Is the Delta Platinum Card Worth an Extra 10,000 Points?

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UPDATE: This offer has expired.

Maybe!! Right now there is a limited time offer for the four co-branded Delta credit cards which is ending on November 8, 2017. While all four have a higher than normal offer (and a best ever offer!), the Platinum version of the card is offering 10,000 more miles then the Gold version of the card. And while the Platinum card also comes with extra benefits, it does come with a significantly higher fee.

Key Links:

Personal:

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Limited Time Offer: Earn up to 60,000 miles -> Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases with your new Card within your 1st 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card in your 1st 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $1,000 in purchases within your first 6 months. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Offer expires on 11/8/2017. *Terms Apply.
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express: Limited Time Offer: Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. $195 annual fee. Offer expires on 11/8/2017. *Terms Apply.

Business:

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express: Limited Time Offer: Earn up to 60,000 miles -> Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases with your new Card within your 1st 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card in your 1st 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $1,000 in purchases within your first 6 months. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. Offer expires on 11/8/2017. *Terms and limitations apply.
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Expres s: Limited Time Offer: Earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Earn a $100 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. $195 annual fee. Offer expires on 11/8/2017. *Terms and limitations apply.

So is the Platinum card where you can receive 10,000 more miles and extra benefits worth the higher annual fee?

As you can see from the offer, the two Gold cards have an offer that will give you up to 60,000 miles, while the two Platinum cards have an offer for 70,000 miles – with both of them you must meet the minimum spend requirement. I currently value Delta miles somewhere between 1-1.5 cents per mile. So receiving 10,000 extra miles is worth $100-$150 in my valuation. The annual fee for the Gold card is waived for the first year, then $95 every year thereafter, where the annual fee for the Platinum card is $195 (and not waived the first year). But, both cards give a statement credit after making a Delta purchase within the first 3 months on the card – the Platinum card comes with a $100 statement credit, while the Gold card comes with a $50 statement credit.*Terms Apply.

So if you are looking at the annual fee of just the first year, assuming you’ll use the statement credit benefit, you can think of the Platinum card costing you $95 ($195 annual fee minus $100 statement credit) and the Gold card actually making you a $50 profit ($0 annual fee minus $50 statement credit). Between the two cards that is a difference of $145 ($95 for the Platinum card + $50 for the Gold card), which is right in the ballpark of what your 10,000 bonus miles is worth. Ultimately, if you just take into consideration the annual fee, the bonus miles, and the statement credit, you are pretty much breaking even – for the first year that is! Every year thereafter the Platinum card will cost you $100 more then the Gold card ($195 annual fee for the Platinum card minus $95 annual fee for the Gold card).

So then why would you get the Platinum card?

Even though you might break even the first year (based on my valuation of Delta miles), the Platinum cards still come with some extra benefits. If you think you’ll take advantage of them, then the $100 difference on an annual basis can definitely be worth it. Here are some of the extra benefits that come with the Platinum cards:

Extra MQMs

A huge benefit is with the limited time offer, the Platinum card will give you 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you meet the minimum spend requirement. This can be huge if you think you might be slightly shy to meet your desired status. If you get both the personal and business version of the Platinum card, that can get you a total of 20,000 MQMs. Additionally, the Platinum cards will give you an annual MQM boost. If you spend $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll get an extra 10,000 MQMs. If you spend $50,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll get an additional 10,000 MQMs. That means you can earn a total of 20,000 MQMs every single calendar year PER Platinum card – that is if you are able to spend that that much on the card!

Companion Certificate

With the Platinum card you’ll receive a companion certificate upon account renewal (so you won’t receive it the first year, it starts the second year you have the card and every year thereafter after renewing the card and paying the annual fee). This will give you a domestic economy class ticket that can be used within the 48 contiguous states. While you will have to pay applicable taxes/fees they are minimal and will not cost more then $75. Essentially, the companion ticket can be used for anyone and is not limited to just the Delta cardmember. You are allowed to gift the companion pass to two friends to fly together if you desire. However, the tickets must be purchased with your Delta credit card. You can learn more about the companion certificate here.

If you already have the Gold card

Although American Express has a once in a lifetime welcome bonus rule, all four cards serve as their own product. This means, you are eligible to receive the bonus for every single card. If you have already received the welcome bonus for the Gold card, you can now move onto the Platinum card. Or vice versa! Same holds for the personal vs. business versions of the cards.

So which card should you get?

If you are just interested in the limited time offer bonus, then go for the Gold. If you are trying to earn status and need some extra MQMs, go for the Platinum. If you believe you’ll use the companion certificate and get more then the annual fee cost, then go for the Platinum. If you are looking to earn as many miles as possible, then apply for both!

Which card will you be getting?

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