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Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Which is better for frequent Delta travelers?

Kendall Little
·Senior Writer, Credit Cards
Updated 10 min read
Amex disclosure

Travelers who like flying Delta Air Lines and its partners can gain SkyMiles rewards, flight benefits, and more with a co-branded Delta card from American Express.

Among these cards, the Delta SkyMiles? Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles? Reserve American Express Card offer the longest list of potential benefits — but they also carry the highest price tags.

Before you take your next trip with Delta, use this guide to help you decide whether one of these rewards cards is right for you.

Delta SkyMiles? Platinum American Express Card Overview

Here are more details you should know about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex card:

This card has a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

This card offers a combination of rewards on Delta spending and everyday purchases:

  • 3x miles on Delta purchases

  • 3x miles on hotel purchases (made directly with hotels)

  • 2x miles on dining worldwide (including U.S. takeout and delivery)

  • 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets

  • 1x miles on all other purchases

The Delta Platinum card has many added benefits, good for travel and at home. We’ll go through them all, first looking at travel benefits specific to Delta and then general perks.

Delta benefits:

  • One annual companion ticket for Main Cabin on a domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight (not including taxes and fees)

  • 15% discount when you use miles to book flights through Delta

  • $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification year as a head start toward Delta Medallion status

  • $1 MQD toward Medallion status for every $20 you spend with your card

  • Up to a $150 annual statement credit for prepaid hotel and vacation rental bookings through Delta Stays

  • First checked bag free

  • 20% back as statement credits on in-flight purchases

  • Complimentary upgrade list access, even for non-Medallion members

Other benefits:

  • Fee credit every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (earned as a statement credit after you pay the fee with your card)

  • Complimentary Hertz Five Star status (with enrollment)

  • Travel and purchase protections*

*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.

We like the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card from Amex for its blend of premium airline benefits and everyday savings. If you’re looking to earn miles toward Delta flights, this card can help you maximize your spending no matter where you are.

The annual companion certificate makes this card great for families, couples, or anyone who often flies with loved ones. This isn’t the most common benefit among other co-branded airline cards, and it holds a ton of potential value. Despite the Delta Platinum card’s relatively steep annual fee, this perk alone can go a long way toward making up the cost.

  • Companion certificate: Depending on how you use it, this card’s companion certificate benefit could be valuable enough to offset the annual fee on its own. If you have a partner, friend, or family member you fly with, this is a great way to save on yearly travel expenses.

  • Everyday and travel rewards: Despite being a co-branded airline travel credit card, the Delta Platinum is pretty flexible when it comes to earning rewards. You’ll get bonus miles on hotels as well as dining out and shopping at supermarkets in the U.S., making this card a solid choice for both frequent travelers and those who only fly a few times each year.

  • Not as much value for non-Delta travelers: This card is most valuable for people who like flying with Delta Air Lines and its partners. If you don’t fly often or you’d rather find a great deal without sticking to a single airline, there are other card options with more flexibility for earning and redeeming travel rewards.

  • High annual fee: While it does have the lower fee between these two cards, Delta Platinum’s $350 annual fee is still steep. If you’re not a Delta regular who’s able to take advantage of all the travel-related benefits this card offers, you may find another card offers better value for the price.

Read more: See our picks for the best American Express credit cards

Delta SkyMiles? Reserve American Express Card overview

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card is the most premium among these co-branded credit cards. Here’s everything it offers frequent Delta travelers:

You’ll pay $650 annually for the Delta Reserve — putting it among the most costly travel cards available today (see rates and fees).

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

You’ll only earn bonus rewards on Delta spending with this card, though you’ll still get the baseline 1 mile per dollar spent elsewhere.

  • 3x miles on Delta purchases

  • 1x miles on all other purchases

Just like the Delta Platinum card, the Delta Reserve has a long list of added benefits. Here, we’ve broken them down by benefits you’ll get when traveling with Delta and other perks the card offers.

Delta benefits:

  • Complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs (15 visits per year starting on Feb. 1, 2025, though you may earn unlimited visits through spending and purchase additional visits)

  • Four one-time Delta Sky Club guest passes per year for family and friends

  • Access to The Centurion Lounge when you purchase your flight with your Delta Reserve

  • Annual companion certificate: One annual companion ticket for Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, or First Class on a domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight (not including taxes and fees)

  • 15% discount when you use miles to book flights through Delta

  • $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) each Medallion Qualification year as a head start toward Delta Medallion status

  • Medallion Qualifying Dollar boost: $1 MQD toward Medallion status for every $10 you spend with your card

  • Up to a $200 annual statement credit for prepaid hotel and vacation rental bookings through Delta Stays

  • First checked bag free

  • 20% back as statement credits on in-flight purchases

  • Upgrade priority over other Medallion members (within the same Medallion level and ticket fare class as you)

  • Complimentary upgrade list access, even for non-Medallion members

Other benefits:

  • Up to $20 per month ($240 per year) in statement credits for eligible U.S. Resy restaurant purchases

  • Up to $10 per month ($120 per year) in statement credits for select U.S. rideshare purchases

  • Fee credit every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (earned as a statement credit after you pay the fee with your card)

  • Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (with enrollment)

  • Concierge service

  • Travel and purchase protections*

*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.

We like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex for the major value it offers frequent Delta travelers. It won’t appeal to everyone, in part thanks to the very high annual fee. But for loyal Delta customers, it has enormous potential value.

To start, the generous welcome offer can save you a lot of money on future Delta travel. Delta has dynamic pricing for award flights, so there’s no standard value for each SkyMile — but those miles can surely go a long way toward your next travel booking. Plus, the 15% discount on award flights you book with miles can stretch that bonus even further.

On top of that, you’ll get airport lounge access, faster paths to Medallion status, discounts, and the annual companion certificate that applies to not only Main Cabin but Comfort+ or First Class fares, too.

  • Welcome offer: If the $5,000 spending requirement is in your budget over the first six months you have this card, you’ll get a lot of value from the welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points. You can get hundreds of dollars toward Delta flights with this welcome offer.

  • Airport lounge access: With access to both Delta Sky Clubs and The Centurion Lounge using your Delta Reserve, you’ll save a lot of money if you’re a frequent flyer who prefers to spend your preflight time eating and relaxing at airport lounges. Plus, get even more value with guest passes for those traveling with you.

  • No everyday rewards categories: The only bonus rewards you’ll earn with this card are on purchases you make with Delta; everything else earns just 1 mile per dollar. If you’re looking to maximize your everyday spending, you may want to consider a different rewards credit card.

  • Not as flexible as other premium rewards cards: Only a few premium travel cards today carry as high an annual fee as the $650 Delta Reserve. But some of those other premium card options have more flexible rewards programs and bonus categories. If you’re looking for a card that can help you earn points or miles to redeem for non-Delta travel, this may not be the best pick.

You should have a preference for flying Delta if you’re considering the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — and given the $350 price tag, you should fly at least a few times each year to get the maximum benefit.

One big reason to get the Platinum Delta card if you’re deciding between these two is the added value you’ll get on your regular spending. The 2x miles you’ll earn on dining and groceries, for example, can continually boost your SkyMiles balance over time.

For example, let’s say you spend about $5,000 per year flying with Delta, but your budget for dining out and grocery shopping is a combined $15,000 annually. With this card, you could earn 15,000 bonus miles and 30,000 bonus miles, respectively, on that spending. Ultimately, your regular food budget would result in many more miles earned per year than Delta spending alone.

If you’re thinking about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you should both prefer flying Delta and do so regularly. This card is best suited for loyal Delta customers who want a premium experience when they fly.

That’s because so many of this card’s perks are designed to make your Delta travels more comfortable and efficient. Among all of the Delta co-branded cards, the Reserve is the best option for securing Medallion status, which can get you upgraded seats, priority boarding, and more when you fly. Access to airport lounges will most benefit travelers who tend to arrive for flights early and want the space to relax away from bustling airport gates. And while both cards offer an annual companion certificate, only the Reserve expands booking options to Comfort+ and First Class.

If you prioritize flying Delta and want your card to help you gain access to the most premium travel experiences — even if it comes at a premium cost — Delta Reserve is the option to consider.

You don’t need both of these cards in your wallet. They have many overlapping benefits and rewards categories, and you won’t want to pay both annual fees for the limited differences between these cards.

Instead, consider which one may serve you best based on your individual spending habits and how you prefer to travel with Delta. For example, if you like airport lounge access and upgrades, you’ll be better off with the Reserve. But if you don’t mind flying Main Cabin and tend to arrive at the airport shortly before boarding, you’ll probably get more use out of the Platinum Delta card.

Here are a few more travel credit card options we like:

  • Annual fee
    $325
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months, plus 20% back on restaurant spending worldwide (up to $100 in statement credits) for new cardmembers through November 6, 2024
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Rewards
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    See Pay Over Time APR
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
    • 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
    • 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
  • Benefits
    • NEW: Five Guys is now eligible for $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
    • NEW: Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
    • NEW: Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after using your American Express Gold Card to pay at more than 9,000 Dunkin’? locations nationwide

Why we like it: The Gold Card from American Express has a lot of everyday benefits that you can use toward future travel — and though it earns Membership Rewards points, you can transfer your points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. 

  • Annual fee
    $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Airline
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    20.99%-29.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • Earn 2x mile on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
    • Earn 1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Benefits
    • Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
    • After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel
    • Check your first bag free on Delta flights

Why we like it: If you’re a loyal Delta traveler but don’t want to shell out for the annual fee costs of the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex may be a better choice. You’ll earn 2x miles on Delta purchases, dining, and at U.S. supermarkets. Everything else earns 1 mile per dollar.

Other benefits include a $200 Delta flight credit when you spend $10,000 with your card in a calendar year, a 15% discount on award flights booked with SkyMiles, priority boarding, a $100 credit for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays, and more.

  • Annual fee
    $395
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
    • 2x miles on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • $300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel
    • 10,000 annual bonus miles (worth $100 in travel spending; starts on your first account anniversary)
    • Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges through partner networks

Why we like it: If airport lounge access and travel rewards are your top priority in a premium travel card, the $395 Venture X may be a good option. It has a welcome offer of 75,000 Capital One Miles when you spend at least $4,000 within the first three months. Rewards include 10x miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel, 5x on flights through Capital One Travel, and a flat 2x miles on everything else.

To help cover the annual fee, you’ll get a $300 annual travel credit to use on Capital One Travel bookings, as well as 10,000 bonus miles each year on your account anniversary. Plus, airport lounge access includes both Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group partner lounge networks.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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