Why the Amex Platinum is great for Delta flyers

Frequent flyers of Delta Air Lines have a slew of great co-branded credit cards to choose from – all offering the opportunity to earn Delta SkyMiles on everyday purchases. With options for both small business and consumer cards (with a wide range of annual fees), opting for a Delta credit card can be a good choice for loyalists of the airline.

But maybe you are hoping to earn points on a wider variety of purchases. Or, perhaps you occasionally travel with other airlines and want a card that’s a bit more versatile. Good news – there is another great option for Delta flyers. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-notch rewards card designed with luxury travelers in mind, and it also happens to come with benefits aimed at Delta loyalists.

Read on to learn more about the perks that make the Amex Platinum a great choice for frequent flyers of Delta.

The Platinum Card from American Express: At a glance

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why get this card? You can’t beat the Amex Platinum’s extensive list of luxury travel perks, including access to exclusive Centurion lounges. Read full review

More things to know: 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel and on eligible prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel 1X points on all other purchases 100,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months Extensive airport lounge access $200 airline fee credit for incidental purchases Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Up to $200 in Uber credits per year Hilton Honors gold status

Transfer points to SkyMiles

Delta Air Lines is a transfer partner of American Express, meaning you can transfer Membership Rewards points earned on your Platinum card to your Delta SkyMiles balance. Points typically transfer at a 1:1 ratio and are instantly available in your Delta account.

This is great news for Delta flyers for a few reasons. First, it is easy to top off your SkyMiles balance to book the flight you’ve been eyeing without having to fly to earn miles. Since the Amex Platinum allows you to earn points on all kinds of spending, it’s easy to rack up plenty of rewards to allot toward purchases or future travels.

Second, SkyMiles have a high potential value, depending on how you redeem them. We estimate the value of a SkyMile to be about 1.6 cents, on average.

In most cases, this is a higher value than you’ll get from your Membership Rewards points (if you don’t transfer them). So, not only will you be able to apply rewards earned on the Amex Platinum toward Delta redemptions, but you’ll stretch your points further by doing so.

Delta Sky Club lounge access

The Platinum Card from American Express is well-known for its lounge access, boasting best-in-class membership to thousands of luxurious airport lounges around the world. In addition to Priority Pass Select membership and entrance to plush Centurion lounges, Amex Platinum cardholders can access Delta Sky Club locations when flying with Delta.

If you already prefer to fly with Delta, you can gain access to these comfy escapes whenever you travel. There are Sky Club lounges in more than 30 major cities, offering perks like free Wi-Fi, complimentary snacks and beverages, flight assistance and meeting rooms.

Airline fee credit

The Amex Platinum offers several different credits that can help offset its annual fee, one of which covers up to $200 per year in airline incidentals.

Each year, you can select an airline to qualify for the fee – Delta being one of the many eligible options. Then, you’ll automatically receive statement credits to cover the cost of incidental purchases like baggage fees and in-flight meals.

Special deals on American Express Travel

American Express and Delta Air Lines have a special partnership, and there is no shortage of great Delta deals on American Express Travel – the issuer’s booking portal. If you prefer not to transfer your Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles, you can still use rewards to book a Delta flight.

You can often find the lowest available price for a Delta flight without ever leaving the American Express Travel portal. Plus, booking flights this way is the most lucrative way to redeem your Amex Platinum rewards.

Other credit card options for Delta travelers

If you’re a Delta traveler and feel that the Amex Platinum isn’t the right fit for you, no need to worry. There are other solid co-branded Delta credit card options that will still allow you to earn Delta SkyMiles, along with other benefits and perks. For each of the cards below, there is a business version, as well.

Keep reading to decide which co-branded Delta card might bring you the most value for your upcoming travels.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

If you’re unsure about carrying a credit card with as high an annual fee as the American Express Platinum Card, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card could be a great alternative. This card doesn’t charge an annual fee, while still allowing you to earn miles for future travels. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide, as well as 1 mile per dollar on everything else. In terms of a welcome bonus, you can earn 10,000 miles by spending $500 in the first three months of account opening.

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card

For Delta travelers who don’t fly super frequently, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a good option to consider. Not only will you earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide like the Delta SkyMiles Blue, but you’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (plus 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases).

You can also earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first three months. While this welcome offer certainly isn’t as high as that offered by the Amex Platinum, you’ll only pay a $99 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year).

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Are you a frequent Delta traveler? The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card could be the right card for you. This Delta credit card can help you quickly climb the Delta Medallion ladder and offers exclusive benefits, such as unlimited seat upgrades and one companion ticket each year upon card renewal.

In terms of rewards, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. There’s also a welcome offer of 50,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first three months.

The main drawback to this card is that you won’t earn significant rewards outside of Delta purchases, and there’s a $550 annual fee.

Bottom line

The Platinum Card from American Express has long been a favorite of frequent travelers thanks to its extensive list of benefits that take the stress out of trips. But, there is one kind of traveler that the Amex Platinum can be especially beneficial for: frequent Delta flyers.

From access to Delta Sky Club lounges to the ability to instantly transfer your points, the Amex Platinum offers plenty of appealing perks for Delta loyalists.