Delta Air Traces affords one of the vital complete bank card portfolios of any main airline, with entry-level, mid-tier and premium playing cards for shoppers and companies.
Frequent Delta flyers are going to spend loads of time contemplating whether or not the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Categorical Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card affords sufficient premium advantages and worth to justify paying their annual charges (see charges and charges of the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve).
I am going to take a look at how the mid-tier Delta Platinum card stacks up in opposition to the premium Delta Reserve that will help you resolve which card is best for you.
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve comparability
| Characteristic | Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. The provide ends on April 2. | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. The provide ends on April 2. |
| Annual charge | $350 (see charges and charges) | $650 (see charges and charges) |
| Incomes charges | 3 miles per greenback on eligible Delta purchases and purchases made immediately with accommodations
2 miles per greenback at eating places (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases |
3 miles per greenback on eligible Delta purchases
1 mile per greenback on all different purchases |
| Baggage | First checked bag free on Delta flights (together with as much as eight companions) | First checked bag free on Delta flights (together with as much as eight companions) |
| Journey perks |
Enrollment is required for choose card advantages; phrases apply |
Enrollment is required for choose card advantages; phrases apply |
| Companion certificates | Home, Caribbean or Central American Predominant Cabin, round-trip companion certificates annually upon renewal of your card | Home, Caribbean or Central American first-class, Delta Consolation+ or Predominant Cabin round-trip companion certificates annually upon renewal of your card |
| Standing Increase | Earn 1 Medallion Qualification {Dollars} (MQDs) for each $20 spent plus 2,500 MQDs towards standing qualification firstly of the Medallion Qualification yr | Earn 1 MQD for each $10 spent plus 2,500 MQDs towards standing qualification firstly of the Medallion Qualification yr |
*Enrollment within the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
****Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
^Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all automobile sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
Associated: Finest bank cards for airport lounge entry
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve welcome provide
Since American Categorical solely permits you to earn a welcome provide on every of its bank cards as soon as per lifetime, you need to apply when the bonus is excessive.
Each day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Fortunately, the present elevated affords on each the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve are compelling:
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Earn an elevated 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. This provide ends on April 2.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Earn an elevated 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. This provide ends on April 2.
TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents every, placing the Delta Platinum welcome provide at $1,080 and the Delta Reserve welcome provide at $1,200.
Winner: Delta Reserve. The marginally larger welcome provide offers this card the higher hand, and the minimal spending requirement is cheap.
Associated: The perfect time to use for these Amex playing cards in keeping with provide historical past
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve advantages
As you’ll be able to see within the chart, these two playing cards overlap on many advantages. Particularly, each playing cards embrace discounted Delta award redemptions once you e-book together with your card, the primary checked bag free for you and as much as eight companions in your reservation and 20% off inflight purchases.
Each playing cards additionally provide a MQD incomes and standing enhance, however they differ right here. The Delta Platinum card affords cardmembers 2,500 MQDs every Medallion qualification yr, along with permitting cardmembers to earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent.
In the meantime, the Delta Reserve affords the identical 2,500 MQD headstart, however cardmembers earn a greater 1 MQD for each $10 spent on their card.
Probably the most notable distinction between the cardboard advantages is Delta Sky Membership entry.
With the Delta Reserve, you may obtain 15 visits to Sky Golf equipment every cardmember yr when touring on same-day Delta-marketed flights until the cardmember spends no less than $75,000 in a calendar yr, wherein case they will get limitless entry. Cardmembers additionally obtain 4 one-time visitor passes for Sky Membership; after that, they will be charged $50 per particular person per go to.
Each playing cards include an annual companion certificates for flights to all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The Delta Platinum certificates is for a Predominant Cabin flight, whereas the Delta Reserve certificates can be utilized for first-class, Delta Consolation+ or Predominant Cabin flights. With the companion certificates, you should buy one ticket and get the second for the price of government-imposed taxes and charges between $22 and $250. (Flights can have as much as 4 segments)
Moreover, assertion credit on each playing cards provide cardmembers much more worth. The Delta Reserve card contains as much as $240 in annual Resy credit score each calendar yr (as much as $20 month-to-month) at U.S. Resy eating places, as much as $120 in annual ride-hailing credit every calendar yr (as much as $10 month-to-month) with choose U.S. suppliers, as much as $200 in Delta Stays assertion credit annually for lodge bookings and an as much as $120 assertion credit score for World Entry each 4 years or as much as $85 for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years.
Delta Reserve cardmembers additionally obtain complimentary Hertz President’s Circle standing and cellphone safety. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Then again, the Delta Platinum has barely tapered down credit, similar to as much as $120 in Resy credit (as much as $10 month-to-month) at U.S. Resy eating places every calendar yr, as much as $120 in ride-hailing credit each calendar yr (as much as $10 month-to-month) with choose U.S. suppliers and as much as $150 Delta Stays assertion credit score annually, together with Hertz 5 Star standing. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Winner: Delta Reserve. Larger assertion credit, lounge entry, an improved companion certificates and a greater MQD incomes fee give this card the lead.
Associated: How one can get upgraded on Delta
Incomes miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
The Delta Reserve has one bonus class: Delta purchases. As a cardmember, you may earn 3 miles per greenback on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases. This equates to a 3.6% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively, primarily based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.
The Delta Platinum, however, affords a a lot wider vary of bonus alternatives. Cardmembers earn 3 miles per greenback on eligible Delta purchases and on direct lodge purchases, in addition to 2 miles per greenback on eating at eating places (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.
Moreover, cardmembers earn 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases. This equates to a 3.6%, 2.4% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively, primarily based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.
Winner: Delta Platinum. The cardboard affords further incomes classes over the Delta Reserve.
Associated: 16 methods to earn extra Delta SkyMiles
Redeeming miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
SkyMiles earned from each the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve playing cards can be utilized towards journey on Delta flights and that of accomplice airways, together with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air, in addition to nonalliance companions.
Nevertheless, Delta makes use of a dynamic award pricing system, so redemption charges fluctuate tremendously.
The Delta SkyMiles program nonetheless has some candy spots, together with SkyMiles offers. These flash gross sales provide spectacular reductions on Delta-operated economic system flights and even, at occasions, Delta One awards.
Award tickets booked and paid for utilizing a Delta cobranded card additionally obtain a 15% low cost on the mileage price.
Winner: Tie as each playing cards redeem miles in the identical method.
Associated: How one can preserve your factors and miles from expiring
Ought to I get the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve?
When evaluating a premium rewards card to a non-premium card, the most important query is whether or not the elevated annual charge is price it for the additional advantages you obtain. For those who’re keen to pay a better annual charge for Sky Membership entry and a quicker path to elite standing, the Delta Reserve is your more sensible choice. If you need extra bonus-earning classes and a decrease annual charge, go together with the Delta Platinum.
How one can change from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve
To improve from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve card, name the customer support quantity on the again of your card. Nevertheless, it is best to suppose very rigorously earlier than doing this. By upgrading, you would be forgoing a welcome bonus on the Delta Reserve.
It might be price ready for an improve provide on the Delta Platinum earlier than switching. If you would like to go the other path with a downgrade, you’ll be able to change the Delta Reserve to the Delta Platinum by calling the quantity on the again of your card.
Learn extra: The last word information to bank card upgrades
Backside line
As you’ll be able to see, the 2 playing cards have a number of overlapping advantages. Nevertheless, the playing cards have some important variations — the most important ones involving lounge entry, a greater companion certificates and better assertion credit on the Delta Reserve.
Which card is best for you’ll come down as to whether you may get sufficient worth from the Delta Reserve’s advantages to justify paying its larger annual charge or choose the decrease annual charge of the Delta Platinum and its higher incomes charges.
To study extra, learn our full critiques of the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve.
Associated: Delta Gold Amex vs. Delta Platinum Amex
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, click on right here.
