7 Delta Reserve Benefits You Didn’t Know About
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Written by
Katherine Fan
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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 one of the best airline credit cards available. Delta loyalists who can stomach the card’s high annual fee of $650 get generous value with premium benefits like Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion airport lounge access, as well as Delta Sky Club guest passes.
Many airline credit cards offer core perks for cardholders such as a free checked bag, in-flight discounts and priority boarding. The Delta Reserve also comes with these benefits, but goes well beyond these basics with hidden or lesser-known perks that can elevate your entire travel experience.
1. Airport Lounge Access
Airport lounge access is one of the Delta Reserve’s most coveted perks. Cardholders can access both Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges under specific circumstances.
Delta Sky Clubs provide dedicated spaces to enjoy complimentary food, beverages, Wi-Fi and space to rest or work before your flight. There are more than 50 Delta Sky Club locations within the US and in international airports, ensuring plenty of opportunities for travelers to utilize this benefit. For frequent travelers, Sky Club lounge access alone can justify the card’s annual fee, since Delta Sky Club membership costs $695 a year if purchased outright.
Cardholders get 15 complimentary visits to Delta Sky Clubs between Feb. 1 and Jan. 31 each year when flying same-day with the airline. If you exceed your 15-visit limit, you can pay $50 per visit (or $25 per visit to a Grab and Go location). Alternatively, you can unlock unlimited Sky Club access if you spend $75,000 or more on the Delta Reserve Card in a calendar year. Finally, you’ll also get four one-time guest passes for friends and family when you travel together.
Delta Reserve cardholders also get access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying on a same-day Delta ticket purchased with a U.S.-issued American Express card. This benefit expands your lounge options even more, with high-end food and drinks available in nearly three dozen high-end Centurion Lounges worldwide.
2. Annual Companion Certificate
Delta Reserve cardholders get a companion certificate each year after renewing their credit card. This certificate covers the base fare for a second passenger on round-trip flights within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. This benefit is ideal for couples, business partners and friends who regularly travel together.
Your companion’s ticket fare class will match yours; if you book a First-Class seat, your companion will also fly in First Class. This applies to all eligible flights booked in Delta’s Main Cabin, Comfort+® and even First Class cabins, making this certificate far more valuable than those offered by other airlines.
You only need to cover the taxes and fees for your companion ticket, which are typically modest compared to paying the full cost of the fare. The companion certificate has a few restrictions, but can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year for the right cardholder. Using this perk effectively can offset your card’s full annual fee.
3. TakeOff 15
TakeOff 15 is Delta’s way of rewarding cardholders with more value from their SkyMiles. When you book award flights directly through Delta using your miles, you’ll automatically receive a 15% discount. While this perk is available on most co-branded Delta credit cards, it still deserves recognition here because this benefit is valuable for maximizing rewards.
If you regularly redeem SkyMiles, the savings can add up significantly over time. For instance, an award ticket that normally costs 15,000 miles would only cost 12,750 miles with the Delta Reserve Card. Over multiple trips, that difference can stretch your SkyMiles balance much further.
4. Up to $560 in Annual Statement Credits
The Delta Reserve Card comes with several hundred dollars’ worth of annual credits for everyday expenses. While these are broken up in monthly increments, these credits further reduce the effective cost of the card’s annual fee.
The up to $240 Resy credit is designed for foodies, offering monthly credits of up to $20 when dining with participating restaurants in the U.S. Whether you’re at home or traveling, this credit can help offset some of your annual expenses when dining out.
The $120 rideshare credit is similarly doled out in monthly increments of up to $10. This perk is especially flexible through the Delta Reserve, since the credit applies to eligible transactions in the U.S. from Curb, Revel, Alto, Uber and Lyft.
Finally, cardholders get an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using the Delta Reserve to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. My favorite way to maximize this benefit is by using it for unexpected one-night stays during road trips or travel delays.
You’ll need to enroll your eligible Delta Reserve credit card in the Resy and rideshare benefits in order to begin utilizing these credits. However, eligible transactions with Delta Stays will automatically trigger a statement credit on your credit card.
5. Spend Your Way to Delta Elite Status With MQD Accelerators
Delta travelers earn elite status through Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQDs) — in short, the more you spend with Delta, the faster you can earn elite status.
The Delta Reserve makes it easier to earn status with its MQD Headstart benefit. Each year, cardholders automatically receive $2,500 MQDs just for holding the card. Since Silver Medallion elite status requires $5,000 MQDs, this means you’re already halfway there without even booking a flight.
Beyond MQD Headstart, you can also earn additional MQDs through credit card spending at a rate of 1 MQD per $10 spent. This is a game-changer for Delta loyalists who don’t fly enough to earn status, but who spend a lot of money on credit cards each year. In fact, I know some people who earn top-tier Delta Diamond elite status each year by paying all of their taxes with this card.
6. Premium Rental Car Elite Status
Delta Reserve cardholders can enroll in President’s Circle membership, Hertz’s highest tier of elite status, which comes with guaranteed car availability, one-class upgrades when available and expedited pick-up and return processes.
This perk is particularly valuable for business travelers who rely on rental cars frequently, but it can also be a nice luxury for leisure travelers looking to make the most of their vacation.
For frequent travelers, this status can make car rentals smoother and more comfortable. The rental car upgrades alone can save you money while enhancing your overall trip, especially if you need a larger vehicle for your family or equipment when traveling.
7. Cell Phone Insurance
Cell phone insurance is a practical benefit that not all premium credit cards offer, but it’s included with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve. If your phone is damaged or stolen, you can be reimbursed for repair or replacement costs, up to $800 per approved claim after a $50 deductible.
This benefit offers peace of mind, especially for frequent travelers who rely heavily on their devices or who are prone to losing or breaking their phones. For many cardholders, this hidden perk is one of the most valuable non-travel benefits of the Delta Reserve, since a single claim can save you hundreds of dollars off the cost of a replacement phone.
For the Cell Phone Protection on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amex Delta Reserve Benefits
Is Delta Sky Club access free with the Reserve card?
Yes, Delta Reserve cardholders receive 15 complimentary Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta. Additional visits can be purchased for $50 apiece, or you can unlock complimentary unlimited access after spending $75,000 on the card in a single year.
Does the companion certificate cover international flights?
Yes, the companion certificate is valid for international flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. It’s also valid on round-trip domestic flights within the continental U.S.
What credit score is needed for the Delta Reserve card?
You’ll typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Delta Reserve credit card.
Does the Delta Reserve card help me earn Medallion status?
Yes, the Delta Reserve Card helps you earn Delta Medallion elite status. Cardholders receive a $2,500 MQD Headstart annually, and can earn 1 additional MQD per $10 spent.
Is the Delta Reserve worth the annual fee?
It depends on your travel habits. If you fly Delta frequently and use the lounge access, companion certificate and annual credits, the card’s value can far exceed its annual fee.
