Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Which Is Better?

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum card earns 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and directly with hotels, 2X miles at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1X on other eligible purchases.

Its biggest perk is a Companion Certificate each year after your Card renewal, good on a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. You pay government taxes and fees of $22 to $250, and Delta Basic fares are not eligible.

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Pros

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• Your first checked bag is free on Delta flights worldwide, and your second bag is free on domestic Delta flights.
• MQD Headstart adds $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year, and MQD Boost earns $1 MQD for each $20 of eligible purchases.
• Statement credits include up to $150 per year on prepaid Delta Stays bookings, up to $10 a month at U.S. Resy restaurants and up to $10 a month on U.S. rideshare with select providers (enrollment required).

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Cons

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• The annual fee is hard to justify unless you fly Delta regularly. See the card details above for the current amount.
• SkyMiles are most useful on Delta and its partners, with fewer outside options than transferable points.
• Several credits are paid monthly, so you have to use them each month to get full value.

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^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Choosing between these cards comes down to whether you want flexibility or airline perks.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for travelers who spread trips across different airlines and hotels and want strong earning on dining, gas and travel.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for people who already fly Delta several times a year and will use the bag, boarding and companion benefits.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠, cash back or gift cards, or transfer them to airline and hotel partners. Delta SkyMiles® is not on Chase's list of transfer partners.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: SkyMiles book flights on Delta and partner airlines. TakeOff 15 takes 15% off award travel on Delta flights booked at delta.com or in the Fly Delta app, and Pay with Miles takes up to $50 off a fare for every 5,000 miles. Terms Apply.

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Compare Cards With Kudos

If you are still unsure, Kudos can help you make a data-backed choice by comparing nearly 3,000 credit cards against how you actually spend.

• Test Drive: Test Drive simulates what a card would earn from your real transaction history, including net value after the annual fee, with no hard credit pull.
• Approval odds: See a detailed analysis of your chances of approval based on your credit report.
• Best card at checkout: The Kudos browser extension autofills the card in your wallet that earns the most on each online purchase.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your card rewards when you shop at participating stores.

If you end up carrying both cards, the Benefits Tracker in Kudos Premium shows the credits and perks on each one, from the Chase Travel hotel credit to monthly Resy and rideshare credits, with how much you've used and what's left. Its annual fee vs. value comparison helps you decide which cards are worth keeping.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® fits travelers who dine out often and do not fly one airline exclusively. Its transfer partners and Chase Travel℠ earning make it a good first travel card, and the $95 annual fee is easier to offset than a premium card fee.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum card is for dedicated Delta flyers. It makes the most sense if you will use the yearly Companion Certificate, check bags on Delta and want MQD Headstart and MQD Boost to help you reach Medallion® Status. Terms Apply.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither card fits, these two options cover a dining-focused rewards card and a lower-cost Delta card.

The American Express® Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year (then 1X) and 4X at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1X). The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a lower-cost way to get Delta perks such as free checked bags on Delta. See the card details below for current fees. Terms Apply.

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^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit: Travel rewards cards generally require good to excellent credit.
• Review issuer rules: Chase and American Express each have their own eligibility rules for new cards and welcome offers, so read the terms before applying.
• Plan your spending: Make sure you can meet any welcome offer spending requirement with purchases you would make anyway.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet a minimum spend requirement.
• Count your trips: Estimate how many Delta flights you take each year before paying for airline perks.
• Track your credits: Use a tool like the Kudos Premium Benefits Tracker to keep tabs on monthly and annual statement credits so they do not go unused.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market, far more than the roughly 150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is a complete, unbiased view of the credit card market so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

Our editorial team checks card terms against issuer sources. You can also explore the full dataset yourself in our card explorer, which includes thousands of cards, more than 95% of which do not pay us commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which Card Is Better if I'm Not Loyal to One Airline?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is usually the better fit. Its points transfer to several airline and hotel programs, while SkyMiles are tied to Delta and its partners.

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Can I Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to Delta SkyMiles?

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No. Delta SkyMiles® is not one of Chase's transfer partners. If you want Delta award flights, earning SkyMiles directly with a Delta card is the simpler route.

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Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card Worth It if I Only Fly Delta a Few Times a Year?

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It depends on how much of the card you use. Free checked bags for you on every Delta trip and a yearly Companion Certificate can offset much of the annual fee for some travelers (see the card details above for the current amount), while occasional flyers may get more from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold card or a flexible points card.