Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Delta offers several credit cards through American Express, and the most high-end option is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. It comes with a massive list of features to match its $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), offering airport lounge access, a free checked bag, and much more. Terms apply. See if you should apply for Delta's luxury card with this Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review.
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Best
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Excellent
![]()
![]()
![]()
= Good
![]()
![]()
= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Credit Score
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
1X-3X miles
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 Bonus Miles
-
This card comes with huge perks if you are a loyal Delta customer. The annual fee pays for itself in a hurry if you are able to take advantage of all this card has to offer.
-
- Welcome offer
- Airport lounge access
- Companion certificate
- Travel credits
- Free checked bag
- Annual fee
- Lackluster bonus amount
-
- Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Reserve your piece of history with the new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card design.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® and bring up to two guests or immediate family members at a rate of $50 per person per visit when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
- Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
- Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- $240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. 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 Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Full Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve review
This credit card is a good fit for: Travelers who fly with Delta Air Lines several times a year and want a card that's packed with valuable perks.
Top perks
There aren't many airline credit cards with more benefits than the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Welcome offer
You'll earn 60,000 Bonus Miles miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms apply.
Rewards
This card earns 3X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases. It also earns 1X miles on other purchases. Terms apply.
Airport lounge access
This card comes with complimentary access to Delta Sky Club®, American Express Centurion, and Escape Lounges locations when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Even better, any authorized users on your card can also enjoy complimentary lounge access. Terms apply.
Read more: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access
Annual companion certificate
One of the most valuable benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the Delta Reserve Companion Certificate. You'll receive it each year you renew the card by paying the annual fee. Your companion certificate is valid for one round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin ticket. You still need to pay government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80. Terms apply.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
This card covers the cost of a membership fee to Global Entry or TSA Pre✓. Receive either a statement credit available every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit available every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for TSA Pre✓® (up to $85) It's better to apply for Global Entry, because that program includes TSA Pre✓®. Terms apply.
Free checked bag
You and up to eight additional travelers on your reservation can check one bag free of charge. Since Delta normally charges $30 per flight for the first checked bag, this can save you $60 per round trip if you're traveling solo. If you're traveling with family or a large group, it can be worth much more. Terms apply.
Reach elite status more quickly
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can help you reach elite Delta Medallion status. Elite status unlocks perks like free upgrades and fee waivers.
Until 2024, this happens via StatusBoost™, which gives you 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 in purchases on your card per calendar year, up to four times. Terms apply. Cardholders also get a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waiver when they spend $25,000 on their card in a calendar year.
Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Delta will switch to its revamped SkyMiles program in which only MQDs matter. If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you won't have StatusBoost and MQM waiver anymore. Instead, cardholders earn $1 MQD for every $10 they spend on their card. Bottom-tier Silver status will require $6,000 MQDs, which means you could potentially earn status by spending $60,000 on your card in a calendar year.
Complimentary upgrades
As a Card Member, you'll be eligible for complimentary upgrades when available, and you'll have priority over other passengers within the same status tier of Delta Medallion. For example, if you have Gold status, you'd receive upgrades after Diamond and Platinum passengers, but before any other Gold passengers. Terms apply.
20% back on in-flight purchases:
You'll get 20% back as a statement credit when you use your card for eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, or headphones. Terms apply.
Priority boarding
When flying in the main cabin, you'll be in the Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding group, which boards before the other main cabin passengers. This benefit also applies to up to eight companions flying on your same reservation. Terms apply.
Consumer and travel protections
This card has an excellent set of consumer and travel protections, which include:
- Purchase protection*
- Extended warranty coverage*
- Trip delay and cancellation insurance**
- Baggage insurance***
- Car rental loss and damage insurance****
Terms apply.
No foreign transaction fees
As you'd hope from a luxury travel card, there are no foreign transaction fees for purchases made in non-U.S. currencies (see rates and fees).
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
|
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
What could be improved
For all its perks, this Delta credit card has a few areas where it's lacking.
Annual fee
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is one of the most expensive cards we've seen at $650 per year. However, that fee can be worth paying for frequent Delta flyers who will use the card's benefits. In particular, the annual companion certificate is a high-value feature that can outweigh the cost of the annual fee. Depending on how expensive your typical airfare is, you could save over $500. Terms apply.
Bonus categories
It'd be nice to see some additional bonus categories besides just Delta purchases, such as travel, dining, or entertainment. Many travel cards -- including less expensive Delta cards -- offer these kinds of bonus categories, so card members can maximize their rewards. It takes longer to earn miles with this card because of its limited bonus categories. Terms apply.
See more options: Best Rewards Credit Cards
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
We recommend that you have a FICO® Score of 670 or higher to apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. You usually need good credit to get any of the best travel credit cards, and this one is no exception.
Keep in mind that credit card companies never base their approval decisions solely on your credit score. Some consumers get declined for this card with good or excellent credit. There are also a select few who get approved with average credit scores.
The Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve is right for you if:
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is made for Delta's most frequent flyers. You'll likely see the most benefit from this card if you fly with Delta at least five or six times per year, you'd like elite status in Delta SkyMiles®, and you want airport lounge access when you fly.
If you're not sure about the cost of this card, or you don't think you'll need all its benefits, check out Delta's lineup to compare credit cards. As mentioned above, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card has many of the same perks for a modest annual fee. There's also the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. You can get more value from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card than any other Delta card, but only if it fits your travel habits.
See more: Best Delta credit cards
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
-
The minimum starting credit limit for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is $3,100, according to user reports. Some applicants receive much higher credit limits, and there are reports of credit limits over $20,000 with this card. Your credit limit is based on several factors, including your income and credit profile.
-
This card typically isn't hard to get if you're a qualified applicant with good credit. Those with a FICO® Score of 670 or higher have a strong chance of getting approved.
-
No, Delta miles don't expire.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Elizabeth is a personal finance writer specializing in credit cards, debt repayment, and small business. Her work has appeared on The Motley Fool, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Business Insider. She’s an avid credit card points collector and perpetual traveler currently living in Costa Rica.
Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
Share This Page
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**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.
***Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
****Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Brittney Myers has positions in American Express. Elizabeth Aldrich has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target, Uber Technologies, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.