Frequent Delta Air Strains flyers have two incredible card selections that may elevate their airport and flying expertise. Whereas some could gawk on the hefty annual charges, these two playing cards are effectively definitely worth the value for individuals who are loyal to the Atlanta-based service.
I am speaking, after all, in regards to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card and The Platinum Card® from American Specific.
For many 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 below are the 5 explanation why you must think about switching from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum.
Evaluating the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum
| Characteristic | Delta Reserve | Amex Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | 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 price | $650 (see charges and costs) | $695 (see charges and costs) |
| 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: Bank card showdown: Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Why you must swap to the Amex Platinum
At $695 per 12 months, the Amex Platinum is not essentially the most inexpensive card — however neither is the Delta Reserve. For a distinction of $45, the Amex Platinum can provide higher worth since there is a lengthy listing of non-Delta advantages which can be helpful for different elements of the journey expertise, whether or not that is with accommodations or rental automobiles.
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 1000’s of lounges worldwide. With 50 Sky Golf equipment, the percentages are probably that a few of your travels deliver you to locations the place you may not discover a Sky Membership. And when you can go to the Amex Centurion lounge with the Delta Reserve, that is additionally strictly restricted to when you’re flying Delta the identical day.
This is a listing of the lounge entry you may discover along with your helpful Amex Platinum, dubbed the American Specific International Lounge Assortment:
- Amex Centurion Lounges
- Precedence Cross lounges
- Delta Sky Golf equipment (10 visits per 12 months on same-day Delta flights beginning Feb. 1, 2025).
- Plaza Premium lounge
- Escape Lounges — The Centurion Studio Associate
- Lufthansa lounges
- Different International Lounge Assortment associate lounges
On the off probability you are not flying Delta, you will not have the ability to enter any airport lounge when you carry the Delta Reserve alone. However, with the Amex Platinum, the airline you fly will not matter (in most situations) — 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 Cross Choose membership, which the Delta Reserve doesn’t.
Each playing cards require company to pay $50 to enter SkyClubs or Centurion lounges. Nevertheless, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 per calendar 12 months, then two company can enter the Centurion lounge with the cardmember free of charge.
In the event you’re a frequent traveler, this profit alone is price at the very least the $45 distinction within the annual charges.
Simply be aware that Sky Membership entry when flying Delta with both card is restricted to the first cardmember solely — until one of many following holds true:
- Your company are approved 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 beneath the age of two
Associated: Finest bank cards for airport lounge entry
An annual airline credit score extra appropriate for Delta elite members
In the event you swap from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum, you may largely lose out on lots of the Delta-specific advantages, resembling a free checked bag and the 20% low cost on inflight purchases.
However it’s probably that you simply’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.
Nevertheless, the Amex Platinum comes with an up-to-$200 credit score for airline incidentals yearly. You will choose one qualifying airline (Delta is on this listing), and you will be reimbursed all year long anytime you are charged for luggage, seat choice, onboard meals and drinks, and extra (as much as a complete of $200 per calendar 12 months).
This might permit you to designate a unique airline when you’re loyal to Delta and have Medallion standing however often end up on one other service. With out elite standing, you’d probably must pay for issues like checked baggage and extra-legroom seats. Deciding on one other airline may permit you to nonetheless use this airline incidentals assertion credit score — past what the Delta Reserve can give you.
Associated: How to decide on your airline with the Amex Platinum $200 airline price credit score
Holistic journey perks, reasonably 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 lots of the perks are the identical (International Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score) or may be replicated (airline incidentals credit score) with the Amex Platinum — and there is extra.
There is a prolonged listing of journey advantages that include the Amex Platinum, and lots of of them can assist you lower your expenses or elevate your journey expertise. Listed below are just a few of my notable favorites:
Even when you 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: The right way to maximize your incomes with the Amex Platinum
Skill to earn Membership Rewards factors — price considerably greater than Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles have been devalued quite a bit over time. Whereas yow will discover some nice worth when redeeming for home financial system flights, you are out of luck when you’re looking for a long-haul business-class flight for affordable charges.
Sadly, these devaluations will probably proceed, however one of the best ways to guard your self from airline and resort valuations is to open a card that earns transferable factors, just like the Amex Platinum.
With the American Specific Membership Rewards program, you’ll be able to switch your factors to 20-plus airline and resort 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 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) — 10% return
- 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go accommodations 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 whole information to American Specific Membership Rewards companions
In the event 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 Specific Card. For a $350 annual price (see charges and costs), you may take pleasure in comparable 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 when you fly Delta sufficient organically to not want these MQD waivers from these cobranded playing cards, then there is not any motive why the Amex Platinum should not be in your pockets reasonably than the Delta Reserve.
Associated: One of the best bank cards to jump-start elite standing in 2022
Are you eligible to use for the Amex Platinum?
Though each playing cards are issued by American Specific, you will not have the ability to request a product change to your playing cards. In the event you resolve the Amex Platinum is the appropriate alternative for you, you may must put in a brand new software outright — although you should definitely examine the CardMatch instrument to see when you’re focused for an excellent greater welcome provide (topic to vary at any time).
Whereas that has a short lived 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 evaluate Amex’s eligibility necessities, however anecdotes report you could carry as much as 5 American Specific playing cards at a time. As well as, you may probably solely be eligible for the welcome bonus when you’ve by no means held the Amex Platinum earlier than. So, when you’re clear on each fronts, then submitting an software could be the next move.
Then, you may must resolve what to do along with your Delta Reserve.
Your choices are to cancel your card or downgrade to a different Delta cobranded card. Listed below are these choices:
In the event you do resolve to cancel the Delta Reserve as soon as your annual price posts, you should definitely name customer support and see when you’re eligible for a retention provide. Issuers typically present incentives to current cardmembers to maintain their playing cards open — together with assertion credit or bonus miles. That might make the distinction between holding versus canceling your card.
Associated: TPG readers discover 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 many who already carry the Delta Reserve, the Amex Platinum could make lots of 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 costs of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Platinum Amex, click on right here.
