AmEx Travel - Platinum, or Delta SkyMiles Reserve?

[SKBirdmind]

If what the-order-of-the-prophet has to say is true, sometime within the next 6 x months or so I should be eligible for an AmEx card. I've since paid off a (microscopic) charged-off balance from many moons ago - but after my BIG win against all odds with Chase and United, I don't foresee needing to apply for anything else in the meantime.

For years I'd been eyeing a SkyMiles Reserve from Delta, but following their program changes for 2024 (among other reasons) I'm considering more options. It's kind of funny, not being able to get approved for anything AmEx was a big reason I've already been shifting loyalty elsewhere - "I'll gladly take my business somewhere else"-type of thing. AmEx cards or not, said changes appear to make it ridiculously more difficult to obtain status with any level of spending anywhere...

I'd consider SkyMiles Platinum, but (notice my signature) I currently have plenty in the restaurant bonus category - 2x with Hawaiian, 2x with United, 2x (anywhere) with Venture, and 3% with Costco. So, my question really is what sort of experiences people have had with SkyMiles Reserve vs. AmEx Platinum. I notice similarities when it comes to flights booked direct with Delta, lounge access, and annual fees. But I gather Platinum offers some flexibility in that points can be redeemed in many ways? Suppose I could always do both, but that's getting up there in terms of annual fees...

Also wondering:

• SkyClub vs. Centurion Lounge?
• Easier to redeem travel with Delta, direct via AmEx, something else?
• I don't see anything about checked bag fees with Platinum? This is a major way I help pay off an annual fee.

Or maybe sooner - I got my foot in the door with Chase when every single person on the internet would tell me otherwise - i.e., nothing is impossible!

[redpat]

It really depends on how you travel.  The only reason I have the reserve card is for the annual companion voucher since we fly FC, this saves me $650 - $950 a year after the AF.  I call the reserve's AF a prepaid fight because you have to wait a year for this redemption, but after that I know every Feb my voucher is there.  In addition, you get two sky club guest passes annually.

Amex plat gets 5x MR so all my flights personal and business get booked w/ plat.  We use FHR many times, comes with Hilton and Marriott gold and you can use your airline credit for checked bags of all the credits this one is the hardest to use vs. others.  We do use most of Amex's coupon book to knock down the AF and the travel perks are great.

So both can work, dump your United card or AA card.

[Priory_Man]

My advice to you would be to use the comparison tool on the Amex site and see how you can best use what both cards have to offer, because they do have some overlap.

As for the lounges, I have used both the Centurion and Sky Club lounges and both have their quirks, I prefer the Centurion, but there are more Sky Club lounges available.

Both cards are great cards, and as long as you use the one you choose to it's full potential then you won't regret your choice.
I stuck with the PLAT because that is what is working best for me, my Delta gold card now just gets me a free checked bag on a delta flight, and keeps my sky miles ticking along.

[DSTforlife]

Delta Platinum gives you 1 free checked bag for each passenger in your group if paid using the card.  It also gives free companion ticket annually, but it's not a first class ticket.  Discounted lounge access is going away on the Delta Platinum card 1/1/2024.  There's also some sort of lounge restriction (effective 1/1/2024) for the Reserve cards, but i don't know what it is.  Platinum's annual fee is $400 less than the  Reserve's.

also effective 1/1/2024, Delta Plantinum will offer 1 medallion status point for every $20 spent on the card.  Reserve will offer 1 point for every $10 spent.  If you are interested in medallion status, I recommend you read up on the changes coming.

[NAVYCHOP]

I'd simply put pen to paper and make a list of each card's benefits to see what makes the most sense for you.  I have both cards and will probably keep the reserve for the 2-for-1 first class but for the family I think the Platinum will be better for lounge access because it will give unlimited Centurion Lounge with guest access at $75k spend and unlimited individual Sky Club access.

The reserve card will be similar but Centurion Lounge access will be restricted to Delta flights only.

I'm in the minority with all these DL changes becoming revenue based because my biggest loss is still with MQM boost on the reserve card.  I'm already a multi-million miler but with no lifetime Platinum at 3 million and the change to BIS credit (ie no bonus) even on high revenue tickets, I'd still have to fly another 1.5 million miles to reach 4 million.  So I'm just going to check out from the status competition in 2024, start flying whatever airline has the most convenient itinerary, and cut out the multi leg Delta flights that I used to book to up my multi million miler tally.  I'll just be satisfied with Gold Medallion for life.