How I Leveraged My Amex Business Platinum Benefits for Delta Medallion Status
One of the airline elite status tiers I'm aiming for this year is Delta SkyMiles. While it's not the top-tier Diamond Medallion status, I still find great value in perks like upgrades to Delta Comfort seats, complimentary preferred seat assignments, free checked bags, and priority boarding. These benefits are especially useful when flying multiple airlines throughout the year.
I often find myself needing a boost to reach the qualification threshold for Delta's Medallion status, especially when planning last-minute trips. That's when I discovered the power of leveraging my Amex Business Platinum Card benefits.
Here's how I strategically used the card's features to not only earn Delta Gold Medallion status but also save points and money along the way.
Amex Insider Fares and International Airline Program
American Express offers cardholders with The Business Platinum Card, American Express Platinum Card, or The Centurion Card access to exclusive benefits. One of these is the Amex International Airline Program, which allows cardholders to book international flights at discounted rates. These discounts are available for first-class, business-class, or premium economy flights on various partner airlines.
When searching for flights on Amex Travel, you can filter results to include International Airline Program fares, making it easier to find the best deals.
Another benefit is Insider Fares, available to all cardholders with products that earn Membership Rewards points. These fares are not limited to premium classes and can be redeemed via Pay with Points. By using Insider Fares, you can maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points and score discounted tickets.
Stacking Amex Insider Fares with the Card's 35% Points Rebate
I needed to find a way to earn Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) for a last-minute business-class trip to Europe. I explored various airline frequent flyer programs but found high mileage redemptions, especially on Delta SkyMiles. However, I remembered that Delta is the selected qualifying airline for my card's up to $200 annual airline fee credit.
I logged into my Amex Business Platinum account and discovered an itinerary with Amex Insider Fare, significantly cheaper than the equivalent Delta ticket. While the itinerary included flights on Air France, I could book it via Amex as a Delta ticket, taking advantage of the 35% points rebate on Delta redemptions.
By using this strategy, I redeemed fewer points than I would have if booking directly with Delta, and I still earned the full 5,678 MQDs on Delta. This approach allowed me to reach the Delta Gold Medallion qualification threshold and get closer to Delta Platinum Medallion status.
Additionally, my Amex Business Platinum card grants me access to Delta Sky Clubs and Delta One Lounges, further enhancing my travel experience.
