Is the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card better than the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

Each card has its benefits and drawbacks, and deciding which one is better depends on several factors. If your yearly purchases are within the range of $150k or higher, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card could be suitable for you. If you don’t intend to spend that much, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card could be a better fit.

Can you get the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

Yes, you can get both cards if you think that would be beneficial.

Can you transfer points from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

There’s no need to transfer points between cards as all Delta SkyMiles will be deposited in one singular account.

Can you switch from the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

Yes. If your Platinum card no longer meets your needs, you can switch to Reserve.

What’s harder to get, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

Both cards require a good to excellent credit score.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Which Is Best for You?

Q: How much do you have to spend for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to get the welcome bonus?

For the Platinum Business Card, you must spend $3,000 to earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) within the first three months of card membership. On the other hand, you need to spend $4,000 with the Reserve Business Card to earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) within the first three months.

Loyal Delta business travelers looking for an elite boost will love the rewards offered by the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. MoneyGeek compares these two American Express cards to help you decide which is the better option for you.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card are among the best credit card options for frequent Delta flyers. Both American Express business credit cards let you take advantage of generous welcome bonuses, travel-related perks and elite Delta status boosts.

However, there are significant differences between the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card to consider before choosing which is best for you. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has a more expensive annual cost ($550) than the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card ($250) but offers spending categories with larger earnings.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card at a Glance
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Good–Excellent
Good–Excellent

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card At a Glance

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is ideal for frequent business travelers who enjoy Delta travel perks and want to pursue elite status through Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs). Delta uses MQMs to determine Medallion Status, a rewards system that offers special perks like upgrades to first class and waived fees. Cardholders can earn 10,000 MQMs after spending $25,000 in their first year. Additionally, the Platinum Business Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and offers secondary rental car insurance.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
A great card for frequent business travelers who want to enjoy Delta travel perks and pursue elite traveler status
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
High rewards potential
Generous welcome offer
Offers savings on Delta flights
With annual companion benefit

Cons
Includes an annual fee
Requires good to excellent credit
High rewards are limited to Delta and hotels
Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Requires $250 annual fee.
Regular APR 20.99%–29.99% variable.
Get three miles for every dollar you spend directly with Delta and hotels.
Earn 1.5 miles for each dollar on individual purchases over $5,000, capping at 50,000 miles annually.
Earn one mile for each dollar spent on all other qualifying purchases.
Enjoy a 15% discount on Delta flights through the TakeOff 15 program. Note that this offer doesn't apply to flights operated by Delta's partners or to any additional taxes and fees.
Each year, when you renew your card, you'll receive a round-trip companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights. You can bring along a friend or family member when you fly with Delta, but you'll need to cover government-imposed taxes and fees up to $80. Additional baggage charges and other restrictions may apply. Check the terms and conditions for more information.
Delta Sky Club® Access - Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests or immediate family while flying together on Delta. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card At a Glance

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is suitable for business owners with heavy travel schedules. It offers the same perks as the Platinum Business Card — priority boarding, discounts on in-flight purchases and a free checked bag — but carries added benefits, including annual round-trip companion passes and a quicker path to Delta’s Medallion status. However, the card comes with a steep $550 annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
A card that offers generous rewards for business travelers who fly Delta frequently.
- 1.5–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $550Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
High earnings on Delta purchases
Generous welcome bonus
Free Delta Sky Club access
Bonus miles after meeting the spending threshold

Cons
Comes with a hefty annual fee
Potentially high APR
Good to excellent credit needed
Benefits are limited to Delta
Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
Earn 3 miles for every dollar you spend directly with Delta
After hitting $150,000 in annual spending on your card, get 1.5 miles per dollar for the rest of the year
With $550 annual fee
Regular APR 20.99%–29.99% (variable)
Enjoy a 15% discount on award travel with TakeOff 15, applicable only to Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Enjoy Delta Sky Club® access for relaxation before Delta flights or during connections. Receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes annually to share the experience. Starting February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members get 15 annual Delta Sky Club visits. Earn unlimited yearly visits from February 1, 2025, with $75,000 in eligible card purchases between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each subsequent year. After using 15 visits, eligible members can buy additional visits at $50 each using the card.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge - The Centurion® Studio Partner. After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that's an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
Book a Delta flight with your card and gain complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge
With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.* MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.*Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek’s Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comparison can help you determine which one is best for you.

Card Detail	Comparison Summary
Annual Fee	The annual fee is probably the most significant difference between the two cards. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card is $550 per year, whereas the Platinum Business Card is $250. High spenders who want additional travel benefits may choose the Reserve version, but the Platinum is generally more manageable for many travelers. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Welcome Offer	Both credit cards come with attractive welcome offers. Platinum Business card holders receive 100,000 bonus miles after spending at least $3,000 in purchases in the first three months. The Delta Reserve Business Card offers 110,000 miles after you spend $6,000 in the first three months of card membership. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Earning Structures	Both cards offer bonus miles redeemable toward Delta flights, seat upgrades, gift cards, merchandise and access to the Delta Sky Club. Platinum Business Cardholders earn 3X miles per dollar spent on Delta flights and hotels, 1.5X miles on purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 miles per calendar year) and 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Meanwhile, the Reserve Business Card lets you earn 3X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1X miles for all other purchases. After spending $150,000 in one year, this number increases to 1.5X miles per dollar. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Foreign Transaction Fees	One way to save on your international travel is to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Whereas many credit cards can charge upwards of 3% of the total foreign purchase amount, neither the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card nor the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card charges foreign transaction fees. Winner: Tie

Which Card Should You Get?

Whether the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is better for you depends on several factors. Before choosing a credit card, it’s crucial to consider your spending habits and desired rewards and bonuses.

Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card?

Small business owners and professionals who often travel will find the American Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card more suitable. It’s a great choice if you want to save on international travel.

Frequent Delta flyers seeking a modest boost to get to Medallion Status can take advantage of this card’s lower threshold to earn additional MQMs.
Business travelers looking for hotel-specific benefits, such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, noon check-in and late checkout.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card?

Business and leisure travelers with heavy travel schedules will get the most value from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. If you can afford the hefty annual fee to earn impressive discounts and travel benefits, the Reserve Business Card is for you.

International travelers who plan to spend over $150,000 each year are best served by the Reserve Business Card.
Business owners willing to spend more money for elite travel benefits, like complimentary access to the Amex Centurion Lounge and first-class annual companion tickets, are better off with this card.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

EXPERT OPINION

The Reserve Business card is targeted towards people who regularly fly with Delta, around once a month or more. The benefits and perks of the card are solid, but to justify the annual fee, cardholders should try to use these features regularly.

If you aren’t able to use the card’s features on a consistent basis, it may be best to downgrade to the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

We recognize you might still be undecided when choosing the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card. MoneyGeek has answered some commonly asked questions that may help you decide.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

Both the American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Cards will suit frequent Delta flyers. If that’s not you, other business credit cards can still be effective for travel.

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

American Express. "Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.
American Express. "Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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