Pros
- Solid initial bonus offer
- Lounge access
- Good ongoing rewards for Delta loyalists
- Rebates, credits & perks for travelers
- No foreign fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Not for light-spenders
- Must fly Delta to maximize perks
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Terms Apply.
Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
Rewards Details
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- 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 in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- 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 Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main 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. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $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 others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Terms Apply.
Additional Info
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $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.
- More Details & Reviews About Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Is the Delta Reserve Credit Card Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is worth it for high-spending, brand-loyal Delta Air Lines customers who want airport lounge access. It offers 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases, plus hundreds of dollars in benefits per year, but has a $650 annual fee.
To help make up for the cost, the Delta Reserve Credit Card gives you a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, as well as complimentary airport lounge access, a 20% rebate on most in-flight Delta purchases, and a regular fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. You also get a yearly companion ticket (you pay taxes and fees only).
In addition, you can earn some great bonuses. There’s a sizable initial bonus of 100,000 miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $3,000 within the first 6 months of opening an account (offer ends 04/01/2026).
What You Need to Do to Make the Delta Reserve Credit Card Worthwhile
To make the Delta Reserve Credit Card worthwhile, you will need to spend at least $6,000 in the first 6 months to earn the initial bonus of 100,000 miles. Plus, spending an additional $3,000 within the first same time period will earn you an additional 25,000 bonus miles (offer ends 04/01/2026). This might more than cover the cost of the card’s annual fee for the first year.
You should also pay your credit card bill in full each month to make sure that costly interest charges don’t eat into your rewards.
Delta Reserve Credit Card Review Highlights
Good Initial Bonus Offer
Delta Reserve’s initial bonus is 100,000 miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $3,000 within the first 6 months of opening an account (offer ends 04/01/2026).
Good Ongoing Rewards Rates for Delta Purchases
Delta Reserve gives 1 - 3 miles per $1 on purchases. Cardholders will earn 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on other eligible purchases. Delta purchases give more per $1 spent if cardholders reach Delta Medallion® status, too.
Also, Delta Reserve makes it easy to fly with a friend by giving cardholders one complimentary companion flight pass – called a Companion Certificate – every year they renew the card. Each pass is good for one round-trip to select destinations, on the same itinerary as the cardholder’s flight (taxes and restrictions may apply; Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit).
No Foreign Fee
The Delta Reserve Credit Card’s foreign transaction fee is 0%. In contrast, credit cards with foreign fees charge an extra 1%-3% on every purchase processed abroad – whether the purchase is made in person or online.
Delta Reserve Credit Card Review Lowlights
High Annual Fee
The Delta Reserve Credit Card’s annual fee is $650 – which is hundreds of dollars more than the average credit card’s annual fee. This annual fee is on par with the best premium travel credit cards, but many of those don’t tether cardholders to a single airline.
Potential for High APR
Delta Reserve’s regular APR range is 19.49% - 28.49% (V), and only the most qualified applicants will get the lowest APR in that range. With an annual fee as high as Delta Reserve’s, cardholders will not want to be caught spending even more by carrying a balance on this card.
Delta Medallion Status Not a Great Asset
Although Delta Reserve offers a quicker path to Medallion status in Delta’s SkyMiles® loyalty program, the lowest tier of Medallion status - Silver - doesn’t offer many more benefits than the Delta Reserve Credit Card already gives. So this head-start will be most worth it to people looking to climb higher than Silver Medallion status, and climbing higher means spending a lot more on the card.
Delta Reserve is for High-Spending Delta Travelers
The Delta Reserve Credit Card is only a realistic option for those who can commit to the spending and payments required to come out on top of the $650 annual fee. And of course, cardholders should always fly Delta to make the best use of this card, as many of its perks are related to frequent luxury travel on Delta Air Lines.
Other Things to Consider About the Delta Reserve Credit Card
Savings on Every Delta Flight
Every time Delta Reserve cardholders fly Delta, they get the first checked bag for free on Delta flights; access to complimentary seat upgrades; and a 20% rebate in the form of a statement credit on pre-purchased flight meals, in-flight food and beverages, and audio headsets. For frequent flyers, those savings will add up over time.
High-End Airport Lounge Access
Delta Reserve cardholders receive complimentary same-day passes to The Centurion® Lounge - which is reserved for certain Amex cardholders only, so you can’t otherwise buy passes or a membership. Cardholders also get 15 visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and they can unlock an unlimited number of visits after making $75,000 in purchases on the card in a calendar year.
Extra Statement Credits
Delta Reserve cardholders can speed past airport security and customs screenings at no cost. Every 4 or 4.5 years, cardholders receive a fee credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, respectively. When cardholders pay the application fee for one of these services, Delta Reserve reimburses the fee.
American Express Cards Have Relatively Low Acceptance Abroad
American Express is not as widely accepted outside of the U.S. as Visa, Mastercard or Discover. So the Delta Reserve Amex Credit Card may not be the best all-purpose travel card for foreign excursions.
Pre-Qualification Is Available
The American Express website allows potential applicants to see if they’re approved for the Delta Reserve Credit Card. After you submit your application, American Express will let you know if you're approved first – without any impact to your credit score. If you are approved and choose to accept the card, your credit score may be impacted.
Delta Reserve Credit Card vs. The Competition
| WINNER | ||
|---|---|---|
annual fee$650 | annual fee$350 | annual fee$795 |
rewards rate
| rewards rate
| rewards rate
|
bonus offer Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026. | bonus offer Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026. | bonus offer Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
Purchase Intro APRN/A | Purchase Intro APRN/A | Purchase Intro APRN/A |
transfer intro aprN/A | transfer intro aprN/A | transfer intro aprN/A |
Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% (V) | Regular APR19.49% - 28.49% (V) | Regular APR19.49% - 27.99% (V) |
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