Does it make sense to have both an Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,845
Does it make sense to have both an Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve?
i currently have the double platinum (Amex Platinum + Delta Platinum) combo. I plan to spend 25,000 on the Delta Plat for $10,000 MQM this year. However, I was wondering if it made more sense to apply for Delta Reserve and get the 10,000 MQM via sign up bonus with much less spend. Then I would figure out what to do with the cards after:
The issue is that I struggle do see the point of the Reserve if I am already going to have the Amex platinum (which I am as I get use out of the Uber, Saks and Travel credits). I put any non-business airline spend on the Amex Platinum, and I can get the MQM bonus via the Delta Platinum. The only advantages of rhe Reserve seem to be the first class companion ticket and higher upgrade priority. Not sure if those are worth the additional annual fee over the Delta Plat.
The issue is that I struggle do see the point of the Reserve if I am already going to have the Amex platinum (which I am as I get use out of the Uber, Saks and Travel credits). I put any non-business airline spend on the Amex Platinum, and I can get the MQM bonus via the Delta Platinum. The only advantages of rhe Reserve seem to be the first class companion ticket and higher upgrade priority. Not sure if those are worth the additional annual fee over the Delta Plat.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: LAS, ZQN
Programs: UA PP (2MM), BA gold
Posts: 2,161
I dumped my DL card but rarely fly on DL and when I do usually paid biz.
Same issue with SPG biz (not trying to hijack) but I will keep it as fee covers free hotel which is worth more in cities I go.
Therefore you just need to see fee v any benefit you get.
Same issue with SPG biz (not trying to hijack) but I will keep it as fee covers free hotel which is worth more in cities I go.
Therefore you just need to see fee v any benefit you get.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HSV
Programs: Bellevue Lifetime Premiere Mega Elite Supreme
Posts: 1,494
For you, it sounds marginal at best. For those of us who fly DL exclusively and who do a lot of AX spend, it makes perfect sense. Personally, I have four qualifying DLAX cards -- two Reserve and two DLAX Platinums (one personal, one business for each). That nets me 100K bonus MQMs, 100K bonus RDMs, two F companion tickets, and two Y companion tickets, plus 2x free guest Sky Club access for each of my wife and myself, so six of us can get into the SC. I gift the 60K AXR MQMs to my wife so she can easily sustain Diamond. Then there's the UG tie-breaker, which is of relatively little benefit to us.
The four tickets, MQM boosts, and other knick-knacks make the $1500 in annual fees worth it... for us.
The four tickets, MQM boosts, and other knick-knacks make the $1500 in annual fees worth it... for us.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,416
#7
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: Delta Diamond, United 1K, Platinum Premier Elite with Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 17
I have both. I travel on a mix of confirmed and standby tickets. Even through I get complimentary entry on a confirmed ticket I've never been able to get into the lounge on a standby ticket with the Amex Platinum.
For the times that I spend on standby tickets it's worth it for me to be able to get into the lounge.
Unless you're chasing status and need the MQMs, You're probably fine with just the Amex Plat.
For the times that I spend on standby tickets it's worth it for me to be able to get into the lounge.
Unless you're chasing status and need the MQMs, You're probably fine with just the Amex Plat.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: Delta PM, Delta Reserve, Amex Plat, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, Starbucks Gold ;)
Posts: 1,758
I have the DL Reserve and Amex Platinum and have had both for years. It works for me because:
- 30k MQM boost every year (I spend the 60k and then don’t use the card after that)
- I’ve always made good use of the free first class companion ticket, normally on a transcon, you just have to sometimes be flexible with your routing
- Amex Plat has huge benefits if you travel frequently, and I do. The $200 airline credit cuts the cost of the card almost in half. Centurion lounges, fine hotels, etc.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DCA, LEX
Programs: DL Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Caesars Diamond, K Fund
Posts: 375
I have the Amex Platinum and DL Reserve for a little over a year now(Previously had the DL Platinum AMEX) Works for me because:
- 15K MQM Boost
- First Class companion ticket(Can get great value on DCA D1 flights)
- Amex Platinum for Centurion, Escape and Uber credits. Saks and Airfare credits are gravy.
Last edited by DCFinanceinFlight; Feb 12, 2019 at 9:14 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 59
Just got the Reserve upgrade option from the Platinum- I just hit the 25k spend for 10KMQM's on the platinum card. Lounge access would be cool but the rest of the family still would need to pony up $29 each- Any believability to the line item that states the reserve card would leap-frog like for like medallion members who dont have the card on upgrades ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,885
Just got the Reserve upgrade option from the Platinum- I just hit the 25k spend for 10KMQM's on the platinum card. Lounge access would be cool but the rest of the family still would need to pony up $29 each- Any believability to the line item that states the reserve card would leap-frog like for like medallion members who dont have the card on upgrades ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...es.html/#clear
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,284
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,845
Well I now have the Reserve, so I will see how it goes over the next couple of years
#15
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SAT
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold (LT), Nat EL Exec, Hertz PC
Posts: 625
Just got the Reserve upgrade option from the Platinum- I just hit the 25k spend for 10KMQM's on the platinum card. Lounge access would be cool but the rest of the family still would need to pony up $29 each- Any believability to the line item that states the reserve card would leap-frog like for like medallion members who dont have the card on upgrades ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
195 fee vs 450 on the reserve- Both come with companion fares- Anything else to consider that would make the reserve really worth it ?
- 3 months ago, I had a DL Amex Gold
- I accepted an offer in May to upgrade from Gold to Platinum with a MQM and RDM (I think it was 10K+10K @ $25k spend plus a 15k RDM for $1k in 3 months bonus).
- I met the $1k and received the 15k RDM bonus the same week that I upgraded.
- The Platinum boost of 10k MQM and 10k RDM posted end of June (I crossed the $25k YTD spend threshold during that month, posted on statement date).
- The new offer to upgrade to the Reserve had 15k MQM +15k RDM boosts @ $30k spend plus a 35k RDM @ 3k in 3 months bonus...
- I accepted that offer last Thursday (was slightly over $30k for the year already at that point)
- As of today, I'm at about $35k in spend YTD. I would expect the "boost" earned for Reserve to post when my statement cuts at the end of the month...
- With normal spending, I'll pass the $3k in 3 months in a couple weeks to receive the Reserve upgrade bonus of either 35k RDM or the difference between the Platinum bonus and the Reserve bonus of 20k RDM.
Note: I understand there's a $60k spend target to hit, but I think it logical to assume that'll only net me the second boost as a reserve (as I won't have a platinum card at that point).