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Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Review: The Most Feature-Rich Delta Credit Card

Review Updated
Elizabeth Aldrich
By: Elizabeth Aldrich

Our Credit Cards Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

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 $550 annual fee (see rates and fees), offering airport lounge access, a free checked bag, and much more. Terms apply. Though the annual fee is a lot to spend, you can get thousands of dollars in value from all those benefits. Figure if you should apply for Delta's luxury card with this Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review.

Ratings Methodology
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50 stars
Circle with letter I in it. 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

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Intro APR

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR

20.74%-29.74% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

1X - 3X miles

Annual Fee

$550

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

50,000

  • 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 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
    • Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
    • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
    • Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) With Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.
    • New: 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.
    • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
    • With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
    • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
    • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
    • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
    • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
    • $550 Annual Fee.
    • Terms Apply.
Rates & Fees External Link Icon

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 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) 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 earns 1X miles on other purchases. Terms apply.

Airport lounge access

You can visit Delta Sky Club® locations and American Express Centurion lounges free of charge any time you fly with Delta. This perk is also available to any authorized users on your account who have this card.

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. 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 4 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 has two features that help you climb the ranks of its loyalty program. With StatusBoost™, you'll earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 in purchases on your card per calendar year, up to four times. Throughout 2021, you also earn 25% more MQMs this way. That's another 3,750 MQMs, for a total of 18,750. Terms apply.

By spending at least $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, you'll also get a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waiver, so you don't need to meet the typical spending requirements with Delta to achieve any of its elite statuses.

Benefits vary by status but can include complimentary upgrades, more miles earned, and fee waivers.

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 SkyMiles®. 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 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. 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's no foreign transaction fee for international purchases (see rates and fees).

See more: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Compared to other top credit cards

  • This card: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
  • For a lower annual fee: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (see rates and fees). Terms apply.
  • For more rewards: The Platinum Card® from American Express
As of Jun. 08, 2023
Image for
Image for
Image for
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50 stars
Circle with letter I in it. 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
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00 stars
Circle with letter I in it. 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
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
Circle with letter I in it. 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
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Read Full Review
Read Full Review
Rates & Fees Rates & Fees Rates & Fees

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Circle with letter I in it. 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.

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

50,000

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

50,000

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 bonus points

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

1X - 3X miles

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

1X - 3X miles

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases.

1X - 5X points

Intro APR:

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Intro APR:

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Intro APR:

Purchases: n/a

Balance Transfers: n/a

Regular APR:

20.74%-29.74% Variable

Regular APR:

20.74%-29.74% Variable

Regular APR:

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual Fee:

$550

Annual Fee:

$250

Annual Fee:

$695

Highlights:

  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) With Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights.
  • New: 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.
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $550 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: 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.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
  • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
  • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Walmart+ members enjoy shopping perks – both online and in-store – at Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Card.
  • $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Benefit renews annually.
  • $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back per calendar year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Learn more.
  • $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
  • $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
  • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
  • $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction, and an Equinox+ subscription is required.
  • Add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile on the Resy app or website and unlock Global Dining Access by Resy to exclusive tables and events.
  • $695 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

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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 at $550 per year. That fee can be worth paying for frequent Delta flyers who will use the card's benefits. In particular, the airport lounge access and annual companion certificate are both high-value features that can outweigh the cost of the annual fee. Terms apply.

A one-year individual Delta Sky Club® membership is $545. If you were thinking about buying that, then it makes more sense to apply for this card. The annual companion certificate also saves you the cost of one round-trip ticket per year. 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.

Compare cards

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 should apply 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.

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Elizabeth Aldrich
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.