He American Express Platinum® Card is one of our favorite cards to book flights and a beast winning in this category.
Beyond that, the Platinum Card is an excellent premium travel rewards cardespecially for Delta frequent flyers. Offers many statement credits and perks that enhance the travel experience.
Delta and Amex They have a close collaboration, so frequent travelers have some compelling reasons to consider adding this card to their wallets. Here’s what you should know as a Delta traveler when considering applying for the Platinum Card.
Maximize your airline ticket purchases
He Platinum Card is at the top of the mountain when it comes to earning rewards when flight bookingand only a few other cards offer comparable win rates.
Earn 5 points for every dollar spent on airfare purchases made directly with the airline or through American Express Travel® up to $500,000 spent on these purchases per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar thereafter). Based on TPG October 2025 ratingsAmerican Express membership rewards are worth 2 cents each, yielding a 10% return.
Delta SkyMiles is a 1:1 Amex transfer partner. So, if you transfer your points to Delta, earning 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent is effectively like earning 5 SkyMiles for every dollar spent on airfare.
This is better than what you can earn on Delta flight purchases with a co-branded Delta credit cardsince the most you can earn is just 3 miles for every dollar spent.
Earn valuable points
He Platinum Card win Membership Rewards Points which can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programsincluding Delta.
The Platinum Card shines by offering flexibility to travelers. You don’t need to focus exclusively on the Delta SkyMiles program like you would if you were just earning SkyMiles with one of the airline’s co-branded credit cards.
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The Platinum card offers the best of both worlds, as you can still use your Amex points for Delta flights, but you have plenty of other options to choose from.
Delta may be your airline of choice, but having a reserve of transferable points is beneficial for the following reasons:
- Gives you more options for booking airlines and hotels you wouldn’t normally consider
- You can sometimes book tickets on your preferred airline through a partner at a lower rate than if you book directly with that airline. Additionally, sometimes partners offer transfer bonuses, which can make these award tickets even cheaper.
- Flexible points protect you from loyalty program devaluationswhich Delta tends to do frequently.
- Minimizes the risk of airline bankruptcies and program suspensions.
Transferable points, such as Membership Rewards points, can even serve as financial safety net for unplanned expenses and emergencies, as you could redeem your points for cash back, albeit at a low redemption rate.
As long as you have Membership Rewards points, you’ll have SkyMiles whenever you need them. But if a different opportunity arises, you’ll be prepared for that too.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Transfer to Delta (and its partners)
As mentioned above, you can instantly transfer the Amex Membership Rewards points you earn with it Platinum Card (and other eligible cards) to Delta at a 1:1 ratio. This is a great way to top up your Delta SkyMiles balance if you need additional miles for a particular redemption.
American Express is also Delta’s exclusive partner for its line of co-branded credit cards, so you’ll likely enjoy this benefit for years to come.
However, one of the main reasons to earn points with Amex instead of miles exclusively with Delta is that you can leverage the power of airline partnerships beyond Delta’s SkyMiles program.
With the Platinum Card, you can transfer your points to 16 other airline partners. However, with a Delta co-branded card, you would be limited to redeeming miles for flights operated solely by Delta and its partners.
For example, you can transfer Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flight Club. This is especially useful because you can often reserve Delta One Business Class Seats through Virgin Atlantic for many fewer points than Delta charges.
As with any transferable currency, you should only transfer when you are sure there is prize inventory available and you are ready to reserve your ticket. Transfers are only made in one direction: once you transfer Amex points, you cannot convert them back to Membership Rewards points.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Airport benefits
Aside from the excellent earning rates on flights, the Platinum Card It has several day-trip benefits that can save you time and money and improve your travel experience.
Many Delta loyalists will opt for the airline’s top-tier personal card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Cardto access sky clubs when flying Delta. Cardholders are limited to 15 visits per year unless they spend $75,000 on their card in a calendar year.
By contrast, with the Platinum Card, eligible cardholders get 10 visits per year (five fewer), unless they spend $75,000 on their card in a calendar year to unlock unlimited access.
With both cards, eligible cardholders can also access Centurion Rooms. The key difference is that you can only access them with the Delta Reserve Card if you fly Delta and purchased your ticket with a US Amex-issued card. Meanwhile, with the Platinum Card, you can enter the Centurion Lounge regardless of which airline you fly with.
Additionally, the Platinum Card offers up to $200 credit on airline fare statement per calendar year, which can cover checked baggage fees either seat selection on the airline you select each calendar year. (Registration required)
If you fly with Delta (or another US-based airline) and don’t want to get one of the airline’s co-branded cards with a free checked bag, you can offset the cost through your Platinum Card.
Lastly, the Platinum offers up to $209 Claro Plus statement credit each calendar year (subject to automatic renewal; enrollment required). Clear Plus is an expedited biometric security program that gets you to the front of the TSA line.
When combined with the $120 Statement Credit for Global Entry every four years or a rate credit of up to $85 per TSA Precheck every 4½ years that the Platinum Card offers, you’ll breeze through security in no time.
Related: The best credit cards to access airport VIP lounges
A reason to continue considering Delta co-branded cards
While the Platinum Card It’s a solid, versatile option for Delta travelers; Some Delta co-branded cards have a distinct advantage.
If you want to win Delta Medallion Elite StatusHaving a Delta co-branded credit card can get you there faster. You can earn Medallion Qualification Dollars by spending on one of the following cards:
You will also receive an annual MQD Headstart that automatically deposits 2,500 MQD into all of these cards each year. If you spend enough annually on a co-branded card, you could earn status without ever getting on a Delta plane. Additionally, if you have a combination of two of the cards above, you will receive 5,000 MQD, which will automatically grant you Silver Medallion status.
The Platinum Card can’t help you earn elite status without flying, so if status is a top priority, a Delta co-branded option will be better suited for you.
In a nutshell
He Platinum Card has a hefty annual fee of $895 (see rates and fees), but the cost can easily be justified if you take advantage of even just half of the benefits available.
The Platinum Card earns our top spot as the the best premium card for Delta travelersthanks to benefits that include access to Sky Club when flying Delta, earning flexible points that can be transferred to Delta, and a helpful statement credit incidental to airfares of up to $200 per calendar year.
However, if you specifically want to earn MQDs to reach elite status through spending and a welcome offer, you’ll still want to consider one of Delta co-branded cards.
For more information, see our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: American Express Platinum Card
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
