topic Re: Already have AMEX Platinum, is it worth getting Delta Reserve? in Credit Cards

Already have AMEX Platinum, is it worth getting Delta Reserve?

JoshuaB123 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:54:38 GMT

As the title states; is it worth getting the Delta Reserve as a lot of the benefits overlap between these two cards? I am loyal to Delta and the companion certificate sounds beneficial. But besides that, is there any reason to get the Reserve when you have a Platinum?

Additionally, I understand that Delta now has a 15% discount on flights for co-branded card owners, but its not really comparable to the Business Platinum's 35% rebate when using MR. And while we're on the topic of utilizing points, if anyone can chime in, if I were to get the reserve, would it be better served as a card only for domestic flights in the US and redeeming skymiles to make flights cheaper. While the Platinum and MR points is better served at redemption for international business/first class flights.

Any thoughts?

Re: Already have AMEX Platinum, is it worth getting Delta Reserve?

SouthJamaica — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 16:51:12 GMT

@JoshuaB123 wrote:
As the title states; is it worth getting the Delta Reserve as a lot of the benefits overlap between these two cards? I am loyal to Delta and the companion certificate sounds beneficial. But besides that, is there any reason to get the Reserve when you have a Platinum?

Additionally, I understand that Delta now has a 15% discount on flights for co-branded card owners, but its not really comparable to the Business Platinum's 35% rebate when using MR. And while we're on the topic of utilizing points, if anyone can chime in, if I were to get the reserve, would it be better served as a card only for domestic flights in the US and redeeming skymiles to make flights cheaper. While the Platinum and MR points is better served at redemption for international business/first class flights.

Any thoughts?

I would want to hear from travel card aficionados like @K-in-Boston and/or @Aim_High on this one

Re: Already have AMEX Platinum, is it worth getting Delta Reserve?

NKB246 — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:41:17 GMT

I think the key difference is the 15K MQM status boost and the MQD waiver. If you are close to boosting your status with DL (and that matters to you) it might make sense.

Re: Already have AMEX Platinum, is it worth getting Delta Reserve?

K-in-Boston — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 20:33:37 GMT

The cards definitely have a lot of overlap, but the primary benefits of having the Delta Reserve in addition to your Business Platinum would be:

TakeOff 15, as you mentioned, now gives at least 15% off the miles needed for Delta-operated redemptions.
MQD Waiver for spending $25k or more up to Platinum Medallion or $250k or more for Diamond Medallion.
Status Boost gives 15k MQMs for every $30k in spend (up to four times) each calendar year, which can be very beneficial if you are looking to acquire, maintain, or boost your Medallion level. (While there is admittedly a potential rewards opportunity cost by putting non-category spend on the card, I would be buying at least Comfort+ in nearly all cases and being able to buy Main Cabin and immediately choosing a C+ seat after booking saves me far more actual dollars than I would have earned in more valuable points, like the 2X MRs on BBP.)
Upgrade priority after Silver Medallions even if you don't have status.
Tie-breakers for upgrades. After Medallion status and fare class, simply having the Reserve card is the 3rd factor for a tie-breaker. (i.e. you and another Platinum Medallion are both on a V Main Cabin fare and there is 1 First Class seat left, it's yours) If you have already acquired the MQD Waiver, that's the next (5th) tie-breaker after Delta corporate clients.
The companion ticket alone can more than cover the AF by itself each year in many cases if you buy a pair of F tickets.
Two one-time guest passes to SkyClub each year. Platinum does not cover guests to SkyClub, and only covers guests to Centurion Club if they have their own Platinum AU card or if you have spent at least $75k on the Platinum card during the qualifying calendar year.

@JoshuaB123 wrote:
Additionally, I understand that Delta now has a 15% discount on flights for co-branded card owners, but its not really comparable to the Business Platinum's 35% rebate when using MR. And while we're on the topic of utilizing points, if anyone can chime in, if I were to get the reserve, would it be better served as a card only for domestic flights in the US and redeeming skymiles to make flights cheaper. While the Platinum and MR points is better served at redemption for international business/first class flights.

While the baseline for SkyMiles is 1.2 cents per mile for Main Cabin flights, redemption values can FAR exceed this. So an example of the worst you would do with a normal Delta-operated redemption would be buying a $600 fare for 42,500 SkyMiles or less with the Take15 Off, or 1.41 cents per mile minimum. But it's not at all uncommon to see significantly better values for award fares, especially during sales. I've had as much as 3 cpm even on Main Cabin bookings, not including the upped value from me actually receiving a C+ seat. If you're booking Delta flights through Amex Travel with the 35% rebate, it always pays to check to see how much the same flight would be as an award fare by moving MRs to Delta!

As for the use-case for redemption, using SkyMiles can also make sense for those same international flights. It just depends on which one gives you better value, Amex Travel with the 35% rebate or using SkyMiles. Since getting my Business Platinum, the redemptions I've made for flights have ended up being domestic Delta flights where I was not getting a better value with SkyMiles, or for J/F flights on non-SkyTeam airlines.