Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Welcome bonus
Each card comes with a generous welcome bonus, but which one is better depends on how much you plan to spend.
If you’re interested in the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, American Express is offering a welcome bonus of 70,000 miles if you spend $5,000 within your first six months of membership.
The Amex Platinum has a welcome offer of 80,000 bonus points if you spend $8,000 within six months of opening your account.
Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Rewards
When we compared the Delta Reserve card vs. Amex Platinum, we discovered that the Amex Platinum card is better for earning and redeeming awards because it comes with fewer restrictions.
Which is better for earning rewards?
Amex Platinum is the clear winner when it comes to earning rewards.
Instead of earning miles, you earn Membership Rewards Points at the following rates:
- 5 points per dollar spent on all eligible flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel
- 5 points per dollar spent on all eligible prepaid hotels booked via American Express Travel
- 1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
With the Delta Reserve, you only earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases. Otherwise, you earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
Which is better for redeeming rewards?
The Amex Platinum is also better for redeeming rewards, as you earn points instead of miles.
You can redeem these points in the following ways:
- Transfer them to airline or hotel loyalty partners.
- Use them to cover your eligible charges.
- Purchase gift cards.
- Deposit them into your checking account.
- Make reservations with American Express Travel.
- Pay with points at checkout (participating merchants only).
Once you earn miles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, you have several redemption options:
- Book a trip through Delta Vacations.
- Book Award Travel.
- Use them to purchase seat upgrades, buy premium drinks in the Delta Sky Club or cover certain Delta fees.
- Purchase a Delta Sky Club membership (only available to Medallion members).
- Book hotels and vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
- Place bids on SkyMiles Experiences.
- Purchase magazine subscriptions.
- Transfer them to someone else.
- Donate the miles to your favorite charity.
The SkyMiles Reserve gives you more redemption options, but most of them are specific to Delta purchases. Therefore, the Amex Platinum gives you more flexibility.
Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Travel perks
This category has no clear winner, as both cards come with generous travel perks. The right card for you depends on your travel habits.
Airport lounge access
Delta Reserve cardholders get complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a same day Delta flight. Starting February 1, 2025, access will be limited to 15 days of Sky Club usage per program year (February 1 to January 31). However, you can earn unlimited access if you spend $75,000 per calendar year on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.
If you get the Amex Platinum, you’ll receive 10 days of usage per year as a standard benefit, but you can earn unlimited access by spending at least $75,000 per calendar year. To access the Sky Club, you must be traveling on a same-day flight operated by Delta.
Amex Platinum members also have access to Escape Lounges and lounges in the American Express Global Collection®, while Delta Reserve members have access to Escape Lounges and Centurion® Lounges.
In this category, both cards are evenly matched. If you prefer to book with Delta, the Reserve has a slight edge since it gives you five additional days of complimentary Sky Club access each year.
Travel insurance
Both cards come with comprehensive American Express travel insurance benefits. For example, American Express offers coverage for trip cancellations, trip interruptions, lost/damaged baggage and trip delays.
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.
TSA PreCheck/Global Entry
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Amex Platinum cards both come with a statement credit for TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry. The TSA PreCheck is worth $85 and the Global Entry credit is for $120. You can use the Global Entry credit every four years or the TSA PreCheck credit every four and a half years.
In-flight benefits
The Delta Reserve entitles you to 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases, such as snacks, beverages and prepurchased meals. You get this benefit in the form of a statement credit.
With the Amex Platinum, you have the opportunity to earn up to $200 in statement credits per year for incidental airline fees charged to your card. To use this benefit, you must choose a qualifying airline ahead of time.
For this category, the Delta Reserve is better if you always book your flights with Delta. The Amex Platinum is better if you’d rather use another airline.
Annual companion pass
When comparing the Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Amex Platinum, the Reserve card comes with a significant benefit that the Amex Platinum doesn’t have: the annual companion pass. Every time your card renews, you’ll receive a companion certificate, which entitles you to one free flight for a travel companion.
The companion certificate is only good for certain fare codes, but you can use it to book a seat in the Main Cabin, Comfort+ and First Class. Note that you must choose a destination in the United States, Central America, Mexico, or the Caribbean.
Priority boarding
If you get the Delta Reserve, you’ll be able to board with Zone 5 Priority Boarding on all Delta-operated flights. The Amex Platinum doesn’t give you access to priority boarding, so the Reserve is the clear winner here.
Checked bags
As a Delta Reserve member, you can check your first bag for free if you book a Delta flight with your eligible card. You don’t get free checked bags with the Amex Platinum.
Hotel credit
In addition to giving you 5 points per dollar spent on eligible hotel stays, the Amex Platinum comes with an annual hotel credit worth up to $200 per calendar year. To earn the credit, simply book a prepaid hotel stay with The Hotel Collection® or Fine Hotels and Resorts®. You must book through American Express travel and use your Platinum Card to cover the charge. (Note: The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)
Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Other card benefits
When comparing the Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve, we also looked at non-travel card benefits. Based on our research, the Amex Platinum is one of the best credit cards on the market, as it gives you multiple ways to earn bonus points and statement credits.
▶︎ Read more: Amex Platinum Card benefits
Here’s what you get with each card:
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.
Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Rates and fees
Since they’re both American Express cards, the Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum have comparable rates and fees.
Both cards have the same cash advance fees, cash advance APR and foreign transaction fees ($0). The Amex Platinum has a slight edge in terms of authorized user fees, and it also has a slightly lower cap on regular APR.
| Type of rate or fee |
Delta SkyMiles Reserve |
Amex Platinum |
| Annual Fee |
$650 |
$695 |
| Authorized User Fee |
$175 |
$195 |
| Cash Advance APR |
29.99% variable |
29.99% variable |
| Cash Advance Fee |
$10 or 5% of the advance, whichever is greater |
$10 or 5% of the advance, whichever is greater |
| Foreign Transaction Fees |
$0 |
$0 |
| Introductory APR |
N/A |
N/A |
| Regular APR |
20.49% to 29.49% variable (see rates and fees) |
See Pay Over Time (see rates and fees) |
Delta Reserve vs. Amex Platinum: Eligibility
Both cards are reserved for consumers with good to excellent credit scores. Therefore, one isn’t any harder to get than the other, provided you meet the minimum income and credit requirements.
Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Amex Platinum card?
The Delta Reserve is a good fit for consumers who fly Delta regularly and want to maximize their Delta-related benefits.
The Amex Platinum is a better fit for people who aren’t loyal to Delta and would rather focus on earning points and statement credits based on their typical spending habits. If you get the Amex Platinum, you can easily earn back the fee by using the full Equinox, Walmart+, Uber and digital entertainment credits each year.
