Compare the Features and Benefits of American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® and
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

For occasional travelers that fly American Airlines and are looking to earn miles with the airline, then the AAdvantage® MileUp card could be a solid option.

And while you might not think about this card if you are already an American Airlines elite traveler, you may find the bonus categories more beneficial than the $99 fee Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite MasterCard since you already have the additional benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding via your status.

This beginner-friendly card, with no annual fee, is ideal for those who don’t travel often enough to justify a more expensive, premium card.

The AAdvantage® MileUp also has a competitive 2X bonus category rate at grocery stores (including grocery delivery services) and eligible American Airlines purchases.

And remember, all base miles earned via spend on this card count as Loyalty Points towards AAdvantage® status.

In addition, you’ll get 25% off inflight food and beverage purchases and there’s no mileage cap on the card. American Airlines miles can be used on over 1,000 worldwide destinations, as you can use them for American Airlines, American Eagle and any Oneworld alliance or non-alliance partner airlines.

However, there are some significant downsides to consider as well. While this is an airline-specific card, the MileUp card doesn’t include many airline perks, such as a free checked bag perk or preferred boarding. In addition, there’s a relatively modest welcome bonus and the card charges a foreign transaction fee (so you won’t want to use this card abroad).

And if you do fly American Airlines (and Oneworld partner airlines or JetBlue) more than a couple of times per year, but are not elite already, there are some better options out there, including those from American Airlines. That includes the mid-tier Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard, offering the first checked bag free, and the premium Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard, offering Admirals Club lounge access.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card offers a slew of perks that will appeal to several types of business owners. Whether you’re looking to join the early ranks of Silver or Gold Medallion status, or want to climb further toward Platinum or Diamond, this business card provides excellent incentives for higher spend, helping you earn your way towards higher status levels.

Not only that, but you will earn 3x bonus miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases, 1.5x miles on transit, U.S. shipping, and large purchases of $5,000 or more (up to an aggregate limit of $100,000 per year; earn 1X thereafter) plus 1x miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

In short, the Delta Platinum Business card’s earning rate is solid for businesses who want to reap the rewards on their high operating expenses.

The $350 annual fee can be hard to swallow, but several notable perks can help you save money when you’re flying with Delta.

First, you and up to eight passengers can get a first checked bag free on Delta Flights + Zone 5 Priority Boarding.

You’ll also receive up to a $100 credit toward your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application or renewal (Terms apply).

And upon paying your annual fee every account anniversary, you’ll receive an annual companion certificate that’s valid for Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights on Delta. If used wisely, you can easily score hundreds of dollars in value from this recurring benefit.

Other smaller, but just as impactful, benefits include no foreign transaction fees, a 15% discount when redeeming SkyMiles for flights on Delta, as well as a solid range of travel and purchase protection benefits, including cell phone insurance.

For those that need a hand with reaching the next Delta Medallion® elite status level, this card earns 1 MQD (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) for every $20 spent on eligible purchases with your Card plus $2,500 MQDs each year – just for holding the card!

There are also up to $440 worth of statement credits available on this card.

You can get an statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.

You’ll also be eligible for up to $120 in Resy Credit (earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card) and you can earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.

Note that you cannot enter the Delta Sky Clubs with the Delta Platinum Amex Business card. If you anticipate needing airport lounge access,  you may want to consider the Delta SkyMiles® Business Reserve Card, which comes with a much higher $650 annual fee. However, you’ll get access to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta that same day with the Delta SkyMiles® Business Reserve Card. (Limitations apply.)

Overall, the Delta Platinum Amex Business Card is a phenomenal option for business owners who want to maximize their earning potential on Delta purchases, enjoy flight perks, and work towards elite status on Delta.

Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card