Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is the "sweet spot" for business owners chasing Delta Medallion Status without paying a luxury price tag. For a annual fee, you get the same $2,500 MQD Headstart as the expensive Reserve card, plus a Main Cabin Companion Certificate that can easily pay for the card itself. While it lacks lounge access, it is a cost-effective way to rack up MQDs and enjoy priority boarding.

At a Glance

• Welcome Offer:
• Rewards Rate: 3X Miles on Delta purchases and hotels; 1.5X Miles on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies); 1.5X Miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply stores (only after spending $150k/year? No, this is specific to Reserve. Platinum Business earns 1.5X on large purchases of $5k+ and 1.5X on shipping/transit/office supplies without the spend threshold? Let's clarify: It earns 1.5X on transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply stores automatically.); 1X Mile on everything else
• Annual Fee:
• Lounge Access: None (No Sky Club access, not even for a fee)
• Companion Certificate: One annual certificate valid for Main Cabin (domestic, Caribbean, or Central America)
• Status Boost: Receive $2,500 MQD Headstart annually + Earn $1 MQD for every $20 spent
• Statement Credits: Up to **$120 Resy Credit** ($10/mo), up to **$120 Rideshare Credit** ($10/mo), and up to $150 Delta Stays Credit
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None

Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is the mid-tier workhorse in Delta's lineup. It is designed for the business traveler who flies Delta frequently enough to care about Priority Boarding and free bags, but who doesn't spend enough time at the airport to justify paying for lounge access. It serves as a fantastic "status booster" thanks to the MQD Headstart feature.

Rewards & Benefits

• MQD Headstart: Every February, you receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars. Since Silver Medallion status requires $5,000 MQDs, this card gets you 50% of the way there automatically.
• Companion Certificate: Received upon card renewal. It allows you to bring a companion for just the cost of taxes and fees on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to eligible destinations.
• Rewards Structure:
  • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • 1.5X Miles on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more.
  • 1.5X Miles on U.S. shipping, U.S. transit, and at U.S. office supply stores.
  • 1X Mile on other purchases.
• Statement Credits:
  • Resy: Get up to $10 per month.
  • Rideshare: Get up to $10 per month.
  • Delta Stays: Get up to $150 per year on prepaid hotel/vacation rental bookings.

Fees & Requirements

• Annual Fee: .
• Foreign Transaction Fee: None.
• Credit Score: Requires credit.
• Global Entry/PreCheck: Receive a credit for the application fee every 4 or 4.5 years.

Borrower Experience

• Takeoff 15: Like other Delta cards, you get a 15% discount when booking award flights with miles. This stretches your points significantly further.
• Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding: You and travelers on your reservation get to board early, ensuring overhead bin space for your bags.
• Free Checked Bag: First checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions on the same reservation—a massive saver for team travel.

Who It’s Best For

• The Status Strategist: If you hold both the Delta Reserve Business and the Delta Platinum Business, the $2,500 MQD Headstarts STACK. You can start the year with $5,000 MQDs (automatic Silver Medallion) just by holding both cards.
• The "Main Cabin" Couple: If you are happy flying economy and travel with a partner once a year, the companion certificate makes this card a financial no-brainer.
• Small Business Spenders: The 1.5X miles on shipping and large purchases makes this a better "earner" than the Reserve card for actual business expenses.

Who Should Skip It

• Lounge Lovers: If you value a quiet place to work at the airport, this card is useless. You need the Delta Reserve or Amex Business Platinum.
• Solo Travelers: Without a partner to use the Companion Certificate, it is very hard to recoup the $350 annual fee unless you are maximizing the Resy/Rideshare credits perfectly.
• First Class Flyers: If you want to use a companion certificate for First Class, you need the Reserve card.

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Bottom Line

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is the most cost-effective way to buy Delta status. Even though the annual fee is $350, the combination of the $2,500 MQD Headstart and the Companion Certificate provides exceptional value. It is the perfect card for the business owner who wants priority treatment (boarding, bags, status) but doesn't need the ultra-premium lounge perks of the Reserve.