Credit card showdown: Delta Platinum vs Delta Reserve

news7g07/10/2023

2 7 minutes read

Credit card showdown: Delta Platinum vs Delta Reserve

Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Delta Airlines offer one of these Comprehensive credit card portfolio of any major airline, with economy, mid-class and premium passes for consumers and businesses.

Delta jets await passengers in Salt Lake City. DARREN MURPH / POINT PERSON

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great choice for those who are looking benefits like free checked baggage and priority boarding when flying Delta. However, those who fly Delta more often should decide whether Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers enough enhanced benefits and value to justify paying the higher annual fee.

Today we’re going to take a look at how the mid-tier Delta Platinum card compares to the super-premium Delta Reserve Card.

Compare Delta Platinum card with Delta Reserve card

Before diving into the details, let’s start with this high-end comparison of these two Delta credit cards.

Feature	Platinum Plain	Delta Reserve
welcome offer	Earn 85,000 miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of your card membership. Offer ends on August 2nd.	Earn 85,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card during the first six months of your card membership. Offer ends on August 2nd.
Annual fee	$250 (see prices & fees)	$550 (see prices & fees)
income rate	3 miles per dollar on qualifying Delta purchases and direct purchases with hotels 2 miles per dollar when dining out and in US supermarkets 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases	3 miles per dollar on qualifying Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
luggage	Free first checked baggage on Delta flights (up to eight companions included)	Free first checked baggage on Delta flights (up to eight companions included)
travel privileges	15% discount when redeeming reward points for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card); discount access to Sky Club; boarding priority; 20% off in-flight purchases Global Entry/TSA Pre-Test fee credit (up to $100 every four years for Global Entry and every 4.5 years for TSA Pre-Check) Delay insurance*	15% discount when redeeming reward points for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card); free access to Delta Sky Club; boarding priority; 20% off in-flight purchases Global Entry/TSA Pre-Test fee credit (up to $100 every four years for Global Entry and every 4.5 years for TSA Pre-Check) Two Sky Club guests once; access to the Amex Centurion lounge when flying on your Delta ticket purchased with your Delta Reserve; access to free upgrades for non-elite members Delay insurance and trip cancellation/interruption insurance*
companion ticket	Domestic main cabin, certificate of round-trip companionship each year upon renewal of your pass	Certificate of domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin round-trip companion each year upon renewal of your pass
Status increase	Earn 10,000 Medallion Miles after spending $25,000 in a calendar year and earn back after spending $50,000.	Earn 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000 in a calendar year and earn back after spending $60,000, $90,000, and $120,000 in a calendar year.

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. The policies are underwritten by the New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

As you can see, the two cards have some overlapping interests. However, the cards have some significant differences — the biggest differences relate to lounge access, the accelerator category, and help towards excellence. Which card is better for you will depend on whether you’re getting enough value from Delta Reserve benefits to justify paying the higher annual fee.

Delta Platinum Welcome Offer vs Delta Reserve

Since Amex only allows you to earn the welcome offer on each of their credit cards once in a lifetime, you want to sign up when the rewards are high. Luckily, the current deals on both Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve are hot:

Delta SkyMiles Platinum: 85,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases on your new card during the first six months of your card membership. This offer will expire on August 2nd.
Reserve Delta SkyMiles: 85,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases on your new card during the first six months of your card membership. This offer expires on August 2nd.

TPG . value Delta SkyMiles for 1.1 cents each, making both welcome offers worth $935.

Benefits of Delta Platinum over Delta Reserve

As you can see in the chart, these two cards are similar in many benefits. Specifically, both cards include a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit (up to $100), Delta rewards redemption when you book with your card, free first checked baggage for you and up to eight companions when booking, priority boarding and 20% discount on in-flight purchases.

Both cards also offer a Medal Qualifying Dollar waiver for elite status. Cardholders who spend $25,000 a year receive an MQD waiver up to Delta Medallion Platinum elite status. Earning a waiver for Diamonds requires a whopping $250,000 annual spending.

Delta flyers can put these welcome bonus points to good use. ALBERTO RIVA / POINT PERSON

The most notable difference between the card benefits is Delta Sky Club access. With the Reserve, you’ll get unlimited access to yourself while traveling on Delta, and you’ll also get two once-a-year arrivals. With Platinum, you’ll only get discounted Sky Club access, which pays $50 per person for you and up to two guests when traveling on Delta flights.

Both cards come with a annual companion ticket. Platinum class is for domestic economy class flights, while Reserve class can be used for domestic first class, Delta Comfort+ or economy class.

Likewise, both cards help cardholders raise status, but the Reserve offers a much higher chance of earning MQMs — up to 60,000 MQMs per calendar year.

Related: How to upgrade on Delta

Earn miles with Delta Platinum versus Delta Reserve

The Delta Reserve There is a bonus category: Buy plain. As a cardholder, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on qualifying Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Platinum Plain, on the other hand, offers much more bonus opportunities. Cardholders earn 3 miles per dollar on qualifying Delta purchases and in-person purchases at hotels and 2 miles per dollar on restaurant dining (including takeout and delivery). United States) and US supermarkets. Additionally, cardholders earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Should I take the Delta Platinum or the Delta Reserve?

When comparing premium rewards cards with non-premium cards, the biggest question is whether the increased annual fee is worth the additional benefits you receive. Going from Delta Platinum ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees) to Delta Reserve ($550 annual fee, see rates and fees) ask for an extra $300. Is that extra cost worth it for you?

If you’re willing to pay a higher annual fee for free SkyClub access and a quicker path to elite status, then Delta Reserve is the better choice for you.

If you want more bonus earning categories and lower annual fees, you’ll be more than satisfied with Delta Platinum.

You should also consider other cards already in your wallet, as that can make a difference in your choice. For example, if you have Platinum Card® from American Expressyou already enjoy Sky Club access while flying Delta — with Extensive access to other airport lounges. As a result, the Sky Club access you receive on your Delta Reserve card may not be necessary.

Likewise, if you have American Express® Gold Card, you’ve earned 4 Amex points for every dollar spent in restaurants and on up to $25,000 in annual purchases at US supermarkets (when it was 1 point per dollar). Since Amex points convert to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio, that’s like earning 4 Delta miles on these purchases — beating the bonus rate on the Delta Platinum card.

For a more detailed breakdown of each card, check out ours Delta Platinum full review and ours full review of Delta Reserve.

How to upgrade from Delta Platinum to Delta Reserve

Most card issuers upgrade permission in the same line of credit cards. This can be a great option for someone looking for the extra perks without the scruples that come with a new product application. To upgrade from a Delta Platinum card to a Delta Reserve card, simply call the customer service number on the back of your card.

However, you should think carefully before doing this. For starters, you will skip the welcome bonus on the Reserve. Amex will occasionally offer bonuses for upgrading from one card to another, but they are almost always significantly less than the public offer for new subscribers.

Additionally, American Express has a once-in-a-lifetime limit on earning welcome bonuses on its cards and this includes the following language:

You may not be eligible for the welcome offer if you have or have had this card or previous versions of it. You may also be ineligible for the welcome offer based on many factors, such as credit card balance transfer history, your history as an American Express cardholder, number of credit cards you have opened and closed and other elements.

If you upgrade from a Platinum card to a Reserve card, you may not be eligible for future welcome offers on the Reserve card.

Just keep these things in mind before you have a chance to upgrade your Delta credit card.