The Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is back with the 70,000 miles sign-up bonus and the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express is also offering 60,000 miles. Here’s a look at the the Platinum Delta card and whether or not you should apply.
Update: Some offers are no longer available — click here for the latest deals!
The offer
- 70,000 miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases within your first 4 months
- $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 4 months.
- Offer expires on 7/5/17
- $195 annual fee not waived the first year
- 2X on Delta purchases
- 1X on general purchases
- Annual companion certificate in economy
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Sign-up bonus
- Earn 70,000 miles after you spend $4,000 within your first 4 months.
If you’re planning on also getting the business version of this card or another Delta Amex card, that extra month to hit your sign up bonuses could really come in handy.
What can you do with 70,000 Delta SkyMiles?
Roundtrips in economy start at 25,000 SkyMiles so that’s more than enough for two roundtrips across the country. You can also find some short-haul flights on Delta for as low as 5,000 miles one way and those can sometimes be great uses of SkyMiles. A roundtrip in business/first on a domestic trip may run you 75,000 miles, although with Delta’s dynamic award pricing many awards may be much higher.
International business class awards often get very pricey with Delta SkyMiles. For example, getting to Europe on Delta will cost you 70,000 miles but 85,000 miles on a partner like Virgin Atlantic, and that’s just one way. That’s a considerable amount of miles considering that you could book a roundtrip to Europe with ANA for only 88,000 miles.
Since there’s a business version of this card currently offering 70,000 miles too, the opportunity to combine earnings with these cards should be considered. Combining a personal and a business card would net you at least 140,000 Delta SkyMiles and that could get you a roundtrip with Delta in business class to Europe. However, if you’re interested in just earning SkyMiles, I’d consider getting this card along with Delta Gold card since that card would earn you 60,000 miles but come with no annual fee the first year.
Overall, I’m not big on Delta SkyMiles for various reasons. However, 70,000 miles is a lot of miles and it could be nice to have those miles on deck if you’re planning a big trip where you might need to a book a segment with SkyTeam partners. Keep in mind that if you don’t have any need for Delta SkyMiles any time soon, these offers tend to come around each year so you could always wait for the next round to come.
$100 statement credit
This $100 statement credit must be used within the first 4 months just like the minimum spend must be met in that time frame. Many have success with purchasing Delta gift cards and having this statement credit reimburse them.
Additional perks
The Delta Platinum Amex card also offers a lot of additional perks you typically receive with co-branded airline credit cards.
- Check your first bag free on every Delta flight for up to four passengers (savings of up to $200 per round trip).
- Priority Boarding
- 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets. Some in-flight purchases do not apply.
- Reduced fee of $29 per person for up to two guests to enter Delta SkyClub (you just need same-day ticketed air travel on any airline).
- Medallion Qualification Dollar requirement for the qualification year will be waived if you make at least $25,000 in Eligible Purchases in that year with your Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card
The reduced fee to SkyClub lounges doesn’t appeal to me since I generally have that covered with Centurion Lounge access and Priority Pass with the Platinum Card® from American Express. However, getting priority boarding and free checked bags is a nice perk for those who fly Delta and could more than pay for the annual come year 2 for many people.
In addition to the above benefits, the free annual companion certificate, in conjunction with the $100 statement credit, can definitely offset the annual fee, making this card a keeper for many individuals who fly Delta even just a couple of times a year.
Final word
For people who fly Delta often this is a strong credit card offer. Although the annual fee is a bit high at $195, 70,000 miles is a lot and the oppurtunity to climb elite tiers view credit card spend is a unique and valuable benefit. Consider combining this with another Delta card to earn more miles or MQMs, depending on your goals. Just remember that you typically can’t get approved for two Amex credit cards at the same time.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
