These Editor-Approved Travel Accessories Are on Sale for Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day is finally here—and there's no better time for travelers to refresh their gear and save big on travel accessories. The annual mega-sale returns this year bigger and better than ever, with thousands of deals across all major categories. We're excited to see Amazon's steepest discounts of the year on some of the most essential travel accessories, from noise-canceling headphones and wearable tech to portable steamers, tote bags, and toiletry bags. These are the travel accessories that help make the journey on any long-haul flight, cross-country road trip, or transatlantic cruise that much smoother—and many of them are editor-tested and approved. Below, we gathered all the can't-miss Amazon Prime Day travel accessories deals to shop now, with discounts as high as 60% off. While deals run through Friday, July 11, there is no guarantee bestsellers will still be in stock, so don't delay adding something to your shopping cart ASAP.
For even more Prime Day sales, head to Traveler's Amazon Storefront.
Wearable tech
One of this year's top Prime Day deals is on the popular Oura Ring. The smart ring is a favorite of mine, and it's currently 15% off for Prime members. The Oura Ring tracks your sleep patterns, daily steps, and heart rate, making it easier than ever to stay on top of your goals while traveling. Also on sale: smart watches and fitness trackers designed for active travelers on the go.
Noise-canceling headphones
Noise-canceling headphones were among our readers' most-purchased items last Prime Day, so we're glad to see bestsellers from Apple, Beats, Marshall, and Soundcore are discounted again. Whether you're trying to block out noisy plane neighbors or listen to your favorite podcast on your daily commutes, a high-quality pair of headphones is always essential.
E-readers
Prime Day is a great time to save on a new e-reader: The Kindle Paperwhite and Scribe are currently 30% off. These lightweight gadgets keep you entertained on flights and train rides without the bulk that comes with packing heavy books in your backpack.
Portable chargers
Never worry about your phone dying just before takeoff ever again. A portable charger takes up minimal space in your backpack or tote bag and ensures you're always powered up. A few of our favorite compact chargers are currently on sale.
Portable fans
Portable fans are key to staying cool this summer, whether you're waiting in line at a concert or lying by the pool. These editor-approved fans are extremely lightweight and easy to stash in a fanny pack or crossbody bag. They have a few different speeds and pretty good battery life for such small devices.
Lightweight steamers
Sure, some hotels have irons, but they don't always do the job at dewrinkling formal dresses or suits. It's a smart idea to bring along your own steamer that won't take up a ton of space or weight in your suitcase, but still works well. Many of our favorites that have been tested and reviewed are on sale right now, including favorites from Proctor and Hilife.
Tote bags
A trusty tote bag is a must-have for any beach trip or day at the farmer's market. I always pack one in my carry-on to hold souvenirs I pick up during a day of sightseeing. Below, a few stylish, packable tote bags on sale that we love.
Toiletry bags
Every traveler needs a roomy Dopp kit that can hold toiletries, skincare essentials, and makeup. Many of our go-to toiletry bags, like this best-selling hanging kit from Bagsmart, are currently discounted. Below, you'll find options ranging in size and shape, with nice features like a water-resistant exterior and separate compartments. We also included an easy-to-clean makeup brush holder with a magnetic closure that fits nicely in any weekender bag.
Toiletry bottles
We're also seeing discounts on reusable toiletry bottles. These leakproof bottles hold shampoo, conditioner, face wash, serums, sunscreen, and more without the fuss of buying miniature versions of all your everyday products. Larger sets with varying-sized bottles are great for family vacations or extended trips.
Packing cubes
If you haven't tried packing cubes yet (seriously, why?), now is the perfect time. Several packing cubes, including compressible versions, are part of Amazon Prime Day's travel accessories discounts. Whether you're a chronic overpacker who needs to save some extra room or a traveler who just wants to separate their shoes and dirty clothes, packing cubes will always come in handy. I never travel without them!
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
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Travel + Leisure
3 minutes ago
- Travel + Leisure
This National Park Is a ‘Waterless Sea'—and It Has Giant Sand Dunes That Glow Pink and Blue at Sunset
White Sands National Park is home to the world's largest gypsum dune field. While here, visitors can participate in activities like sand sledding, scenic drives, and ranger-led star watching programs on full moon nights. The park is best visited in spring or fall for mild weather, though the park is also pretty enchanting in the winter. Hike the Alkali Flat Trail for sweeping views of the dunes or take the Dune Life Nature Trail to learn about the desert ecosystem. Though hikers should plan to bring their own provisions, the visitors center does have grab-and-go food options. Rising out of the Tularosa Basin in south-central New Mexico is one of the country's most underrated wonders: waves of pure white sand spreading as far as the eye can see. At first glance, it looks like a vast expanse of snowdrifts, but step out of your car and you'll find it crunches underfoot. This vast, otherworldly sight is part of southern New Mexico's White Sands National Park. It's a special place that's been sculpted by wind and time into a dazzling, ever-shifting landscape. 'White Sands National Park is the largest gypsum sand dunefield in the world. It covers 275 square miles with glittering white sand and unusual desert vegetation,' Nicole Barker, the media relations manager at the New Mexico Tourism Department, tells Travel + Leisure . 'The park [also] offers several ranger-led programs that allow visitors to experience the park in a more immersive way.' Immersion is the name of the game at White Sands National Park, which tends to draw adventurers and solitude seekers—along with photographers chasing the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, when the dunes glow an ethereal pink and blue. Here's everything you need to know before visiting White Sands National Park: Sunset over the sand dunes of White Sands national Monument. White Sands National Park is open daily, year-round, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The park opens at 7 a.m. every day and closes shortly after sunset. It has just one visitor center‚ White Sands Visitor Center—which is where most people's journeys begin There is currently no way to stay overnight in the park, and there are very limited food options—the gift shop inside the visitors center has a selection of packaged sandwiches, bottled drinks, and snacks for sale. It is best to arrive with a cooler of food and drink. Entry into the park is $25 per vehicle, which covers you, your passengers, and any leashed dogs you may have. Purchasing your pass in advance online can help you save time, especially if you're visiting during the park's busy season. But, if you do, you'll want to download or print your pass before getting to the park because there is no WiFi within White Sands National Park, cell coverage is limited, and there are several service dead zones. White Sands National Park can also close unexpectedly due to inclement weather. The park can see high winds, which lead to intense, blowing sand. And during heavy rains, the back half of Dunes Drive can become difficult to navigate. Check the park's Current Conditions page for updates on road closures, weather, and activity availability. And when you do visit, Barker asks that guests keep one simple principle in mind. 'Please Leave No Trace when visiting," she says. "We are all responsible for leaving these beautiful areas exactly how we found them and helping preserve the land for future generations ahead of us.' Soaptree Yucca plants in the Gypsum white sand of White Sands National Monument. The best time to visit White Sands National Park is in the spring and fall. Fall is Barker's favorite time in the park, and she specifically recommends visiting between late September and late November to enjoy the season's mild temperatures. She notes that while both spring and fall are ideal if you want temperate weather for hiking, fall tends to be quieter, and spring can be windy. 'The temperatures during the fall are very similar to the spring, often reaching between 70 and 80 degrees," she says. In the summer, the park can be hot, with temperatures sometimes reaching 110-degrees-Fahrenheit. The rainy season typically begins in July, bringing with it afternoon thunderstorms. The rainy season can last through late September, which is when the park begins to cool. The park is surprisingly lovely in the winter, when daytime temperatures average 60 degrees and occasional snow adds to the beauty of the dunes. A driver navigating through White Sands. The park is just over three hours from Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and just under five hours east of Tucson International Airport (TUS) in Tucson, Arizona. Because a car is needed to get to and explore White Sands National Park, many people visit the park as part of a larger tour of New Mexico or the Southwest. Barker notes that a visit to the dunes 'pairs beautifully with a longer southern New Mexico road trip.' There is just one entrance to White Sands National Park, which is also where the sole visitor center can be found. The entrance is located on US-70, between the towns of Alamogordo and Las Cruces, New Mexico. The entrance is approximately 20 minutes west of Alamogordo and 50 minutes east of Las Cruces. A visitor sledding down white sand dunes. powdery-white hills that look like snow can be treated as such, with sand dune sledding ranking among the park's most popular activities. Inside the visitor center's trading post and gift shop, there are waxed, plastic saucer sleds for purchase. Sledding is allowed in the loop portion of Dunes Drive, away from the road and where there is little or no vegetation. Barker recommends 'sledding at the Alkali Flat trailhead parking area,' which has some of the tallest sledding dunes. The Dunes Drive is a 16-mile scenic drive that starts at the visitor center and runs into the dunefields. The drive is a great way to access lesser-used sledding hills, hike trail-free dunes, or find photography inspiration. Along the road are wayside exhibits, picnic areas, and vault toilets. The first four miles of Dunes Drive are paved, and the last four miles are a hard-packed, gypsum road. Cars of any kind can make the drive. On the nights surrounding the full moon, in summer and early fall, the park hosts a Full Moon Night. 'On full moon nights, park hours are extended two hours from the normal closing time," Barker says. "Full Moon Night programs are held in the amphitheater with live music, ranger programs, and special guest presenters and artists.' People show up with camp chairs, blankets, and a cooler stocked with food to listen to the music or learn from a park ranger. Full Moon Nights typically last for two hours and are free, although the $25 per car park entrance fee applies. Backpacker Hiking at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. ferrantraite/Getty Images To hike among the park's biggest dunes, head to Alkali Flat Trail—a not-so-flat trail (in fact, it climbs several steep dunes) that leads to a dry lakebed. The park calls the trail 'strenuous' and notes that it is five miles round-trip. The journey up and over the dunes takes most hikers around three hours. A more moderate way to explore White Sands National Park is the Dune Life Nature Trail, a one-mile loop that takes most people an hour to complete. The journey, while short, does a great job of showcasing the ecosystem that is created when two landscapes meet—in this case, desert scrub brush and gypsum dunes. The trail is located along the edge of the dunefield and showcases information on the animals that live within the park. From March to November, when the moon is full, the park hosts a Moonlight Hike. According to Barker, park rangers lead a Moonlight Hike along the Dune Life Nature Trail, a journey that takes up to two hours and costs $8 per person ($4 for kids ages 15 and younger). Tickets are available one month before the day of the tour via For another ranger-guided hike, check out the park's Sunset Stroll, which usually takes place during sunset's golden hour. "It's a great opportunity to learn about the park's geology, plants, and animals while enjoying the sunset over the mountains," Barker says. To truly understand the magnitude of the world's largest gypsum dune field, plan on completing the Backcountry Camping Trail. The two-mile loop takes between two to three hours to complete and provides expansive views of the rippling snow-white gypsum dunes. It is also a great place to catch the sunset. Outdoor patio with firepits at Home2 Suites by Hilton Alamogordo. There is no overnight lodging or camping in the park at the moment so you'll need to arrange lodging in the neighboring towns of Alamogordo (20 minutes away) or Las Cruces (50 minutes away). One of the closest lodging options to White Sands National Park is the Home2 Suites in Alamogordo. The all-suite hotel has kitchenettes and a pet-friendly policy. Barker recommends Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, which she says has 'an ambiance reflective of Spanish and Mexican Colonial history and tradition.' The hotel has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and an on-site restaurant and bar that serves up New Mexican fare. The camping site closest to White Sands National Park is at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. It has 15 sites with water and electricity, along with 24 developed dry camp sites for tents, and three ADA-friendly sites. Camping reservations can be made online. Barker adds that the state park is vast and more than worth exploring, and it has 'hiking trails, an old ranch house, and natural pools.' Covered picnic tables in White Sands National Park. Apart from the limited, prepackaged provisions available at the visitor center's trading post and gift shop, there is no other food in the park. For that reason, most visitors bring their own food and drink and plan to picnic. There are three main picnic areas in the park, Yucca, Roadrunner, and Primrose. All can be found off Dunes Drive. Most of the picnic area is shaded, and there are grills near the tables. (Personal grills are also welcome.) Barker favors the Roadrunner picnic area, personally. This local favorite in Alamogordo offers a higher-end dining experience, which Barker says comes 'paired with the best New Mexico wine.' Barker describes Hi-D-Ho Drive-In as 'a vintage drive-in beloved for [its] impressive selection of burgers and burritos while preserving the nostalgic roadside dining experience of the 1950s.' Plus, their green chile burgers have a cult following. For a cool treat after a day in the park, swing by Caliche's, which has locations in both Alamogordo and Las Cruces. Barker notes that the dessert spot is 'known for its creamy, rich frozen custard, sundaes, and signature treats like the Green Chile Sundae.' This beloved eatery in Las Cruces serves up 'chef-inspired tapas with an award-winning wine list and craft cocktails,' according to Barker. Salud! de Mesilla has a great brunch menu and creative dishes like green chile pesto pasta and a Prickly Pear Creme Brûlée.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Want to take a sabbatical? Experts weigh in on how to convince your boss
Soon after Rachel Calvelli got married, she and her husband wanted to take six months off work and travel across North America. At her job, Calvelli had two options for a sabbatical: two years of salary spread across 30 months and six months off, or four years of salary across five years and a year off. The first step in her plan was speaking to her manager. Calvelli recalled being "definitely nervous" and worried about the stigma of taking a break from her job to travel. Even though sabbaticals are a part of her workplace benefits, it wasn't popular for people to make use of them, she said. "At the time, I was probably around 29 or 30 and worried it would make me seem young or potentially irresponsible," Calvelli said. Meanwhile, her husband, who works in the private sector, had signed a new job on the condition of a short sabbatical after two years of work. Then came the planning: financial, logistical and everything in between. For two years, Calvelli and her husband cut back on discretionary spending, had a relative agree to take care of their home and pets while they'd be away, and prepared thorough handover documents for their workplaces leading up to their six months off in 2022. Taking time off work for an extended period may sound like a fantasy to some people. But experts say it is possible if you time the conversation well and come armed with a plan. "You need to be very strategic about when you do bring this conversation up," said Danica Nelson, founder of Liberty Leave, which helps women plan career breaks. Nelson said before people bring up the idea of taking a sabbatical with their manager, they need to make sure they're almost irreplaceable at their job. "You're coming fully prepared to your performance reviews with quantifiable metrics to really be able to justify why you are valuable to the company," she said. And be honest about how you feel. Nelson suggested saying something along the lines of: "I'm feeling burnt out right now. I'm considering taking some time away for myself so I can get some fresh perspective, so I come back stronger." Phrasing the proposal as mutually beneficial and preparing a business case could help further the conversation, said Nina Hornjatkevyc, a registered psychologist and counselling director at Canada Career Counselling. She said it's important to frame the "why" of a sabbatical well, which can make it easier to talk to the manager. "How their being on the sabbatical would actually be a win-win, highlighting how there could be benefits for the organization," Hornjatkevyc said. During negotiations, Hornjatkevyc said it's important to propose as much lead time as possible before going away — and even suggest a couple of different start times that could work for the company. It's about "making sure there's a real emphasis on supporting businesses or organizational needs," she said. If the sabbatical is approved, that lead time allows better planning and making suggestions on how duties will be covered during the absence, talking about handovers and figuring out how communication will be handled during that time, Hornjatkevyc said. Then, set up a plan to transition back into work, she added. Hornjatkevyc suggested people start getting back in touch with their employer as they get closer to the end of their leave. When Calvelli returned to her job after six months, it took time to get back into the routine. Luckily, she found her workplace was accommodating to her return and her transition back. "I felt slower doing things, but in a really positive way," she recalled. "I actually felt a lot calmer." However, Nelson warned your job may not always be guaranteed when you return. When Nelson took a sabbatical from her old workplace, she was told she could come back to a position, but not necessarily the same one she had before her time off. "I was offered a (maternity) leave position and I had to figure out after that … if I would find something permanent within the company or if I would have to move on," she recalled. That could become a financial risk. Nelson said a sabbatical can be expensive, as income levels drop and savings take a hit while travelling or taking a course. "That gap in earning an income is definitely going to impact your finances long-term," she said. Hornjatkevyc said finances and career trajectory often are the top concerns -- mortgage, implications for children or pets, their partner's work, long-term financial stability and career growth risks, for example. "One of the major ways to help to mitigate some of these concerns is to do some planning, and really to map out some of those concerns," Hornjatkevyc said. That will help figure out a realistic plan and pin down what may or may not work for an individual — both in their finances and career growth. For Calvelli and her husband, the sabbatical didn't stop their career growth. While Calvelli was promoted to a senior manager role three months after her time away from work, her husband returned to a senior role right after the leave. Hornjatkevyc said a person can experience big picture growth when taking a career sabbatical. "As much as in the short term there can be implications, there can be so much potential for (personal) growth as well," she said. "It's important to balance both sides." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
34 minutes ago
- CNN
Delta Platinum vs Delta Reserve: My recommendation as a top Delta frequent flyer
CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. I'm a frequent Delta flyer holding Diamond Medallion status with the airline, its top published elite level. Delta's co-branded credit cards are an essential tool in my wallet, and I recommend that people who fly Delta regularly consider applying for one of them. For people who fly Delta more than a few times a year, it's worth looking at the airline's mid-level credit card, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. And really frequent Delta flyers should take a good look at the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, the airline's top co-branded card. Neither of these cards is cheap, though, with annual fees in the hundreds. The good news is that if you are in the Delta ecosystem, and can use enough of the cards' credits and perks to help offset the annual fee, they can make financial sense for you. Either will help you get to Delta elite status faster too. But which one should you get? Can you make do with the Platinum, or do you need the high-end benefits of the pricey Reserve, with an annual fee that's almost double? Let's look at the two cards together, and at my experience using them, to help you decide. (And before we start, let's clear up one potential source of confusion: The Delta Platinum American Express is not The Platinum Card® from American Express. They are similarly named, but very different, cards.) Both the Delta Platinum and Delta Reserve earn Delta SkyMiles and can earn a sizable welcome bonus in miles. Note that American Express allows earning a welcome offer only once per lifetime on each of its cards. That means that if you've had either one of these Delta cards before and earned a welcome offer, you won't be eligible to earn another. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership $350 (see rates and fees) $650 (see rates and fees) - 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases- 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with hotels worldwide- 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)- 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets- 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases - 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases- 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions) First checked bag free on Delta flights (including up to eight companions) - 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card)- 20% off in-flight purchases (in the form of statement credits)- Up to $120 annual Resy credit each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants- Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit every calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers- Up to $150 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year- Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years- Complimentary Hertz Five Star status- Trip delay insurance- Baggage insurance- Car rental loss and damage insurance- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) - 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card)- 20% off in-flight purchases (in the form of statement credits)- Up to $240 annual Resy credit each calendar year (up to $20 monthly) at U.S. Resy restaurants- Up to $120 annual ride-hailing credit every calendar year (up to $10 monthly) with select U.S. providers- Up to $200 Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year- Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years- Complimentary Hertz President's Circle status- Trip delay insurance- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance- Baggage insurance- Car rental loss and damage insurance- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) No - Access to Delta Sky Club lounges (15 visits per year when flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass; unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in a calendar year)- Four one-time guest passes for the Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass), then $50 per person per visit- Access to Amex Centurion Lounges when flying Delta and booking your flight with the Delta Reserve One round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card (valid in Main Cabin on domestic, Caribbean or Central America flights; taxes and fees of between $22 and $250, for itineraries with up to four flight segments) One round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your card (valid in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ or first class on domestic, Caribbean or Central America flights; taxes and fees of between $22 and $250, for itineraries with up to four flight segments) Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $20 spent, plus 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the Medallion Qualification year Earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent, plus 2,500 MQDs toward status qualification at the start of the Medallion Qualification yearEnrollment is required for select card benefits; terms apply. The main difference in perks between the two is that the Reserve allows access to Delta's Sky Club lounges, as well as American Express Centurion lounges, when flying Delta (or its partners, if the flight was bought through Delta). The Reserve also acts as a fourth tiebreaker for complimentary upgrades between passengers after elite status, cabin purchased and Million Miler status. That said, both cards feature rich lists of benefits, including the below. Companion Certificate: Using the certificate, you can buy one round-trip ticket on Delta to all 50 states, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and get another one for just the cost of taxes and fees. The certificate that comes with the Platinum every year is valid for economy class, while the one with the Reserve is valid for extra-legroom Comfort+ and first class as well. The Companion Certificate alone could offset the annual fee on either card. TakeOff 15: Both cards provide the TakeOff 15 benefit, a 15% discount on the SkyMiles required for award flights operated by Delta. For example, if you want to book a flight that requires 20,000 SkyMiles, it will only cost 17,000 SkyMiles with the discount. The lower cost in miles will be reflected in your flight search results in the Delta app or on the site. Delta Stays statement credit: Every calendar year, holders of either card receive a credit for a prepaid hotel or vacation rental booked on the Delta Stays platform. It's a third-party platform, so you may not get the hotel points or any loyalty perks you might get when booking directly, but the savings are huge. The Delta Platinum card gives you up to $150 back in statement credits on a Delta Stays booking, and the Reserve card up to $200. Resy restaurant credit: The Delta Platinum card gives you up to $120 in statement credits of $10 monthly at restaurants available through Resy, the reservation platform owned by American Express. With the Reserve card, those credits are up to $240, divided into $20 monthly. (Enrollment required. After that, find a restaurant on Resy and use your enrolled card to pay your bill.) Ride-hailing credit: Both the Platinum and the Reserve offer $10 in statement credits per month, for a total of up to $120 per calendar year, for purchases on Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel and Alto. The credits will not be applied for purchases outside the U.S. (Enrollment required.) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Both cards offer a statement credit of up to $120 every four years to cover the application fee for Global Entry, which allows expedited clearance for preapproved, low-risk travelers when reentering the U.S. Alternatively, both cards offer a credit up to $85 covering the application fee for TSA PreCheck every four and a half years. Since Global Entry includes PreCheck, we recommend applying for the former if you travel outside the country or plan to. Travel and car rental insurance: Both cards come with travel protections when you use the card to buy a ticket, including paying the taxes and fees on award tickets. This includes trip delay insurance; insurance for lost, stolen or damaged luggage; car rental loss and damage insurance; and trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which only the Delta Reserve provides. (Conditions and limits apply.) Complimentary Hertz status: The Platinum comes with Five Star status and the Reserve with President's Circle status in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program. Those are the second-highest and highest status tiers in the car rental agency's loyalty program. (Enrollment required.) Lounge access is an exclusive benefit of the Delta Reserve, and the main reason the card is likely to stay in my wallet until that changes. With the Reserve, you get 15 day passes to Sky Clubs per year when flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass. (The year in this case isn't a calendar year but the Medallion year, which goes from Feb. 1 to Jan. 31.) Once you enter a Sky Club with a pass from the Reserve, you have unlimited access to all of them for 24 hours. This is good for people with connecting flights, since they won't burn a visit for each airport. If you spend more than $75,000 on the card in a calendar year, you'll have unlimited Sky Club access. Reserve card holders also get four one-time guest passes, provided guests are also flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass. After that, the cost is $50 per person per visit. But Sky Clubs aren't the only airport lounges you can get into. When flying Delta and booking your flight with the Delta Reserve, you also get access to the excellent Amex Centurion Lounges (do note that bringing guests, up to two of them per visit, will cost $50 per person, or $30 if they're age 2 through 17). Between the 15 yearly passes to Sky Clubs and the unlimited access to Centurion lounges, I have all the lounge time I want. Thanks to Centurion lounges, which can be found at 15 U.S. airports and 11 abroad, I typically don't even exhaust my yearly allotment of Sky Club visits. A nifty feature of the Platinum is that authorized users of the card get their own batch of 15 Sky Club passes per year. The fee to add an authorized user is $175, though, so make sure they will use the lounge access perk if that is your main motivation for adding them. Medallion Qualification Dollars, or MQDs, are the only metric that matters to earn the various levels of Delta Medallion status. Silver Medallion requires 5,000 MQDs, Gold requires 10,000, Platinum requires 15,000 and the top Diamond Medallion level is attained at 28,000 MQDs. You can earn MQDs by flying Delta or its partners, or by spending on the Delta Platinum or Reserve cards. The Reserve earns 1 MQD for every $10 spent, and the Platinum earns half that, or 1 MQD for every $20. The cards' real heft in that regard comes from their MQD Headstart feature, which gives you 2,500 MQDs at the start of the Medallion Qualification year, every February. That's halfway to Silver level just for holding the card. When it comes to earning miles, the Platinum card has a vast advantage. The Reserve is, in fact, a bad card for earning miles on anything other than Delta flights. You'll get 3x miles per dollar on those but a measly 1x on all other expenses. There are no-fee, cash-back cards that earn at much higher rates. The Platinum does a lot better. It earns the same 3x on Delta purchases but also on purchases made directly with hotels worldwide. At U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., it earns 2x miles. For everyday spending, it's far and away the better card. First off, I have both cards. It works for me, as someone who takes 40 flights on Delta or its partners in an average year, but I would not recommend having more than one of any airline's co-branded cards to anybody but truly frequent flyers. Clearly, the Delta Reserve is aimed squarely at the airline's loyalists, who value lounge access and do not have a Sky Club membership, which starts at $695 per year. For less dedicated Delta flyers, the Platinum is plenty. And if I weren't a frequent Delta flyer, neither card would work for me. The Reserve is the only card I use for booking Delta flights, since it earns the same miles as the Platinum on those purchases but double the MQDs. The Platinum is one of my go-tos for grocery shopping, since it gets 2x at U.S. supermarkets. I use the Companion Certificates from both, and I dine at Resy restaurants often enough to use all of the Resy credits from both cards. Similarly, I use the Delta Stays credits in full. If I had to get rid of one, I would ditch the Platinum, though, and keep the Reserve. I have other cards that match or surpass the Platinum for earnings, such as the Citi Double Cash, which earns 2x on all purchases, and other cards that earn 3x on dining, such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. But I couldn't get Sky Club and Centurion lounge access, which I value greatly, with any Delta co-branded card except the Amex Delta Reserve. Many frequent flyers, with Delta and other airlines, swear by the non-Delta American Express Platinum. For a steep annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), it has Centurion lounge access and 10 Sky Club passes per year, and it doesn't earn Delta SkyMiles but rather American Express Membership Rewards points. Those can be transferred to many airline and hotel partners, including Delta, making them far more flexible than airline miles. Plus, the card earns 5x on airfare purchased directly from the airline, not 3x. But for most occasional Delta flyers, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, which we consider one of the best American Express cards, is a better bet. It has an annual fee of $150, waived the first year, and earns 2x miles on Delta purchases at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide. If you fly Delta even three or four times a year, you can recoup its annual cost, and then some, just by avoiding the checked luggage fees. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored senior money editor and credit card expert Alberto Riva. Is it worth it to upgrade from Delta Platinum to Reserve? Is it worth it to upgrade from Delta Platinum to Reserve? The Amex Delta Reserve has a much higher annual fee ($650) than the Amex Delta Platinum ($350). Upgrading to it from the Delta Platinum makes sense only for frequent Delta flyers, and we mean very frequent, who would value the lounge access the Reserve gives. The Reserve also helps score cabin upgrades and earns more MQDs, which count for attaining elite status, than the Platinum. But its steep annual cost makes it worthwhile only for big Delta loyalists. Does the Delta Reserve get lounge access? Does the Delta Reserve get lounge access? Yes. The Reserve comes with 15 day passes to Delta Sky Clubs per year when flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass. A pass is valid for 24 hours after entering the first Sky Club. The card also provides four guest passes per year. Spending more than $75,000 on the card in a calendar year gives unlimited Sky Club access. On top of Delta lounges, card holders have unlimited access to American Express Centurion lounges when flying Delta with a same-day boarding pass. Do you get free flight upgrades with the Delta Reserve? Do you get free flight upgrades with the Delta Reserve? The Delta Reserve card does not guarantee upgrades to a higher cabin, but it does help. That's because it acts as a tiebreaker between two or more passengers after considering their elite status, fare paid and Million Miler status. Senior money editor and credit card expert Alberto Riva applied his years of experience using the Delta Amex Platinum (since 2014) and Delta Reserve (since 2017) to this article. He's had high-level status with Delta Air Lines for years, and in the past year, he got upgraded from economy to first class more than 60% of the time on Delta flights within North America. Our recommendations are grounded in real-world value and backed by thorough analysis, expert insight and a commitment to clarity and transparency. Click here for rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card. Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex. Click here for rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex.
