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Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which card is best for Delta loyalists?
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
September 15, 2026 • 16 min read
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Quick summary
This article compares two premium travel cards favored by Delta loyalists, focusing on their lounge access, statement credits and Delta-specific perks.
One card offers broader lounge access and flexible points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, while the other provides more Delta-focused benefits like a companion certificate and priority boarding.
The value of statement credits and lounge access is weighed against Delta-specific perks to help travelers choose based on their loyalty and travel habits.
Both cards have high annual fees, so maximizing value depends on usage patterns and personal preferences.
What to consider
Statement credits on both cards require specific types of bookings or spending to maximize value, and some benefits require enrollment.
Lounge access is subject to visit limits unless a high spending threshold is met within a calendar year.
Delta-specific benefits such as companion certificates and free checked bags are only available with one of the two cards.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, earning structures and redemption options to help you decide which premium card best matches your Delta travel needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you ask a Delta loyalist what credit card they have, they'll more than likely respond with either the or the .
Either of these cards makes a great case for a spot in a Delta fan's wallet; despite that, they have enough differences to make it important to carefully consider your traveling style before committing to one or the other.
Committed Delta flyers will likely find the Delta Reserve more appealing, but travelers who place a high value on flexibility and lounge access may get more out of the Amex Platinum.
Here's a full comparison of the key similarities and differences between these two cards, so you can choose the right premium card for your Delta flights.
Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Travelers who frequently redeem points for hotel stays, in addition to flights
Amex Platinum
Travelers who exclusively or almost exclusively fly with Delta
Delta Reserve
Travelers who often fly on Delta with a companion
Delta Reserve
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Welcome offer
Currently, new cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they're eligible for as high as 175,000 bonus points after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
According to TPG's November 2026 valuations, this welcome offer is worth up to $3,500.
HALFPOINT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
Meanwhile, new cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
According to TPG's November 2026 valuations, this offer is worth up to $1,500.
Amex restricts cardmembers to earning one welcome bonus per card per lifetime, so it's important to get the best offer you can.
If you're able to get at least 150,000 points on the Amex Platinum, that's a stellar offer and worth applying for.
Winner: Amex Platinum.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Benefits
Statement credits
Amex Platinum
Delta Reserve
Standout statement credits
Up to $600 in lodging statement credits per calendar year (up to $300 semiannually), valid on prepaid Amex Fine Hotels* + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (of two nights or more) when you pay with your Amex Platinum
Up to a $400 Resy statement credit (up to $100 each quarter) per calendar year for dining at eligible U.S. restaurants
Up to a $300 annual statement credit for Lululemon purchases per calendar year (up to $75 per quarter; U.S. stores and online only; outlets excluded)
Up to $200 in Uber Cash each calendar year (up to $15 each month, plus a bonus up to $20 in Dec.) for U.S. purchases (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 airline fee statement credit per calendar year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit ($120 Global Entry credit or up to $85 TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years)
New $250 Airbnb Experiences Credit- up to $250 in annual statement credits for eligible Airbnb Experiences after booking a qualifying prepaid Airbnb Luxe stay through Amex Travel.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Up to $240 Resy statement credit (up to $20 per month) at U.S. Resy restaurants per calendar year
Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year
Up to $120 ride-hailing credit with select U.S. providers per calendar year (up to $10 in statement credits each month)
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
The differs some from other premium airline cards in that many of its key statement credits are not explicitly tied to flying. This makes it a closer competitor to the , known for its array of merchant-linked statement credits.
It's harder to justify the Delta Reserve's annual fee with statement credits alone compared to the Amex Platinum. Provided you maximize the Platinum's lodging* and Resy statement credits, you'll already be ahead of the card's $895 annual fee.
*For use on Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection bookings; THC bookings require a minimum two-night stay; beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Fine Hotels + Resorts will require stays of two nights or more to be eligible for the lodging statement credit.
HOLBOX/FACEBOOK
Conversely, even if you use the full amount of the Delta Reserve's Resy, Delta Stays and ride-hailing statement credits, you'll still be around $90 short of breaking even on the card's $650 annual fee.
If you're not comfortable with a card's value hinging on booking at least a couple of flights with Delta each year in addition to maximizing its statement credits, the Amex Platinum is the safer bet.
Lounge access
Amex Platinum
Delta Reserve
Lounge access
Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection for eligible cardmembers, including:
Centurion Lounges
Delta Sky Club lounges**
Priority Pass™ Select membership
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
**When traveling on same-day Delta flights; 10 visits per calendar year; resets Feb. 1; unlimited visits after $75,000 in spending in a calendar year.
Access to Delta Sky Club lounges***
Four one-time guest passes upon account opening and each Medallion year thereafter (when flying Delta), then $50 per person per visit
Access to Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta)
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
***15 visits per year when traveling on a same-day Delta flight; resets Feb. 1; earn unlimited visits by spending $75,000 in a calendar year on your card.
The Amex Platinum is always my recommendation for anyone looking for a premium card with great lounge access. Eligible cardmembers have access to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Priority Pass lounges and more.
It's hard to beat what the Amex Platinum gives you here, but the Delta Reserve offers solid lounge access for an airline card. Typically, airline cards offer lounge access only to their associated airline's lounge network, but the Delta Reserve also includes access to the Centurion Lounge.
Delta Sky Club Salt Lake City SLC B Concourse. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Of course, you must have a same-day flight with Delta to access a Centurion Lounge, but you're likely flying Delta often anyway if you're thinking of opening its top-tier card.
Given that the Amex Platinum offers Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access for eligible cardmembers, along with a roster of other lounge options, I view it as the winner here. The only exception is if you plan to visit Sky Clubs more than 10 times per year, since the Delta Reserve offers up to 15 visits per year.
Delta-specific benefits
Amex Platinum
Delta Reserve
Delta-specific benefits
None, unless you select Delta as your qualifying airline for your up to $200 per calendar year airline incidentals statement credit
Companion certificate for a round-trip flight each year upon renewal of your card for first class, Comfort or Main Cabin (including between $22 and $250 in taxes and fees) to select destinations each year after card renewal (Delta basic economy is not eligible for this benefit)
First checked bag free globally (and a second checked bag free domestically)
Priority boarding
In-flight savings and access to complimentary upgrades on Delta flights
Here's where the Delta Reserve really pulls ahead of the Amex Platinum. With perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and a companion certificate for round-trip travel on Delta to select destinations each account year, the Delta Reserve offers a lot more by default than the Amex Platinum for Delta fans.
You can select Delta as your qualifying airline of choice for the Amex Platinum's up to $200 per calendar year airline incidentals statement credit and use that amount to cover charges like checked bag fees and seat upgrades. That's what I did this year, using the full amount of this statement credit to cover checked bag fees and Sky Club guest passes for a trip to Mexico.
Even so, there's a good chance Delta loyalists spend more than $200 with the airline in a year. Plus, the Amex Platinum's airline statement credit won't grant priority boarding or a companion certificate.
Winner: When comparing the benefits of both cards as a whole, the Delta Reserve is the better choice for frequent Delta flyers. Its annual companion certificate, higher number of Sky Club visits in a year and day-of-travel perks are a better fit for Delta fans than what the Platinum offers. That said, if you care more about statement credits and lounge access, the Amex Platinum makes a more compelling case.
How to earn and redeem rewards with the Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Despite what you may think, the Amex Platinum makes a more compelling case with its earning rates than the Delta Reserve, with a couple of exceptions.
Earning rewards
Amex Platinum
Delta Reserve
Earning rates
Earn 5 points per dollar spent 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)
Earn 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid lodging booked with Amex Travel
Earn 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with Delta
Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent, plus 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the qualification year
This comparison highlights what is, in my opinion, one of the 's biggest shortcomings: A low earning rate on Delta flights. Earning only 3 miles per dollar spent on Delta flights isn't the best rate, given the card's $650 annual fee.
I can think of just a couple of circumstances where I'd suggest someone go with the Delta Reserve over the if maximizing earnings on Delta purchases is the key goal. Since you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles, it's not like you're locking yourself out of Delta's loyalty program by going with the Amex Platinum.
On board a Delta Air Lines Bombardier CRJ900. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
One exception is if you're anticipating spending more than $500,000 in a calendar year on Delta flights, but I expect the grand majority of cardmembers will not hit this spending cap. Another is if you're chasing Delta status and want to earn bonus MQDs on your purchases.
Neither card is a great choice for everyday spending. If you want to maximize your earnings on everyday purchases and use those rewards for Delta flights, another Amex card like the is likely a better choice than either of these cards.
Redeeming rewards
You can redeem Membership Rewards points in a variety of ways, including for statement credits, travel, gift cards and to pay for purchases through PayPal and at Amazon.com checkout.
Delta SkyMiles can be used to book flights with Delta and partner airlines, such as Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air. In addition, you can use SkyMiles for upgrades, premium purchases in Sky Clubs and more.
As I mentioned earlier, Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles. They can also be sent to 19 other airline and hotel partners, including Delta's airline partners, such as Air France-KLM and Aeromexico. This is where you'll get the most value for your Membership Rewards, and why TPG values Membership Rewards significantly higher than Delta SkyMiles (as per our valuations).
I always recommend redeeming SkyMiles for flights, since that will give you the greatest value. I transferred 84,000 Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles earlier this year to book three one-way tickets from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Cancun International Airport (CUN).
Winner: Amex Platinum. You can transfer your rewards to Delta SkyMiles, plus over a dozen other programs in the event your travel plans involve flights or hotel stays outside of Delta's booking system. Its earning rates are also more compelling.
Can I have both the Amex Platinum and the Delta Reserve?
If you're prepared to pay over $1,500 in annual fees for both cards, then yes. Having both the and makes a lot of sense for Delta fans, since you'll receive the flexibility of the Amex Platinum alongside the Delta Reserve's Delta-linked perks.
Delta Air Lines plane at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
You'll also be able to earn two welcome bonuses, provided you haven't held either card before. That's a huge stash of rewards for your future Delta flights.
That said, neither of these cards will make sense for you if you aren't traveling at least a few times each year. While you may be able to make the Amex Platinum's annual fee work with its statement credits, you'll likely get just as much value from a mid-tier credit card.
Should I get the Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve?
If you're almost always or always flying with Delta, the more than likely makes the most sense for you. However, Delta loyalists can still benefit from the 's lounge access, superior earning rate on airlines booked directly or through Amex Travel (subject to a spending cap) and up to $200 per calendar year airline incidentals statement credit.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to the value you place on flexibility.
Bottom line
The Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve are close competitors. There's a strong case to be made for either card having a spot in a Delta fan's wallet, but it also can make a lot of sense to have both at the same time.
You can't really go wrong with either choice, but their high annual fees mean you'll want to pick the better of the two for your situation:
If you're a Delta loyalist chasing status, frequently visit Sky Clubs or often travel with a companion, choose the Delta Reserve.
If you want extensive lounge access, high earning rates on flights (subject to a spending cap) and points flexibility, go with the Amex Platinum.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
