Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review [2026]: Top-Shelf Rewards for Premium Customers (original) (raw)

Who should get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card?

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is likely best for those who fly Delta regularly — think monthly or more frequently — and aren't particularly interested in spending with other airlines. The best rewards come with purchases made through Delta, and with a $650 annual fee you'll want to make sure you get those rewards as often as possible.

You'll generally benefit most from this card if you can leverage the additional perks it provides. If you're looking for a Delta card that offers an annual companion certificate, priority boarding, or free checked bags, this one delivers. And statement credits for Resy, rideshare apps, and Delta Stays add considerable value if you're interested in or open to using those services.

However, Delta's other credit cards offer strong benefits for Delta enthusiasts, too — and at a lower annual fee.

Card basics

Delta SkyMiles Reserve benefits and perks

• Generous welcome offer: As high as 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer). Depending on where you're flying and what class, those miles could amount to one or more nearly free fares.
• Bonus miles when you fly with Delta: You can earn 3X miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, including tickets through Delta.com, upgrades, in-flight purchases, Sky Club membership, Delta vacations, and more.
• Annual companion fare: Get an annual companion certificate — good for a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight — every year your card renews. You are required to pay taxes and fees (between 22and22 and 22and250 for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
• Complimentary Delta Sky Club® access: Enjoy the perks of Delta's Sky Clubs at any airport at no cost (15 free visits annually unless spending with the card exceeds $75,000 in the previous calendar year, in which case the cardholder gets unlimited visits). In addition to access for yourself, you get four one-time guest passes each year.
• Priority boarding: Enjoy Zone 5 priority boarding for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation, even when you're flying on a Delta basic economy ticket.
• Twenty percent back on in-flight purchases: Card members also get 20% back on in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit with this card. Qualifying in-flight purchases include eligible food, beverages, and audio headsets purchased on Delta flights.
• MQD bonus: Receive 2,500MedallionQualificationDollarseachMedallionQualificationYearandearn2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn 2,500MedallionQualificationDollarseachMedallionQualificationYearandearn1 Medallion Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made.
• Free checked bags: Your first checked bag is free. This benefit also applies to passengers on the same reservation. There is a maximum of nine waivers per reservation.
• TakeOff 15: New and existing card members can get a 15% discount when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights. This discount does not apply to partner-operated flights or taxes and fees.
• Cell phone protection: If you pay your cell phone bill in full with this card, you receive cell phone protection. This includes up to 800perclaimforstolenordamagedcellphonesanduptotwoclaimspercardaccountper12−monthperiod.A800 per claim for stolen or damaged cell phones and up to two claims per card account per 12-month period. A 800perclaimforstolenordamagedcellphonesanduptotwoclaimspercardaccountper12−monthperiod.A50 deductible per claim may apply.1

  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,perclaim,perEligibleCardAccount.Eachclaimissubjecttoa800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a 800,perclaim,perEligibleCardAccount.Eachclaimissubjecttoa50 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.

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: If your flight is canceled because of sudden illness, inclement weather, jury duty, or even terrorist activities, you're entitled to up to 10,000pertripofreimbursementandupto10,000 per trip of reimbursement and up to 10,000pertripofreimbursementandupto20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period.2

  The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is 10,000perCoveredTripand10,000 per Covered Trip and 10,000perCoveredTripand20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive 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.

• Trip delay insurance: If your flight is delayed more than 6 hours, you can also be reimbursed for up to 500inunexpectedexpensespertrip.Thereisamaximumoftwoclaimspereligiblecardperconsecutive12−monthperiod.3<p>Upto500 in unexpected expenses per trip. There is a maximum of two claims per eligible card per consecutive 12-month period.3 <p>Up to 500inunexpectedexpensespertrip.Thereisamaximumoftwoclaimspereligiblecardperconsecutive12−monthperiod.3<p>Upto500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive 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.

• Even more benefits: Other perks include purchase protection, return protection, and a complimentary ShopRunner membership.

Statement credits

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve offers several statement credits that contribute considerably to its overall value. These include:

• Resy credit: Get up to 20permonth(totalingupto20 per month (totaling up to 20permonth(totalingupto240 per calendar year) in Resy statement credits. Take note that you don't necessarily have to reserve with Resy to earn this credit — as long as the restaurant is active on Resy.com or the Resy app, direct purchases at the restaurant should qualify. Enrollment is required for this benefit.
• Rideshare credit: Earn up to 10instatementcreditspermonthwithselectrideshareproviders,includingUber,Lyft,Curb,Revel,andAlto,totalingupto10 in statement credits per month with select rideshare providers, including Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto, totaling up to 10instatementcreditspermonthwithselectrideshareproviders,includingUber,Lyft,Curb,Revel,andAlto,totalingupto120 per calendar year. Enrollment is required.
• Delta Stays credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits per year when you book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays.
• Global Entry or TSA Precheck: Get a statement credit of up to 120forGlobalEntryorupto120 for Global Entry or up to 120forGlobalEntryorupto85 every for TSA PreCheck (5-year plan only) every four years.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve rewards

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve's reward structure is about as simple as it gets. To some, it might seem inflexible. But for the cardholder who's frequently spending with Delta, the card's no-frills reward setup could be a perfect match. It might even seem like an added perk to those who don't have the time or mental space to strategize spending with a card that earns rewards on various purchase types.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Earning SkyMiles with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is pretty straightforward: You earn 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases. You can purchase tickets through the Delta website, but paying for fares, bags, upgrades, entrance to the Sky Club for companions, food and drinks onboard a flight, and even audio headsets also count toward bonus miles.

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles

You can redeem the SkyMiles you earn for a variety of Delta-related purchases, including (but not limited to):

• Flights with Delta
• Flights with transfer partners, including members of the SkyTeam alliance
• Flight upgrades
• Delta Vacations
• SkyMiles Experiences

It's important to note that Delta SkyMiles vary in value depending on how you redeem them. We've determined that SkyMiles get you an average value of 1.1 cents each, but this number is subject to change as fare prices inevitably fluctuate and the program evolves.

If you're planning to redeem primarily for flights, be sure to consider the many factors that impact the value you're ultimately getting from each SkyMile. These variables include date, time of day, destination, and fare class.

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your miles can add up with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1.41 cents per point.

Remember, this is an estimation, and it doesn't take the value of the card's additional benefits into consideration. The actual value you derive from the card will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend, as well as how you choose to redeem.

Year one earnings: $2,234

Year two earnings: $2,034

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which takes a look at points earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee.

You'll earn bonus miles with this card when you spend with Delta, and the value you'll get may increase significantly. The value will also be potentially increased by hundreds of dollars per year if you take advantage of the various perks this card comes with.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card transfer partners

Delta is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, a network of airline partners. You can use your miles to book award flights with the following airlines:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Czech Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Middle East Airlines
• Saudia
• TAROM
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• XiamenAir

Maximizing the value of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Like we said earlier, while this card's reward structure is solid enough for the Delta enthusiast, its additional perks and benefits can really amplify the offering's overall value.

Eager to offset the card's annual fee as much as possible? First, the obvious: Use it for all of your Delta-associated spending. Beyond that, consider the following:

• Use your companion certificate strategically: Arguably one of the card's premier perks, the companion certificate can offset the card's annual fee in one shot. This is especially true if you prefer a higher-class fare. Assuming you're flying Delta regularly, consider paying outright for your cheaper flights, then use the companion certificate once you're booking something pricier.
• Earn the welcome offer: As with the companion certificate, the card's welcome bonus offers hundreds of dollars in value.
• Shop around for your flights: The value you get per SkyMile varies depending on the flight. If your travel plans are generally more flexible, compare various departure times and days to maximize your redemption value.
• Take advantage of those statement credits: The card's suite of statement credits is nicely tailored to the needs of a frequent flyer — especially the Delta Stays credit, which can earn you up to $200 in credits per calendar year on prepaid hotels or vacation rentals. But keep in mind that you can use the card's rideshare credit or Resy credit even when you're not traveling, making it even easier to squeeze value from the card.
• Visit airport lounges: Delta Sky Club access could be considered somewhat exclusive, as single-visit passes are no longer available. Furthermore, depending on the lounge, airport lounge access can often cost 50ormorepervisit.Ifyouprefertotravelascomfortablyaspossible,thisperkisanoteworthywin.Justkeepinmindthatyou′llonlyget15DeltaSkyLoungeannuallyunlessyouspentatleast50 or more per visit. If you prefer to travel as comfortably as possible, this perk is a noteworthy win. Just keep in mind that you'll only get 15 Delta Sky Lounge annually unless you spent at least 50ormorepervisit.Ifyouprefertotravelascomfortablyaspossible,thisperkisanoteworthywin.Justkeepinmindthatyou′llonlyget15DeltaSkyLoungeannuallyunlessyouspentatleast75,000 with the card during the prior calendar year.
• Check a bag: Without a Delta card, your first checked bag is generally $35. This card lets you and anyone on your reservation check one bag free per flight, adding lots of potential value. You can use up to nine waivers per reservation.

Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve worth the annual fee?

That depends entirely on your commitment to — and your spending with — Delta. Do you consider yourself a steadfast Delta devotee? If so, this card offers an appealing package, and you might find it's worth the annual fee. Its rewards rates may not catch the eye, but a healthy selection of additional perks makes it relatively easy to offset the annual fee and then some. If you think you can use those benefits with relative ease, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve might fit your spending and travel habits just right.

Still, bear in mind that the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, which has an annual fee of 350,andtheDeltaSkyMiles®GoldAmericanExpressCard,whichhasanannualfeeof350, and the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, which has an annual fee of 350,andtheDeltaSkyMilesR◯GoldAmericanExpressCard,whichhasanannualfeeof0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter, offer many similar benefits.

Compare all of Delta's credit cards before deciding which is best for your travel habits.

FAQ

Does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card help with seat upgrades?

When it comes to upgrade priority on Delta flights, it's more about your Medallion Status than your credit card. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex cardholders can receive upgrade priority, but they have to be a Medallion member and will only have priority over members within the same level and fare class.

Does the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex offer airport lounge access?

Yes! Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders get complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges worldwide (15 complimentary visits each Medallion year; Unlimited access with $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year) and access to American Express Centurion Lounges (in the U.S. and select international locations) and Escape Lounges for themselves. This access also includes four one-time guest passes.

Alternatives to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is a great choice for Delta enthusiasts who spend lots of time flying (and lots of money on those flights). But there are other airline credit cards to consider if you're not sure it's the right fit, whether you'd like a card with a lower annual fee or something that's not tied to a single airline.

Explore our best airline credit cards to evaluate your options, or consider these alternatives.

American Express Platinum Card®

The American Express Platinum Card® offers extensive travel benefits that you can use for a wide variety of purposes. The welcome offer allows you to earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending 12,000oneligiblepurchasesonyournewcardinthefirst6months(welcomeoffersvaryandyoumaynotbeeligibleforanoffer;applyandfindoutyouroffer).Fromthere,youearn5Xpointsperdollarspentoneligibleairfare(onupto12,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer). From there, you earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to 12,000oneligiblepurchasesonyournewcardinthefirst6months(welcomeoffersvaryandyoumaynotbeeligibleforanoffer;applyandfindoutyouroffer).Fromthere,youearn5Xpointsperdollarspentoneligibleairfare(onupto500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. You can also earn up to 200inUberCashannually,upto200 in Uber Cash annually, up to 200inUberCashannually,upto120 in annual Uber One Credit, and unlimited access to the Centurion Lounges. The annual fee for this card is $895.

Find out more in our Platinum Card® review, or check out our American Express Platinum Card® versus Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comparison.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a luxury card with a lower annual fee of $395 compared to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve. It also has a higher earnings rate of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases. It includes access to Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ Lounges, after enrollment.

Check out our Capital One Venture X review to learn more.