Airport Lounge Access
A major selling point for both cards is the airport lounge access. Both cards grant the primary card member limited access to Delta Sky Club lounges when traveling on a same-day Delta Air Lines flight and access to the Centurion Lounge network. Eligible American Express Platinum card members receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year, while Delta Reserve card members receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year. Unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 each calendar year.
If you frequently fly to airports that don’t have Delta Sky Clubs, you should consider that the American Express Platinum card also offers Priority Pass Select lounge access upon enrollment. The Amex Global Lounge Collection with Priority Pass includes access to over 1,400 locations worldwide and can be valuable to frequent international travelers. The card also offers access to Plaza Premium lounges, another independent airport lounge network with a limited footprint in the U.S. but dozens of locations worldwide.
Benefits While Traveling
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers several benefits while flying with Delta to make your travel experience more comfortable and convenient. Perks include Zone 5 priority boarding and free checked bags when flying Delta, though someone interested in this card may already have those benefits through Medallion status. However, Medallion status members get upgrade priority over other travelers with equal Medallion status, which can be a true perk.
Plus, even if you don’t have status, you’re added to the complimentary upgrade list behind Medallion members on eligible flights. Cardholders also enjoy a 20% discount on in-flight Delta purchases such as food or beverages (via statement credit) plus they receive Hertz President’s Circle status (enrollment required).
The Platinum Card® from American Express doesn’t offer Delta-specific benefits, but it does offer free elite status with two popular hotel programs—Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (enrollment required). Plus, cardholders can enjoy premium rental car status with Avis, Hertz and National. Enrollment is required, but it’s worth the step for complimentary upgrades and other benefits while traveling.
Travel Insurance
The American Express Platinum and Delta Reserve cards offer similar travel insurance benefits that can protect you if something goes wrong during a trip booked with your card. Card coverages include trip cancellation and interruption insurance², trip delay insurance² and baggage insurance plans³. Both cards also offer a travel assistance service, which can make medical and legal referrals, but the costs of services provided may be the cardholder’s responsibility.
Other Benefits
The Amex Platinum includes many more shopping benefits, credits and discounts for cardholders than the Delta Reserve. It offers a long list of statement credit offers offering discounts or rebates on everything from airline incidental fees—such as checked bags or priority boarding—to services you may use in everyday life, like Walmart+ or digital entertainment subscriptions with enrollment.
The Delta Reserve card has statement credits for a few benefits, including purchases at Resy restaurants with enrollment, Delta Stays and rideshare services with enrollment. The card also includes an annual Companion Certificate, which could be worth hundreds of dollars every year. When you buy an eligible round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America on Delta, you can redeem your certificate to bring a companion for only the cost of taxes and fees. For many cardholders, this could be easier to redeem than the Platinum card’s credits.
In addition to the Amex Platinum’s long list of valuable statement credits, cardholders for both cards can take advantage of Amex Offers, which all American Express cards feature with enrollment. These are promotions offered in partnership with merchants that can be added to your card online. Amex Offers frequently include discounts and rebates of 20% or more on a wide array of vendors.
While not an annual credit, both cards offer a statement credit toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees. The Amex Platinum also includes a $199 CLEAR® Plus credit every year.