Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business card review: A worthy business card contender
Editor's Note
Quick summary
- This business card is designed for frequent flyers of a major U.S. airline, offering perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and an annual companion certificate.
- Cardholders receive statement credits for select travel and dining purchases, as well as a head start toward elite status qualification each year.
- The card does not include airport lounge access, which may be a drawback for some travelers.
- Best suited for small-business owners who regularly fly with the airline and can maximize the included benefits.
What to consider
- Eligibility for the welcome offer is restricted if you currently hold or have previously held the card, due to a once-per-lifetime rule.
- Statement credits and certain benefits require enrollment and may have specific terms or merchant restrictions.
- The companion certificate is valid for main cabin round-trip flights to select destinations and must be used within the eligibility window.
What you'll miss from the article
- A detailed comparison of competing business travel cards, including which options offer lounge access or more flexible rewards.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card overview
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is a worthy card contender for Delta Air Lines frequent flyers. While its highest bonus category is only for Delta and hotel purchases, this card offers a suite of perks that make it worth its annual fee. These benefits include free checked bags, priority boarding, an annual companion certificate and several statement credits. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Delta Platinum Business Amex is the mid-tier Delta Business card. It can help you earn elite status alongside perks that offer a better passenger experience for a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees).
We recommend applicants have a good to excellent credit score to increase their chances of approval.
But is it the right card for you? Let's take an in-depth look to find out.
Delta Platinum Business Amex pros and cons
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Delta Platinum Business Amex welcome offer
The Delta Platinum Business allows new cardmembers to earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer ends Oct. 29.
TPG's September 2025 valuations peg SkyMiles at 1.15 cents each, making this welcome offer worth $1,150. This is the highest offer we typically see on the card (excluding a $100 statement credit with a higher spending requirement), which was last offered in July.
American Express limits who can apply for the card, and you're generally ineligible for the welcome bonus if you've previously held the card due to their once-per-lifetime restriction or if you currently have it. American Express will let you know if you're ineligible for the welcome offer before doing a hard pull on your credit, so pay attention to any messages that pop up while applying.
Related: Current Delta card welcome bonuses
Delta Platinum Business Amex benefits
Even without free lounge access, the Delta Platinum Business has many features that make it a worthwhile consideration for regular Delta business flyers:
- Award flight discount: Get 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card).
- Companion certificate: Use this companion certificate to bring a companion on your next Delta round-trip flight. It is good for a main cabin round-trip flight every year you renew the card, and it's valid for travel to all 50 U.S. states, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico.
- Complimentary upgrades: Complimentary seat upgrades on eligible flights after Medallion members for cardmembers who are not Medallion members.
- Free checked bag: When flying Delta, you and up to eight other travelers on the same reservation will get your first checked bag free. At a regular price of $35 a bag in each direction, even if you're traveling alone, that saves you a minimum of $70 on every round-trip flight where you would've checked a bag.
- Medallion Qualification Dollar headstart: Get 2,500 MQDs automatically deposited each calendar year.
- MQD boost: Earn 1 MQD per $20 spent.
Other benefits include:
- Delta Stays credit: Up to $200 annual statement credit per calendar year with Delta Stays, Delta's hotel portal.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit: You get a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee statement credit ($120 every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4½ years for TSA PreCheck).
- Hertz Five Star status: Complimentary Hertz Five Star status, a mid-tier elite status. (Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.)
- Inflight discount: When using the card, you will receive a 20% statement credit on purchases, including pre-purchased meals and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets.
- Priority boarding: You and up to eight other travelers on the same reservation can enjoy Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights.
- Resy credit: Up to $120 annual statement credit per calendar year (up to $10 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants.
- Ride-hailing credit: Up to $120 ride-hailing statement credit per calendar year with select U.S. providers (up to $10 monthly).
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: How to maximize the statement credits on the Delta Amex cards
Earning miles on the Delta Platinum Business Amex
With the Delta Platinum Business, you'll earn:
- 3 miles per dollar spent directly with hotels worldwide and on eligible Delta purchases, including flights, Delta Vacation packages, seat upgrades and selection, Delta Sky Club membership or passes, pre-purchased and inflight meals, inflight alcoholic beverages and audio headsets
- 1.5 miles per dollar spent on purchases on transit, eligible U.S. shipping and eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to $100,000 spent per year, 1 mile per dollar thereafter)
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
This earnings structure can be nice if your business frequently makes large purchases, but it does not provide the best return on these purchases, as it equals an approximate 3.5%, 1.7% and 1.2% return on spend, respectively, according to TPG's September 2025 valuations.
Related: The best business credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Redeeming miles on the Delta Platinum Business Amex
Your best option is almost always to redeem SkyMiles for air travel. Not only can you use your miles on Delta, but they're also good on Delta's other SkyTeam airline partners, along with nonalliance carriers like WestJet.
It does take extra work to find bargain redemptions on Delta since it doesn't publish award charts (and regularly adjusts prices on many routes), but they're out there. Check Delta's SkyMiles Deals page for valuable discounts on round-trip tickets in economy class and Delta One between specific city pairs.
Redemptions for seat upgrades are also an option, but there's no award chart, so you won't know how many miles it will cost until you book your ticket. (It's typically not a good value.)
You can also use your miles for upgrades on flights operated by partners Aeromexico, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, but know that you're not getting the best value for them.
Choose this option only if you really need an upgrade for a longer flight — such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) via Europe on Air France or KLM — and you want to save your cash.
Since the Delta Platinum Business doesn't come with a Delta Sky Club airport lounge membership, you could also redeem SkyMiles for one, though frankly, it gives you terrible value.
You can also transfer, gift, or donate your miles to charity. But again, redeeming your miles on Delta and partner flights will typically offer you the best value.
TPG senior editorial director Nick Ewen redeems his Delta SkyMiles for domestic trips, taking advantage of flash sales to help score phenomenal deals.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Which cards compete with the Delta Platinum Business Amex?
Some other cards may be a better fit if you're looking for a low annual fee or airport lounge access.
- If you want Delta perks with a lower annual fee: The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a good choice for getting Delta perks but with a lower annual fee of $150 ($0 introductory annual fee the first year, see rates and fees). You'll earn bonus miles on Delta, U.S. shipping and U.S. advertising purchases. And you'll still get Delta perks like a $200 flight credit after spending $10,000 on your card in a calendar year and a free checked bag. To learn more, read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex.
- If you want Delta Sky Club access: The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has a higher annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees) but comes with lounge access (with restrictions). You'll also get perks like an annual companion certificate, a free checked bag, and a $120 Global Entry statement credit every 4 years or a up to $85 TSA PreCheck statement credit every 4½ years. To learn more, read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex.
- If you want a card with more flexible rewards: The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers excellent travel benefits and earns rewards that you can transfer to Delta as well as any of American Express's other travel partners. It offers comprehensive lounge access to eligible cardmembers — including to SKy Clubs — but comes with a higher annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees). To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Business Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards and best American Express cards.
Related: The best business credit cards
Is the Delta Platinum Business Amex worth it?
This card is best for small-business owners and frequent Delta flyers who can maximize its airline-specific perks. The annual companion certificate alone can offset the $350 annual fee if used strategically, and perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and an automatic elite-status headstart add meaningful value.
That said, if you don't fly Delta several times a year, the fee may be hard to justify. The lack of Sky Club access is also a significant drawback compared to premium alternatives, especially for travelers who value lounge access.
Bottom line
The Delta Platinum Business is a solid mid-tier option for Delta loyalists who want to fast-track elite status and take advantage of the annual companion certificate. If you check bags regularly, fly Delta multiple times a year and can make use of the included statement credits, the $350 annual fee can pay for itself.
However, if you rarely fly Delta — or if lounge access is essential to your travel experience — this card may not be the best fit.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.