Delta SkyMiles® Amex Cards

I've been eyeing the Delta SkyMiles® Amex cards for a bit, so here’s a dive into each card and an assessment of the most important benefits—especially the companion certificate—to see if it’s worth the time and annual fee to get one.

✈️ Quick Comparison

🟡 Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex

• Annual Fee: $0 => 150

• Earning: 2× Delta, restaurants, U.S. supermarkets

• Travel Perks:

  • First checked bag free (~$60 RT per traveler)

  • Main Cabin 1 priority boarding

  • 20% back on in-flight purchases

• Lounge: None

• Companion Certificate: ❌ Not included

• Resy Dining Credit: ❌ None

⚪ Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Amex

• Annual Fee: $350

• Earning: 3× Delta & hotels, 2× dining & groceries

• Companion Certificate (Main Cabin only):

  • Issued each renewal year (starting year 2)

  • Covers one round-trip domestic ticket in Main Cabin

  • Taxes/fees: up to $80 roundtrip

  • Must be booked with the Platinum card

• Other Perks:

  • MQD Headstart: 2,500 MQDs each year toward Medallion status

  • 10 Sky Club visits/year (unlimited with $75K spend)

  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

  • Resy Dining Credit: $120/year ($10 per month)

⚫ Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Amex

• Annual Fee: $650

• Earning: 3× Delta

• Premium Companion Certificate:

  • Issued each renewal year (starting year 2)

  • Covers one round-trip domestic ticket in Main, Comfort+, or First

  • Taxes/fees: up to $80 roundtrip

  • Must be booked with the Reserve card

  • Note: Companion certificates are subject to availability, restricted fare classes, and cannot be used for Delta One or award tickets. Comfort+ may only be used if Main Cabin inventory is available.

• Other Perks:

  • 15 Sky Club visits/year + Centurion/Escape Lounge when flying Delta

  • Unlimited Sky Club access with $75K annual spend

  • 4 one-time Sky Club guest passes

  • Upgrade priority for Medallion members

  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit

  • Resy Dining Credit: $240/year ($20 per month)

🛫 Delta’s U.S. Hubs & Lounge Access

• Atlanta (ATL) – mega hub, multiple Sky Clubs

• Detroit (DTW) – McNamara Terminal Sky Club

• Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP) – multiple lounges

• New York (JFK & LGA) – premium lounge coming at JFK

• Los Angeles (LAX) – flagship West Coast lounge

• Boston (BOS) – expanding hub with upgraded lounge

• Seattle (SEA) – major West Coast hub

• Salt Lake City (SLC) – key Mountain West hub

🏆 Summary & Benefits Assessment

🟡 Gold → Basics: free bags, boarding, earn miles. No companion cert, no lounge access, minimal perks.

⚪ Platinum → Adds Main Cabin cert, lounge visits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, Resy dining credit. Best for moderate flyers who can use the companion cert.

⚫ Reserve → Premium cert (Main, Comfort+, First), lounges, upgrades, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, Resy credit. Companion certificate is the easiest to use and potentially the most valuable.

Key takeaway:

• Without using the companion certificate, these cards’ benefits do not offset the annual fee.

• In my mind, the Reserve card may be the only one worth getting, even if you only fly one Delta flight per year and use the companion certificate.

• Since I live near EWR, I’ll probably be better off flying closer to me, so I’ll likely hold off for now, unless I move closer to a major Delta hub that offers more flight options.

⚠️ Important note on Companion Certificates:

• Certificates are capacity-controlled, limited to certain fare classes, and cannot be used with Delta One or award tickets.

• Entire trip must be completed by the certificate expiration.

• Round-trip only — no multi-city or open-jaw bookings.

• Certificates may show no availability if not booked early.