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For frequent travelers, a premium credit card offers elite-level benefits that can help justify a hefty annual fee. Two of the best premium travel credit cards from Amex today are the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
These cards offer airport lounge access, bonus points on eligible flights, travel protections, and more. Learn about the pros and cons of each credit card, who they’re best for, and how you can get rewarded on your travel spending.
Both of these premium travel cards have steep annual fees. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card charges an annual fee of $650 (see rates & fees), while the Platinum Card’s annual fee is an even higher $895 (see rates & fees).
Given the $245 difference each year, the Delta Reserve is the winner in this category. But with either card, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make up the cost with valuable benefits and rewards.
Both the Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum offer incredible value for new cardholders:
Delta Reserve Card: Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 within the first six months of account opening (offer ends 10/29/2025)
Amex Platinum Card: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer); apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact (if you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted)
Though it has a higher spending threshold, the Amex Platinum also offers a potentially higher bonus — along with the same extended time period to meet the minimum spend. The Platinum Card’s bonus offers some added flexibility with Membership Rewards. Membership Rewards points have numerous redemption options, including statement credits, travel, gift cards, online shopping and more. Amex also partners with 21 airlines and hotels (including Delta SkyMiles), allowing you to transfer points to those loyalty programs.
While the Delta Reserve welcome bonus is still great, earning your bonus points as Delta SkyMiles can be more limiting for redemptions.
The Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum are both designed for frequent travelers, and their bonus rewards categories reflect that.
With the Delta Reserve card, you’ll earn 3x miles on Delta purchases. But any other purchase will earn just 1x mile per dollar spent.
The Amex Platinum’s rewards are similarly focused on travel. You can earn 5x points when booking flights directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. This bonus applies to the first $500,000 you spend each year. You’ll also earn 5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Everything else earns 1x point per dollar.
Both cards lack everyday bonus categories like groceries, gas, and dining, which you might use to earn extra rewards on regular monthly expenses. But with a higher 5x rewards rate on eligible travel spending, the Amex Platinum is our winner in this category.
Read more: Best travel rewards credit cards
Both of these premium travel cards shine when it comes to annual benefits. You’ll get a long list of annual perks with either card that can offer a ton of value for your spending each year:
One of the most important things to consider when comparing these card benefits is how importantly you value Delta loyalty benefits. The majority of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card’s benefits are restricted to flying on Delta Air Lines. If you fly another airline, you won’t be able to use benefits like airport lounge access, free checked bags, and priority boarding.
You can easily make up the annual fee cost with either card if you travel enough to use their ample perks, but the Amex Platinum is our winner. It has a broader range of more flexible benefits that you can use for travel expenses or on purchases you make when you’re not traveling.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is ideal for travelers who fly often and prefer flying Delta Air Lines. The card provides complimentary access to the Delta SkyClub airport lounges when flying Delta, and it provides an accelerated path toward Medallion elite status with both the MQD Headstart and MQD Boost earned on spending with the card.
This card can be especially valuable if you take advantage of its annual companion certificate. Depending on your travel plans, you could more than make up the card’s annual fee with your companion ticket alone. But you’ll also get valuable perks when flying Delta, including upgrade priority, free checked bags, and a 15% discount on award flights.
The Delta Reserve can make a great choice for frequent Delta travelers who want the simplicity of earning SkyMiles on their Delta purchases and want to stick with a single loyalty program.
Rewards rate
3x miles on Delta purchases1x miles on all other purchases
Benefits
Receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare classReceive a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. Terms apply.Enjoy 15 complimentary visits to the Delta Sky Club® when you fly Delta, and unlock unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year
The American Express Platinum Card is the ultimate luxury travel credit card and can work best if you don’t have a single preferred airline or you want to keep your options open. You’ll earn bonus rewards when you book airfare with airlines or through Amex Travel and you can access more than 1,550 airport lounges across the globe (including Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta).
It’s also tough to beat Amex Platinum’s long list of added perks and credits, from credits toward eligible hotel stays and CLEAR Plus membership to non-travel purchases like dining at Resy restaurants and digital entertainment subscriptions.
Unlike the Delta Reserve Card, benefits apply to a range of travel expenses and include Marriott and Hilton elite status and special benefits through Fine Hotel & Resorts. However, you do have to select one airline each year before you receive the card’s $200 airline fee credit reimbursement.
The Membership Rewards points you’ll earn also carry a lot of flexibility, with numerous redemption options — a clear advantage over the Delta Reserve Card. You’ll generally get the best redemption value for travel via Amex Travel or when you transfer points to airline and hotel partners (including Delta), but you can also redeem for statement credits, gift cards, and more.
Annual fee
$895
Welcome offer
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer); apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact (if you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted)
Ongoing Purchases APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year)5x points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel1x points on all other purchases
Benefits
Get up to $600 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel (up to $300 semi-annually; The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay)Get up to $400 in annual statement credits ($100 each quarter; enrollment required) for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining at Resy restaurantsEnjoy up to $200 in Uber Cash annually — that’s $15 in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats orders each month, plus a bonus $20 in December (you must have the latest version of the Uber App downloaded and your eligible American Express Platinum Card must be a method of payment in your Uber account; Amex benefit may only be used in United States)
With both of these cards in your wallet, you’re committing to an incredibly high $1,545 in annual fees. Though you can potentially make up that value in benefits, it’s still a significant amount to pay each year.
You should also consider the potential overlap in rewards categories. Both cards earn rewards on travel spending, so you could be missing out on rewards that could help you maximize the other things in your budget, like groceries or public transit.
But if your budget allows, having both cards gives you the best of both worlds. The Delta Reserve Card provides extra benefits when flying on Delta. Plus, your spending accelerates elite status qualification. Then, you’ll get benefits when flying on any airline with the Amex Platinum. It also offers complimentary hotel elite status perks to extend the luxury when you get off the plane.
Amex Membership Rewards points provide redemption flexibility, including the ability to transfer to Delta to combine with miles earned from flying and spending on your Delta Reserve Card.
Rewards rate
10x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel2x miles on all other purchases
Benefits
$300 annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel10,000 annual bonus miles (worth $100 in travel spending; starts on your first account anniversary)Unlimited access for you and two guests to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ more lounges through partner networks after enrollment
Why we like it: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Card offers premium travel benefits at a lower price than other luxury travel cards. One of its main benefits is complimentary access to Capital One Lounges, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group locations for cardholders and up to two guests. The Venture X Card earns 2x miles on every purchase (plus more for eligible Capital One Travel purchases) and includes a $300 travel credit and 10,000 anniversary points each year.
Read our full Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.
Rewards rate
8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠*4x points on flights and hotels booked direct*3x points on dining worldwide1x points on all other purchases*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
Benefits
Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive TablesTrip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and moreReceive up to a $120 statement credit every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS
Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve is another luxury travel card with plenty of benefits to help you maximize frequent travel. For its high annual fee, you’ll earn points on travel and dining, and boost your points rewards when you book through Chase Travel℠. Benefits include a flexible $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership (plus access to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations), $300 in annual dining credits ($150 semi-annually), IHG One Rewards Platinum elite status, and much more. This card excels in protections, too; when your travel plans go awry, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers unparalleled travel protection to minimize the damage.
Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
Annual fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Welcome offer
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months (offer ends 10/29/25)
Ongoing Purchases APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
Recommended credit score
Excellent/Good
Rewards rate
2x mile on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets, and at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)1x mile on all other eligible purchases.
Benefits
Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travelCheck your first bag free on Delta flights
Why we like it: Travelers who prefer Delta but aren’t ready to commit to the huge annual fee of the Delta Reserve Card should look at the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. This card includes numerous benefits when flying Delta, including free checked bags, priority boarding, and inflight discounts. Additionally, you’ll save 15% when booking award flights with your miles. The Delta Gold Card also offers an intro $0 annual fee the first year and costs $150 thereafter (see rates & fees), so you can try out its benefits before paying an annual fee.
Read our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card.
This article was edited by Kendall Little
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