Amex Platinum vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Which Is Better In 2025?

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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This section breaks down the key features and benefits that make the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express (See Rates & Fees) card a top-tier choice for frequent travelers.

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• The card provides extensive airport lounge access, including to the Delta Sky Club® and The Centurion® Lounge on eligible Delta flights, making for a more premium travel experience (terms apply).

• Cardholders receive an annual Companion Certificate for a domestic round-trip flight each year, a highly valuable perk for those who travel with a partner (terms apply).

• It offers a significant boost toward earning Delta Medallion® Status, helping you unlock elite travel benefits more quickly (terms apply).

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. 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.

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Pros

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• Extensive airport lounge access, including Delta Sky Club® and Centurion® Lounge access on eligible flights, provides a more comfortable travel experience (terms apply).

• An annual Companion Certificate for a domestic round-trip flight, usable even in First Class, offers significant value each year (terms apply).

• A clear pathway to Delta Medallion® Status and complimentary upgrade priority helps you unlock elite travel benefits faster (terms apply).

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee makes this card a costly choice, especially since its top-tier benefits are almost exclusively tied to flying with Delta.

• The rewards earning rate is low on most non-Delta purchases, and the SkyMiles program's lack of a published award chart can make redemptions inflexible.

• Key perks like the annual Companion Certificate and lounge access come with notable restrictions that can reduce their overall value (terms apply).

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express vs American Express Platinum Card®

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Categories

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When deciding which is better Amex Platinum or Delta SkyMiles Reserve, it's crucial to understand that each card caters to a different type of traveler.

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• The Platinum Card® from American Express - This card is designed for frequent travelers who value luxury perks and exclusive benefits across various brands. It is best for those who can take full advantage of its extensive lounge access, hotel benefits, and various statement credits.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card - This card is tailored for loyal Delta flyers who want to enhance their travel experience specifically with that airline. It is ideal for travelers aiming to achieve Delta Medallion status and who can maximize benefits tied directly to flying with Delta.

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Redemption

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The Platinum Card® from American Express: Points earned with this card offer significant flexibility, as they can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel partners. You can also redeem them for travel booked through American Express, statement credits, gift cards, and more.

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: The miles earned are deposited into your Delta SkyMiles account and are primarily used for booking flights with Delta and its SkyTeam partner airlines. Miles can also be redeemed for seat upgrades, Delta Vacations packages, and other Delta-specific perks.

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Travel Perks

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• The Platinum Card® from American Express: This card provides a passport to a wide-ranging travel ecosystem. Cardmembers enjoy access to an extensive network of airport lounges, including the luxurious Centurion® Lounges. For booking, miles offer significant flexibility and can be redeemed through the American Express Travel portal or transferred to a variety of airline partners. It also has no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong companion for international travel.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: The travel perks for this card are deeply integrated with the Delta experience. It grants access to Delta Sky Club® lounges and also offers Centurion® Lounge access when your travel is booked with Delta. The ecosystem is built for the Delta loyalist, with miles being used primarily for flights on Delta and its partner airlines. This card also features no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-driven decision, a financial companion like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your actual spending habits. The platform is designed to help you stop guessing and find the card that is truly optimal for your financial situation.

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• Test Drive Feature: You can simulate owning a card before you apply. Kudos uses your real spending data to project your potential rewards and net value (rewards minus annual fees) without a hard credit pull.
• Approval Odds Analysis: Get a detailed analysis based on your credit report to understand your chances of being approved for different cards.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card’s own rewards when you shop at participating stores.
• Automatic Card Selection: The Kudos browser extension can automatically select the best card in your wallet at checkout to maximize your rewards on every purchase.

Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?

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The American Express Platinum Card® is tailored for the frequent traveler who values luxury experiences and premium perks. This cardholder maximizes its value by taking full advantage of extensive airport lounge access, elite hotel status, and a suite of annual statement credits for entertainment, dining, and retail. Ultimately, it's best suited for someone who can proactively use the card's wide array of benefits to easily offset its substantial annual fee.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express card is tailor-made for the loyal Delta traveler who frequently takes to the skies with the airline. These cardholders are typically airport lounge enthusiasts looking to fast-track their way to Medallion status through the card's various boosts and waivers. Additionally, it's a perfect fit for couples or friends who can maximize the annual companion certificate for premium cabin travel (Terms Apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Amex Platinum vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve comparison has you convinced that neither card is the right fit, don't worry. We've rounded up a few other premium travel cards that might be a better match for your spending habits and travel style.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Premium cards typically require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Review the benefits – Many perks require manual enrollment after you are approved.
• Understand issuer rules – Welcome offers can be subject to lifetime language and other application restrictions.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application – Align it with a large planned purchase to help meet the minimum spend requirement for the welcome offer.
• Leverage your history – A positive relationship with the card issuer may improve your approval odds.
• Assess your travel style – Ensure your loyalty aligns with the card’s core benefits, such as specific airline or hotel partners.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for frequent Delta flyers?

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The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is specifically designed for Delta loyalists, offering airline-specific perks like priority boarding and upgrade priority that enhance the flying experience. Terms Apply.

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Which card offers more flexible travel rewards?

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The American Express Platinum Card generally provides more flexibility since it earns Membership Rewards points. These points can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel partners, not just Delta Air Lines.

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Can I have both the American Express Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards?

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Yes, it is possible to hold both cards simultaneously. Some travelers do this to take advantage of the unique benefits of each, pairing the Platinum Card's luxury travel perks with the Delta Reserve's airline-specific advantages. Terms Apply.

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