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American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card vs Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.

Best card by category Card terms as of Oct 29

Everything else

  1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate
  2. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 1.2% 1x base rate

Dining

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 2.4% 2x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x

Groceries

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 2.4% 2x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 1.5% 2x base rate

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 3.6% 3x
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 2.3% 3x

Hotels

  1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card 4.5% 6x
  2. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card 3.6% 3x

What the numbers are doing

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card tops dining at 2.4% only because this table values its points at 1.2 cents each. Value them at one cent and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card wins that category instead.

The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card $350 and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card $650 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.

Where they differ: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card takes everything else and hotels; Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card takes dining, groceries and flights.

pointslipEveryday
Pass content preview
CategoryBest card
Everything elseMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card1.5%
DiningDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card2.4%
GroceriesDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card2.4%
FlightsDelta SkyMiles Platinum Card3.6%
HotelsMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card4.5%

Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.

Every category, every card

Everything else

  1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%
  2. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 1.2%

Dining

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 2.4%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%

Groceries

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 2.4%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 1.5%

Flights

  1. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 3.6%
  2. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 2.3%

Hotels

  1. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — 4.5%
  2. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card — 3.6%
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