Frequent Delta Air Strains flyers have two implausible card decisions that may elevate their airport and flying expertise. Whereas some might gawk on the hefty annual charges, these two playing cards are effectively well worth the worth for many who are loyal to the Atlanta-based service.
I am speaking, after all, concerning the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Categorical Card and The Platinum Card® from American Categorical.
For individuals 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 it is best to 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 charge | $650 (see charges and charges) | $695 (see charges and charges) |
| 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 it is best to change to the Amex Platinum
At $695 per 12 months, the Amex Platinum is not probably 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 checklist of non-Delta advantages which can be helpful for different components of the journey expertise, whether or not that is with lodges 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 hundreds of lounges worldwide. With 50 Sky Golf equipment, the percentages are probably that a few of your travels carry you to locations the place you may not discover a Sky Membership. And whilst you can go to the Amex Centurion lounge with the Delta Reserve, that is additionally strictly restricted to in the event you’re flying Delta the identical day.
Here is an inventory of the lounge entry you will discover together with your useful Amex Platinum, dubbed the American Categorical International Lounge Assortment:
- Amex Centurion Lounges
- Precedence Move 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 likelihood you are not flying Delta, you will not be capable of enter any airport lounge in the event 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’ll enter many of the lounges as a part of the International Lounge Assortment.
Plus, the Amex Platinum features a Precedence Move Choose membership, which the Delta Reserve doesn’t.
Each playing cards require visitors to pay $50 to enter SkyClubs or Centurion lounges. Nevertheless, if Amex Platinum cardmembers spend $75,000 per calendar 12 months, then two visitors can enter the Centurion lounge with the cardmember without cost.
Should you’re a frequent traveler, this profit alone is price at the least the $45 distinction within the annual charges.
Simply notice that Sky Membership entry when flying Delta with both card is restricted to the first cardmember solely — except one of many following holds true:
- Your visitors are licensed customers in your Amex Platinum or cardmember in their very own proper — which will get them Sky Membership entry
- You utilize considered one of your annual visitor passes as a Delta Reserve cardmember
- Your visitor is a toddler underneath the age of two
Associated: Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry
An annual airline credit score extra appropriate for Delta elite members
Should you change from the Delta Reserve to the Amex Platinum, you will largely lose out on most of the Delta-specific advantages, equivalent to a free checked bag and the 20% low cost on inflight purchases.
But it surely’s probably that you just’re already a Delta Medallion member. Even on the lowest degree (Silver Medallion), you will 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 decide one qualifying airline (Delta is on this checklist), 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 distinct airline in the event 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 luggage and extra-legroom seats. Choosing 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 charge credit score
Holistic journey perks, slightly than simply with Delta
By switching to the Amex Platinum, there are just a few advantages that could be sorely missed, such because the companion certificates and the elite qualification boosts.
However you will discover that most of the perks are the identical (International Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score) or could be replicated (airline incidentals credit score) with the Amex Platinum — and there is extra.
There is a prolonged checklist of journey advantages that include the Amex Platinum, and lots of of them may also help you get monetary savings or elevate your journey expertise. Listed below are just a few of my notable favorites:
Even in the event you do not burn up each single credit score or profit, it is greater than probably that you’ll make up that $45 distinction within the annual charges. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
Associated: How one can maximize your incomes with the Amex Platinum
Skill to earn Membership Rewards factors — price considerably greater than Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles have been devalued loads over time. Whereas yow will discover some nice worth when redeeming for home economic system flights, you are out of luck in the event 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 lodge valuations is to open a card that earns transferable factors, just like the Amex Platinum.
With the American Categorical Membership Rewards program, you possibly can switch your factors to 20-plus airline and lodge 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 instantly 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 lodges booked by means of 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 entire information to American Categorical Membership Rewards companions
Should 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 Categorical Card. For a $350 annual charge (see charges and charges), you will get pleasure from related perks:
- Obtain $2,500 Medallion Qualification {Dollars} (MQDs) every year
- Earn $1 MQD for every $20 in you spend on purchases
- Obtain a Fundamental Cabin round-trip companion certificates every year upon renewal of your card
And in the event you fly Delta sufficient organically to not want these MQD waivers from these cobranded playing cards, then there is no cause why the Amex Platinum should not be in your pockets slightly than the Delta Reserve.
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Are you eligible to use for the Amex Platinum?
Though each playing cards are issued by American Categorical, you will not be capable of request a product change to your playing cards. Should you resolve the Amex Platinum is the best selection for you, you will must put in a brand new utility outright — although be sure you verify the CardMatch software to see in the event you’re focused for a fair increased welcome provide (topic to alter at any time).
Whereas that has a short lived impact in your credit score rating, you’ll work towards the 80,000-point welcome bonus.
To gauge your chance of approval, you possibly can assessment Amex’s eligibility necessities, however anecdotes report which you could carry as much as 5 American Categorical playing cards at a time. As well as, you will probably solely be eligible for the welcome bonus in the event you’ve by no means held the Amex Platinum earlier than. So, in the event you’re clear on each fronts, then submitting an utility could be the next step.
Then, you will must resolve what to do together with your Delta Reserve.
Your choices are to cancel your card or downgrade to a different Delta cobranded card. Listed below are these choices:
Should you do resolve to cancel the Delta Reserve as soon as your annual charge posts, be sure you name customer support and see in the event you’re eligible for a retention provide. Issuers generally present incentives to present 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 greatest methods to guard your self is opening a card that earns transferable factors as an alternative. For individuals who already carry the Delta Reserve, the Amex Platinum could make plenty of sense in some ways, particularly since you will get pleasure from some Delta advantages and nonetheless be capable of switch your rewards to Delta SkyMiles in a pinch.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Apply right here: Delta Reserve
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Blue, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Gold, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Platinum Amex, click on right here.
