Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which card is best for Delta loyalists?
Editor's Note
Suppose you're looking for the best benefits a credit card can provide travelers who frequently fly Delta. In that case, you may assume the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card would be best since it is the top-tier cobranded Delta consumer card.
However, it's worth comparing the card to The Platinum Card® from American Express to determine which is the best card for Delta flyers.
I'll dive into both of these cards to help you decide which is best for you as you plan your future trips.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve comparison
| Amex Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in purchases in your first six months of card membership. You might be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool. Offers may change at any time, and you may not be targeted for the same offer as another person. | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. |
| Earning rates | 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel 1 point per dollar on everything else | 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta
1 mile per dollar on everything else |
| TPG's August 2024 valuation | 2 cents each | 1.15 cents each |
| Annual fee | $695 (see rates and fees) | $650 (see rates and fees) |
| Lounge access | Access to many lounges through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including:
Enrollment required for select card benefits; terms apply | Access to Delta Sky Club lounges (changes coming in February 2025)*
Four one-time guest passes for the Delta Sky Club upon account opening and each year upon account renewal (when flying Delta), then $50 per person per visit Access to Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta) Enrollment required for select card benefits; terms apply |
| Other standout benefits |
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*Effective February 1, 2025: Eligible Platinum Card Members will receive 10 Visits per Eligible Platinum Card per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go when traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
**Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve welcome bonus
The Amex Platinum currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months.
Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making this welcome bonus worth $1,600.
The Delta Reserve currently offers 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership.
TPG's valuations value Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, so this welcome bonus is worth $840.
Winner: Amex Platinum. The welcome offer is worth more, and the card earns transferable points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, including Delta.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve benefits
While it has many useful perks, the only Delta-specific benefit you'll get with the Amex Platinum is unlimited access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta.
However, access will be limited to 10 day visits per calendar year from Feb. 1, 2025 unless you spent at least $75,000 in the previous calendar year. Cardmembers may also bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person per location.
As expected, the Delta Reserve offers many Delta-specific perks, starting with access to Delta Sky Club lounges. Cardmembers currently receive unlimited complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges when traveling on same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flights.
In addition, cardmembers receive four one-time guest passes for the Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) and then $50 per person per visit.
However, from Feb. 1, 2025, cardmembers will be limited to 15 day visits to Delta Sky Club lounges each calendar year, five more than the Amex Platinum — again, unless they spent at least $75,000 in the previous calendar year.
You'll also get complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on the Delta Reserve. You can bring up to two guests into the Centurion Lounge with you for a fee of $50 each.
The Amex Platinum offers unlimited access to Centurion Lounges, regardless of which airline you're flying.
Delta Reserve benefits include many statement credits and complimentary Hertz President's Circle status. The statement credits include:
- Up to $240 annual Resy credit every calendar year (up to $20 monthly) toward dining at U.S. restaurants
- Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers. (Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card).
- Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit for hotel bookings every calendar year
Other Delta-specific benefits include:
- First checked bag free: First checked bag free on Delta flights for you and up to eight companions traveling with you on your reservation
- Priority boarding
- Companion certificate each year after your account anniversary: Valid for one round-trip first-class, Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin companion ticket when you pay taxes and fees on the award ticket and purchase an adult round-trip to all 50 U.S. states, Central America and the Caribbean
- Discount on inflight purchases: 20% savings in the form of a statement credit for eligible pre-purchased meals and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights
Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
An important advantage of the Delta Reserve is the MQD Headstart, which gives cardmembers 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the year and the ability to earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
This is an impressive benefit of the card and is a way to earn or greatly assist you in earning elite status with Delta.
Winner: Delta Reserve. As indicated by its cobranded status, the Delta Reserve offers many more Delta-specific benefits than the Amex Platinum.
Also note that some of the Delta Reserve's benefits are also available on the lower-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (see rates and fees).
Related: How to use credit cards to defeat basic economy
Earning rewards with the Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
The Amex Platinum earns 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent) and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, this means you'll get an impressive 10% return on this spending.
You'll also earn 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on everything else, which equates to a 2% return.
The Delta Reserve earns 3 Delta miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, which equates to a 3.6% return based on TPG's valuations. You'll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases, which provides only a 1.2% return.
Winner: Amex Platinum. The Delta Reserve's rate of return isn't competitive even on Delta purchases. The Amex Platinum beats the Delta Reserve on both Delta purchases and everyday purchases.
Related: The best credit cards for airfare purchases
Redeeming rewards with the Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
The Amex Platinum earns American Express Membership Rewards points. You'll get the best value from your Membership Rewards points when you transfer them to one of 21 travel partners and then redeem them through the partner for flights or hotel nights. There are other redemption options, but they all provide less than TPG's September 2024 valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece.
TPG credit cards writer Danyal Ahmed recently took advantage of Aeroplan's distance and region-based award chart to book a lie-flat business-class ticket on Turkish Airlines for 45,000 points from Barcelona to Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards.
The Delta Reserve earns Delta miles, which can be frustrating to use due to dynamic award pricing. But there are still some great ways to get value from Delta miles. For example, Delta offers relatively frequent flash sales.
You can also use Delta miles to upgrade to the next class of service. There are also great sweet spots for flying international partner airlines with SkyMiles. All SkyTeam partners, such as Air France and Korean Air, are available for award redemptions, as well as some nonalliance partners.
Winner: Amex Platinum. Membership Rewards points can be transferred to 18 airline partners and three hotel partners, including Delta, so you have a lot more flexibility when using your rewards.
Related: A guide to earning transferable points
Should I get the Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve?
In general, the Amex Platinum will be the best choice for Delta travelers due to its higher earn rate on Delta purchases and its wider-reaching benefits. However, if you are focused on Delta elite status, then the Delta Reserve is worthy of consideration.
Bottom line
The Delta Reserve will be a better choice for diehard Delta frequent flyers. It should considered if you'll benefit significantly from the companion certificate each year after your account anniversary and other Delta-specific benefits like a shortcut to elite status.
However, if you want Delta lounge access, entry into Centurion and other partner lounges and the ability to earn flexible Membership Rewards points, then the Amex Platinum is better for you.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and the Delta Reserve.
Apply here: The Platinum Card from American Express
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Related: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum, click here.