Amex® Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Choosing a Travel Card
4 Min Read | Published: December 24, 2025
American Express Platinum Card® or Delta Reserve? Learn the key differences in lounge access, rewards, and benefits to choose the right premium card.
At-A-Glance
- The Platinum Card®: Best for global travelers who want luxury perks, flexible rewards, and broad lounge access.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve: Best for Delta loyalists who value Medallion® status boosts, Sky Club® access, and annual companion flights.
- Both are premium Cards designed for travelers who want to leverage the right rewards for their adventures.
If you’re a savvy traveler looking to get a new credit card, you might be deciding if the American Express® Platinum Card® or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card suits your needs better. Travel perks are front and center with both cards, but the perks and fees may set one apart from another. Let’s dig into what each Card offers so you can see which one fits your style of travel.
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve: Key Benefits
Some of the benefits that come with the American Express Platinum Card include the following:1 Terms apply.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on Flights and Hotels
Earn 5X points on flights when you book directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 per calendar year, so you can get the most out of your travel expenses. Also earn 5X Points on Prepaid Hotels booked through Amex Travel. - $120 Uber One Credit
As a Platinum Card® Member, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year after you purchase an auto-renewing Uber One membership with your Card. - $300 Digital Entertainment Credit
Access all your favorite collections of TV series, movies, news outlets, and more with statement credits that total up to $300 per year. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required. - American Express Global Lounge Collection®
Access over 1,550 lounges in 140 countries around the world, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. - Leaders Club Sterling Status from the Leading Hotels of the World®
Complimentary breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out considerations, upgrade priority, and more with the Sterling Status from the Leading Hotels of the World. Enrollment Required2 - $400 Resy Credit
After you enroll, get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. - $300 lululemon Credit
You can receive up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Card for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. Enrollment required.
For comparison, here are some of the perks that come with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card:3 Terms apply.
- Medallion Qualification Headstart
Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year with MQD Headstart. - Medallion Qualification Dollar Boost
Get $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year, getting you closer to Medallion Status for next Medallion Year quicker. - Annual Companion Certificate
Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card.
*The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit. - $240 Resy Credit ($20/month at U.S. Resy restaurants)
Discover and book restaurants to love with Resy. Get up to $20 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta Reserve Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. - 15 Delta Sky Club visits annually
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members enjoy 15 Visits each Medallion Year to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card during a calendar year. - Centurion Lounge access
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Which American Express Travel Card Is Right for You?
The American Express Platinum Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card are both excellent choices for travelers, so picking one over the other depends on your personal preferences. For travelers who want to be pampered, the Platinum Card’s Global Lounge Collection, significant hotel credit, and high-end lifestyle benefits might be more beneficial.
If you’re a loyal Delta flyer who prioritizes Medallion status, companion travel, and next-level benefits on your Delta flights, you might prefer the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card over the Platinum Card.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the Delta Reserve offers 15 Delta Sky Club visits (or unlimited access after you spend $75,000) on an annual basis and access to Centurion Lounges when you fly with Delta, the Platinum Card offers access to more lounges. With the Platinum Card, you get unlimited complimentary access to Delta Sky Club, Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounges under the Global Lounge Collection.
Even if you fly Delta, the Amex Platinum can still be worth it, depending on your priorities. For example, you can still get 5X points back on prepaid flights up to $500,000 booked through Amex Travel, access to the Global Lounge Collection, and plenty of additional benefits.
Both cards earn rewards on all purchases, but the Amex Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards Points, not Miles, which can be redeemed for more than just travel. For this reason, the Platinum Card might be a better option for those looking to earn more rewards on their everyday spending.
The Takeaway
The American Express Platinum Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card both offer one-of-a-kind travel benefits. If you fly with Delta frequently and want to maximize your rewards with them, then you might benefit more from the Delta Reserve Card. If you want a wider range of perks that you can take advantage of at home or abroad, you might prefer the Platinum Card.
You can learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card and the Platinum Card today. See if you’re qualified and reach out to an Amex representative if you have any questions.
1 For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the American Express Platinum Card, click here.
2 “Leaders Club Benefits Comparison,” The Leading Hotels of the World
3 For more on Benefit and Offer Terms for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
Scott Drueding Hanson is a content writer and copywriter based in Brooklyn. His work focuses primarily on personal finance
All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.
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