Delta Reserve Credit Card Review
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Written by
Jon Nickel-D'Andrea
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, an advertising partner, is an airline credit card for die-hard Delta Air Lines loyalists, as its top benefits are geared toward those who fly Delta frequently.
The $650 annual fee is hefty, to be sure, but the Delta Reserve’s benefits can be worth much more than that if you maximize them. Here’s a closer look at what to expect with the Amex Delta Reserve Card.
Purchase APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
Welcome Offer
Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
Rewards
1X – 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
Annual Fee
$650
CardCritics™ Opinion
The American Express Delta Reserve is the airline’s flagship credit card. It comes with a slew of benefits that will make even the most seasoned Delta flyers salivate, including Sky Club lounge access, complimentary upgrade priority, First Class companion fares and award ticket discounts. Cardholders can also earn statement credits for eligible hotel stays, a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, and other travel perks. That said, if Delta isn’t your primary airline or you don’t need airport lounge access, a card with a lower annual fee may suit you better.
Our Critical Analysis:
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Cardholders receive 15 complimentary visits to Delta Sky Club lounges each year
- Annual companion certificate (valid for First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin)
- Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
- Valuable statement credits for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, U.S. rideshare, U.S. Resy purchases and Delta Stays hotels (enrollment may be required)
PROS
- High $650 annual fee
- No bonus categories for spending other than 3x on Delta purchases
- Must spend $75,000 in a calendar year to unlock unlimited Sky Club visits
- Companion certificate is only valid for round-trip travel within the U.S. and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
CONS
Delta Reserve Benefits
As the most premium Delta credit card, the Amex Delta Reserve Card is packed with benefits that can improve your travel experience and save you money.
Annual Companion Certificate
Flying alone is fine, but flying with a friend is even better. With the Delta Reserve Card, every cardmember anniversary you’ll get a companion certificate that allows another person to travel with you on an eligible round-trip itinerary for just the cost of taxes and fees.
The certificate is valid for travel within the U.S. and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, so it’s not useful if you’re planning travel elsewhere. However, the benefit can be used for Delta Main Cabin, Comfort+® or even First Class flights, potentially saving you hundreds if not thousands of dollars each year.
Sky Club Lounge Access
With this card, you’ll get 15 complimentary visits each year to Delta Sky Clubs in dozens of airports, and you’ll be able to use them on your connecting itineraries as well. For example, if you were flying from Seattle to Atlanta and then on to Orlando, you’d be able to use the lounge in Seattle and Atlanta with just one “visit.”
Cardholders who spend over $75,000 in a calendar year get unlimited visits. Note that you must be flying on a same-day Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight for complimentary access to the Sky Club lounge, and Basic Economy fares don’t qualify.
Centurion Lounge Access
Airport lounge access doesn’t stop with the Delta Sky Clubs, because when you’re traveling on Delta Air Lines and use an American Express card to buy your ticket, you’ll also be able to hang out in Amex’s flagship Centurion Lounges. Here you’ll find free-flowing top-shelf liquors, chef-curated meals, quiet places to work and pop-up events happening all the time. If there’s a Centurion Lounge near you, this is a massive benefit to take the stress out of traveling.
TakeOff 15 Benefit
You can save 15% off of the miles cost of a Delta award flight just by having the Delta Reserve Card. When you log in to your SkyMiles account to make a booking, you’ll see the discounted price on the screen. This discount is for Delta flights only, so if you’re trying to book with a partner such as Air France or KLM, you’ll pay the full award price.
Multiple Statement Credits
The Delta Reserve Card comes with numerous travel and dining statement credit opportunities, including up to $240 per year in U.S. Resy credits (up to $20 per month, enrollment required), up to $120 per year in U.S. rideshare credits (up to $10 per month, enrollment required), and up to $200 per year in Delta Stays credits. If you’re able to use them all, they’re nearly enough to outweigh the annual fee.
The catch is you’ve got to remember to use them before they expire — for example, the rideshare and Resy credits are doled out monthly, and they don’t roll over.
Cardholders also receive a statement credit of up to $120 toward the application fee for Global Entry (once every four years) or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck (once every four-and-a-half years).
Fast-Track to Elite Status
As a Delta Reserve cardholder, you’ll receive a Medallion® Qualification Dollar (MQD) “headstart” of $2,500 MQD each year. In addition, for every $10 of eligible purchases charged to the card, you’ll earn 1 MQD. These features can accelerate your path to earning elite status by helping you reach the next Medallion® tier that much faster.
Delta Reserve Drawbacks
Like all credit cards, the Delta Reserve Card has drawbacks. Just because this is a premium card doesn’t mean it’s for everyone, even if they fly Delta often.
Annual Fee
Let’s not mince words here; the annual fee of $650 is really high, and a tough pill to swallow if you’re a casual Delta flyer. Before getting drawn in with the dream of earning tens of thousands of SkyMiles, make sure you’re OK with the upfront cost — even if you’re able to maximize the card’s benefits to justify it.
Earning and Redemption Limitations
Unlike travel credit cards that earn flexible rewards, this card locks you into earning Delta SkyMiles. That means you’ll only be able to redeem for awards on Delta and its partners, limiting your options.
The card’s earning rates leave much to be desired, as well — it only earns 3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta, and 1x miles on everything else. So you won’t earn bonus miles on spending categories like gas, groceries or dining, making this card a poor daily driver.
Lounge Visit Caps
If you travel once a month, and visit a lounge on your outbound and return flight, you’ll have used up your 15 annual complimentary visits by August. If you’re a heavy Delta Sky Club user, you have the option of spending $75,000 on the card in a year to unlock unlimited access — but that’s a spending threshold that’s out of reach for many. Otherwise, once you’re out of visits, you can still purchase entry at a per-visit rate of $50 per person.
Who Is the Delta Reserve Best For?
Are you the kind of traveler who knows which entrance on the arrivals drive has the shortest walk to the TSA PreCheck line, and which airline lounge has the best quiet corner to make a Zoom call? If so, then this card might be for you.
Delta enthusiasts who love to accrue Delta SkyMiles and are looking for a bump to their balance will be best served with this card. Also, since the card comes with an often overlooked $2,500 MQD headstart each year, if you’re trying to earn elite status, this could be the boost you need to reach the next Medallion® tier.
Is It the Right Card for You?
This Delta Reserve is worth considering if you:
- Fly frequently with Delta Air Lines and/or live near a Delta hub airport
- Often travel on Delta with a companion
- Want a boost to hit elite status
- Would make use of all of the credits and perks that help justify the card’s annual fee
- Would otherwise pay for Delta Sky Club membership
Alternatives To Consider
If the Delta Reserve’s annual fee is too steep but you like the idea of getting airline-specific perks, two other Delta credit cards may be a better fit:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (an advertising partner): The Delta Gold Card is a budget-friendly alternative to the Delta Reserve, with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. It comes with some of the key benefits you’ll find on pricier Delta cards, including a free first checked bag, priority boarding and in-flight discounts on Delta, the TakeOff 15 discount, and up to $100 annually in statement credits toward hotel bookings through Delta Stays.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (an advertising partner): With a $350 annual fee, the Delta Platinum is a mid-tier card that includes the same free checked bag, priority boarding and in-flight discounts as the Delta Gold. It adds an annual companion certificate, MQD headstart, and a broader range of statement credit opportunities. However, it doesn’t come with airport lounge access like the Delta Reserve does.
Card Details From American Express
- Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
How Does the Delta Reserve Card Stack Up Against Competitors?
Let’s look at the Delta Reserve compared to other Delta credit cards to help you decide which is right for you.
| Delta Reserve Card | Delta Gold Card | Delta Platinum Card | |
| Welcome Offer | Earn 125,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025. | Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025. | Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/29/2025. |
| Annual Fee | $650 | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. | $350 |
| Regular APR | 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR | 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR | 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR |
| Rewards | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. | Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2x miles on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2x miles at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1x miles on other purchases. |
| Standout Perks | Free first checked bag on Delta flights Priority boarding on Delta flights Companion certificate Delta Sky Club lounge access Statement credit opportunities toward Delta Stays, U.S. rideshares and U.S Resy purchases (enrollment required) |
Free first checked bag on Delta flights Priority boarding on Delta flights Statement credit opportunities toward Delta Stays purchases |
Free first checked bag on Delta flights Priority boarding on Delta flights Companion certificate Statement credit opportunities toward Delta Stays, U.S rideshares and U.S Resy purchases |
Frequently Asked Questions About the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
Does the Delta Reserve Card get you status?
While you won’t earn status just by having the Delta Reserve Card, you will receive $2,500 in MQD headstart each year. Also, for every $10 you spend on the card you’ll get $1 MQD, so the more you spend, the closer you’ll get.
Does the Delta Reserve Card pay for Global Entry?
The Delta Reserve comes with up to a $120 credit for Global Entry once every four years, or up to an $85 credit for TSA PreCheck once every four-and-a-half years. Just make sure to pay for your fee with the card; Amex says you’ll see the credit on your statement within eight weeks (in practice, it’s typically much sooner).
Does the Delta Reserve Card get me into the Sky Club?
Yes, each year you’ll get 15 complimentary visits to Delta Sky Club lounges just for having the Delta Reserve Card, as long as you’re flying Delta that day — although Basic Economy fares don’t qualify.
Is it hard to get the Delta Reserve Card?
The Delta Reserve is a premium credit card, so it requires you have at least a good credit score to be considered. Amex will look at additional factors, including your credit card history and overall financial profile, when deciding whether to approve you.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
