The Platinum Card from American Express vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: The Platinum Card from American Express on hotels, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican Express · $895/yr
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- The Platinum Card from American Express$895Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card$350Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAs high as 175,000 points — offers varyDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAs high as 90,000 miles — offers vary
- Rewards
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican Express Membership RewardsDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles
- Foreign transaction fee
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressNoneDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardNone
- Network
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican ExpressDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Flights
- The Platinum Card from American Express5xHighestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1x
- Hotels
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card3xHighest
- Dining
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2xHighest
- Grocery Stores
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $600 lodging credit
- $250 Airbnb Experiences credit
- $219 CLEAR Plus credit
- $200 airline credit
- $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $150 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $200 Uber Cash
- $120 Uber One credit
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $400 Resy credit
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $10/mo Resy · $10 monthly
- Entertainment & streaming
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $300 streaming credit
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card— - Shopping & wellness
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $300 Equinox credit
- $300 Lululemon credit
- $200 Oura Ring credit
- $155 Walmart+ credit
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Airspace Lounge access at US airports with 2 guests
- 26 Centurion Lounges worldwide with premium dining
- 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta
- Escape Lounge access at US airports with food and beverages
- International Amex Lounges at select global airports
- Global Lounge Collection with 1,550+ airport lounges
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Lufthansa Business Lounge access on Lufthansa Group
- Plaza Premium Lounge access at airports with Global Lounge
- Priority Pass Select with 1,300+ lounges globally
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card— - Hotel status & programs
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Hilton Gold with 80% bonus points and breakfast
- Leaders Club Sterling Status at Leading Hotels
- Marriott Gold with 25% bonus points and upgrades
- Fine Hotels + Resorts: $100 credits and upgrades
- Hotel Collection access with room upgrades and credits
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card— - Airline perks
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Platinum Member Airfares, 10% average premium savings
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions
- Complimentary Upgrade List
- Car rental
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card— - Other perks
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- Premium Events Collection™
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 Platinum Concierge for travel and lifestyle help
- Free expedited card replacement in 24-48 hours worldwide
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Entertainment access with exclusive presales and VIP events
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases save
- Roadside assistance with up to 4 service calls per year
- Platinum Nights by Resy
- Platinum Travel Service
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Amex Offers
- MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $10,000 trip cancellation coverage per covered trip
- $500 trip delay Cover for delays exceeding 6 hours
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours
- Baggage
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
- Rental car
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $100,000 primary rental car coverage for $20-$25/rental
- $75,000 car rental loss and damage insurance
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Car rental insurance up to $50,000
- Purchase & returns
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $10,000 purchase Cover against theft and damage for 90 days
- $300 return Cover when merchants won't accept returns within
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
- Extended warranty
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
- Other protections
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
- Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free
- $200/year Uber Cash plus a $120 Uber One membership credit
- $400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants
- Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast
- 5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America)
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
- Cons
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even
- Many credits require specific merchants (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura)
- Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning
- Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary
- $195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits
- Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal
- No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve)
- Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options
- Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard
Category-by-Category Winner
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The The Platinum Card from American Express leads in 0. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Hotels
Depends: via amextravel
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
Vacation Rentals
Depends: via issuer travel portal; Link an Airbnb account in your name to your American Express online account and book prepaid through Amex Travel; Airbnb bookings made directly with Airbnb earn 1X.
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Flights
Depends: via AmexTravel; up to $500,000/yr
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | The Platinum Card from American Express | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,381 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $666 Year one: $666 | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,381 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $1,206 Year one: $1,206 | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr — that's $545 more than the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card ($350/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $545 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The The Platinum Card from American Express includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $545 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $545 fee gap means the The Platinum Card from American Express needs roughly $545 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and vacation rentals and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
Choosing The Platinum Card from American Express means losing:
- -Free checked bags
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the The Platinum Card from American Express if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr — a $545 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the The Platinum Card from American Express worth the higher annual fee?
- The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr vs $350/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $545 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the The Platinum Card from American Express also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the The Platinum Card from American Express or Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the The Platinum Card from American Express have that the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card doesn't?
- The The Platinum Card from American Express offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection.
- Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express or the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a lower $350/yr fee; the The Platinum Card from American Express must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $895/yr.
Related Comparisons
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.