Delta Air Lines offers one of the most comprehensive credit card portfolios of any major airline. It features entry-level, mid-tier and premium cards for consumers and businesses.
When it comes to considering benefits and value, some Delta flyers may be stuck between the mid-tier Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card at a $350 annual fee (see rates and fees) or the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with its $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Dive into this guide to take a look at how two cards stack up and help you decide which card is right for you.
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve comparison
| Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| <strong>Welcome offer</strong> | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Oct. 29. | Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Oct. 29. |
| <strong>Annual fee</strong> | $350 | $650 |
| <strong>Earning rates</strong> | <ul> <li>3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels worldwide</li> <li>2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets</li> <li>1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
<ul> <li>3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases</li> <li>1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases</li> </ul> |
| <strong>Baggage</strong> | First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions) | First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions) |
| <strong>Travel perks</strong> | <ul> <li>Complimentary access to the Delta upgrade list for <span style=”color: #000000;”>cardmembers</span> who are not SkyMiles Medallion Members for Delta One (within the 50 United States), Delta First, Delta Premium Select (within the 50 United States) and Delta Comfort+ after Medallion Members</li> <li>Complimentary Hertz Five-Star status*</li> <li>No foreign transaction fees (see <a href=”/tc/220310483?pid=220310483&name=Delta%20SkyMiles%C2%AE%20Platinum%20American%20Express%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)</li> <li><a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/credit-cards/american-express-cards-travel-protections/” target=”_blank”>Travel protections</a></li> <li>Up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year</li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Up to $120 annual Resy statement</span><span style=”color: #000000;”> credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants</span></li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Up to $120 ride-hailing statement credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers</span></li> <li>$120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years</li> <li>20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits</li> <li>15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card)</li> </ul> <p>Enrollment is required for select card benefits.</p> |
<ul> <li>Access to Amex Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta and booking your flight with the Delta Reserve)</li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Access to Delta Sky Club lounges (15 visits each Medallion year, unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year to unlock unlimited access)</span></li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status*</span></li> <li>Four one-time guest passes for the Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) each Medallion year, then $50 per person per visit</li> <li>No foreign transaction fees (see <a href=”/tc/6573?pid=6573&name=Delta%20SkyMiles%C2%AE%20Reserve%20American%20Express%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>)</li> <li>Travel protections</li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Up to $240 annual Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $20 each month) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants</span></li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year</span></li> <li><span style=”color: #000000;”>Up to $120 ride-hailing statement credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers</span></li> <li>$120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years</li> <li>20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits</li> <li>15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card)</li> </ul> <p>Enrollment is required for select card benefits.</p> |
| <strong>Companion certificate</strong> | Receive a companion certificate each year after you renew your card for a Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America | <span style=”color: #000000;”>Receive a companion certificate each year after you renew your card for a Delta First, Delta Comfort or Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America </span> |
| <span style=”color: #000000;”><strong>Status Boost</strong></span> | Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar for every $20 spent, plus receive 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the Medallion Qualification year | Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent, plus 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the Medallion Qualification year |
*Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve welcome offer
Since American Express only allows you to earn a welcome offer on each of its credit cards once per lifetime, you want to apply when the bonus is high.
Luckily, the current elevated offers on both the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve are compelling:
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Oct. 29.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends Oct. 29.
TPG’s October 2025 valuations place Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, putting the Delta Platinum welcome offer at $1,080 and the Delta Reserve welcome offer at $1,500.
Winner: Delta Reserve. The slightly higher welcome offer gives this card the upper hand, and the minimum spending requirement is reasonable.
Related: The best time to apply for these popular American Express cards based on offer history
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve benefits
As you can see in the chart, the applyLink pid=”220310483″ overridetext=”Delta Platinum”] and Delta Reserve overlap on many benefits.
Specifically, both cards include:
- Discounted Delta award redemptions when you book with your card
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your reservation
- 20% off inflight purchases
Both cards also offer a 2,500-MQD boost at the start of the Medallion Qualification year, but they differ in how quickly you earn MQDs through spending.
- Delta Platinum: Earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent
- Delta Reserve: Earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent
Another prominent difference between the two cards is Delta Sky Club access.
With the Delta Reserve, you’ll receive:
- 15 visits to Sky Clubs each cardmember year when traveling on same-day Delta-marketed flights, unless the cardmember spends at least $75,000 in a calendar year, in which case they’ll get unlimited access
- Four one-time guest passes for Sky Club — after that, guests will be charged $50 per person per visit
Plus, you’ll receive access to Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta and booking your flight with the Delta Reserve.
Meanwhile, the Delta Platinum does not offer any lounge access or guest passes.
Both cards come with an annual companion certificate for flights to all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. With the companion certificate, you can buy one ticket and get the second for the cost of government-imposed taxes and fees between $22 and $250. Flights can have up to four segments.
Cabins you’re eligible to book differ, however.
- Delta Platinum: Delta Main only
- Delta Reserve: Delta First, Delta Comfort or Delta Main
The cards provide similar statement credits and car rental elite status, but at different thresholds. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
| Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| <strong>Delta Stays statement credit</strong> | Up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year | Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year |
| <strong>Resy statement credit</strong> | Up to $120 annual Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants | Up to $240 annual Resy statement credit each calendar year (up to $20 each month) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants |
| <strong>Hertz status</strong> | Complimentary Hertz Five-Star status* | Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status* |
*Enrollment in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
Finally, both cards provide the same ride-hailing benefit: an up to $120 ride-hailing statement credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers.
And, you’ll receive a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years with either card.
Winner: Delta Reserve. Higher statement credits, lounge access, an improved companion certificate and a better MQD earning rate give this card the lead.
Related: How to get upgraded on Delta
Earning miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Earning miles with the Delta Platinum or the Delta Reserve differs slightly. But these differences are notable.
With the Delta Platinum, you’ll earn:
- 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels worldwide
- 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
On the other hand, with the Delta Reserve, you’ll earn:
- 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
The Delta Platinum offers a much wider range of bonus opportunities than the Delta Reserve, which has just a single bonus category for eligible Delta purchases.
With the Delta Platinum, you’ll earn on eligible Delta purchases and on direct hotel purchases worldwide, as well as 2 miles per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.
All cardmembers earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all nonbonus categories.
Winner: Delta Platinum. The card offers additional earning categories over the Delta Reserve.
Related: 16 ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles
Redeeming miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
SkyMiles earned from both the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve cards can be used toward travel on Delta flights and those of partner airlines, including Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air, as well as nonalliance partners.
However, Delta uses a dynamic award pricing system, so redemption rates fluctuate greatly.
The Delta SkyMiles program still has some sweet spots, including SkyMiles deals. These flash sales offer impressive discounts on Delta-operated economy flights and even, at times, Delta One awards.
Award tickets booked and paid for using a Delta cobranded card also receive a 15% discount on the mileage cost.
Winner: Tie, as both cards redeem miles in the same way.
Related: How to keep your points and miles from expiring
Should I get the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve?
When comparing a premium rewards card to a non-premium card, the biggest question is whether the increased annual fee is worth it for the extra benefits you receive. If you’re willing to pay a higher annual fee for Sky Club access and a faster path to elite status, the Delta Reserve is your better choice. If you want more bonus-earning categories and a lower annual fee, go with the Delta Platinum.
How to switch from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve
To upgrade from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve card, call the customer service number on the back of your card. However, you should think very carefully before doing this. By upgrading, you’d be forgoing a welcome bonus on the Delta Reserve.
It may be worth waiting for an upgrade offer on the Delta Platinum before switching. If you’d like to go the opposite path with a downgrade, you can change the Delta Reserve to the Delta Platinum by calling the number on the back of your card.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades
Bottom line
As you can see, the two cards have several overlapping benefits. However, the cards have some significant differences — the biggest ones involving lounge access, a better companion certificate and higher statement credits on the Delta Reserve.
It’s still worth noting, however, that the Delta Platinum actually features more bonus categories for earning miles on purchases.
Which card is better for you will come down to whether you’ll get enough value from the Delta Reserve’s benefits to justify paying its higher annual fee or prefer the lower annual fee of the Delta Platinum and its better earning rates.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, click here.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
