4 the reason why the Amex Platinum often is the ultimate card for Delta flyers

The Platinum Card® from American Categorical is one in every of our favourite playing cards for reserving flights.

Past incomes, although, there are numerous different the reason why the Amex Platinum Card is a good possibility for all kinds of air vacationers, particularly Delta frequent flyers.

Because of Delta’s shut partnership with Amex, common vacationers on the provider have extra causes than most to contemplate including this card to their wallets. This is what to know.

Maximize your airfare purchases

Few different playing cards can match the Amex Platinum in the case of the return you will get on airfare spending.

The cardboard earns 5 factors per greenback on airfare purchases made instantly with the airline or via American Categorical Journey^® on as much as $500,000 spent on these purchases per calendar 12 months (then 1 level per greenback thereafter). In response to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, American Categorical Membership Rewards are price 2 cents apiece, in order that’s like getting 10% again in your spending.

Within the case of Delta particularly, keep in mind that Amex factors switch to Delta SkyMiles immediately on a 1:1 foundation. So, incomes 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback is like incomes 5 Delta SkyMiles per greenback on airfare spending.

That beats what you’ll be able to earn on Delta purchases with a cobranded Delta bank card.

Earn invaluable factors

The Amex Platinum earns Membership Rewards factors that may be transferred to a variety of airline and resort loyalty applications.

You may switch your Membership Rewards factors at a 1:1 ratio to Delta SkyMiles. Nevertheless, you do not essentially should completely give attention to this system such as you would if you happen to had been merely incomes Delta SkyMiles with one of many airline’s cobranded bank cards.

It gives the very best of each worlds — you’ll be able to nonetheless use your Amex factors for Delta flights however you may have many choices past that.

Whereas Delta is likely to be your most well-liked airline, having transferable factors helps you for just a few causes:

• It offers you quite a few choices to ebook airways and motels you usually won’t have in your radar.
• It protects you from loyalty program devaluations.
• It minimizes the chance of airline bankruptcies and program suspensions.

Transferable factors, corresponding to Membership Rewards factors, may even function a monetary security internet for unplanned bills and emergencies.

So long as you may have Membership Rewards, you may have Delta miles everytime you want them. But when a distinct alternative arises, you are prepared for that, too.

Associated: A few of our favourite methods to make use of Delta SkyMiles

Switch to Delta (and its companions)

As talked about, you’ll be able to immediately switch the Amex Membership Rewards factors you earn with the Amex Platinum (and different eligible playing cards) to Delta at a 1:1 ratio. This can be a nice technique to high off your Delta SkyMiles stability if you happen to want additional miles for a specific redemption.

American Categorical can also be Delta’s unique associate for its lineup of cobranded bank cards, so you will possible have the ability to take pleasure in this profit for years to come back.

Nevertheless, one of many important causes to build up factors with Amex reasonably than completely with Delta is that you could leverage the ability of airline partnerships past Delta’s SkyMiles program. As an illustration, you’ll be able to switch Membership Rewards factors not solely to Delta but additionally to Virgin Atlantic. That is particularly helpful as a result of you’ll be able to usually ebook Delta One business-class seats via Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership for a lot fewer factors than Delta fees.

As with every transferable foreign money, it is best to solely switch while you’re assured that there’s accessible award stock. Transfers solely go a technique: You may’t convert Delta miles again into Membership Rewards factors if you happen to change your thoughts.

Lounge entry

Other than incomes, the Amex Platinum has a number of day-of-travel perks that may prevent money and time.

Many Delta loyalists will go for the airline’s top-tier private card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card, to entry Sky Golf equipment when flying Delta. The Delta Reserve will get you entry to Delta Sky Membership lounges. Cardmembers are restricted to fifteen visits per 12 months, until you spend $75,000 in your card in a calendar 12 months.

In contrast, with the Amex Platinum, you will get 10 visits per 12 months (5 fewer), until you spend $75,000 in your card in a calendar 12 months.

You may as well entry Centurion Lounges with each playing cards. The distinction is that you will solely get entry to them with the Delta Reserve in case you are flying Delta and you bought your ticket with a U.S. Amex-issued card; the Amex Platinum will get you entry, whatever the provider you fly with.

Lastly, the Amex Platinum gives an as much as $200 in airline charge assertion credit per calendar 12 months, which might cowl checked bag charges on the airline you choose every calendar 12 months. Enrollment required; phrases apply.

In case you’re flying Delta (or one other U.S.-based airline) and do not wish to get one of many airline’s cobranded playing cards with a free checked bag, you’ll be able to offset the associated fee via your Platinum card.

Associated: Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry

A motive to nonetheless think about Delta cobranded playing cards

Whereas the Amex Platinum is a superb all-around alternative for Delta flyers, there’s one space the place 4 Delta cobranded playing cards have the benefit.

In case you’re working towards Delta Medallion elite standing, you’ll be able to accrue Medallion Qualification {Dollars} by spending on one of many following playing cards:

You will additionally obtain an annual MQD Headstart that provides you 2,500 MQDs routinely deposited annually on all these playing cards.

These are advantages that the Amex Platinum cannot present, so if incomes Delta elite standing is a high precedence, you may wish to think about one in every of its cobranded choices.

Backside line

The Amex Platinum has a hefty $695 annual charge (see charges and charges), however the associated fee might be simply justified if you happen to benefit from the numerous perks accessible.

The Platinum card earns our high spot as the very best luxurious card for Delta flyers due to advantages together with Sky Membership entry when flying Delta, incomes factors that may be transferred to SkyMiles (or one in every of Delta’s companions) and a helpful airline charge credit score.

Nevertheless, if you happen to particularly wish to earn MQMs towards elite standing via spending and a welcome provide, you will nonetheless wish to think about one in every of Delta’s cobranded playing cards.

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Apply right here: American Categorical Platinum — however first test the CardMatch Device to see if you happen to’ve been chosen for an elevated welcome provide.

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For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum card, click on right here.