Amex Platinum Card vs. Delta Platinum Card [Detailed Comparison]

With similar-sounding names, it’s easy to confuse The Platinum Card^® from American Express, a popular premier travel rewards card, with the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, the airline-branded rewards card offering benefits for frequent Delta Air Lines flyers.

The 2 cards are distinctively different, yet both offer unique value for the ideal cardholder. However, it may come as a surprise that there are some similarities between the 2 cards, especially for Delta frequent flyers.

Whether you’re an avid traveler who appreciates premium travel benefits or a frequent Delta flyer looking for some of the same, you’ll find our take on the Amex Platinum card versus the Delta Platinum card of interest as we look at these cards from this slightly different perspective.

Let’s move forward with all the information you need to determine the value of each card.

Amex Platinum Card vs. Delta Platinum Card — Overview

Before we dive into the details of each card, we’ve put together an overview of each product so you can easily review the attributes of both featured cards side-by-side.

Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Delta Platinum Card
Earning	5x points on flights and prepaid hotels purchased directly with the airlines or on Amex Travel 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases	3x miles on Delta purchases and on hotels 2x miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets 1x mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Top Redemption Options	Redeem Membership Rewards points for flights via Amex Travel Redeem for travel on Amex Travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points	Redeem miles for flights with Delta and SkyTeam member airlines Redeem for Delta Vacations, Sky Club membership, Sky Club drinks, merchandise, gift cards, magazines
Delta Air Lines Benefits	Delta Sky Club access when flying same-day on Delta Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Delta Air Lines Use Membership Rewards points to book Delta flights via Amex Travel Earn Delta SkyMiles on paid or Pay with Miles flights	Free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Annual round-trip domestic companion flight certificate Discounted Sky Club membership 20% statement credit for eligible inflight purchases Faster path to Delta Medallion elite status: spend $25,000 to earn 10,000 elite qualifying miles, up to 2 times per year
Top Travel Benefits and Protections	Worldwide access to over 1,400 airport lounges Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (upon enrollment) Statement credits for airline incidentals, prepaid hotels, CLEAR Plus membership, Uber, and more (upon enrollment) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement Secondary car rental insurance; trip cancellation and interruption insurance; trip delay insurance; baggage insurance No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)	Discounted CLEAR Plus membership at $149 versus $189 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement Secondary car rental insurance; trip delay insurance; baggage insurance No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Shopping Benefits and Protections	Amex Offers (upon enrollment), extended warranty, purchase protection, cell phone protection, return protection Statement credits for digital entertainment, Equinox, Saks Fifth Avenue, Walmart+, and more (upon enrollment)	Amex Offers (upon enrollment), extended warranty, purchase protection, cell phone protection

Note that terms and conditions apply to all benefits and protections. Some benefits require registration, have minimum purchase requirements, or require you to add your eligible card to an associated merchant account for payment (such as Uber, etc.).

Additionally, this is not an all-encompassing list of every benefit available on these 2 cards, only a summary of core benefits. You’ll want to access each card’s Guide to Benefits for a full description and the terms and conditions for each benefit or protection.

The Value of a Welcome Offer

A welcome offer allows you to earn a lot of rewards in the first 3 months after card approval by meeting minimum spending requirements.

The Amex Platinum card and the Delta Platinum card each have a generous welcome offer. The Amex Platinum card, however, earns Membership Rewards points whereas the Delta Platinum card earns Delta SkyMiles. We estimate the value of Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents apiece, almost double the value we assign Delta SkyMiles at around 1.2 cents each.

Depending on how you redeem those rewards, the total value of each card’s welcome bonus will differ.

Here are the current welcome offerings for our 2 featured cards:

Amex Platinum

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Delta Platinum

Bottom Line: Welcome offers allow you to accumulate a large number of rewards after you’re approved for a card and have met the minimum required spending requirements. The value of any welcome offer will vary based on how you ultimately redeem your rewards. Both of our featured cards offer generous welcome bonuses.

Amex Membership Rewards Points vs. Delta SkyMiles

When we look at earning and redemption options for the Amex Platinum card and the Delta Platinum card, we find that while the cards earn different types of rewards, you may still accomplish similar travel objectives with either currency, especially if you’re a Delta frequent flyer.

Let’s compare the earning and redemption options for our 2 cards:

Earning Potential

As we mentioned previously, the Amex Platinum card and Delta Platinum card earn entirely different types of reward currencies.

We’ll discuss how each type of reward can be redeemed next, but here’s how you can expect to earn rewards with each of our featured cards:

Earning Category	Amex Platinum Card	Delta Platinum Card
Travel	5x points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline and on Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in purchases each calendar year) and prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel	3x miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases 3x miles for purchases directly with hotels
Restaurants/U.S. Supermarkets	1x point per dollar spent	2x miles per dollar spent
All Other Purchases	1x point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases	1x mile per dollar spent

Redemption Options

Earning points and miles is exciting, but the real fun happens at redemption time. Regardless of which card you select, you’ll have several opportunities to redeem your rewards for travel and more.

Let’s look at the redemption possibilities with these 2 cards:

Redemption Options	Amex Platinum Card	Delta Platinum Card
Flights and Flight Upgrades	Redeem Membership Rewards points for flights via Amex Travel Use your Membership Rewards points to request an upgrade for flights on your preselected airline	Redeem miles for flights with Delta and SkyTeam member airlines Upgrade tickets with miles Use the Pay with Miles benefit to redeem miles to pay for all or a portion of eligible flights
Transfer Points to Airline/Hotel Partners	Amex transfer partners	SkyMiles cannot be transferred to hotel programs or to other airlines Redeem SkyMiles for Delta Vacations, which can include hotels, and purchase award tickets with SkyTeam airline partners
Additional Redemption Options	Redeem for travel on Amex Travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points	Sky Club membership, premium Sky Club drinks, merchandise, gift cards, magazines, charitable contribution

Hot Tip: You can redeem Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card to book Delta flights via Amex Travel and earn SkyMiles when you fly. You can also transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta and book award flights directly.

Delta Air Lines Benefits

It’s natural to assume the Delta Platinum card would come with Delta-related benefits, but you’ll also find that the Amex Platinum card delivers its share of Delta-centric benefits.

Here are the Delta-related benefits that come with each of our featured cards:

Amex Platinum Card

Delta Platinum Card

Up to $200 airline incidental credit annually for eligible charges (separate from airfare itself) such as checked baggage fees when you select Delta as your preferred airline Receive Delta Sky Club access when flying on a same-day Delta ticket Transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio Earn Delta SkyMiles and 5x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent when purchasing directly with Delta or via Amex Travel Upgrade Delta flights with points (must select Delta as your designated airline before requesting an upgrade)

Free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta for cardmember and up to 8 traveling companions Domestic companion flight certificate each year; taxes and fees cannot exceed $75 Sky Club access for $50 per visit 20% statement credit for qualifying inflight purchases Spend $25,000 on the card and receive 10,000 MQM elite qualifying miles toward Medallion status up to 2 times each calendar year

Bottom Line: If you’re a Delta Medallion elite member and already have access to some of the perks and benefits that would be offered on the Delta Platinum card, you may want to consider the additional premium travel benefits and Delta-centric benefits offered by having the Amex Platinum card.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

Annual Fees

The Amex Platinum card currently charges an annual fee of $695 (rates and fees) and the Delta Platinum card charges $250 (rates and fees).

Adding Authorized Users

The Amex Platinum card charges $195 per card (see rates and fees). The Delta Platinum card does not charge for additional users (see rates and fees).

To learn more about the value of adding authorized users to your Amex Platinum card, we’ve provided a list of several benefits in our related article.

Bottom Line: While the Amex Platinum card has a higher annual fee and charges for adding authorized users, the card offers a broader collection of benefits than the Delta Platinum card.

Travel Benefits and Protections

Both the Amex Platinum card and Delta Platinum card offer these travel benefits and protections:

• Secondary Car Rental Insurance — Pay for your entire rental with your eligible card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary coverage for damage and theft. Secondary coverage means that you must file a claim with any other applicable insurance first before card coverage kicks in. Cardmembers also have the option to purchase Premium Protection for a flat fee that covers the entire rental period.
• CLEAR Plus Benefits — Pay for your CLEAR Plus membership with your Amex Platinum card and receive a statement credit for up to $189. The Delta Platinum card offers discounted CLEAR Plus membership for $149 each year, versus $189.
• Trip Delay Insurance — If your trip is delayed 6 hours or more for a covered reason, you could receive up to $500 per trip with the Amex Platinum card or up to $300 per trip for covered delays of 12 hours or more with the Delta Platinum card. Each card has a limit of 2 claims per eligible card per 12-month period.
• Baggage Insurance — Receive up to $2,000 for checked baggage and $3,000 for carry-on baggage per person, per covered trip, with the Amex Platinum card. The Delta Platinum card has coverage limits of up to $500 for checked baggage and $1,250 for carry-on luggage, per person, per covered trip.

Amex Platinum Card

In addition to the above benefits offered on both of our featured cards, the Amex Platinum card has these additional travel benefits.

• Hotel and Car Rental Loyalty Program Elite Status Benefits
  • Hotels: Enjoy both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors Gold elite status, complimentary upon enrollment with the card.
  • Car Rentals: Receive upgrades, discounts, and priority service with Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club.
• Additional Elite Style Hotel Benefits — Book your prepaid stay via Amex Travel with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotel & Resorts and receive room upgrades, on-site amenities, and more during your eligible stay.
• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance — Charge the entire amount of your eligible trip with the Amex Platinum card and receive up to $10,000 per trip ($20,000 per 12-month period) if your trip needs to be canceled or is interrupted for a covered reason.
• Emergency Evacuation — A huge benefit found on the Amex Platinum card is the emergency medical evacuation coverage, which has no stated maximum.

To learn more about the travel insurance benefits that come with the Amex Platinum card, check out our article on this specific topic.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Both of our featured cards offer several shopping benefits and protections that can save you money, provide increased earnings, or deliver a statement credit for specific purchases.

Here are some of the shopping benefits and protections you can expect on both cards:

• Amex Offers — Log in to your online American Express card account, scroll down your home page, and access Amex Offers that can save you money or offer accelerated earnings on specific purchases.
• Extended Warranty — For eligible items purchased with your card, manufacturers’ warranties of 5 years or less will be extended for 1 additional year.
• Purchase Protection — Purchase eligible items with your card and receive coverage for theft and damage for 90 days from the date of purchase for up to $1,000 on the Delta Platinum card and up to $10,000 on the Amex Platinum card. Both cards have a maximum of $50,000 per eligible card.
• ShopRunner Membership — Enjoy free 2-day shipping, plus special discounts with dozens of merchants.
• Amex Auto Purchasing Program — Receive preferred pricing with local dealerships, the ability to charge at least $2,000 toward a new car purchase, and up to $2,000 in after-sale benefits.

Amex Platinum Card

In addition to the above, the Amex Platinum card offers hundreds of dollars in statement credits for specific purchases:

• Saks Fifth Avenue Statement Credit — Receive up to $100 each year in the form of statement credits for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue. You’ll receive up to $50 for January through June and an additional $50 for July through December.
• Return Protection — If a merchant will not accept a return within 90 days of the purchase date of an eligible item purchased with your card, you could receive up to $300 per item (a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year).

Additional Benefits

The Amex Platinum card kills it when it comes to dishing out statement credits for specific purchases. However, the number of benefits you can actually utilize will determine whether the card delivers enough value for you.

Let’s take a look at some of the key offers that come with each of our cards.

Amex Platinum Card

You’ll find that the Amex Platinum card seizes every opportunity to offer a long list of discounts, statement credits, and ancillary benefits.

Let’s review some of those benefits found on the card. Note that some benefits require enrollment, so be sure to check your American Express account to get the most out of your card.

• Up to $200 Prepaid Hotel Credit — Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which require a minimum 2-night stay, through Amex Travel when you pay with your card.
• Up to $240 Digital Entertainment Credit — Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your card on one or more of the following: Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• Up to $300 Equinox Credit — Get up to $300 back each year on eligible Equinox memberships when you pay with your card. Enrollment required.
• Cell Phone Protection — Receive up to $800 to repair or replace your damaged or stolen phone. A $50 deductible applies, and there’s a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period.
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash — Link your Amex Platinum card to your Uber account and receive $15 each month credited to your Uber Cash account from January through November. In December you’ll receive $35 in Uber Cash. Uber Cash credits can be used for Uber rides in the U.S. and Uber Eats.
• Monthly Walmart+ Credit — Sign up for Walmart+, add your Amex Platinum card for payment, and receive a statement credit for the membership fee, up to $12.95 each month.

Delta Platinum Card

You’ll find fewer benefits on the Delta Platinum card, but keep in mind that the card’s annual fee is much lower. We’ll touch on that shortly, but here’s an additional benefit offered on the Delta Platinum card:

• Cell Phone Protection — Receive up to $800 in cell phone protection for damage or theft. There’s a $50 deductible per claim, a limit of 2 claims per year, and your monthly bill must be paid with your card.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer (especially if you have elite status) who appreciates premium travel benefits, the Amex Platinum card deserves your consideration. Whether or not it makes sense for you will depend on how many of its benefits you can actually use.

The Delta Platinum card with its $250 annual fee could easily provide enough value for the Delta frequent flyer with just its free checked bags and the annual companion ticket certificate.

Finding value with the Amex Platinum card involves a closer look. You’ll need to look at each benefit and determine which ones add enough value for you. For example, if you find value in Priority Pass Select membership, enjoy access to premium Centurion Lounges when traveling, and expect to use the airline incidental credit and CLEAR Plus credit, you’ve covered the annual fee. Any additional statement credits received for specific purchases would just add more value.

Want more options? Check out the Delta Platinum card vs. the American Express^® Gold Card and the Amex Platinum Card vs. the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefits of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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. For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. For the trip delay insurance benefits of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, 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. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.