Frequent Delta Air Strains flyers have two incredible card decisions that may elevate their airport and flying expertise. Whereas some could gawk on the hefty annual charges, these two playing cards are properly well worth the worth for many who are loyal to the Atlanta-based provider.
I am speaking, after all, concerning the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
For individuals who worth Delta Medallion elite standing, Sky Membership entry and the annual round-trip companion certificates, you might already carry Delta’s most premium card in your pockets.
However, for $45 extra yearly, I might argue that the Amex Platinum may very well make extra sense for many vacationers.
Listed here are the 5 explanation why it’s best to think about switching from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum.
Evaluating the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum
| Function | Delta Reserve | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome supply | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in your new card in your first three months of cardmembership. | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of cardmembership. |
| Annual payment | $650 (see rates and fees) | $695 (see rates and fees) |
| Incomes charges |
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| Delta perks* |
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| Different advantages* |
|
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* Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Associated: Credit card showdown: Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Why it’s best to change to the Amex Platinum
At $695 per yr, the Amex Platinum is not essentially the most reasonably priced card — however neither is the Delta Reserve. For a distinction of $45, the Amex Platinum can supply higher worth since there is a lengthy checklist of non-Delta advantages which are helpful for different elements of the journey expertise, whether or not that is with lodges or rental vehicles.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the highest 5 causes the Amex Platinum wins over the Delta Reserve.
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Expanded lounge entry when there’s not a Sky Membership
With the Amex Platinum, you get entry to hundreds of lounges worldwide. With 50 Sky Clubs, the percentages are probably that a few of your travels deliver you to locations the place you may not discover a Sky Membership. And whilst you can go to the Amex Centurion lounge with the Delta Reserve, that is additionally strictly restricted to if you happen to’re flying Delta the identical day.
This is an inventory of the lounge entry you may discover together with your helpful Amex Platinum, dubbed the American Express Global Lounge Collection:
- Amex Centurion Lounges
- Precedence Move lounges
- Delta Sky Golf equipment (10 visits per yr on same-day Delta flights beginning Feb. 1, 2025).
- Plaza Premium lounge
- Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Associate
- Lufthansa lounges
- Different International Lounge Assortment companion lounges
On the off probability you are not flying Delta, you will not have the ability to enter any airport lounge if you happen to carry the Delta Reserve alone. However, with the Amex Platinum, the airline you fly will not matter (in most cases) — simply present your same-day boarding cross, and you can enter many of the lounges as a part of the International Lounge Assortment.
Plus, the Amex Platinum features a Precedence Move Choose membership, which the Delta Reserve doesn’t.
Each playing cards require friends to pay $50 to enter SkyClubs or Centurion lounges. Nonetheless, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 per calendar yr, then two friends can enter the Centurion lounge with the cardmember at no cost.
When you’re a frequent traveler, this profit alone is price at the very least the $45 distinction within the annual charges.
Simply observe that Sky Membership entry when flying Delta with both card is restricted to the first cardmember solely — except one of many following holds true:
- Your friends are licensed customers in your Amex Platinum or cardmember in their very own proper — which will get them Sky Membership entry
- You utilize one among your annual visitor passes as a Delta Reserve cardmember
- Your visitor is a baby underneath the age of two
Associated: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
An annual airline credit score extra appropriate for Delta elite members
When you change from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum, you may largely lose out on most of the Delta-specific advantages, akin to a free checked bag and the 20% low cost on inflight purchases.
But it surely’s probably that you just’re already a Delta Medallion member. Even on the lowest stage (Silver Medallion), you may get a free first checked bag, so the Delta Reserve does not actually current any added worth.
Nonetheless, the Amex Platinum comes with an up-to-$200 credit for airline incidentals yearly. You may decide one qualifying airline (Delta is on this checklist), and you will be reimbursed all year long anytime you are charged for bags, seat choice, onboard meals and drinks, and extra (as much as a complete of $200 per calendar yr).
This might will let you designate a special airline if you happen to’re loyal to Delta and have Medallion standing however sometimes end up on one other provider. With out elite standing, you’d probably must pay for issues like checked luggage and extra-legroom seats. Choosing one other airline may will let you nonetheless use this airline incidentals assertion credit score — past what the Delta Reserve can give you.
Associated: How to choose your airline with the Amex Platinum $200 airline fee credit
Holistic journey perks, slightly than simply with Delta
By switching to the Amex Platinum, there are just a few advantages which may be sorely missed, such because the companion certificates and the elite qualification boosts.
However you may discover that most of the perks are the identical (Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit) or might be replicated (airline incidentals credit) with the Amex Platinum — and there is extra.
There is a prolonged checklist of journey advantages that include the Amex Platinum, and lots of of them may help you lower your expenses or elevate your travel experience. Listed here are just a few of my notable favorites:
Even if you happen to do not burn up each single credit score or profit, it is greater than probably that you can make up that $45 distinction within the annual charges. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Associated: How to maximize your earning with the Amex Platinum
Skill to earn Membership Rewards factors — price considerably greater than Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles have been devalued loads through the years. Whereas you will discover some nice worth when redeeming for home financial system flights, you are out of luck if you happen to’re looking for a long-haul business-class flight for cheap charges.
Sadly, these devaluations will probably proceed, however one of the simplest ways to guard your self from airline and lodge valuations is to open a card that earns transferable points, just like the Amex Platinum.
With the American Express Membership Rewards program, you’ll be able to switch your factors to 20-plus airline and lodge loyalty applications — together with Delta SkyMiles. It is also price noting that per TPG’s October 2024 valuations, Amex Membership Rewards factors are valued at 2 cents every and Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents apiece.
These valuations additionally issue into the continued incomes charges of those playing cards:
- Amex Platinum:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with the airline and thru Amex Journey (on as much as $500,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback) — 10% return
- 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked via Amex Journey — 10% return
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases — 2% return
- Delta Reserve:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on Delta purchases — 3.6% return
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases — 1.2% return
Associated: The complete guide to American Express Membership Rewards partners
When you fly Delta sufficient and you do not want an MQD waiver
If this is applicable to you, then think about downgrading to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. For a $350 annual payment (see rates and fees), you may take pleasure in related perks:
- Obtain $2,500 Medallion Qualification {Dollars} (MQDs) every year
- Earn $1 MQD for every $20 in you spend on purchases
- Obtain a Primary Cabin round-trip companion certificates every year upon renewal of your card
And if you happen to fly Delta sufficient organically to not want these MQD waivers from these cobranded cards, then there is not any purpose why the Amex Platinum should not be in your pockets slightly than the Delta Reserve.
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Are you eligible to use for the Amex Platinum?
Though each playing cards are issued by American Categorical, you will not have the ability to request a product change to your playing cards. When you resolve the Amex Platinum is the suitable selection for you, you may must put in a new application outright — although remember to verify the CardMatch tool to see if you happen to’re focused for an excellent larger welcome supply (topic to vary at any time).
Whereas that has a brief impact in your credit score rating, you can work towards the 80,000-point welcome bonus.
To gauge your chance of approval, you’ll be able to assessment Amex’s eligibility requirements, however anecdotes report that you could carry as much as 5 American Categorical playing cards at a time. As well as, you may probably solely be eligible for the welcome bonus if you happen to’ve by no means held the Amex Platinum earlier than. So, if you happen to’re clear on each fronts, then submitting an utility can be the next step.
Then, you may must resolve what to do together with your Delta Reserve.
Your choices are to cancel your card or downgrade to a different Delta cobranded card. Listed here are these choices:
When you do resolve to cancel the Delta Reserve as soon as your annual payment posts, remember to name customer support and see if you happen to’re eligible for a retention offer. Issuers generally present incentives to present cardmembers to maintain their playing cards open — together with assertion credit or bonus miles. That would make the distinction between conserving versus canceling your card.
Associated: TPG readers find success with retention bonuses
Backside line
Airline mile devaluations are frequent — and among the many finest methods to guard your self is opening a card that earns transferable factors as a substitute. For individuals who already carry the Delta Reserve, the Amex Platinum could make numerous sense in some ways, particularly since you may take pleasure in some Delta advantages and nonetheless have the ability to switch your rewards to Delta SkyMiles in a pinch.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Apply right here: Delta Reserve
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Platinum Amex, click on here.