Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business
A $350-a-year airline card from American Express.
Rates, fees, and full terms are set by American Express and can change. See current rates & fees on the issuer’s site, and always confirm the latest terms before applying.
Our review
The companion certificate is the standout, on the right route it can be worth more than the fee, which makes this a strong card for a Delta-flying business.
The miles are locked to Delta, but the companion certificate plus free bag give it real recurring value for a business that flies Delta regularly.
Think twice if: your business flies Delta only occasionally, since the Gold Business covers the free-bag basics for less.
Our 6.8 out of 10 rating
Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.
Earning rates at a glance
Rewards: how it earns
You earn 3x on Delta plus a base rate elsewhere, in locked SkyMiles, and get an annual companion certificate, a free checked bag, and free employee cards. The companion certificate is the key perk, capable of beating the fee on a good route, and the free bag adds more.
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | 3% back | Bonus category |
| Dining and restaurants | 1% back | Base rate |
| Groceries | 1% back | Base rate |
| Gas | 1% back | Base rate |
| Streaming | 1% back | Base rate |
| Everything else | 1% back | Everything else |
The fine print on rates: Also earns 1.5x on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (up to 50,000 bonus miles per year), not shown in the per-category table.
Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.
Best ways to earn & redeem
Put your travel spending on this card to earn at its highest rates, and let a different card handle the categories it does not bonus.
When you cash in, redeem the miles or points inside the single loyalty program this card is tied to. We value every point at a flat 1 cent, so treat any transfer upside as a bonus rather than the baseline — see what your points are really worth.
Pros and cons
- Annual companion certificate that can beat the fee
- Free checked bag
- Strong 100,000-mile welcome bonus
- Free employee cards
- Miles locked to Delta
- $350 annual fee
- Value depends on using the companion certificate
The welcome bonus
The welcome bonus is strong: 100,000 miles after $8,000 in six months, a big SkyMiles haul and the main draw in year one.
Is it worth the annual fee?
The $350 fee is justified if you use the annual companion certificate, which can be worth more than the fee, plus the free bag. If you would not use the certificate, the Gold Business gives you the free-bag basics for less.
First-year value vs ongoing value
| Welcome bonus | 100,000 bonus miles |
| To earn it | $8,000 in 6 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $1,196 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $196 |
The welcome bonus makes year one the high point: roughly $1,196 in value once you count the bonus, this card’s rewards, and its credits, minus the $350 fee. After that, the honest figure is about $196 a year, so judge whether it earns its keep on the ongoing number, not the first-year headline.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent, on average spending.
Benefits and protections
Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:
- Annual Companion Certificate (domestic, Main Cabin)
- Free first checked bag on Delta flights
Statement credits
This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.
Who should get it, and who should skip it
If your business flies Delta and will use the companion certificate, the Platinum Business is a strong card, the certificate alone can cover the fee, and the free bag and earning add more.
If your Delta flying is occasional, the Gold Business is the smarter, cheaper choice. Step up only if you will use the certificate.
Alternatives to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business
Pairs well with
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business earns the most in its bonus categories, so pair it with a no-fee flat-rate card to cover everything it only earns a base rate on.
Frequently asked questions
Best-card guides featuring this card
Learn more
How does it rank for your spending?
Every card is ranked by what it actually returns on the way you spend. Run your numbers and see where the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business lands.
Calculate My CardOffer details verified against issuer sources as of November 2026. Editorial opinions are our own. Cardocrat values all points at a flat 1 cent and never inflates redemptions.
