Platinum Card is a wonderful premium journey rewards card, particularly for frequent Delta flyers. It provides many assertion credit and perks that elevate the journey expertise.
Delta and Amex have an in depth partnership, so frequent flyers have some compelling causes to think about including this card to their wallets. This is what you need to know as a Delta flyer when contemplating making use of for the Platinum Card.
Maximize your airfare purchases
The Platinum Card is on the high of the mountain on the subject of incomes rewards when reserving flights, with only some different playing cards providing comparable incomes charges.
It earns 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare purchases made straight with the airline or by way of American Categorical Journey® on as much as $500,000 spent on these purchases per calendar yr (then 1 level per greenback thereafter). Based mostly on TPG’s October 2025 valuations, American Categorical Membership Rewards are value 2 cents apiece, making this a ten% return.
Delta SkyMiles is a 1:1 switch associate of Amex. So, should you switch your factors to Delta, incomes 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent is successfully like incomes 5 SkyMiles per greenback spent on airfare.
That is higher than what you’ll be able to earn on Delta flight purchases with a cobranded Delta bank card, as the utmost you’ll be able to earn is simply 3 miles per greenback spent.
Earn invaluable factors
The Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards factors that may be transferred to a variety of airline and lodge loyalty packages, together with Delta.
The Platinum Card shines by providing vacationers flexibility. You do not have to focus completely on the Delta SkyMiles program such as you would should you have been solely incomes SkyMiles with one of many airline’s cobranded bank cards.
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The Platinum Card provides the perfect of each worlds as you’ll be able to nonetheless use your Amex factors for Delta flights, however you have got many different choices to select from.
Delta could also be your most popular airline, however having a stash of transferable factors is helpful for the next causes:
- It provides you extra choices to guide airways and resorts that you just usually won’t contemplate
- You may typically guide tickets in your most popular airline by way of a associate at a decrease fee than reserving straight with that airline. Moreover, companions typically supply switch bonuses, which may make these award tickets even cheaper.
- Versatile factors defend you from loyalty program devaluations, which Delta tends to do ceaselessly.
- It minimizes the chance of airline bankruptcies and program suspensions.
Transferable factors, reminiscent of Membership Rewards factors, may even function a monetary security internet for unplanned bills and emergencies, as you might redeem your factors for money again, though at a poor redemption fee.
So long as you have got Membership Rewards factors, you have got SkyMiles everytime you want them. But when a unique alternative arises, you are prepared for that, too.
Associated: How you can redeem your Delta SkyMiles for optimum worth
Switch to Delta (and its companions)
As talked about above, you’ll be able to immediately switch the Amex Membership Rewards factors you earn with the Platinum Card (and different eligible playing cards) to Delta at a 1:1 ratio. It is a nice method to high off your Delta SkyMiles stability should you want further miles for a selected redemption.
American Categorical can also be Delta’s unique associate for its lineup of cobranded bank cards, so you will probably take pleasure in this profit for years to return.
Nevertheless, one of many primary causes to build up factors with Amex relatively than miles completely with Delta is which you can leverage the ability of airline partnerships past Delta’s SkyMiles program.
With the Platinum Card, you’ll be able to switch your factors to 16 different airline companions. Nevertheless, with a Delta cobranded card, you would be restricted to redeeming miles for flights operated solely by Delta and its companions.
For example, you’ll be able to switch Membership Rewards factors to Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership. That is particularly helpful as a result of you’ll be able to usually guide Delta One business-class seats by way of Virgin Atlantic for much fewer factors than Delta expenses.
As with all transferable forex, you need to solely switch once you’re assured that there is obtainable award stock and you might be able to guide your ticket. Transfers solely go a technique: When you switch Amex factors out, you’ll be able to’t convert them again into Membership Rewards factors.
Associated: How (and why) you need to earn transferable bank card factors
Airport advantages
Except for the wonderful incomes charges on flights, the Platinum Card has a number of day-of-travel perks that may prevent money and time and elevate your journey expertise.
Many Delta loyalists will go for the airline’s top-tier private card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, to entry Sky Golf equipment when flying Delta. Cardmembers are restricted to fifteen visits per yr, except you spend $75,000 in your card in a calendar yr.
Against this, with the Platinum Card, eligible cardmembers get 10 visits per yr (5 fewer), except you spend $75,000 in your card in a calendar yr to unlock limitless entry.
With each playing cards, eligible cardmembers can even entry Centurion Lounges. The important thing distinction is which you can solely entry them with the Delta Reserve card should you’re flying on Delta and bought your ticket with a U.S. Amex-issued card. In the meantime, with the Platinum Card, you’ll be able to enter the Centurion Lounge no matter which airline you are flying with.
Moreover, the Platinum Card provides an as much as $200 airline charge assertion credit score per calendar yr, which may cowl checked bag charges or seat choice on the airline you choose every calendar yr. (Enrollment required)
When you’re flying Delta (or one other U.S.-based airline) and do not need to get one of many airline’s cobranded playing cards with a free checked bag, you’ll be able to offset the price by way of your Platinum card.
Lastly, the Platinum provides an as much as $209 Clear Plus assertion credit score every calendar yr (topic to auto-renewal; enrollment required). Clear Plus is an expedited biometric safety program that allows you to skip to the entrance of the TSA line.
When paired with the $120 assertion credit score for World Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 charge credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years that the Platinum card provides, you will breeze by way of safety very quickly.
Associated: Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry
A purpose to nonetheless contemplate Delta cobranded playing cards
Whereas the Platinum Card is a strong all-around selection for Delta flyers, choose Delta cobranded playing cards have a definite edge.
If you wish to earn Delta Medallion elite standing, holding a Delta cobranded bank card can get you there sooner. You may earn Medallion Qualification {Dollars} by spending on one of many following playing cards:
You will additionally obtain an annual MQD Headstart that robotically deposits 2,500 MQDs on all these playing cards every year. When you spend sufficient yearly on a cobranded card, you might earn standing with out even stepping on a Delta jet. Moreover, should you maintain a mixture of any two of the playing cards above, you will obtain 5,000 MQDs, which is able to robotically grant you Silver Medallion standing.
The Platinum Card cannot enable you earn elite standing with out flying, so if standing is a high precedence, you will be higher suited with a Delta cobranded possibility.
Backside line
The Platinum Card has a steep $895 annual charge (see charges and costs), however the price could be simply justified should you make the most of even simply half of the perks obtainable.
The Platinum Card earns our high spot as the perfect premium card for Delta flyers, due to advantages together with Sky Membership entry when flying Delta, incomes versatile factors that may be transferred to Delta and a helpful as much as $200 per calendar yr airline charge incidental assertion credit score.
Nevertheless, should you particularly need to earn MQDs towards elite standing by way of spending and a welcome supply, you will nonetheless need to contemplate one among Delta’s cobranded playing cards.
To study extra, try our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum Card
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
