Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve
The Amex Platinum comes out ahead for all three spending profiles we tested. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued for travel (Amex points at 1.5¢, SkyMiles at 1.0¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead. Assumes you fly mostly Delta; companion fares and checked bags count once you tell the calculator below you use them.
| Profile | Amex Platinum: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | Delta Reserve: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $2,119 | −$506 | $94 | $100 | −$400 | −$1,502 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $2,540 | −$85 | $2,200 | $330 | −$170 | −$350 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $3,134 | $509 | $5,170 | $618 | $118 | $1,090 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
Delta Reserve trails Amex Platinum by $319 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, lounge access, free checked bags, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $319 a year to you.
With about 2 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $177 a visit.
This flips if SkyMiles are worth more than 1.91¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Balanced
Delta Reserve trails Amex Platinum by $510 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, lounge access, free checked bags, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $510 a year to you.
With about 5 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $94 a visit.
This flips if SkyMiles are worth more than 1.88¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Frequent traveler
Delta Reserve trails Amex Platinum by $816 a year. It wins only if its companion perks, lounge access, free checked bags, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $816 a year to you.
With about 14 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $56 a visit.
This flips if SkyMiles are worth more than 1.94¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Amex Platinum | Delta Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | American Express, American Express | American Express, American Express |
| Annual fee | $895 | $650 |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 175,000 points after $12,000 in 6 months (as high as; offers vary) | 50,000 points after $10,000 in 6 months |
| Earning | 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 a calendar year · 5x on prepaid hotels (and prepaid vacation rentals) booked through Amex Travel · 2x on prepaid car rentals and cruises booked through Amex Travel · 1x on everything else | 3x on Delta purchases (flights, seats, upgrades, Delta Vacations, Delta Stays, in-flight food and drink) · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | American Express Membership Rewards points | Delta SkyMiles |
| Statement credits | $200 Uber Cash ($15 a month, $35 in December) · $120 Uber One membership credit · $200 airline incidental fee credit · $600 hotel credit ($300 semi-annually) on Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection · $400 Resy credit ($100 a quarter) · $300 digital entertainment credit ($25 a month) · $300 lululemon credit ($75 a quarter) · Walmart+ monthly membership credit (up to $12.95 a month) · $219 CLEAR+ credit · $200 Oura Ring credit · $300 Equinox credit | $240 Resy credit ($20 a month) · $120 rideshare credit ($10 a month) · $200 Delta Stays credit |
| Lounges | American Express Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass member lounge (lounges only; restaurants, spas, sleep pods, gaming excluded), Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium Lounge, Escape Lounges (The Centurion Studio Partner) | Delta Sky Club, American Express Centurion Lounge, Escape Lounges (The Centurion Studio Partner) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Authorized users | $195 each | $175 each |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Is the Amex Platinum worth its $895 fee? · Is the Delta Reserve worth its $650 fee? · Compare every card with your statements