Suppose you are looking for the best benefits that credit cards can provide for travelers who often fly to the Delta. In this case, you might assume DeltaSkymiles® Reserve American Express Card Best is the best because it is the top coprand Delta consumption card.
But it is worthwhile to add the delta reserves to American Express Platinum Card® To determine which is the best card for Delta flyer.
Let’s check out these cards to help you determine which card is best for you when planning your future trip.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve Comparison
| Amex Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Find out your offer and see if you are eligible to qualify for up to 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of your cardholder. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. | Earn 100,000 miles of bonus miles on spending $6,000 in eligible purchases during the first six months of your card membership. The offer ends on July 16. |
| Income rate |
|
|
| TPG’s July 2025 valuation | 2 cents each | 1.15 cents each |
| Annual fee | $695 (see rates and fees) | $650 (see rates and fees) |
| Lounge entry | Access many lounges with the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including:
Registration required for Select Card Benefits; Terms and Conditions apply |
Enter the Delta Sky Club Lounge (15 visits per year, unlimited access after spending $75,000 in one calendar year)
Open an account and each medal for a year (Flying Delta), four times a guest pass each time once for Delta Sky Club ($50 per person) Enter the Centurion Lounge (during flight time) Registration required for Select Card Benefits; Terms and Conditions apply |
| Other great benefits |
Registration required for Select Card Benefits; Terms and Conditions apply |
Registration required for Select Card Benefits; Terms and Conditions apply |
*Requires participation in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve welcome bonus
Find out yours Amex Platinum Offer and see if you are eligible to earn up to 175,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
According to TPG’s July 2025 valuation, the membership reward points are worth 2 cents, bringing the welcome bonus to as much as $3,500.
this Delta Reserve Currently, new card members spend $6,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card members, with the opportunity to earn a bonus of 100,000 miles. This is the best quote we’ve seen on the cards. This offer ends on July 16.
According to TPG’s July 2025 valuation, the Delta Mileage is worth 1.15, making this gratifying bonus worth $1,150.
winner: Amex Platinum. Welcome quotes are worth more, and the card receives transferable points that can be transferred to multiple airlines and hotel partners, including Delta.
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Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
While it has many useful perks, the only specific benefit you will get Amex Platinum When flying the Delta, you can enter the Delta Sky Club lounge.
However, unless you spend at least $75,000 in the previous calendar year, access is limited to 10 days of access per calendar year. Card members can also provide up to two guests at a visit rate of $50 per person per person.
As expected Delta Reserve Starting with access to Delta Sky Club Lounges, there are many Delta-specific privileges available. Cardembers visits the Delta Sky Club lounge 15 times a year during the same day when traveling on a flight that is marketing or Delta operated.
This is five more than the Amex Platinum. Like Amex Platinum, after spending $75,000 in a calendar year, you will get unlimited access to Sky Club.
Additionally, Cardmembers received four guest passes for each medal year (when flying the Delta). After that, the guest will be charged USD 50 per guest.
You can also get free American Express Centurion Lounge when you buy tickets on Delta Reserve. You can bring up to two guests into the Centurion Lounge for $50 each.
Amex Platinum uses Centurion Lounges without restrictions, no matter which airline you are flying. Unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year, guests will still charge a fee of $50 per/.
The Delta Reserve includes many statement credits and free Hertz presidential circle status. Declared points include:
- Up to $240 per calendar year (up to $20 per month) to dine in US restaurants
- Up to $120 per calendar year ride credit (up to $10 per month) with selected providers.
- Delta up to $200 retains a declared credit limit for hotel reservations per calendar year
Other benefits of specific characteristics include:
- The first inspection bag is free: First check the bags for free on the Delta flight, up to eight companions travel with you
- Priority boarding
- Your account anniversary yearly partner certificate: Effective in first-class, *Delta Comfort+ or main companion tickets, when you pay the reward ticket and fees,
- Purchase at discount: Save 20% savings in the form of statements of qualifying pre-order meals and food and beverages purchased on-flights operated by Delta
Admission is required to obtain selected benefits; terms and conditions apply.
MQD Headstart is a major advantage of Delta reserves, which offered CardMembers a status qualifying of 2,500 MQD at the beginning of the year and was able to earn 1 MQD on the card for every $10 paid.
This is an impressive benefit of the card and a way to earn or greatly help you gain elite status in Delta.
Also note that some benefits of delta reserves can also be provided on lower grade fees Delta Skymiles® Platinum American Express Card (See rates and fees).
winner: Delta reserves. As its common status suggests, the Delta Reserve offers more specific feature advantages than the Amex Platinum.
Related: How to defeat the basic economy with credit cards
Earn rewards with Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve
this Amex Platinum Earn 5 Membership Reward Points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through AMEX Travel (up to $500,000 per year for purchases, then spend 1 point, then spend 1 point) and booked on Amextravel.com.
According to TPG’s July 2025 valuation, this means you will get an impressive 10% return.
You will also earn $1 membership bonus points on everything else, which is equivalent to a return of 2%.
this Delta Reserve Earn 3 Skymiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, which yields 3.45% according to TPG’s July 2025 valuation. You will spend 1 mile on all other purchases, which offers only 1.15% return.
winner: Amex Platinum. Even in terms of delta purchases, the rate of return on delta reserves is not competitive.
Related: Maximize your tickets: The best credit card for booking flights
Redeem rewards with Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
this Amex Platinum Earn fast membership reward points in the United States. Get the best value from member reward points when you transfer it to one of Amex’s travel partners and then take flights or hotel nights through your partner.
There are other redemption options, but they offer less than 2 cents of valuation than TPG’s July 2025 membership bonus points.
TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed uses Aeroplan’s distance and region-based reward charts to book numerous business-grade tickets from Madrid to Istanbul for a weekly stay in Zurich for 25,000 minutes. Air Canada Aeroplan is a transfer partner for Amex membership awards.
this Delta Reserve Earning Delta Skymiles can be frustrating due to dynamic reward prices. However, there are still some great ways to get value from the triangle. For example, Delta offers relatively frequent flash sales.
You can also use Triangle Mile to upgrade to the next class of services. Fly with Skymiles International Partner Airlines also has great desserts. All Tianshen partners, such as Air France and Korea, can cash out rewards, as well as some illegal partners.
TPG engineering manager Zoe Jablow recently redeemed 6,400 Skymiles for a one-way flight between San Diego and Mendoza. The cash price hovered around $300 a day, she recalled, meaning her redemption price was about 4.7 cents per point.
winner: Amex Platinum. Member Rewards Points can be transferred to multiple airlines and hotel partners including Delta, so you have more flexibility when using rewards.
Related: How (and Why) You Should Earn Transferable Credit Card Points in 2025
Should I get Amex Platinum or Delta reserves?
generally, Amex Platinum Since Delta travelers have higher income rates, Delta travelers have higher income rates and will be the best choice. But if you focus on the delta elite state, Delta Reserve Worth considering.
Bottom line
Delta reserves seeking to realize or maintain elite status are a better option for delta reserves. But if you want cards awarded to Delta, Centurion and Partner Lounge Access, as well as the ability to earn flexible membership reward points, Amex Platinum prevails.
To learn more, read our full review of Amex Platinum and Delta Skymiles Reserve.
Apply here: Platinum card for American Express
Apply here: Delta Skymiles Reserve American Express Card
For rates and fees for Delta Reserves, click here.
For Amex Platinum rates and fees, click here.
For rates and fees for Delta Platinum, click here.
