The Delta Reserve Card is worth considering if you’re a big-spender who likes flying with Delta, wants airport lounge access, and has a
good credit score. It charges a
$650 annual fee, but that can be worth paying given the card's generous initial bonus offer, complimentary lounge access, and assorted other perks.
What I Like About the Delta Reserve Card
Exclusive Lounge Access
This card is best for people who would otherwise spend a fortune on airport lounge entry fees. It gets you complimentary access to Amex Centurion Lounge locations. You also get 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club® per Medallion® Year, but only when flying with Delta. You can also unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 on your card in a calendar year.
Entry to those exclusive lounges ordinarily costs hundreds of dollars per year. Don’t inflate the value of this benefit if you aren’t certain you’ll be in the position to use it frequently, though.
Annual Companion Ticket
Amex Delta Reserve gives cardholders a companion ticket after renewing their account each year. That lets someone fly with you on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight to select destinations, and you only have to pay government-imposed taxes and fees of $22 - $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
Monthly Credits
If you use this card to book restaurant reservations through Resy in the U.S., you can get earn up to $20 in statement credits per month. And if you use it to pay for U.S. rideshare rides with select providers, you can get up to $10 in statement credits per month. Earning these credits can go a long way toward making the card a good value, but keep in mind that you need to enroll to take advantage of them.
Solid Ongoing Rewards on Delta Flights
At 3 miles per $1 spent, the Reserve Card’s Delta earning rate is nearly three times higher than average. According to our database of 1,500+ credit card offers, rewards cards give you an average of just
1.2 points/miles per $1. If you’re looking for a card to use mainly for Delta airfare, this would be a great choice.
Checked Bags, In-Flight Credits & More
The comfort that the Delta Reserve Amex gives air-travelers also extends beyond airport lounges and includes your first checked bag for free on Delta flights worldwide, a free second checked bag on domestic Delta flights, priority boarding, and a 20% statement credit for in-flight food and beverage purchases when flying with Delta. You can also get a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, should you decide to apply.
Big Initial Bonus Offer
The Delta Reserve Amex Card offers
100,000 miles for spending $6,000 on purchases within the first 6 months, plus an additional 25,000 miles after you spend another $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months from the date the account is opened (offer ends 07/15/2026).
The average initial bonus from a credit card with points or miles is
35,350 points/miles, according to our research. That is a good barometer for judging whether the deal Amex offers you is any good.
Clear Path to Elite Status
You receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Medallion Status. Plus, for each $10 in purchases made with your card, you earn $1 MQD.
For context, one of the requirements for the lowest Medallion Status level, Silver, is to earn $5,000 MQDs in a year. Earning Silver status gets you extra perks, like unlimited complimentary upgrades.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Delta Reserve Amex foreign transaction fee is
0%, saving you
1.58% compared to the average credit card offer, according to our
Credit Card Landscape Report. You’ll benefit not only when traveling abroad, but also when making purchases from foreign merchants online or over the phone.
What I Don’t Like About the Delta Reserve Card
High Annual Fee
The Delta Reserve annual fee is
$650. Our latest
Credit Card Landscape Report shows that the average credit card offer has an annual fee of just
$28.25.
Although the Delta Reserve Amex is much more expensive than most credit cards, it can still be worth getting if you take full advantage of its rewards and benefits as well as pay the bill in full every month to avoid expensive interest charges.
High APR
The Delta Reserve Card’s interest rate is
19.49% to 28.49% (V), depending on your overall credit profile when you apply. The average APR among credit card offers available right now is
22.11%, according to our research.
Low Rewards Rate for Most Types of Purchases
The Delta Reserve Card’s bonus rewards end with the initial bonus offer and Delta purchases. All other eligible purchases will get you just 1 mile per $1 spent. That’s just shy of average for a rewards card, so you may want to look for a card with bonus rewards on everyday purchases or a flat rewards rate to pair with Delta Reserve.
High Credit Score Recommended
This isn’t entirely unexpected, but it would be better if so many people weren’t priced out of getting this card by its minimum credit score, in addition to its high fee and APR. The Delta Reserve Card is available to people with
good or better.
You can
check your latest credit score for free here on WalletHub to estimate your chances.
Note: This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.
