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At the top of the stack of personal Delta American Express cards sits the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. It commands the highest annual fee of the lineup but, in return, provides a suite of benefits that could be well worth it for the avid Delta traveler.
The Delta Reserve Card gets you everything from free checked bags to Delta Sky Club access to the ability to work toward a higher level of Delta Medallion elite status through card spending. Cardholders are even rewarded with a valuable Delta companion certificate every account anniversary — which even works on first class flights!
However, given the $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees), you'll need to be sure you're getting your money's worth out of this card. In this post, we'll take a detailed look at Delta Reserve to help you decide if it should have a place in your wallet.
- 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.
- 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 First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin 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.
- $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 other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $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.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
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Delta Reserve Pros
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits each year when flying Delta Air Lines
- Receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each qualification year and earn MQDs on everyday spending.
- Free checked bag, priority boarding, and higher upgrade priority.
- Enjoy 15% savings on Delta award travel booked with SkyMiles.
- Annual companion certificate.
Delta Reserve Cons
- $650 annual fee (Rates & Fees).
- Limited and uninspiring spending categories.
- Delta often charges more miles than other programs for premium cabin award seats, making miles less valuable.
Delta Reserve Welcome Bonus
As a new applicant for the Delta Reserve, you can 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. This bonus is worth $938 toward award travel — based on recent AwardWallet user redemptions.
American Express periodically runs increased welcome offers on its Delta credit cards, so ideally, you want to wait for one of those before you pull the trigger to apply. Click here to see the full offer history for the Delta Reserve.
Delta Reserve Benefits
You'd expect a card with such a high annual fee to offer an abundance of benefits to justify it. And the Delta Reserve does not fall short in this regard.
The card is an ideal fit for those who fly regularly with Delta — more than just a few times per year. You'll need to take a good number of trips to make the most of your perks. Let's walk through each benefit to see the value it provides.
Delta SkyClub access
Delta Sky Club access is the flagship benefit of the Delta Reserve. Currently, Delta Reserve Card Members receive unlimited visits to Sky Clubs each year — you just need to be flying Delta on a same-day ticket to get in.
Access is only for the cardholder, but as an additional benefit, Card Members receive four one-time Sky Club guest passes each year. You can share these with family or friends so they can enjoy the lounge as well.
SkyClub access policies
Unfortunately, Delta recently devalued the lounge access that Delta Reserve Card Members receive. Effective February 1, 2025. Card Members only receive a maximum of 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. This is a major downgrade from the previous unlimited access. Presumably, Delta is trying to reduce crowding.
If Sky Club access is the only reason you'd want the Delta Reserve, you're effectively paying ~$37 per visit ($650 annual fee divided by 15 visits). This is cheaper than paying $695 for a full individual Sky Club membership. However, the upside of an individual membership is that it allows unlimited visits.
If you want unlimited Sky Club access, there's a path for a Delta Reserve Card Members. If you spend $75,000 on your Delta Reserve Card during a calendar year, you'll earn unlimited Sky Club access through the end of the following SkyMiles elite year.
Centurion Lounge & Escape Lounge access
In addition to Sky Club access, Delta Reserve Card Members also get access to both Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounges. The access requirements between the two vary slightly.
To access Escape Lounges within the U.S., all you need to do is present a same-day boarding pass for a Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight and your Delta Reserve Card. Only the Card Member will receive complimentary access. If you have any guests, the posted lounge fee applies. There's no discounted rate for being a Card Member.
Things are slightly different with American Express Centurion Lounges. Like with Delta Sky Club and Escape Lounge access, you must still be flying a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight to have access. However, you also must book your flight using an eligible U.S.-issued American Express card, which includes the Delta Reserve.
Checked bag and priority boarding benefits
If you regularly check luggage, the free first checked bag benefit can save you a bunch of money. At $35 for your first bag per direction, this represents savings of $70 per person per round-trip. As this benefit applies to the Card Member and up to eight other companions on the same reservation, the savings can add up. Additionally, all passengers on the same reservation (up to nine total) receive Zone 5 priority boarding.
MQD Boost
The Delta Reserve Card earns $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for each $10 of purchases made using your card. This is twice as good as the MQD Boost perk on the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which awards $1 MQD for every $20 in purchases. If earning additional MQDs helps you reach your airline elite status goals, you should favor the Delta Reserve.
MQD Headstart
Delta Reserve and Platinum Delta Amex Card Members will receive an MQD Headstart of $2,500 MQDs per Card type for the current Medallion Qualification Year. Combined with the MQD Boost benefit, this offers an excellent avenue to earn Delta Medallion status.
The key item to highlight here is the per-card language of the perk. If you're open to having more than one premium Delta credit card, you can amass a lot of MQDs (a maximum of $2,500 per card for up to four card types). Remember that Delta increased the MQD requirements in 2024. So, the MQD Headstart may not get you as far as you'd like. But having all four cards will instantly get you to Gold Medallion, which requires 10,000 MQDs.
15% discount on Delta award travel
With the TakeOff 15 benefit, Card Members enjoy 15% savings on award travel for Delta-operated flights when you book using SkyMiles. This perk is already in place, and you'll see the savings displayed online or in the app when you're searching for award travel.
This benefit is available on all Delta Gold, Platinum, and Reserve-branded cards. If saving on award travel is a key reason you're interested in a Delta credit card, you'll likely be better off with one with a lower annual fee.
Related: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Review: Lots of Perks for a Modest Annual Fee
20% inflight savings
As with other Delta Amex cards, if you make an in-flight purchase for food, alcohol, or headphones with your Delta Reserve Card, you'll receive 20% back on that purchase in the form of a statement credit. In-flight Wi-Fi is excluded, but Delta is rolling out free Wi-Fi across its whole fleet.
Upgrade priority
Delta Reserve Card Members enjoy upgrade priority over non-cardmembers at each Medallion tier and fare class grouping. For example, if you're a Delta Platinum Medallion, you will enjoy priority over other Platinum Medallion passengers who purchased a fare of equal class. However, you won't be prioritized over Diamond Medallion members.
Annual Companion Certificate
Every year after your Delta Reserve Card renewal, you'll receive an annual companion certificate. Book one domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight to select destinations each year in Main Cabin, Comfort+, or First Class and receive a companion certificate for a passenger booked on the same flight for just the applicable taxes and fees. Taxes and fees will amount between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
Tickets must be booked into I and Z classes of service for First Class travel and L, U, T, X, and V classes of service for Main Cabin travel. For Delta Comfort+ travel, tickets are available in W and S classes of service. For Main Cabin, you must book L, U, T, X, or V classes of service.
You can come out hundreds of dollars ahead with this benefit, especially since Delta does not restrict bookings to economy tickets. This is a key benefit for determining the overall value of your card year over year.
Related: Ultimate Guide to Companion Fares & Passes
$200 Delta Stays credit
Book prepaid hotel or vacation rental stays through Delta Stays using your Delta Reserve Card and receive up to $200 back per calendar year. I'm not a fan of booking prepaid stays, but for those who don't mind locking down plans, this is a nice perk that can help offset the card's high annual fee.
A new benefit of the Delta Reserve is a monthly statement credit for using your Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. The credit is provided as a $10 statement credit — which nets you up to $120 back each year.
You have to enroll your card to receive this benefit. The current list of providers includes Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto. If you already use rideshare routinely, this is a nice perk to help you recoup some of the annual fee.
Another new credit is the ability to get up to $240 per year when dining at U.S. Resy restaurants. You can get up to $20 per month when you pay for your dinner using your Delta Reserve Card. Enrollment is required to activate this perk — and you must add your card to your Resy account.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Trusted Traveler Program fee credit
Use your Delta Reserve to pay for either Global Entry ($120) or TSA PreCheck ($85) when you apply for the program and receive a statement credit that offsets the application fee. You can get this credit once every 4 years for Global Entry application or every 4.5 years after you apply for TSA PreCheck.
Related: Expedited Security Screening Programs: How To Get Them for Free
Travel and shopping protections
The Delta Reserve Card offers the following travel and shopping protections:
Travel protections
- Trip cancellation insurance: You'll be reimbursed the nonrefundable amount paid to a Travel Supplier with your Eligible Card if you have to cancel your trip — or if it is interrupted — due to a covered loss. The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.
- Trip delay insurance: Covers reasonable expenses during delays of more than 6 hours for up to $500 per covered trip, with a maximum of two claims per 12-month period.
- Baggage insurance coverage: Covers up to $1,250 per person for carry-on or $500 for checked baggage, including up to $250 for high-risk items. This is in excess of the coverage provided by your carrier. You must pay for your entire fare with your card to receive coverage. There's also an aggregate maximum limit of $10,000 for all persons for a covered trip.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Coverage is secondary and provides coverage of up to $75,000 per rental against damage or theft. Other protections are also included for personal effects and accidental death or dismemberment.
Shopping protections
- Return protection: If you return an eligible item within 90 days from the date of purchase and the merchant won’t take it back, American Express may refund the full purchase price. Coverage is for up to $300 per item, excluding shipping and handling charges related to the item purchased, up to a maximum of $1,000 per Card Member account per calendar year based on the date of purchase.
- Extended warranty: Adds another year of warranty coverage on an original U.S. manufacturer's warranty of five years or less, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year.
- Purchase protection: Covers purchases made with the card against theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days and $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year. In natural disaster circumstances, coverage is limited to $500 per covered event.
- Cell phone protection: Pay your monthly phone bill with your Delta Reserve Card to receive coverage for repairing damaged phones or replacing a stolen phone, up to $800 per claim. There's a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, and each approved claim is subject to a $50 deductible.
Make sure you consult the feature and benefits page of Amex’s website for policy particulars and exclusions for each benefit.
Delta Reserve Earning Rates
The Delta Reserve Card earning rates are limited and uninspiring. Unlike the Delta Gold Card and Platinum Delta Amex cards, only Delta purchases receive any sort of bonus. You earn miles with the Delta Reserve Card as follows:
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
You can do far better with many other cards. Unfortunately, Delta has tied some of its key benefits of the Delta Reserve to card spending. But make sure you consider other options before blindly spending on your card!
As a quick example, if you put $75,000 on a Citi Double Cash® Card, you'll earn $1,500 in cash back (after you pay your credit card balance). Cash back may not seem that snazzy, but this is enough to purchase a Delta Sky Club Executive Membership. An Executive Membership gets you unlimited visits for not just yourself, but also for two guests or your spouse plus children under 21.
The key takeaway: make sure you take earning rates into account and compare them against other cards!
Redeeming Miles With the Delta Reserve
Even though Delta SkyMiles are worth less than many other airline miles, they are still best used when redeemed for flights. You aren't restricted just to Delta flights — the airline is part of SkyTeam alliance. This opens up award seats on Air France, Aeromexico, KLM, Korean Air, and more. Partner flights remain a solid way to get decent value out of your miles.
However, one huge bummer is that Delta no longer publishes an award chart. We have assembled an unofficial Delta redemption chart here to help you know what you an expect to pay for most redemptions.
They may not seem glamorous, but low-level Delta awards can offer solid value. A favorite redemption of mine is paying as little as 5,500 miles (or less, thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit) for a Main Cabin booking within the continental U.S. I also like snagging seats during an international Delta award sale — even better if it's in a premium cabin.
Sadly, Delta tends to have inflated prices for its Delta One business class. Average award prices can be upwards of 400,000 miles to Oceania or China. However, there's value to be found when paying fewer than 40,000 SkyMiles in business class to northern South America. It's also worth looking for flights on partners that don't touch the U.S., as these can offer good value.
Related: Sweet Spots of the Delta SkyMiles Program
Application Restrictions
It's important to know the American Express application rules so you can understand if you're eligible for a welcome bonus on the Delta Reserve. The following terms apply to the welcome offer:
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card or previous versions of this Card. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
Additionally, the American Express terms include specific language on how you've managed prior accounts:
“If you have a history of cancelling or downgrading American Express Card accounts within your first year and you cancel or downgrade your new Card account within your first year, we may not credit, we may freeze, or we may take away bonus miles from your account. If we determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with this offer in any way or that you intend to do so, including if you return purchases you made to meet the Threshold Amount, we may not credit, we may freeze, or we may take away bonus miles from your account. We may also cancel any accounts you have with us.”
Finally, if you already have five Amex credit cards, you will not be able to be approved. And consider recent applications — you're unlikely to be approved for more than two cards in a 90-day window.
Related: Can I Receive Welcome Offers From Multiple Delta Amex Cards?
Cards that Compete With the Delta Reserve
If the Delta Reserve isn't for you, consider one of these quality options instead:
- If you want a Delta card with a lower annual fee, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The Delta Gold Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees), so it's free to test-drive. The card has a modest suite of benefits, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, access to TakeOff 15 award savings, and more. Plus, the card earns a reasonable 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X mile on all other eligible purchases. Learn more about the Delta Gold Card in our full review.
- If you want to earn an annual companion certificate and earn MQDs on everyday spending, consider the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. The Platinum Delta Amex is the middle child of the Delta card lineup and it carries a $350 annual fee (Rates & Fees). Card Members can enjoy 3X on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets, and earn 1X on all other eligible purchases, up to $240 worth of annual credits (enrollment required), collect an annual companion certificate, and more. Learn more in our full Platinum Delta Amex review.
- If you want a non-co-branded premium credit card with lounge access, consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. This card offers unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges, grants a free Priority Pass Select membership, and up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Plus, cardholders earn at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, which are transferrable to several travel partners. Our Capital One Venture X review has all the details.
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Related: All Delta Credit Card Options, and How To Choose the Right Card for You
Bottom Line
Let's ask the big question: is the Delta Reserve worth it? As is the case with pretty much any premium credit card, the answer is: It depends.
If you fly Delta regularly and can visit a SkyClub 10-15 times per year, the card will likely be worth it. Combined with the annual companion certificate that can save you hundreds of dollars and the ability to earn additional MQDs toward elite status, the card is tailor-made for those who fly Delta at least several times per year. Add in the Resy, rideshare, Delta stays, and trusted traveler program credits, and it is a potential powerhouse.
The downside of the Delta Reserve is that many benefits are tied to card spending. Unlimited Sky Club access is one example. The card used to provide this perk outright, but once the access policy changes next year, you must spend $75,000 on the card to unlock unlimited visits. This isn't common across other premium airline credit cards.
Finally, there are far better cards for your everyday purchases. Many flexible point cards will provide a much better return. So, remember that there is an opportunity cost to getting the most out of the card.
- 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.
- 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 First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin 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.
- $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 other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $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.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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