Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Worth It?
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Written by
Katherine Fan
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
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Reviewed by
Jasmin Baron
If you frequently fly Delta and value premium travel perks, you’ve probably wondered if getting a co-branded airline credit card would enhance your travel experience. In most situations, the answer is a resounding yes — but choosing the best one for you from Delta’s many options can be a harder question to answer.
The top-tier Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, an advertising partner, is designed for upscale flyers who can maximize its many benefits. This premium card can help you upgrade your Delta travel experience.
But is the value you can get from the Delta Reserve worth a whopping $650 annual fee? For Delta loyalists who want an American Express credit card that can elevate their travel experience, the Delta Reserve may well be worth the investment.
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Quick Verdict
The Delta Reserve Card can be worth it for the right traveler under the right circumstances.
You’ll get the most from the card if you’re a frequent flyer who usually books Delta, and can maximize the Delta Reserve’s premium benefits, such as complimentary Delta Sky Club lounge access and elite status upgrades.
This card is especially beneficial if you frequently travel with a companion, such as a spouse or a child, thanks to the complimentary annual companion certificate.
However, the Delta Reserve is much harder to justify for casual travelers who only fly Delta on occasion and who don’t spend a lot of money on credit cards each year. For travelers like this, a lower-tier Delta credit card — or a travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — would serve you better.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card: At a Glance
- Annual fee: $650
- Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earning rates: Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Card benefits and perks:
- 15 visits per Medallion year (Feb. 1 through Jan. 31) to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta; unlock unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in a year
- Complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying Delta on a ticket paid with a U.S.-issued Amex card
- Annual companion certificate for a Delta First, Comfort+ or main-cabin flight within the US, Mexico, Caribbean or Central America (taxes and fees apply)
- First checked bag free and Zone 5 priority boarding for you and up to eight other travelers on your reservation when flying Delta
- Travel perks, including 20% off Delta in-flight food and beverage purchases; up to $120 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment fees once every four to 4.5 years; and complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status (enrollment required)
- Annual lifestyle credits, including up to $240 Resy dining credit after enrollment (up to $20 per month) when you use the Delta Reserve at U.S. Resy restaurants; up to $120 rideshare credit after enrollment (up to $10 per month) for select rideshare partners; and up to $200 Delta Stays hotel credit (prepaid hotels booked through Delta Stays)
Who Should Consider the Delta Reserve?
The Delta Reserve is a smart choice for travelers who regularly travel through Delta hubs like Atlanta (ATL), Minneapolis (MSP) or Salt Lake City (SLC), or who frequently fly between airports with Delta Sky Clubs. For many Delta loyalists, the premium lounge access, early boarding and priority treatment onboard is enough to justify the cost.
The card also shines for travelers who frequently fly with a companion or multiple family members, especially if the bulk of your travel is domestic or within the North and Central America regions. Effectively maximizing the annual companion certificate can justify a substantial portion of the card’s hefty annual fee in one shot, while the value of free checked bags for up to nine passengers on the same reservation can save large families a lot of vacation money.
Finally, the Delta Reserve is especially rewarding for individuals with high spending needs who value airline elite status, yet don’t fly with Delta enough organically to earn their desired status tier. Cardholders get an automatic 2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year, plus the ability to earn additional MQDs through spending: 1 MQD per $10 spent.
Who Should Skip the Delta Reserve?
The Delta Reserve isn’t for everyone. Travelers who only fly with Delta a few times a year will struggle to recoup the steep annual fee from benefits alone — occasional flyers simply won’t access the lounges, companion certificate or statement credits frequently to justify the cost.
The card also makes less sense if you aren’t exclusively loyal to Delta. Travelers who rotate between airlines based on price or schedule will get more value from a flexible travel rewards credit card that earns transferable points, such as the American Express® Gold Card, an advertising partner, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
And if you value Delta Sky Club access and don’t mind higher annual fees, you can get the American Express Platinum Card®, an advertising partner, which comes with up to 10 Sky Club visits per Medallion year (Feb. 1 through Jan. 31) when flying Delta on an eligible ticket.
If free checked bags and priority boarding are important to you, you can also get these benefits from our advertising partners, the mid-tier Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which has a significantly lower annual fee of $350, or the entry-level Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, which has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
How To Maximize the Delta Reserve’s Value
If you decide to try out the Delta Reserve credit card, here are several ways to make your investment worth your while:
Leverage Lounge Access
Airport lounge access alone can save you hundreds of dollars in standalone memberships or day-pass fees, as well as the money you’d spend on food and drink in airport terminals.
Make sure you use as many of your 15 complimentary visits to the Delta Sky Club lounge when flying with Delta. If you spend $75,000 on the card within a calendar year, you unlock unlimited Sky Club access.
You can also visit Amex Centurion Lounges when you fly Delta and purchase that flight with an eligible Amex card.
Use the Companion Certificate
The Delta Reserve’s annual companion certificate is a high-value benefit if you often fly with someone else. The companion certificate is most valuable when redeemed for premium-class seats, and for destinations with high fare costs. That can easily recover a large portion of the annual fee.
Make the Most of Statement Credits
The Delta Reserve comes with hundreds of dollars in annual credits toward dining and travel. Make sure to use as many of these as possible to get the most value out of your card — several perks, such as the annual Resy or rideshare credits, require monthly purchases to maximize the benefit.
Final Verdict on the Amex Delta Reserve
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex is a wise choice for Delta loyalists who fly often, frequently travel with a companion, and value airport lounge access and premium benefits. For occasional flyers or those who won’t tap the card’s perks, it’s less likely to justify its annual fee. But like all premium cards, the value is only as good as your usage. If you apply it purposefully and align your travel behavior accordingly, you’ll likely find that yes — the card is worth it. If not, the fee may outweigh the benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Amex Delta Reserve Card
What is the annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card?
The annual fee for the Delta Reserve Card is $650.
What are the Delta Reserve perks?
The Delta Reserve’s top benefits include access to Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion lounges with qualifying travel, an annual companion certificate, a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta for up to nine travelers on the same reservation, and generous dining and travel credits.
How many miles do you earn with the Delta Reserve Amex?
Delta Reserve cardholders earn 3 SkyMiles per dollar on Delta purchases made directly with the airline, and 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Is the Delta Reserve Card worth the $650 fee?
If you are a frequent Delta flyer who can use most of the card’s premium benefits, the Delta Reserve is worth the $650 annual fee. If you don’t fly Delta at least six times a year, you’ll probably be better off choosing the mid-tier Delta Platinum Card or the entry-level Delta Gold Card.
Who should get the Delta Reserve Card and who should skip it?
Consider getting the Delta Reserve Card if you often fly Delta, value airport lounge access, travel with a companion and spend enough to leverage benefits. Skip the card if you fly only Delta occasionally, don’t often travel through cities with Delta Sky Clubs or Amex Centurion lounges, and can’t easily use the companion certificate.
