Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve: which lounge card fits?

The real difference

Both cards touch Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge, but the conditions differ. On Delta Reserve, both grants require you to be flying Delta that same day. On Amex Platinum, Centurion access has no such string attached, and only the Sky Club grant carries the same-day Delta rule.

Beyond that, the Platinum adds three networks the Delta card lacks: Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Escape Lounges. Those are what keep the Platinum useful on days you are not flying Delta.

Where each card has the edge

Amex Platinum lists an $895 annual fee; Delta Reserve lists $650. The extra $245 buys unconditional Centurion access plus the three additional networks, which is a strong case for the Platinum for anyone who flies more than one airline or travels abroad.

Delta Reserve is the tighter fit for a Delta loyalist who rarely leaves the airline. In that pattern the lounge experience on the two cards looks nearly the same at Delta hubs, and the cheaper card wins. The gap opens up on international trips, at non-Delta airports, and with travelling companions, where the Platinum's broader networks give more doors to try.

Make the choice from real trips

List your next three airports along with the airline you would fly from each, then compare which lounges each card would open under those conditions. Verify enrollment in each network, the same-day boarding-pass rule, any visit limits, and guest charges. American Express can change either card, so confirm the current terms before applying. Our methodology explains how we record conditional access.