Delta SkyMiles Program Review

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card's benefits include up to $100,000 in travel insurance, free checked bags and priority boarding on Delta flights, discounted Delta Sky Club access, and 20% off refreshments and headphones when flying with Delta. Another Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card perk is its initial bonus offer: 90,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. This card offers benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranties, too.

Its travel insurance includes coverage for travel accidents, rental cars, and lost or stolen baggage. Since it's an airline credit card, most of this card's benefits are related to travel. But there's plenty to cover your everyday spending too. That includes return protection, which can reimburse you for recent purchases that you're unable to return for a refund. Making the most of these benefits will help soften the blow from the card's $250 annual fee.

Top Amex Platinum Delta Benefits:

1. Travel accident insurance: For flights, cruises, and other commercial transit methods, you and immediate family are covered up to $100,000 for serious injury or death on board. Pay for the trip with you Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to activate coverage.
2. Baggage insurance: If you pay for your flight with a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you and your immediate family are covered for lost and stolen luggage. You get $1,250 for carry-on luggage per person, and $500 for checked luggage.
3. Car rental insurance: If a car you rented with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card suffers theft or damage, you're covered up to $50,000. Your auto rental insurance covers repairs or the cost of the car. To active it, decline to buy the rental company's insurance.
4. Initial bonus: You get 90,000 miles miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
5. First checked bag free: When you book a flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, you and up to 9 people on your reservation get the first checked bag free.
6. Delta Sky Club access: Delta Platinum members get access to Delta Sky Club airline lounges for $39 per visit. A normal single-visit pass costs $59.
7. In-flight savings: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card members save 20% on in-flight food, beverages, and headphones on Delta-operated flights. The discount comes as a statement credit.
8. Priority boarding: Card members get to board with Zone 1 on all Delta flights.
9. Extended warranty: You can get up to one extra year of warranty on items purchased with this card. You can be reimbursed for up to $10,000 per item and up to $50,000 per year.
10. Purchase protection: If something you purchased with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card gets damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase, you could be eligible for up to $1,000 in reimbursement.

Several of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card's benefits make your flight more enjoyable. Others provide peace of mind about purchases. But the most valuable benefits are the different types of travel insurance it offers. That's one of several reasons this card makes the most sense for a frequent Delta flyer.

The best SkyMiles credit card is the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card because it offers an initial bonus of 70,000 miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. This is a limited-time offer, that expires 4/28/2021. The Delta Gold Card also has a $0 intro annual fee the first year ($99 after that), plus benefits like free checked bags. 

Best SkyMiles Credit Cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Best Welcome Bonus
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Best for Everyday Purchases
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for Benefits
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Lounge Access

For big-spenders in particular, the Amex Delta Platinum card may wind up being the best SkyMiles credit card because of its benefits. There's a limited-time bonus of 90,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, available until 4/28/2021. Cardholders also discounted Delta Sky Club access. This card comes with a $250 annual fee, however.

The bottom line is that if you're a Delta enthusiast who flies with the airline regularly, it makes good sense from a rewards perspective to keep a SkyMiles card in your wallet. If you're not partial to Delta, SkyMiles cards are probably not your best option. Expanding your selection to include other airlines will open up travel reward card possibilities comparable to, and in some cases more attractive than, SkyMiles cards.

The Amex Delta Platinum companion ticket is an electronic certificate that Amex offers after each account anniversary, in return for renewing the Amex Delta Platinum. The certificate allows cardholders to bring a companion on one round-trip domestic flight without buying another ticket.

The Amex Delta Platinum companion certificate will be available within a month after you pay the $250 annual fee required to keep the account open for another year. It is not available until your account has been open for at least 12 months.

To access your Amex Delta Platinum companion ticket, log on to Delta.com, go to “My Delta,” and select “My Wallet,” then “Credits and Certificates.” You companion certificate will be there waiting. To use your companion certificate, find the 8-digit code at the bottom and enter it on Delta's redemption portal. From there, you'll be able to search for and book eligible flights.

But before you redeem, there's some fine print that might affect your trip.

• You don't have to buy a second ticket to use your companion certificate. But you may still have to pay up to $75 in government-imposed taxes and fees, plus baggage charges.
• For most fares, you'll need to book 14 days in advance if you want to bring a companion. Your trip must last a minimum of 3 nights and a maximum of 30 days.
• You must book and complete travel by the date on your companion certificate. Normally, this is 13 months from the date it's issued.
• Both the primary ticket and the companion ticket must be booked for the same flight on the same date.
• You must book your entire reservation through Delta's website and pay with your Amex Delta Platinum or rewards to use your companion ticket.
• Only Main Cabin seats in coach and business classes are eligible for companion flights.
• If the person who bought the ticket is a member of Delta Medallion rewards, both passengers are eligible for free upgrades, when available. The companion just has to be a SkyMiles member. Upgrades are based on the status of the higher-tiered passenger.
• Companion tickets are non-transferable once a flight is booked. So, you can't switch companions.
• Companion tickets can't be combined with other discounts or sales.

The Amex Delta Platinum companion ticket isn't quite as free as it sounds, since you still have to pay taxes and fees. And there are restrictions about how and when you can redeem your certificate. But all in all, if you're an Amex Delta Platinum member, it's a great way to get a (nearly) free flight.

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.

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. 

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.

After a thorough Delta credit card comparison, the Gold Delta SkyMiles card is the best Delta Airlines card because it offers 70,000 miles when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months. The Gold's card's annual fee of $0 for the first year ($99 after) is a huge plus, especially if you plan on spending a lot during those first 12 months.

When comparing Delta credit card offers, it's important to focus on annual fees, initial bonuses and extra perks. That's where the biggest differences are.

• All Delta SkyMiles cards have some sort of initial bonus
• Most Delta credit cards have annual fees.
• Some offer priority boarding and free first checked bags.
• All of them feature the same APR range.
• All require a good credit score or better to qualify. All give at least 1 mile per $1 on all purchases.

But the devil is in the details. By framing your comparison of Delta's credit card offers in terms of your own spending and payment habits, you can confidently determine which card is best for you. It really comes down to how frequently you fly Delta and which perks you'll want when you travel. If a Delta credit card has an annual fee, you'll have to decide if you fly Delta frequently enough to cover the cost, which is as high as $550 for the SkyMiles Reserve card.

How much 40,000 miles are worth depends on the airline or credit card you earn them from and when you book your flight. On average, 40,000 miles are worth about $400. But it can vary widely. For example, 40,000 AAdvantage miles are worth roughly $456 in American Airlines airfare. With United, 40k miles get you $416 in flights. And 40k Delta miles are worth $532.

Here's how much 40,000 miles are worth by airline:

1. Lufthansa: $916
2. Southwest: $616
3. JetBlue: $572
4. Delta: $532
5. American: $456
6. United: $416

Credit card miles that aren't tied to a particular airline typically get you a penny each. But how you redeem your miles is really important, too. For example, the Capital One Venture Card's 50,000-mile initial bonus is worth $500 when used for travel but just $250 when redeemed for cash.

The best Delta credit card bonus is 70,000 miles bonus after spending $2,000 with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card in the first 3 months. Cardholders can also get a $100 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year. The Delta Gold Card's annual fee is: $0 intro 1st yr, $99 after. That's a big reason why this card comes out on top of the other Delta credit card offerings.

Another close contender is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. It offers 90,000 miles bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. However, at $250, the annual fee for the Amex Delta Platinum card is much higher than what the Delta Gold Card card charges.

Even with the higher statement credit from the Amex Delta Platinum card, travelers will get the best value from the Delta Gold Card card, especially in the first year.

There is no Amex Delta Platinum 70k mile bonus offer. That's because the 70,000 mile bonus was a temporary offer that expired. The current Delta Platinum signup bonus is 90,000 miles which is earned after spending $3,000 in purchases during the first 3 months your account's open.

It's also worth noting the Amex Delta Platinum annual fee is $250, so the initial bonus miles, while a good deal, need to be put into perspective. You need a few more pieces of information to get the full picture and make an informed decision.

Here's what you can get instead of the Amex Delta Platinum 70k mile bonus:

• You get an initial bonus of 90,000 miles for spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after opening your account.
• 90,000 reward miles are worth about $900 in Delta airfare.
• You currently need to earn at least 5,000 miles if you want to be able to redeem them towards a flight.
• Spending $25,000 in any calendar year gets you 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), while spending $50,000 or more in the same year will get you an additional 10,000 MQMs. For the calendar year of 2021, those who reach these two spending thresholds will get an additional 2,500 MQMs for each threshold. Unlike regular bonus miles, MQMs can't be used to cover flights. They go towards earning you Medallion status, a loyalty tier with perks such as free seat upgrades and extra miles per dollar.
• You need 25,000 MQMs to qualify for the lowest, Silver Medallion Status level.
• Medallion members get free upgrades when available, free checked bags, priority check-in and priority boarding, among other benefits.

The Amex Delta Platinum 70k mile bonus may no longer exist, but 90,000 miles you now get an even better deal. If you're a frequent enough Delta flier that you want to commit to the airline, snagging an extra 90,000 miles isn't a bad way to start.

The Amex Delta Platinum MQM offer is 10,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) for spending $25,000 in a year and another 10,000 for spending $50,000. Plus, throughout 2021, you'll earn an additional 2,500 MQMs for reaching each of these. All told, you can earn up to 25,000 MQMs for the calendar year of 2021. And that's on top of the initial 90,000 mile bonus. This offer is currently available for applications submitted until April 28^th, 2021.

Unlike regular frequent flyer miles, MQMs can't be used to book travel. Instead, they go towards earning Medallion status. Medallion is Delta's four-tiered loyalty program, whose benefits include extra miles on purchases, complimentary upgrades, and waived fees.

That's the MQM offer, but to earn Medallion status with your American Express card you also need Medallion Qualifying Segments and Medallion Qualifying Dollars. I'll explain those below.

Here's what you should know about the Amex Delta Platinum MQM offer:

• In addition to the Amex Delta Platinum 90,000 mile bonus, you can earn 10,000 MQMs for spending $25,000 in a year and another 10,000 for spending $50,000. You'll also get an extra 2,500 MQMs for reaching each spending threshold in 2021.
• You can also earn MQMs by flying Delta. Full Fare First and Business Class tickets will get you 1 MQM per mile flown, while Discounted First, Delta Premium Select, Business and Premium Main Cabin tickets will get you 0.5 MQMs per mile.
• MQSs are Medallion Qualifying Segments. They reward you for flying frequently rather than for flying far, so the number of flights you take will be the MQSs you earn
• MQDs are Medallion Qualifying Dollars. Medallion Qualifying Dollars are what you spend on Delta flights, aside from taxes.
• You need 25,000 MQMs or 30 MQSs and $3,000 MQDs (spending at least $3,000 on Delta flights, tax and fees not included) to reach the lowest Medallion status, Silver.
• You can get the MQD requirement waived by spending $25,000 with your Amex Delta Platinum in a calendar year. This waiver does not include Diamond Medallion Status, for which the spending threshold is $250,000. However, just meeting the MQD requirement is by far the more cost-effective option for most people.
• You earn Medallion status for the upcoming year, and your MQMs reset to zero at the end of each year. For example, your spending activity in 2021 earns you Medallion Status in 2021.
• Any MQMs between tiers that you have earned at the end of the year will roll over into the next year and count towards earning Medallion Status in the subsequent year. This means that if you have earned enough miles to put you between tiers, they won't be wasted. Moreover, all MQMs earned in 2021 will count towards 2022 Medallion status.

The Amex Delta Platinum MQM offer lets you earn Medallion Qualifying Miles by spending with your Amex card. The spending bonus along with the 2021 offer will earn you 25,000 MQMs for spending $50,000 which, in turn, will earn you Silver Medallion Status. And after 2021, you'll need to earn another 5,000 MQMs even if you max out the Amex Delta Platinum spending bonus.

Unlike the majority of airline miles, Delta credit card miles don't expire. American Express does not have any expiration rules for these cards, they simply defer to the Delta SkyMiles rulebook. The miles you earn get transferred to your Delta SkyMiles account, where they don't expire either. However, your miles may be forfeited:

• If you commit fraud
• If you request your account to be closed
• In case of death
• In case of violating the Program Rules