Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card Review 2024

• Introducing the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
• Quick Facts
• What Is the Delta Platinum Business Amex Best For?
• Delta Platinum Business Amex Rewards
• Other Delta Platinum Business Amex Benefits
• Fine Print
• How the Delta Platinum Business Amex Stacks Up
• Is the Delta Platinum Business Amex for You?
• Methodology

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who needs help climbing the ladder of elite status each year, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card may be exactly what you need. You will earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & individual purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. You’ll also earn $1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) per $20 spent on the card, effective January 1, 2024.

The initial welcome bonus on this card is also generous. Cardholders can earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Note that the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card comes with additional benefits for Delta flyers, including a 15% discount on Delta-operated award travel, priority boarding, free first checked bag when flying with Delta, up to a $100 credit toward Global Entry or $85 credit toward TSA PreCheck® membership, statement rebates on in-flight purchases when you pay with your card and no foreign transaction fees.

• Annual fee of $350
• Welcome bonus of 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & individual purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases

Beyond those who spend a lot with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is best for someone who makes large business purchases. That’s because the card earns 50% more rewards (1.5 miles per dollar) on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more for up to $100,000 in spending per calendar year (then 1 mile per dollar). Just note that if your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply—for example, you would earn 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels instead of 1.5 miles per dollar.

The card also confers significant value beyond Delta flights. You’ll receive up to $440 in annual statement credits to offset expenses like dining, rideshare and hotel stays (we’ll discuss these in a minute). Some of these credits are a bit unwieldy in that they’re doled out incrementally each month. But if you can use them, the card can be worth its annual fee even if you never step foot on a Delta flight.

Earning Rewards

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card’s earning structure was created with big spenders and frequent Delta flyers in mind. If you’re approved, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & individual purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.

The card also earns $1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $20 spent. Plus, you’ll receive $2,500 MQDs each year through the MQD Headstart program to reward cardholder loyalty. MQDs are the new measurement of your SkyMiles status for the following year, and so these bonuses are an investment in elite status for the year ahead.

And don’t forget that there’s a welcome offer of 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Redeeming Rewards

Delta lets you redeem miles for flights to more than 1,000 destinations around the world. Even better, there are no blackout dates when you use miles to fly on any Delta Air Lines flight. Furthermore, if you find an award seat on Delta, you’ll get a 15% discount on your flight redemption thanks to your card.

Since Delta is part of the SkyTeam alliance, you can also use miles for flights on partners like Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico. In total, Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed on over 15 partner airlines. Note that Delta Air Lines does not publish an award chart for its frequent flyer program, so it can be difficult to know how many miles you’ll need for a flight. Award flights are priced dynamically, which means the cost of flights (in miles) fluctuates from day to day or week to week, depending on overall demand.

The card’s Pay with Miles feature gives you an airfare discount on purchased tickets. You can use this perk to secure a $50 discount for each 5,000 miles you redeem. Delta SkyMiles can also be used for more than airfare. Non-airfare redemptions include seat upgrades and Delta Sky Club memberships (Medallion members only), Delta vacations, SkyMiles experiences and even magazine subscriptions. However, these are generally not the best ways to use your SkyMiles.

Rewards Potential

To determine the rewards potential of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, we have to look at the typical category spending for an American household. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $118,438 annually, and could reasonably spend $39,337 of that on credit cards. Forbes Advisor bases expenses for a freelancer or sole proprietor on that number.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Rewards Potential
Category	Earning Rate	Estimated Annual Spend	Estimated Annual Earnings
Airfare and hotels purchased through Delta	3X	$3,628	10,884
Transit, eligible U.S. shipping purchases	1.5X (up to $100,000 per year)	$2,915	4,373
All other purchases	1X	$32,794	32,794
			Total: 48,051 Delta SkyMiles

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The average sole proprietor could feasibly earn 48,051 Delta miles each year. That’s usually enough for a flight to the Caribbean, or for multiple domestic round-trips.

• TakeOff 15. Receive a 15% SkyMiles miles discount when you book award flights on Delta.com or in the Fly Delta app for Delta-operated flights.
• Resy credit. Receive up to $120 per year ($10 per month) in credit to be used at Resy-participating U.S. restaurants (enrollment required).
• Rideshare credit. Receive up to $120 per year ($10 per month) in credit toward Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel and Alto (enrollment required).
• Delta Stays credit. Receive up to $200 per year in credits to offset the purchase of prepaid hotels through Delta.
• Companion certificate. Receive a main cabin companion ticket on a round-trip domestic, Caribbean or Central American flight annually upon card renewal. Just pay taxes and fees.
• Hertz Five Star status. Cardholders will get their current Hertz status upgraded after enrollment. This comes with rental car upgrades (when available), a wider selection of vehicles and more.
• Complimentary upgrade list. Simply holding this card makes you eligible for free seat upgrades behind Delta Medallion members and cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
• Discounts on in-flight purchases. Get a 20% statement credit on in-flight Delta purchases of food, beverages, audio headsets, and more.
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Use your credit card for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership and receive a fee credit of up to $100. This credit is good every four years for Global Entry or every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.
• First checked bag free. Receive a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your itinerary on a Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
• Priority boarding. Receive Main Cabin boarding on Delta flights for yourself and up to eight companions traveling on your itinerary.
• Cellphone protection¹. When you pay your phone bill with this credit card, you’ll get up to $800 in cell phone coverage per claim (max two claims per 12-month period) with a $50 deductible.
• Baggage insurance². Provides coverage for eligible lost, damaged or stolen baggage⁠.
• Car rental loss and damage insurance³. When you use your card to pay for a rental vehicle and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter, you may receive secondary auto coverage in an eligible territory.
• Extended warranty⁴. Get up to one additional year of warranty coverage on an eligible manufacturer’s warranty when you pay with your card.
• Purchase protection⁵. Covers eligible purchases from damage, loss or theft for up to 90 days. Terms Apply.

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
• Purchase intro APR: N/A
• Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual fee: $350
• Balance transfer fee: N/A
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

If you’re considering other Delta credit cards and you travel frequently, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card should be on your list. This card comes with a higher annual fee (terms apply, see rates & fees), but you’ll get access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling with Delta, and even American Express Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges when you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (effective February 1, 2025, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter).

The card offers similar statement credits to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, but they’re more impressive. Each year, you’ll get up to $240 in Resy Credit ($20 per month), up to $120 in Rideshare Credit ($10 per month) and up to $250 in Delta Stays Credit. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

The card earns $1 MQD per $10 spent, which is twice the earning rate of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. So, if earning status is a goal, the Reserve may be a better fit for you.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

If you want a co-branded Delta credit card for your business but want to pay a lower annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) could be a solid choice. You’ll earn a generous welcome bonus of 55,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. Cardholders will earn 2 miles per dollar on eligible purchases with U.S. shipping providers and U.S. advertising in select media up to $50,000 per category per year, 2 miles per dollar on purchases directly with Delta and at restaurants and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.

In exchange for the lower annual fee, this card offers fewer benefits and no help reaching elite status with the airline. It also comes with fewer credits—though there are still some excellent ones, including up to $150 in Delta Stays Credit for holding the card and a $200 Delta Flight Credit each calendar year you spend at least $10,000 on the card.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

If you want to earn premium rewards but you don’t care about specific frequent flyer benefits with Delta, then you should also consider The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees).

This business card starts you off with a sizable welcome bonus: 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases with the card within the first 3 months of card membership.

You’ll also earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. Keep in mind that Membership Rewards points transfer to Delta and other airline and hotel loyalty programs, so you can move points into your Delta account as you need them.

While this card does come with a steep $695 annual fee, you’ll get benefits like airport lounge access with the Global Lounge Collection, which includes a Priority Pass Select membership with enrollment, entry into Amex Centurion Lounges and access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, though this is changing February 1, 2025. At that point, cardholders will receive 10 visits per card member year. You’ll also get a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership, a $189 CLEAR® Plus credit, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors™ Gold status once you enroll, and more.

Related: Best Business Credit Cards of 2024

Are you a regular Delta flyer who wants to earn status and coveted frequent flyer perks? If so, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card could meet your needs. At the very least, you could apply for this card, earn the welcome bonus and try out the perks for the first year before you decide whether to keep it for the long haul.

Before deciding, you should compare other Delta credit cards to see how those offers align with your normal spending style and travel goals. And, if you’re not loyal to Delta Air Lines, you should check out other airline credit cards, as well as flexible travel credit cards, that let you use your rewards for travel in a variety of ways.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards

To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
¹Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
²Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
³Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
⁴When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
⁵When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.