Amex Platinum Card vs. Delta Reserve Card [2023]

Q: Does the Delta Reserve card come with Delta elite status?

The Delta Reserve card does not come with complimentary Delta Medallion elite status. The card does offer a faster path to qualification with the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Miles towards elite status by spending on the card. It also offers a waiver of the Medallion Qualifying Dollar requirement (MQD) needed to qualify for elite status by reaching spending levels of $25,000 for all levels except top-tier Diamond elite which requires $250,000 in spending to waive the revenue MQD requirements.

If you’re a frequent Delta Air Lines flyer, considering a Delta co-branded credit card is a logical choice. You’ll receive a variety of benefits that make your travel on Delta Air Lines more comfortable, savings with benefits such as free checked baggage for you and your travel companions, and a faster path to elite status.

If you fly a variety of airlines, Delta included, considering another premium travel rewards card might also be a logical choice. You’ll receive some of the same benefits as a Delta-branded card plus additional benefits that apply no matter which airline you’ll be flying.

Using these travel scenarios as a basis, we’ve selected one of the most popular travel rewards cards ever and compared it to the top premium Delta co-branded rewards card. We’ll compare earnings, redemption options, benefits, and ultimately, the value each card provides for the frequent traveler.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card both stand tall and are widely respected as premium travel rewards cards — let’s get started with our comparison!

Amex Platinum Card vs. Delta Reserve Card — Overview

Before we dive into the details of each card, we’ve put together an overview of each product so you can easily review the attributes of both featured cards side-by-side.

In a nutshell, here’s how the cards compare overall:

Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Delta Reserve Card
Earning	5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5x on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel 1x point on all other purchases	3x SkyMiles on Delta 1x SkyMile on all other purchases
Redemption Options	Redeem Membership Rewards points for flights via Amex Travel Flight upgrades with selected airline Redeem for travel on Amex Travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points	Award tickets with Delta and partner airlines Pay for flights with miles Redeem for seat upgrades, Sky Club membership, premium drinks at the Sky Club, gift cards, hotels, Apple products, cruises, car rentals, and bid for experiences
Delta Air Lines Benefits	Delta Sky Club access when flying same-day on Delta Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Delta Air Lines Use Membership Rewards points to book Delta flights via Amex Travel Earn Delta SkyMiles on paid or Pay with Miles flights	Delta Sky Club access for the cardmember and additional authorized users traveling same-day on a Delta ticket Pay for Delta flights using rewards points/miles Faster path to Delta Medallion elite status Annual Delta Companion Ticket Delta-specific savings
Travel Benefits and Protections	Worldwide access to over 1,400 airport lounges Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (upon enrollment) Car rental program perks/benefits Up to $200 hotel credit for Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection Up to $200 in statement credits each year for airline incidentals $189 CLEAR membership reimbursement Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement Up to $200 in Uber Cash each year Secondary car rental insurance with the option to purchase Premium Protection for a flat fee that covers the entire rental period Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Trip delay insurance, up to $500 per trip for covered delays 6 hours or more Baggage insurance, up to $3,000 per person, per covered trip Emergency evacuation No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)	Access to the Centurion Lounge network when flying Delta Up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee Secondary car rental insurance with the option to purchase Premium Protection for a flat fee that covers the entire rental period Trip cancellation and interruption insurance Trip delay insurance, up to $500 per trip for covered delays 6 hours or more Baggage insurance, up to $3,000 per person, per covered trip Emergency evacuation No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Shopping Benefits and Protections	Amex Offers, extended warranty, purchase protection (up to $10,000 per item), Amex Auto Purchasing Program, ShopRunner membership, cell phone protection, return protection Up to $240 digital entertainment credit Up to $300 in Equinox credits Up to $100 each year in statement credits for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases Up to $12.95 per month in statement credits for Walmart+ membership	Amex Offers, extended warranty, purchase protection (up to $10,000 per item), Amex Auto Purchasing Program, ShopRunner membership, cell phone protection, return protection

Welcome Offer

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card offers Membership Rewards points as a welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements in the first few months after account opening. These points can be redeemed for 1 cent each towards travel when booking with Amex Travel.

You may receive greater value for your Membership Rewards points when transferring to airline and hotel travel partners.

Delta Reserve Card

Welcome offers for the Delta Reserve card vary, but you’ll historically see tens of thousands of miles offered after meeting minimum spending requirements. Delta flyers striving for elite status with Delta will also enjoy the opportunity to receive Medallion Qualification Miles with their welcome offer, which counts towards elite status when signing up for the card.

Membership Rewards Points vs. Delta SkyMiles

Delta One passengers talking — Earning points or miles that can be redeemed for free flights is one of the benefits of having the Amex Platinum card or the Delta Reserve card. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines

Comparing Earning Potential

The Amex Platinum card earns valuable Membership Rewards points, while the Delta Reserve card earns Delta SkyMiles. Membership Rewards points may be more valuable but Delta SkyMiles are easy to earn if you’re spending on the Delta Reserve card and flying with Delta.

Let’s look at the earning power of each card.

Card	Earnings
Amex Platinum Card	5x Membership Rewards points for flights purchased directly with the airlines, flights booked through Amex Travel, and premium flights booked with the International Airline Program (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) 5x Membership Rewards points for prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
Delta Reserve Card	3x SkyMiles on Delta 1x SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases

Bottom Line: If you spend a lot on flights (with any airline) and prepaid hotels, you could earn significantly more rewards with the Amex Platinum card versus the Delta Reserve card.

Comparing Redemption Options

Membership Rewards points are flexible rewards earned with the Amex Platinum card while the Delta Reserve card earns Delta SkyMiles which have narrower redemption options.

While both rewards currencies are generally worth about 1 cent each when redeemed for flights, you can elevate their value by either transferring the points to Amex travel partners (Amex Platinum card) or using your miles to book good value partner airline award tickets (Delta Reserve card).

Card	Best Redemption Options	Additional Redemption Options
Amex Platinum Card	Transfer to airline partners Redeem for flights on Amex Travel	Transfer to hotel partners, redeem for travel on Amex Travel, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, donate points
Delta Reserve Card	Award tickets with Delta and partner airlines	Seat upgrades, Sky Club membership, premium drinks at the Sky Club, gift cards, hotels, Apple products, cruises, car rentals, pay with miles for flights, and bid for experiences

To learn more about the best ways to redeem Membership Rewards points or redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value, check out our complete guides.

Hot Tip: You can use Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Platinum card to book Delta airline tickets via Amex Travel and earn Delta SkyMiles on your flight. You can also transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a ratio of 1:1.

Airport Lounge Access

The Amex Platinum card rates highest in the lounge access category with its complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. The Delta Reserve card focuses on access for loyal Delta flyers.

Card	Lounge Access
Amex Platinum Card	Centurion Lounge (U.S. and international locations) is complimentary for the cardholder; cardholders may enter with up to 2 complimentary guests if they have spent $75,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year, otherwise, a guest day pass can be purchased for $50 per adult or $30 per child between the ages of 2 and 17 Delta Sky Club is complimentary for the cardholder only; must be flying same-day with Delta; $39 per guest, per visit, up to 2 guests Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner Plaza Premium Lounges Priority Pass Select complimentary for cardholder plus 2 guests; third and subsequent guests are $35 each, per visit (enrollment required) Select Lufthansa Lounges Select Virgin Clubhouses
Delta Reserve Card	The Centurion Lounge Network for the cardholder and additional authorized users; cardholders may bring up to 2 guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location Delta Sky Club access for the cardholder and additional authorized users traveling same-day on a Delta ticket; additional guests at $39 per person, per visit

Comparing Authorized User Lounge Access

Adding authorized users to the Amex Platinum card or the Delta Reserve card gives them the same lounge access benefits as the primary cardmember.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card is known for its superb worldwide airport lounge access benefit that is second to no other travel rewards card. This benefit alone is worth more than the card’s annual fee.

Hotel and Rental Car Program Benefits

Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Restaurant — Receive benefits such as complimentary breakfast with hotel elite status that comes with the Amex Platinum card. Image Credit: Hilton

Hotel Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status

Upon enrollment, Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status comes with the opportunity for upgraded rooms, free Wi-Fi, welcome bonus points, 25% more earnings at Marriott, and late checkout.

Hilton Honors Gold Elite Status

Upon enrollment, Hilton Honors Gold elite status offers some great benefits, starting with complimentary breakfast, a Hilton fan favorite. You’ll also receive upgraded rooms when available, free Wi-Fi, and earn 18x points at Hilton properties thanks to Hilton status.

$200 Prepaid Hotel Credit

Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings (2-night minimum stay required) through Amex Travel when you pay with your card.

American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts

When you stay at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties, you’ll receive these benefits:

Room upgrades, when available
Complimentary breakfast for 2 each day
Noon check-in and late checkout
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Local amenity valued at $100

The Hotel Collection

On stays of 2 nights or more at The Hotel Collection properties, you’ll receive a $100 credit towards on-site property amenities, including dining, spa, and resort activities. You’ll also be earning 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid bookings.

Hotel Program Benefits — Delta Reserve Card

The Delta Reserve card does not offer any hotel-specific benefits.

Rental Car Program Benefits — Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card comes with these rental car program benefits:

Avis Preferred Club — Receive a 25% discount on base rates and a 1-category upgrade based on availability
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards — Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status and a 1-category upgrade when you rent an intermediate-size vehicle or greater
National Emerald Club Executive — Access to upgraded preferred cars, seamless returns, a 1-category upgrade if you rent a full-size vehicle or greater, plus qualify for accelerated earnings towards free rentals

Rental Car Program Benefits — Delta Reserve Card

The Delta Reserve card does not offer any rental car program benefits.

Bottom Line: When we compare hotel and rental car program benefits, the Amex Platinum is the clear winner. With hotel and rental car program elite status, special amenities, perks, discounts, and property credits, the card delivers plenty of value in these categories.

Comparing Delta Benefits

You’ll receive complimentary Delta Sky Club access with either the Amex Platinum card or the Delta Reserve card. Image Credit: Delta Air Lines

For the Delta frequent flyer, there are plenty of benefits realized by having a Delta-branded card. However, let’s compare Delta-specific benefits that are offered on each card and see how they measure up.

Delta Benefit	Amex Platinum Card	Delta Reserve Card
Free Checked Bag and Priority Boarding for the Cardholder and up to 8 Travel Companions, Upgrade Priority for Cardholder Over Those at the Same Status Level Who Do Not Have the Delta Reserve Card	No	Yes
Pay for Delta Flights Using Rewards Points/Miles	Yes, by using Membership Rewards on Amex Travel or by transferring points to Delta	Yes, by using Delta SkyMiles
Complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs	Yes, for cardmember only when traveling same-day on Delta	Yes, for cardmember and authorized users when traveling same-day on Delta
Access to Centurion Lounges	Yes, when flying on any airline; cardholder plus 2 guests at no extra charge	Yes, when flying on Delta; up to 2 additional guests at $50 each per visit
Faster Path to Delta Medallion Elite Status	No	Yes, the ability to waive revenue MQD requirements and earn Medallion Qualification Miles by spending on the Delta Reserve card
Annual Delta Companion Ticket	No	Complimentary main cabin, Comfort+, or first class companion ticket each year
Savings on Delta	No	20% statement credit for inflight food and beverage purchases

Bottom Line: Delta travelers may receive benefits with the Amex Platinum card that other travel rewards cards do not offer, such as Delta Sky Club and worldwide lounge access. While the Delta Reserve card offers Delta-specific benefits, Delta Medallion elite flyers who already receive these benefits may find greater overall value with the Amex Platinum card.

Statement Credits and Additional Benefits

Statement Credits

Statement credits can deliver direct economic value if you can use these benefits. Here are the statement credits available with each card when you make an eligible purchase.

Card	Statement Credits
Amex Platinum Card	Up to $200 airline incidental fee credits Up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit $189 annual CLEAR credit Up to $300 annual Equinox credit Up to $240 digital entertainment credit Up to $200 prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays Up to $12.95 monthly Walmart+ credit Up to $300 SoulCycle bike credit
Delta Reserve Card	Up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee
Note that enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits.

Travel Benefits and Protections

Since both the Amex Platinum card and Delta Reserve card are premium level cards issued by American Express, they have the same travel and shopping benefits/protections, except where noted.

No Foreign Transaction Fees — Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
Trip Cancellation Insurance and Trip Interruption Insurance — Both cards offer the same benefits of $10,000 per occurrence up to a maximum of $20,000 per 12-month period for each coverage.
Premium Global Assist Hotline — Enjoy 24/7 assistance for planning your trip and during your travels. Cardmembers have access to customs information, emergency transportation assistance, weather, currency conversion, lost luggage assistance, and more.
Rental Car Loss/Damage Insurance — Receive complimentary secondary rental car insurance that covers damage, theft, and loss of use. You’ll also have access to purchase low-cost Premium Car Rental Protection.
Baggage Insurance — You could receive a benefit if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged. The Amex Platinum card offers up to $3,000 for carry-on and $2,000 for checked baggage. The Delta Reserve card limits of coverage are $1,250 for carry-on and $500 for checked baggage. Limits on both cards are per covered person, per trip.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

American Express Auto Purchasing Program — Save on your new car purchase and be able to charge at least $2,000 or more on your eligible card. You’ll also receive up to $2,000 in post-purchase benefits.
Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card and if it is damaged or stolen, you could receive up to $10,000 per incident/$50,000 per year. You’ll have coverage for 90 days from the date of purchase.
Return Protection — If a merchant won’t accept the return of an eligible item you purchased with your card (within 90 days), you could receive up to $300 per item, $1,000 per year.
Cell Phone Protection — Cardmembers now receive up to $1,600 in cell phone protection (2 claims per year with up to $800 for each claim) against theft and damage, including cosmetic damage (like a cracked phone screen). Each claim has a $50 deductible and your monthly phone bill must be paid with your card to receive coverage.

This is not an all-encompassing list of benefits and protections. Access each card’s membership benefits for full descriptions and for the terms and conditions of each coverage.

Bottom Line: The Amex Platinum card offers a higher amount of statement credits compared to the Delta Reserve card. If you use these benefits, you could partially offset the cost of the annual fee on the card. Travel and shopping benefits and protections are similar on both cards.

Annual Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual fees on the Amex Platinum card and Delta Reserve card have increased. You can expect to pay a high annual fee when you are approved for either of these cards.

The Amex Platinum card charges $175 total for adding up to 3 additional authorized users (see rates and fees). The Delta Reserve card charges $175 for each additional authorized user (see rates and fees).

Hot Tip: Read about how the Amex Platinum card stacks up to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, another popular Delta card.

Final Thoughts

The Delta Reserve card is geared towards the Delta loyalist who travels primarily on Delta Air Lines. The card comes with enough benefits to make a positive difference in your travels with Delta and also help you qualify for elite status.

However, for Delta Medallion elites who are also frequent international travelers flying on a variety of airlines, the better value may be realized with the Amex Platinum card with its higher earnings on flights and its collection of luxury travel perks.

The Amex Platinum card isn’t airline-centric like the Delta Reserve card but still offers Delta flyers plenty of benefits.

Which of these cards makes sense for you will depend on how much you’ll use the benefits offered on each card, your level of spending on flights, your redemption preferences, and your frequency of international travel.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the trip delay insurance benefits of The Platinum Card® from American Express, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for covered persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each covered person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the purchase protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the return protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of The Platinum Card® from American Express, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance coverage benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the maximum benefit amount for trip cancellation and interruption insurance is $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the trip delay insurance benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the purchase protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the return protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. For the Premium Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For the Cell Phone Protection benefit of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, coverage for a stolen or damaged eligible cellular wireless telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per eligible card account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per eligible card account per 12 month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Frequently asked questions

Which card is better, the Amex Platinum card or the Delta Reserve card?

The best card for your situation will depend on your travel profile, spending priorities, and whether you can use the offered benefits.

The comparison of these cards is unique because the Amex Platinum card comes with the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta, allows you to purchase flights on Delta and earn SkyMiles, and has complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club.

The Amex Platinum card can be a better card for the frequent international traveler who is already a Medallion elite member and receives core Delta benefits through elite status.

If a traveler flies predominantly domestically with Delta and will not use the international lounge benefits or other Amex Platinum card benefits, the Delta Reserve card could deliver more bottom-line value.

Does the Delta Reserve card come with Delta elite status?

The Delta Reserve card does not come with complimentary Delta Medallion elite status.

The card does offer a faster path to qualification with the ability to earn Medallion Qualification Miles towards elite status by spending on the card. It also offers a waiver of the Medallion Qualifying Dollar requirement (MQD) needed to qualify for elite status by reaching spending levels of $25,000 for all levels except top-tier Diamond elite which requires $250,000 in spending to waive the revenue MQD requirements.

Can I transfer my Delta miles to other airlines?

While you cannot transfer your Delta SkyMiles to other airlines, you can use your SkyMiles to purchase award flights on SkyTeam alliance airlines that partner with Delta.

There are over 2 dozen partner airlines with which you can book using your SkyMiles. The majority of partners can be booked online at Delta.com but a few you must call Delta to book using SkyMiles.

Also, it is worth noting that Delta SkyMiles never expire.

How do Membership Rewards work?

Membership Rewards points are earned on several American Express cards.

The rewards are earned for every dollar spent on the cards and then made available to be redeemed after your credit card statement closes each month.

There are several ways to redeem Membership Rewards points including using them for travel by booking through Amex Travel or transferring the points to airline and hotel partners. These are the methods that result in the highest value for your points.

You can also redeem your points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, Amazon, Ticketmaster, or you can donate your points. However, these redemption options may result in a lesser value.

Membership Rewards points do not expire as long as you have an active Membership Rewards-earning credit card.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine was born in Northern Michigan but spent most of her career operating her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices throughout the state. Her previous experience involved building and writing business plans in the mergers and acquisitions sector in New York, as well as staffing in the insurance and financial technology software field. Her successful insurance and financial services career has been an excellent foundation from which to source her knowledge for many of Upgraded Points’ travel insurance articles.

Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.

10 comments

Tom Mullen January 30, 2020

One of the reasons (probably the main reason) I have Amex Platinum card is due to its Amex concierge service-which provides a very unique benefit that is very difficult to value: Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (even if you don’t pay for the ticket with the Amex card). I do travel internationally and find this very valuable (if it works) for you to come back to US. One thing to note is that this is not an insurance contract like trip interruption insurance, instead it is a service offered by Amex Concierge. I confirmed it with Amex legal/insurance team and also read about couple of people who were flown from Asia back to US on medical flights with doctors on board (haven’t checked the truth of the stories). Amex does not share much about it, but is it possible to shed some light on the ins and outs of this benefit?

Reply
- Christine Krzyszton February 5, 2020
  
  Hi Tom. Thanks for pointing out the value of Medical Evacuation insurance; the coverage could save a traveler plenty if it is needed. You can find the details for this coverage under the Premium Global Assist Hotline coverage description in the Benefit Guide for your card (online or that came with the card). I’m providing the link here but be aware that sometimes these links expire. https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/policies/pdf/PGA_Benefit_Guide_Rev_09-17.pdf
  
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- Balu July 12, 2020
  
  This is an excellent benefit. We have used this benefit a couple of years ago, when we traveled to London as a family. I did not buy my ticket using AmEx card. I think I used my Delta miles and paid the service charges using my AmEx business platinum. My wife suffered a severe spinal injury episode and got admitted to a London University medical Hospital. After a couple of weeks, she needed to be moved to a hospital in Atlanta (where we are from). We were looking at all options and found to be expensive (as high as $40K). Our daughter suggested to call AmEx concierge service and that worked. AmEx did a fabulous job of transporting us back to USA including helping with a nurse flying with us back to USA. Worth every penny of membership fee.
  
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  - Christine Krzyszton July 12, 2020
    
    Thanks for sharing that experience, Balu.
    
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Richard Jones February 10, 2020

Very helpful! I have the Delta Skymiles Platinum card and the Amex Platinum and have decided I don’t need both. I no longer travel on Delta as much as I did and wasn’t sure which card to get rid off. This has helped me to make the decision to keep the Amex Platinum. Thank you!

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- Christine Krzyszton February 11, 2020
  
  Glad you found the information useful, Richard. Thanks for reading.
  
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H. Blaine Walker October 7, 2020

You wrong on the Delta Reserve card. It does cover rental car insurance. I checked on the AX site when I went into my account.

I have both cards and they both cover insurance. What concerns me is they appear to have dropped the loss revenue coverage.

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- Jarrod West October 7, 2020
  
  Hi H.,
  
  The post does in fact say that the Delta Reserve card covers rental car insurance. It is noted in this section of the post: https://upgradedpoints.com/amex-platinum-card-vs-delta-reserve-credit-card#Travel-Benefits-and-Protections
  
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Robert January 30, 2023

Did the annual fee for Delta Amex Platinum go up? $695? Really? I thought the Reserve was the better card for perks and Delta access?

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- Jarrod West January 30, 2023
  
  Hi Robert,
  
  The annual fee for the Amex Platinum is $695, but the Delta Platinum card is $250 – they are 2 different cards.
  
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