AmEx: Delta Reserve v. Platinum Amex (& third-party lounges!)
#16
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Austin, Tx
Programs: DL PM, HH Plat, National Executive
Posts: 210
I'm very inclined to believe you despite my experience. I can't imagine my experience is completely card related. Good news is, that's not why I got it so it wouldn't be hard to divorce from that benefit.
#17
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: DL
Posts: 5
This thread is what I was looking for. Thanks to all for your inputs. I was initially thinking of upgrading to the Amex Reserve due to the increase in upgrade priority (especially nice for international). However, searching through the benefits, I came across Amex Platinum. I love the Gold benefits on SPG and Hilton on that card plus the lounges. So I'm thinking of going Amex Platinum instead of Reserve.
However, I do have 1 question. Assuming I will get DM every year due to my travels, is it still worth it to keep my Amex Delta Platinum?
Thanks in advanced.
However, I do have 1 question. Assuming I will get DM every year due to my travels, is it still worth it to keep my Amex Delta Platinum?
Thanks in advanced.
#18
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
This thread is what I was looking for. Thanks to all for your inputs. I was initially thinking of upgrading to the Amex Reserve due to the increase in upgrade priority (especially nice for international). However, searching through the benefits, I came across Amex Platinum. I love the Gold benefits on SPG and Hilton on that card plus the lounges. So I'm thinking of going Amex Platinum instead of Reserve.
However, I do have 1 question. Assuming I will get DM every year due to my travels, is it still worth it to keep my Amex Delta Platinum?
Thanks in advanced.
However, I do have 1 question. Assuming I will get DM every year due to my travels, is it still worth it to keep my Amex Delta Platinum?
Thanks in advanced.
As for Amex Delta Platinum, I am regularly DM and I hold that card. It mainly depends how much you value the companion certificate and if you take advantage of the ability to earn 10,000 MQMs after $25K spent. Personally I get value out of both of those features, so I keep the card.
#19
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 122
Unless you find yourself low on domestic upgrade lists, probably no reason for Reserve over AMEX Plat unless you need the bonus MQMs or wants the tie-breaker over other DMs who don't have the Reserve card.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
I’ve got both. The annual BOGO certificate easily covers the annual fee of the Reserve card in my case, and the annual fee on the platinum card is worth it for the Uber credits and access to Centurion lounges.
#21
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
It's impossible to know without Delta's data, but I'd say it's probably safe to assume that the Reserve card will generally only bump you maybe 1-2 spots on the upgrade list at most, and very often it may not bump you at all (if there are no other DMs above you in your fare class). Not to mention that sometimes, even if the Reserve card moves you up a few spots on the list, you may still not get the upgrade with the Reserve, or you might have gotten it anyway without the Reserve. So the number of times that having the Reserve card would make a difference between getting the upgrade or not would be very small.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
It depends on how often one is right at the cusp for an upgrade.
#23
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brooklyn
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,050
Yes -- but my point is, even if you are #1 on the list for 0 seats remaining, getting the Reserve card doesn't guarantee you would have gotten the upgrade. Could be that the person above you on the list was in a higher fare group, which Reserve card doesn't overcome. Also possible the person above you on the list was using an RUC and you were the highest DM not using an RUC, or the person above you on the list was a 360 and you were the highest non-360 DM.
It only gets you an upgrade you wouldn't otherwise have gotten if you were #1 on the list (or maybe #2 or 3 or 4 on the list, in certain cases) for 0 seats, and the person above you on the list was another DM in the same fare class grouping who beat you on the list because they were a Delta Corporate Traveler, had earned the MQD waiver and you didn't, or requested their upgrade earlier than you.
I'm not saying it never has benefits -- just that I would personally put a very small $ value toward the higher upgrade priority if I were trying to justify the $450.
It only gets you an upgrade you wouldn't otherwise have gotten if you were #1 on the list (or maybe #2 or 3 or 4 on the list, in certain cases) for 0 seats, and the person above you on the list was another DM in the same fare class grouping who beat you on the list because they were a Delta Corporate Traveler, had earned the MQD waiver and you didn't, or requested their upgrade earlier than you.
I'm not saying it never has benefits -- just that I would personally put a very small $ value toward the higher upgrade priority if I were trying to justify the $450.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DCA, LEX
Programs: DL Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Caesars Diamond, K Fund
Posts: 375
I track how often I am in Centurion Lounges and with the one coming to JFK, keeping my Amex Plat is an easy decision. Couple that with the PP access, Uber Credits, Airline Credits its pretty easy to get value out of this card as well.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Delta has all lounges on their website.
Priority Plus has everything on their site.
Amex has theirs somewhere as well.
But, really - if the list is not long, folks here can help and may provide more detail than what the sites above will give - like crowding, service levels, etc.