Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card Review [2024]: Is a Free Companion and Checked Bag Worth It?

Card basics

Who should get the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card?

If you have large business expenses coming up, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Card may be a good option. It has an impressive welcome offer where you can earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months.

But there’s one more thing. You must love flying Delta. Not only do you earn the most points for paying for your Delta flights and purchases with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum card, but the card includes many Delta-specific rewards, such as a boost to Medallion Status, an annual Companion Certificate, the first bag checked free, and Priority Boarding.

So, who shouldn’t get this card?

If you don’t fly Delta frequently or you love airport lounge access, look at the many other travel card options. Despite the mid-tier annual fee, this card doesn’t offer airport lounge access, which can be a disadvantage if you’re a frequent traveler.

In addition, after your first year, it’s worth considering if you’ll earn enough points to make the annual fee worth it. The card’s largest benefit is the 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels. But business owners also earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. So, there aren’t huge benefits for business owners who spend a lot, but if your spending falls in those categories and you frequent Delta, it could be worth it.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex benefits and perks

• Generous welcome bonus: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months after account opening.
• Get a major status boost: You'll receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and can earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases. Elite status comes with perks such as Sky Club membership, upgrade certificates, bonus miles, and baggage fee waivers.
• Free checked bags: You’ll get your first checked bag free when flying Delta. This can be a large money saver, even if you only fly a few times a year.
• Companion certificate: Renew your card after your first year, and you’ll get a companion certificate. This certificate is essentially a “buy one, get one free” for a domestic, Caribbean, or Central American main cabin flight. This is a perfect way to save money on flying with a client or significant other. Be aware the certificate does have terms and conditions to abide by, including paying the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights.
• Insurance coverage: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Credit Card covers you during your travels with baggage insurance, a roadside assistance hotline, and car rental loss and damage insurance (secondary coverage).¹²³ Plus if your flight is delayed more than 12 hours, you can also be reimbursed for up to $300 in unexpected expenses per trip.⁴
• TakeOff 15: New and existing cardmembers can get a 15% discount when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights. This discount does not apply to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: You also get a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck.
• Employee cards: Providing employee cards to specific employees helps you track business spending, and your company earns miles from your employees’ purchases.
• Year-end summary: Receive a categorized report at year’s end showing your company’s spending. The report breaks spending down by month and category and could help you make important business decisions for the future.
• Vendor Pay by Bill.com: You can enroll your card with Vendor Pay by Bill.com and streamline the bill paying process. Any bills paid with your card earn miles and you can easily manage your cash flow. The service is free for one user. If you have a second user, it’s free for six months, and then has a fee of $15 per month.

New benefits to uplevel your experience

• Resy credit: Receive up to $120 ($10 a month) in credits on U.S. Resy restaurant purchases made with your Delta card. You can create an account on Resy.com to get started.
• Rideshare credit: Receive up to $120 in credits ($10 a month) on rideshare purchases within the U.S. made with your Delta card. You must enroll in the program.
• Complimentary Upgrade list: Even if you don’t have Medallion status, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business Card members with an eligible ticket can be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• Delta Stays credit: You can earn one credit of up to $200 annually by booking your prepaid hotel or vacation rental on Delta.com.
• Five Star® status at Hertz: If you’re enrolled in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program and add the number to your SkyMiles account, you can get upgraded to Five Star® status.
• Expanded Buying Power: This feature allows you to exceed your credit limit for business purchases. The amount you can exceed your limit will show on your monthly statements and is subject to change based on payment history.

Earning & redeeming Delta SkyMiles

Best ways to earn

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business card offers restricted spending categories to earn rewards. If your business expenses are less about flying and more focused on other categories, consider the other Delta credit card options that allow more balance between rewards for flying and other non-travel-related purchases.

Maximizing your redemptions

Using your SkyMiles on Delta award flights is typically the best way to get the most value from your miles. Because of their lower redemption value, we generally avoid other redemption options, such as magazine subscriptions and Delta Sky Club memberships.

Of course, the goal is to maximize your Delta award flight redemptions. Here are a few expert ways:

• Stay on top of Delta flash sales: Delta has a dedicated page on its website for deals. We recommend checking it regularly so you don’t miss out on excellent sales, such as a 50,000-mile round-trip deal to New Zealand we saw in 2023.
• Explore partner flights: Delta flies worldwide already, but you can access even more routes through Delta’s partner airlines, like KLM, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic.
• Use the TakeOff15 discount: Most Delta credit cards provide an automatic 15% discount on Delta award flights. That’s one of the easiest ways to save on award flights that we’ve seen.
• Book short domestic flights: We’ve found Delta one-way flights for as cheap as 3,800 miles after the 15% cardmember discount. That can make for some easy and affordable trips on select short-haul flights, such as Salt Lake City to Los Angeles.

Delta SkyMiles American Express Card transfer partners

You don't have to limit yourself to Delta flights to get the most from this card's rewards. Delta is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, which has many airline partners. You can choose to use your miles to book award flights with the following partners:

• Aeroflot
• Aeroméxico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Alitalia
• Alaska Airlines
• Avianca
• China Airlines
• China Southern
• China Eastern
• Copa Airlines
• CSA Czech Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Jet Airways
• Kingfisher Airlines
• Kenya Airways
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Korean Air
• Malaysia Airlines
• Midwest Airlines
• Singapore Airlines

Other cards to consider

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card can be a great beginner’s credit card for small businesses. However, it isn't the only small business credit card that earns travel rewards, and it isn't the only credit card offered by Delta.

If you fly a lot, an alternate card to consider is the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card. This card has a $650 annual fee, but the generous welcome offer can help offset the cost. Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases in your first 6 months. You'll also enjoy premium perks like airport lounge access, priority boarding, a companion certificate, and more. Note that select benefits require enrollment.

If the Platinum card feels like too much to you, then consider the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold Business American Express Card. While this card is very similar, it’s a smaller investment, with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter, but it still comes with some perks. Plus it offers a welcome bonus. Earn 55,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 6 months.

Earn Valuable Frequent Flyer Miles

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Apply Now

Why We Like It

Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Apply Now

See how these cards compare:

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

• Access to Delta SkyClub®* and four complimentary one-time guest passes annually
• First bag checked free (for all family members)
• Access to Centurion® Lounge when you pay with your Delta Reserve card
• See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

• Earn 55,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
• Earn 2X points on eligible purchases at Delta and restaurants, and on eligible U.S. shipping purchases and eligible U.S. advertising in select media up to $50,000 per category, per year
• First checked bag free + priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter. Terms apply.
• See rates and fees | Terms Apply

FAQs

Bottom line

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex makes sense if you frequently fly Delta and want Delta-related travel perks, including a companion certificate, a free checked bag, and priority boarding. You can also receive complimentary upgrades, but they’re not guaranteed.

We think this is a great card for Delta loyalists who can take advantage of the many available perks. The companion certificate takes this card a step further than the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex. If you don’t think you’ll use that, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business likely makes more sense because it has similar benefits and a lower annual fee (free the first year).

If the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex doesn’t seem like the right fit for you, check out our list of airline credit cards to find a better alternative.

Earn Valuable Frequent Flyer Miles

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

4.6

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum Business American Express Card

Apply Now

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months

Annual Fee

$350

Rewards Rate

3X purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more; and 1X mile per $1 spent on other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Earn 65,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months
• Earn 1.5X points on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more
• Annual companion certificates
• Free checked bag + priority boarding
• No foreign transaction fees
• $350 annual fee. Terms apply.

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee

Card Details

• Welcome Offer: Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
• Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With the $120 Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Terms and limitations apply.