What is the Delta Platinum Amex signup bonus?

A contest pitting Amex Delta Gold vs. Platinum will probably resolve in favor of Gold for most people, at least after the first year. The Platinum annual fee is $250, while the Gold card fee is: $0 intro 1st yr, $99 after.

During the first year, the difference in bonuses covers the higher fee you pay with Amex Delta Platinum. After that, it depends on how much you spend and how much you value Medallion Qualifying Miles. Medallion Qualifying Miles, or MQMs, are miles that earn you Medallion status. Medallion is Delta’s rewards program for its most loyal customers. You need at least 25,000 MQMs to qualify, and you’ll earn more of them with the Platinum card.… read full answer

So, you can see exactly how the two cards compare, I’ll walk you through the differences below.

Here’s how Amex Delta Gold vs Platinum shakes out:

Initial bonus: Gold offers 70,000 bonus miles for spending $2,000 in your first 3 months, which are redeemable for $959 in Delta airfare. With Platinum, you get 90,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 in your first 3 months.

Annual Fee: $0 for the first year and then $99 for Gold, $250 for Platinum.

Membership renewal bonus: Gold does not offer one. Platinum gives you a companion certificate for a domestic round-trip Main Cabin flight. All you may have to pay is up to $75 in taxes and fees.

Annual spending bonus: With Gold, after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to inspire your next travel. Platinum offers 10,000 MQMs for spending $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times per year. One of the requirements for the lowest Medallion Status level, Silver, is to earn 25,000 MQMs in a year.

Rewards earning: With Platinum, you earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, and purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases. With Gold, you get 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar for all other purchases.

Delta Sky Club access: Platinum lets you use Delta Sky Club airport lounges at a discounted rate of $39 per visit. Delta Sky Club access is no longer available to Gold.

First checked bag free: Gold and Platinum both give a free checked bag to the primary card member and up to nine guests on the same Delta reservation.

Other benefits: Both cards offer priority boarding, extended warranties, purchase protection, return protection, and rental car insurance. The Amex Delta Platinum card also offers baggage insurance.

When it comes to Amex Delta Gold vs. Platinum, Platinum only makes sense if you spend and fly enough to get Medallion status.

You need 25,000 MQMs per year to hit the lowest Medallion tier, plus $3,000 total in Delta purchases. Medallion members earn at least 7 miles for every $1 in Delta purchases, and get baggage and other fees waived.

So, if you need a few thousand MQMs to push you over the edge, and plan to spend the $25,000 a year required for the 10,000 MQM bonus, getting the Platinum card could be worth it. But for most people, the Amex Delta Gold card is the better option. You’ll earn Delta miles at a similar rate, while paying a much smaller annual fee.

The Amex Delta Platinum annual fee is $250. The fee is offset by a Delta companion certificate, offered each year when you renew your membership and pay the annual fee. Amex Delta Platinum also earns you 90,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, which more than makes up for the cost of the annual fee. … read full answer

But you need more context to decide whether the fee is worth it for you. In particular, you need to take a deeper look at the card’s rewards, as well as the alternatives.

Here’s what you need to know about the Amex Delta Platinum annual fee:

• Amex Delta Platinum’s $250 annual fee is an intermediate offer in the Delta Amex pack: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card ($0) Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($0 intro 1st yr, $99 after), Amex Delta Platinum($250) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550).
• You get a companion certificate every year when you renew your Amex Delta Platinum membership by paying the annual fee. You can use it on round-trip Main Cabin domestic flights.
• Amex Delta Platinum offers 3 miles per $1 spent with Delta, 3 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. You also get perks like a Delta companion certificate every year when you renew your membership, free Sky Club access, and a free checked bag on Delta flights.

The Amex Delta Platinum annual fee is $250. The perks you get with the SkyMiles membership and the card’s initial bonus of 90,000 miles could make the annual fee worth it as long as you meet its spending requirements, and fly Delta enough. Otherwise, you could consider getting an airline credit card with no annual fee.

To get American Express Platinum’s annual fee waived, call the American Express retention department at 1 (800) 452-3945. State that you’re considering cancelling or switching cards because of the high annual fee.

American Express typically does not waive annual fees entirely, but it may offer a side benefit to offset the Platinum card’s $550 annual fee. Retention offers traditionally include statement credits, bonus points or spending bonuses. If there’s no offer, a customer can always cancel the card. Downgrading to an American Express card with a lower annual fee is also an option.… read full answer

If you’re requesting an annual fee waiver because of financial hardship, American Express offers a financial relief program for eligible cardholders. If you qualify, American Express will waive the annual fee, but depending on the program, you may not be able to use your Platinum card while you’re enrolled.

There is still another way you could possibly get American Express Platinum’s annual fee waived. If you’re a military member who meets the requirements for benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), American Express will waive Amex Platinum’s $550 annual fee every year that you’re on active duty. You’ll still get all of the card’s benefits, which include 5 points per $1 spent on airfare booked through Amex Travel, $200 annual credits for both airline fees and Uber rides, and more.