Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant 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 why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express card.

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• While it comes with a premium annual fee (See Rates & Fees), its suite of luxury benefits can provide significant value for frequent Delta flyers.
• The card includes an annual companion certificate that is valid for domestic round-trip flights in First Class, making it one of the most valuable perks available.
• It provides a clear path to earning Delta Medallion status faster through its built-in spending boosts.

_{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 Clubs and Centurion Lounges when flying with Delta.
• An annual companion certificate that can be used for domestic round-trip flights, including in premium cabins.
• An accelerated path to earning Delta Medallion elite status through card spending.

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee that is best justified by frequent Delta flyers.
• The rewards earning structure is limited, with the highest rates focused on Delta purchases.
• Most benefits are heavily Delta-centric, making the card less valuable for those who don't fly exclusively with the airline.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®

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Categories

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When choosing a premium travel card, the decision often comes down to your specific loyalty, raising the question of which is better Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant or Delta SkyMiles Reserve. Both cards offer a suite of luxury perks, but they cater to very different types of travelers.

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers who are loyal to Marriott properties, as it focuses on providing elite hotel status and luxury travel benefits.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: This card is best suited for frequent Delta flyers looking to enhance their travel experience with premium airline benefits, including lounge access and a faster path to elite airline status.

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Redemption

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Points are redeemed for stays at Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio of hotels and resorts. Cardholders also have the flexibility to transfer points to numerous airline loyalty programs.

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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Miles are primarily used for booking award flights with Delta Air Lines and its extensive network of airline partners. Additionally, miles can be redeemed for seat upgrades and other travel-related perks.

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Travel Perks

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• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card:
  • The travel ecosystem is built around the extensive Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, giving cardholders access to thousands of hotels and resorts.
  • Lounge access is provided through a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which opens the doors to a global network of airport lounges.
  • While hotel-centric, the card offers flexibility by allowing points transfers to numerous airline loyalty programs.
  • Cardholders do not pay foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card:
  • This card's ecosystem is deeply integrated with Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam partners, focusing on the flight experience.
  • It provides premium lounge access, including complimentary entry to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • A key feature is the annual Companion Certificate, which covers one round-trip ticket for a travel partner on eligible flights.
  • Like its counterpart, this card also has no foreign transaction fees.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For those looking to make a data-driven decision, Kudos offers a comprehensive platform to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards, helping you find the perfect match for your spending habits.

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• The ability to ‘test drive’ a credit card using your real spending data to see personalized reward calculations before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• A welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months of approval.
• Tools to stack rewards on top of your existing card benefits and an autofill feature that suggests the best card to use at checkout to maximize earnings.
• Unlock a $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is tailor-made for frequent travelers who are loyal to the Marriott brand and can maximize its premium benefits. This card is ideal for individuals who stay at Marriott properties at least 5-10 nights annually and dine out regularly, allowing them to take full advantage of the automatic Platinum Elite status and the monthly dining credits. Ultimately, as detailed in this card review, it’s a strong choice for those whose spending habits can easily offset the annual fee through the card's luxury perks and rewards.

Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express?

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is primarily designed for loyal Delta flyers who value premium travel perks and are looking to accelerate their journey to Medallion status. These travelers will get the most value from benefits like complimentary access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounges, priority boarding, and complimentary upgrades. Furthermore, individuals or couples who can consistently use the annual companion certificate for a domestic first-class or comfort+ flight will find that this benefit alone can offset the annual fee, making this premium card a worthwhile investment.

Alternatives to Consider

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After our Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comparison, you might feel that neither card is the perfect match for your wallet. Fortunately, the premium travel card market is full of other excellent options worth exploring.

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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}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score.Premium travel cards typically require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review the card’s benefits.Ensure your travel and spending habits align with the card's perks to maximize its value.
• Understand issuer application rules.Be aware of policies like American Express's once-per-lifetime Welcome Offer rule before you apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Consider your current card portfolio as some issuers limit the number of cards you can hold.
• Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements.
• Enroll in card benefits immediately after approval, as some perks require activation.

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 earning elite status?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card automatically grants you Platinum Elite status, a valuable perk for frequent hotel guests. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express® Card helps you earn toward Delta Medallion Status through card spending and provides an MQD Headstart.

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Can I transfer points between Marriott Bonvoy and Delta SkyMiles?

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Yes, you can transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to your Delta SkyMiles account, typically at a 3:1 ratio, which adds flexibility to your rewards. Note that transfers are one-way, as Delta SkyMiles cannot be converted into Marriott Bonvoy points.

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What kind of lounge access do these cards offer?

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Both cards provide premium lounge access to different networks. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card grants entry to Delta Sky Clubs and The Centurion Lounge when flying with Delta, whereas the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card offers a Priority Pass Select membership with access to a global network of lounges.

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