The Bilt Mastercard is a better choice for renters looking to earn rewards on rent payments and those who value flexibility in redemption options and no annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is more suitable for frequent Delta travelers who can take advantage of the lounge access, travel benefits, and statement credits, despite the high annual fee.
| Attribute | Bilt Mastercard | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | No annual fee | $650 |
| Welcome Bonus | No traditional welcome bonus, but some users have reported receiving an offer to earn 5x rewards on all purchases (excluding rent) for a limited time after signing up, with a maximum of 50,000 points. | 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months. Offer ends 7/16/2025. |
| Earning Rate on Dining | 3x points per dollar spent. On Rent Day (the first of each month), earn 6x points. | Not explicitly mentioned as a bonus category. |
| Earning Rate on Travel | 2x points per dollar spent on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and car rental agencies. On Rent Day, earn 4x points. When using the Bilt Travel Portal, cardholders earn 4x points. | 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases. |
| Earning Rate on Other Purchases | 1x point per dollar spent. On Rent Day, earn 2x points. | 1x mile on all other eligible purchases. |
| Point Transfer Partners | Airlines: Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Emirates Skywards, Iberia Plus, Japan Airlines, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, TAP Portugal Miles&Go, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, United Airlines MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Hotels: Accor Live Limitless, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt. | Not explicitly mentioned for this card. Other Amex cards allow transfers to Delta. |
| Redemption Options | Travel through the Bilt Travel Portal, Transfer points to airline and hotel partners, Statement credits, Rent payments, Down payment on a home, Amazon purchases, Lyft rides. | Flights, upgrades, experiences, merchandise. Statement credits for travel or dining purchases. 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. |
| Travel Insurance Benefits | Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Baggage Delay Insurance, Cellular Telephone Protection. | Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 annually for non-refundable travel expenses. Trip Delay Insurance: Reimburses up to $500 per trip for delays over six hours, for expenses like meals and lodging. Some sources say delays over 12 hours with reimbursement up to $300. Baggage Insurance: Up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage. Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Covers theft or damage when the rental is fully charged to the card and the collision damage waiver is declined. Global Assist Hotline: 24/7 emergency services, including medical and legal referrals. |
| Lounge Access | The Bilt Mastercard itself does not offer airport lounge access. However, Bilt Gold and Platinum elite members can access Blade's helicopter lounges in Manhattan. | Complimentary access to Delta Sky Club (15 visits a year) and American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta. $75,000+ spend unlocks unlimited access. Four one-time guest passes annually. After that, guests can enter for $50 per person. |
| Statement Credits | Bilt cardholders can redeem points for statement credits to reduce their balance. A minimum of 1,000 points is required for a statement credit. | $240 annual Resy credit: Up to $20 per month for U.S. Resy restaurants. $120 annual rideshare credit: Up to $10 per month on select U.S. rideshare services. $200 annual Delta Stays credit: For prepaid hotel or vacation rental bookings through Delta Stays. TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit: $85 for TSA PreCheck (every 4.5 years) or $120 for Global Entry (every 4 years). Uber One Credit: Up to $9.99 each month for up to 12 consecutive months when you use your Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card to pay for an Uber One monthly membership (subject to auto renewal) by June 25, 2026. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | The Bilt Mastercard has no foreign transaction fees. | None. |
| Hotel Benefits | The Bilt Mastercard allows point transfers to hotel partners like World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors. Bilt Elite Status members can receive discounts off BLADE airport flights and access to BLADE NYC private lounges. | $200 annual Delta Stays credit for prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays. |