【Updated 1/17】OneMoreDay originally wrote this post at the beginning of last year (2017), highlighting three benefits of applying for the Delta Platinum credit card early in the year. Now that it’s the beginning of 2018, the same ideas still apply, so we’re republishing it with slight edits in hopes that it will help with your card application decisions.
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Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card currently has a limited-time all-time-high welcome bonus: spend $3000 within the first three months and earn 70,000 Delta miles + 10,000 MQMs (which count toward elite status). If you make Delta purchases with the card within the first three months, you can also receive a $100 credit. The $195 annual fee is not waived for the first year. Each year, you can also receive one companion certificate valid within the 48 contiguous U.S. states. Here is our recommended application link.
Today, OneMoreDay will explain why it’s best to apply for this credit card at the beginning of the year.
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The 10,000 MQMs from the welcome bonus count toward 2017 elite qualifying miles
If you are not already a Delta elite member, the 10,000 MQMs from the Delta Platinum credit card can help you reach Delta elite status faster. Some people who applied near the end of 2017 complained that their 10,000 MQMs seemed to disappear quickly. That’s because the MQMs earned after completing the welcome bonus last year counted for 2017, so they reset at the end of 2017. If you apply now, however, those MQMs will remain valid for almost a full year (resetting at the end of 2018), giving you more time to work toward Delta elite status.
Delta elite benefits are as follows (benefits of lower tiers are included in higher tiers and won’t be repeated below):
- Silver status (requires 25,000 MQM): Complimentary domestic upgrades (confirmed within 24h before departure), free Comfort+ seat selection on domestic flights within 24h of departure (for you and your travel companion), Priority Check-in, Priority boarding, and 7 miles/$ on Delta ticket purchases.
- Gold status (requires 50,000 MQM): Complimentary domestic upgrades (confirmed within 72h before departure), free Comfort+ seat selection on domestic flights within 72h of departure (for you and your travel companion), free Same-Day Confirmed changes, free Same-Day Standby, Priority security, priority baggage handling, SkyTeam lounge access, 8 miles/$ on Delta ticket purchases, and Hertz Five Star status.
- Platinum status (requires 75,000 MQM): Complimentary domestic upgrades (confirmed within 120h before departure), free Comfort+ seat selection on domestic flights after booking (for you and your travel companion), 9 miles/$ on Delta ticket purchases, and no award ticket change or redeposit fees.
Choose one benefit (including 4 regional upgrade certificates within the U.S., 20,000 Delta miles, gifting Silver status to one person, one Global Entry Voucher, or a $200 gift card). SPG hotel priority Check-in, late checkout, in-room high-speed internet, and suite upgrades. Hertz President's Circle status.
- Diamond status (requires 125,000 MQM): Complimentary domestic upgrades (confirmed more than 120h before departure), 11 miles/$ on Delta ticket purchases, and the ability to choose three benefits (including 8 regional upgrade certificates within the U.S., or 4 global upgrade certificates, or 2 global upgrade certificates + 4 regional upgrade certificates within the U.S., 25,000 Delta miles, gifting Gold status to one person, two Global Entry Vouchers, a $200 gift card, or Delta Sky Club membership).
Your spending after opening the card counts toward the annual spending threshold
Another great feature of the Delta Platinum credit card is that for each calendar year, if you spend $25,000, you earn 10,000 MQMs + 10,000 Delta miles; if you spend $50,000, you earn another 10,000 MQMs + 10,000 Delta miles. That means your first $50,000 in spending can earn as much as 1.4 miles/$.
If you open the card this year and spend $25,000, you can earn 105,000 Delta miles + 20,000 MQMs. One domestic trip can make it easy to reach Silver status (complimentary upgrades, Comfort+ selection, etc.). Also, since the $25,000 threshold is based on the calendar year, opening the card now means the initial $3,000 required for the welcome bonus also counts toward that $25,000, so you only need an additional $22,000 in spending. If you are a heavy spender/MS user and can spend $50,000, you can earn 140,000 Delta miles + 30,000 MQMs and automatically get Silver status. One trip back to your home country plus one vacation could make it easy to reach Gold status and enjoy benefits such as free same-day flight changes.
Among the five major North American airlines (UA, AA, DL, AS, AC), Delta is the only one whose credit cards can earn elite-qualifying miles. From that perspective, Delta’s credit cards are quite generous.
The current offer is an all-time high
The 70,000 Delta miles + 10,000 MQMs + $100 top-tier bonus is only available for a limited time and expires on January 31. In other words, to be safe, applying within these two weeks is the best way to lock in the highest-ever offer.
Delta miles are especially useful for readers on the West Coast and in the Northeast for redeeming short-haul flights, with one-way awards starting at just 5000 Delta miles. Miles are best used where they deliver the most value, and 70,000 Delta miles can be used for up to 14 domestic tickets in the U.S. at that lowest level. Also, Delta miles frequently have international award sales, and Delta miles never expire, so it’s always useful to keep some on hand.
If you make Delta purchases with the card within the first three months, you can also get a $100 credit. Buying a gift card can trigger it, and the gift card can also be used to pay the taxes and fees on Delta award tickets, which is much more generous than gift cards from UA, AA, and others.
If you are not a heavy spender/MS user, then applying for Delta’s other credit card as an entry-level option is also a good choice:
Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card also currently has a limited-time elevated welcome bonus (through January 31): spend $2,000 within the first three months and earn 60,000 Delta miles. If you make Delta purchases with the card within the first three months, you can also receive a $50 credit. The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, so you could keep it for a year and then decide when the second-year annual fee posts whether it’s worth holding long term. Here is our recommended application link.
Related articles
Introduction to Delta Miles (1) – Best Redemption Sweet Spots
Introduction to Delta Miles (2) – Domestic U.S. Redemptions and the Latest Award Promotions
Introduction to Delta Miles (4) – Summary of International Award Promotions