Delta Air Lines provides probably the most comprehensive credit card portfolios of any main airline. It options entry-level, mid-tier and premium playing cards for customers and companies.
With regards to contemplating advantages and worth, some Delta flyers could also be caught between the mid-tier Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card at a $350 annual payment (see rates and fees) or the premium Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with its $650 annual payment (see rates and fees).
Dive into this information to try how two playing cards stack up and allow you to resolve which card is best for you.
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve comparability
| Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
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Earn as much as 100,000 bonus miles after assembly two spending thresholds:
Supply ends April 1 |
Earn as much as 125,000 bonus miles after assembly two spending thresholds:
Supply ends April 1 |
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$350 |
$650 |
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First checked bag free on Delta flights (together with as much as eight companions) |
First checked bag free on Delta flights (together with as much as eight companions) |
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Enrollment is required for choose card advantages. |
Enrollment is required for choose card advantages. |
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Obtain a companion certificates annually after you renew your card for a Delta Predominant round-trip flight throughout the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America |
Obtain a companion certificates annually after you renew your card for a Delta First, Delta Consolation or Delta Predominant round-trip flight throughout the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America |
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Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Greenback for each $20 spent, plus obtain 2,500 MQDs towards standing qualification at first of the Medallion Qualification 12 months |
Earn 1 MQD for each $10 spent, plus 2,500 MQDs towards standing qualification at first of the Medallion Qualification 12 months |
*Enrollment within the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
Associated: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve welcome provide
Since American Categorical solely means that you can earn a welcome provide on every of its bank cards once in a lifetime, you need to apply when the bonus is excessive.
Fortunately, the present elevated provides on each the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve are compelling:
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Earn as much as 100,000 bonus miles after assembly two spending thresholds:
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership
- Plus, earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending an extra $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership (for a complete of $6,000 in spending to earn the complete bonus)
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Earn as much as 125,000 bonus miles after assembly two spending thresholds:
- Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership
- Plus, earn 25,000 bonus miles after spending an extra $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership (for a complete of $9,000 in spending to earn the complete bonus)
Each of those provides finish on April 1.
TPG’s February 2026 valuations place Delta SkyMiles at 1.25 cents every, placing the Delta Platinum welcome provide at as much as $1,250 and the Delta Reserve welcome provide at as much as $1,563.
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Winner: Delta Reserve. The marginally increased welcome provide offers this card the sting.
Associated: The best time to apply for these popular American Express cards based on offer history
Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve advantages
As you’ll be able to see within the chart, the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve overlap on many advantages.
Particularly, each playing cards embrace:
- Discounted Delta award redemptions if you e-book along with your card
- First checked bag free for you and as much as eight companions in your reservation
- 20% off inflight purchases within the type of a press release credit score
Each playing cards additionally provide a 2,500-MQD increase at first of the Medallion Qualification 12 months, however they differ in how shortly you earn MQDs by spending.
- Delta Platinum: Earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent
- Delta Reserve: Earn 1 MQD for each $10 spent
One other distinguished distinction between the 2 playing cards is Delta Sky Club entry.
With the Delta Reserve, you may obtain:
- 15 visits to Sky Golf equipment every cardmember 12 months when touring on same-day Delta-marketed flights, until the cardmember spends at the very least $75,000 in a calendar 12 months, through which case they’re going to get limitless entry
- 4 one-time visitor passes for Sky Golf equipment — after that, company might be charged $50 per particular person per go to
Plus, you may obtain entry to Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta and reserving your flight with the Delta Reserve.
In the meantime, the Delta Platinum doesn’t provide any lounge entry or visitor passes.
Each playing cards include an annual companion certificate for flights to all 50 U.S. states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. With the companion certificates, you should buy one ticket and get the second for the price of government-imposed taxes and charges between $22 and $250. Flights can have as much as 4 segments.
Cabins you are eligible to e-book differ, nonetheless.
- Delta Platinum: Delta Predominant solely
- Delta Reserve: Delta First, Delta Consolation or Delta Predominant
The playing cards present comparable assertion credit and automotive rental elite standing, however at completely different thresholds. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
| Delta Platinum | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
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Delta Stays assertion credit score
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As much as $150 Delta Stays assertion credit score per calendar 12 months |
As much as $200 Delta Stays assertion credit score per calendar 12 months |
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As much as $120 annual Resy assertion credit score every calendar 12 months (as much as $10 month-to-month) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy eating places |
As much as $240 annual Resy assertion credit score every calendar 12 months (as much as $20 month-to-month) for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy eating places |
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Complimentary Hertz 5-Star standing* |
Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle standing* |
*Enrollment within the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program is required.
Lastly, each playing cards present the identical ride-hailing profit: an as much as $120 ride-hailing assertion credit score every calendar 12 months (as much as $10 month-to-month) with choose U.S. suppliers.
And you will obtain a $120 assertion credit score for International Entry each 4 years, or as much as $85 for TSA PreCheck each 4½ years, with both card.
Winner: Delta Reserve. Greater assertion credit, lounge entry, an improved companion certificates and a greater MQD incomes fee give this card the lead.
Associated: How to get upgraded on Delta
Incomes miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Incomes miles with the Delta Platinum or the Delta Reserve differs barely. However these variations are notable.
With the Delta Platinum, you may earn:
- 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Delta purchases and purchases made instantly with resorts worldwide
- 2 miles per greenback spent at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
However, with the Delta Reserve, you may earn:
- 3 miles per greenback spent on eligible Delta purchases
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Delta Platinum provides a a lot wider vary of bonus alternatives than the Delta Reserve, which has only a single bonus class for eligible Delta purchases.
With the Delta Platinum, you may earn on eligible Delta purchases and on direct lodge purchases worldwide, in addition to 2 miles per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets.
All cardmembers earn 1 mile per greenback spent on all nonbonus classes.
Winner: Delta Platinum. The cardboard provides extra incomes classes over the Delta Reserve.
Associated: 16 ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles
Redeeming miles with the Delta Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
SkyMiles earned from each the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve playing cards can be utilized towards journey on Delta flights and people of associate airways, together with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air, in addition to nonalliance companions.
Nonetheless, Delta makes use of a dynamic award pricing system, so redemption charges fluctuate vastly.
The Delta SkyMiles program nonetheless has some candy spots, together with SkyMiles offers. These flash gross sales provide spectacular reductions on Delta-operated economic system flights and even, at occasions, Delta One awards.
Award tickets booked and paid for utilizing a Delta cobranded card additionally obtain a 15% low cost on the mileage price.
Winner: Tie, as each playing cards redeem miles in the identical method.
Associated: How to keep your points and miles from expiring
Ought to I get the Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve?
When evaluating a premium rewards card to a non-premium card, the most important query is whether or not the elevated annual payment is value it for the additional advantages you obtain.
In the event you’re keen to pay the next annual payment for Sky Membership entry and a quicker path to elite status, the Delta Reserve is your better option. If you’d like extra bonus-earning classes and a decrease annual payment, go along with the Delta Platinum.
How you can change from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve
To improve from the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve card, name the customer support quantity on the again of your card. Nonetheless, you must assume very fastidiously earlier than doing this. By upgrading, you would be forgoing a welcome bonus on the Delta Reserve.
It could be value ready for an improve provide on the Delta Platinum earlier than switching. If you would like to go the alternative path with a downgrade, you’ll be able to change the Delta Reserve to the Delta Platinum by calling the quantity on the again of your card.
Associated: The ultimate guide to credit card upgrades
Backside line
As you’ll be able to see, these two Delta playing cards have a number of overlapping advantages. Nonetheless, the playing cards have some important variations — the most important ones involving lounge entry, a greater companion certificates and better assertion credit on the Delta Reserve.
It is nonetheless value noting, nonetheless, that the Delta Platinum truly options extra bonus classes for incomes miles on purchases.
Which card is best for you’ll come down as to whether you may get sufficient worth from the Delta Reserve’s advantages to justify its increased annual payment, or in the event you choose the decrease annual payment of the Delta Platinum and its higher incomes charges.
To study extra, learn our full opinions of the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve.
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, click on here.
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