Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Picking a premium card for Delta perks

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Delta Air Lines offers one of the most comprehensive credit card portfolios of any major airline, with entry-level, mid-tier and premium cards for consumers and businesses. Frequent Delta flyers are going to spend plenty of time considering whether the Delta SkyMiles® …

Mar 6, 2025 - 18:03

Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Picking a premium card for Delta perks

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

Delta Air Lines offers one of the most comprehensive credit card portfolios of any major airline, with entry-level, mid-tier and premium cards for consumers and businesses.

Frequent Delta flyers are going to spend plenty of time considering whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers enough premium benefits and value to justify paying their annual fees (see rates and fees of the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve).

I’ll look at how the mid-tier Delta Platinum card stacks up against the premium Delta Reserve to help you decide which card is right for you.

Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve comparison

Feature	Delta Platinum	Delta Reserve
Welcome offer	Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. The offer 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 offer ends on April 2.
Annual fee	$350 (see rates and fees)	$650 (see rates and fees)
Earning rates	3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels 2 miles per dollar at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases	3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
Baggage	First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions)	First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions)
Travel perks	15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card) 20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits Complimentary upgrade list for cardmembers who are not SkyMiles Medallion Members for Delta One (within the 50 United States), First Class, and Delta Comfort+ after Medallion Members Up to $120 annual Resy credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit every calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers Up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years Complimentary Hertz Five-Star status* Trip delay insurance Baggage insurance plan* Car rental loss and damage insurance^ No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) Enrollment is required for select card benefits; terms apply	Access to Delta Sky Club lounges (15 visits each cardmember unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year) Four one-time guest passes for the Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), then $50 per person per visit Access to Amex Centurion Lounges (when flying Delta and booking your flight with the Delta Reserve) 20% off inflight purchases in the form of statement credits 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card) Up to $240 annual Resy credit each calendar year at U.S. Resy restaurants (up to $20 each month) Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit with select U.S. providers every calendar year (up to $10 per month) Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status* Trip delay insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Baggage insurance plan*** Car rental loss and damage insurance^ No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) Enrollment is required for select card benefits; terms apply
Companion certificate	Domestic, Caribbean or Central American Main Cabin, round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card	Domestic, Caribbean or Central American first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card
Status Boost	Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) for every $20 spent plus 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.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

****Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

^Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

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 an elevated 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. This offer 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 offer ends on April 2.

TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each, putting the Delta Platinum welcome offer at $1,080 and the Delta Reserve welcome offer at $1,200.

Winner: Delta Reserve. The slightly higher welcome offer gives this card the upper hand, and the minimum spending requirement is reasonable.

Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve benefits

As you can see in the chart, these two cards overlap on many benefits. Specifically, both cards include discounted Delta award redemptions when you book with your card, the first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your reservation and 20% off inflight purchases.

Both cards also offer a MQD earning and status boost, but they differ here. The Delta Platinum card offers cardmembers 2,500 MQDs each Medallion qualification year, in addition to allowing cardmembers to earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.

Meanwhile, the Delta Reserve offers the same 2,500 MQD headstart, but cardmembers earn a better 1 MQD for every $10 spent on their card.

(Photo by Alberto Riva/The Points Guy) — ALBERTO RIVA/THE POINTS GUY

The most notable difference between the card benefits 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. Cardmembers also receive four one-time guest passes for Sky Club; after that, they’ll be charged $50 per person per visit.

Both cards come with an annual companion certificate for flights to all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. The Delta Platinum certificate is for a Main Cabin flight, while the Delta Reserve certificate can be used for first-class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin flights. 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)

Additionally, statement credits on both cards offer cardmembers even more value. The Delta Reserve card includes up to $240 in annual Resy credit every calendar year (up to $20 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants, up to $120 in annual ride-hailing credits each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers, up to $200 in Delta Stays statement credits each year for hotel bookings and an up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years.

Delta Reserve cardmembers also receive complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status and cellphone protection. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

On the other hand, the Delta Platinum has slightly tapered down credits, such as up to $120 in Resy credits (up to $10 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants each calendar year, up to $120 in ride-hailing credits every calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers and up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit each year, along with Hertz Five Star status. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

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

The Delta Reserve has one bonus category: Delta purchases. As a cardmember, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. This equates to a 3.6% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.

Man buying something online — WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES

The Delta Platinum, on the other hand, offers a much wider range of bonus opportunities. Cardmembers earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases and on direct hotel purchases, as well as 2 miles per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.

Additionally, cardmembers earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. This equates to a 3.6%, 2.4% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively, based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations.

Winner: Delta Platinum. The card offers additional earning categories over the Delta Reserve.

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 that 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.

Delta One Suite — ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

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.

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.

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.

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.