Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card review: Top-tier perks for Delta flyers

The
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
is a must-have for frequent Delta flyers. Perks include Delta Sky Club lounge access, complimentary checked bags and an annual companion certificate.
Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½
*
Card rating
is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex: The basics
The
Delta Reserve
carries a $650 annual fee (see
rates and fees
), but the benefits go a long way toward offsetting that cost. The annual companion certificate alone can be worth more than the annual fee.
Cardholders also get complimentary lounge access, a first checked bag free, priority upgrades and more.
THE POINTS GUY
These benefits make me feel valued as a cardmember and Delta flyer when I travel. I know I’ll enjoy a speedy trip through airport security before heading to a lounge, and I often get upgraded to a premium cabin, making my flight more comfortable.
Related:
Why the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is one of the best cards in my wallet
The card doesn’t have the highest earning rates out there, but it is still worth putting some spend on this card if you want to earn Delta elite status.
TPG recommends a good to excellent
credit score
to increase the chances of being approved.
Let’s take a closer look at the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex and its benefits to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex pros and cons
Pros
Cons

• Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta
• Annual companion ticket
• Upgrade clearance priority
• Ability to earn elite status through spending
• Monthly and yearly statement credits

• High annual fee
• Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
• High spending requirement to earn unlimited Sky Club access

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex benefits
The
Delta Reserve Amex
offers several useful perks for frequent Delta flyers.
Lounge access
Delta Reserve Amex cardmembers receive access to
Delta Sky Clubs
and American Express Centurion Lounges.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders receive 15 annual visits to
Delta Sky Club lounges
when traveling on a same-day, Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight, with unlimited annual visits after spending $75,000 in a calendar year. If I can’t remember how many visits I’ve used, it’s easy to check online or in the Fly Delta app.
Cardmembers can pay a fee of $50 per person per location for Sky Club access when traveling on a Delta partner airline flight not marketed or operated by Delta. After a cardmember has used all 15 complimentary visits, they must pay $50 per visit to access a Sky Club.
Delta Sky Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The Delta Reserve Amex will also get you unlimited complimentary visits to
American Express Centurion Lounges
when flying Delta with a ticket purchased on a U.S.-issued
American Express card
. You can bring up to two guests into the Centurion Lounge with you for a fee of $50 per person per location (or $30 each for children aged two to 17).
We all know airport lounges can get crowded. I love that the Delta Reserve Amex provides me with options, so I still have somewhere to grab a drink and a bite to eat even if one lounge is at capacity.
Cardmembers also get four one-time Sky Club guest passes upon account opening and each year upon account renewal. This comes in super handy when I travel with my family.
After using your guest passes, you can pay $50 per person per location to bring up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21) with you into the Sky Club. Guests can access Grab and Go Sky Club locations for $25 per person per visit.
Annual companion certificate
Cardmembers receive a
companion certificate
each year after their account anniversary. The companion certificate is valid for one round-trip ticket to destinations in the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Mexico, Central America or the Caribbean in first class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin for a companion when you purchase one adult round-trip ticket.
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Depending on what you redeem your companion ticket for, you could use it to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year, especially if you fly first class. Most recently, I used my companion pass to cover my son’s ticket on our positioning flights before a trip to Paris. It made a huge impact on our budget and allowed us to spend on other things (mostly coffee and baguettes) during our time in Paris.
Elite status qualification
Delta Reserve Amex cardmembers earn 1
Medallion Qualification Dollar
for every $10 spent, with no limit on
how many MQDs
you can earn through card spending. You’ll also receive a boost of 2,500 MQDs at the start of each Medallion Qualification Year.
You only need 5,000 MQDs to reach Silver Medallion status. On average, I fly Delta fewer than 10 times per year, yet I still easily maintain my Silver Medallion status. If you fly more often than that or focus your spending on this card, you could reach Gold Medallion without too much work.
Related:
The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta
Preflight and inflight benefits
The
Delta Reserve Amex
offers several benefits that make your time in the airport, in the air and during your trips more comfortable:
First
checked bag free
for you and up to eight companions
Zone 5
Priority boarding
15% off award redemptions for Delta flights
20% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases
Statement credits
The
Delta Reserve Amex
extends several other great travel-related perks, including:
Up to $240 annual
Resy statement credit
(up to $20 per month) for use at U.S. Resy restaurants
Up to $200 annual Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year on eligible stays
Up to $120 monthly ride-hailing statement credit (up to $10 per month) with eligible U.S. providers
Up to $120 statement credit for
Global Entry
every four years, or up to $85 for
TSA PreCheck
every 4½ years
(Enrollment is required for these benefits).
Cardholders will additionally enjoy
no foreign transaction fees
(see
rates and fees
) when using their card abroad.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
The Delta Reserve Amex also includes extensive
shopping
and
travel protections
when you use your card for certain purchases. (Terms and exclusions apply), on top of complimentary
Hertz President’s Circle status
.
Related:
How to maximize the new statement credits on the Delta Amex cards
How to earn and use your rewards
With the
Delta Reserve Amex
, cardholders can earn:
3 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Based on TPG’s November 2025
valuations
of Delta miles at 1.25 cents each, you’ll only get a 3.75% return on Delta purchases and a 1.25% return on everything else. As I mentioned before, this card’s value doesn’t come from using it for everyday spending. Rather, I use it only to the extent that it helps me achieve elite status and enjoy its perks.
Despite the frustration of Delta’s dynamic pricing on award flights, I find
redeeming Delta SkyMiles
for Delta flights to be pretty straightforward thanks to Delta’s helpful award calendar. If your dates are flexible, you can use the calendar to price the cheapest award flights.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
If you have the flexibility, you’d be better off saving your Delta miles for one of the carrier’s frequent award deals. I frequently visit Orlando’s theme parks, so I regularly check for available deals and often see pricing as low as 10,400 miles (plus taxes and fees) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) from my home airport.
You can also use your SkyMiles to fly on
international SkyTeam partner airlines
such as
Air France
and
Korean Air
, as well as select nonalliance partners like
WestJet
.
You can redeem Delta SkyMiles for many things other than flights, too — including premium alcoholic beverages in Sky Clubs as well as hotels and rental cars, but the redemption value for these doesn’t match what you get when redeeming for flights.
Related:
Short on Delta SkyMiles? Try Miles Headstart
Downsides to consider about the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex
With an annual fee of $650, you really need to do the math on whether you will get enough value out of this card beyond the first year. It makes sense for me because I regularly fly Delta and can utilize most of the benefits and statement credits.
It’s also worth noting that earning 1 mile per dollar spent is not the most impressive earning rate for everyday spending. If you want a card that earns more than 1 mile or point per dollar spent across all nonbonus category purchases, consider another option.
Lastly, if you’re not someone who enjoys tracking monthly statement credits, this may not be the best card for you. If you don’t take advantage of the credits offered by this card, you’re leaving money on the table that could otherwise help offset the cost of the hefty annual fee.
When to apply for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex
New
Delta Reserve Amex
cardmembers can earn 70,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. That bonus is worth $875 according to TPG’s November 2025
valuations
of 1.25 cents per
Delta SkyMile
.
Based on
this card’s welcome offer history
, this is far from the highest welcome offer we’ve seen. The best-ever offer was 125,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. We typically recommend waiting to apply for this card when the bonus is higher than 90,000 miles.
Some applicants may not be eligible for this welcome offer due to Amex’s
one-bonus-per-card-per-lifetime rule
.
Related:
What credit score do you need to get Delta SkyMiles American Express cards?
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the Delta Reserve Amex
Most
Delta Reserve Amex
cardmembers carry it for two reasons: Delta Sky Club access and an extra boost toward
earning Delta elite status
. When it comes to these perks, the Delta Reserve Amex has three primary competitors:
If you want stronger earnings rates:
The
American Express Platinum Card®
offers a higher rate of return on flights that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve in the form of
Membership Rewards points
. You can use points to book through Amex Travel or
transfer Membership Rewards points
to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. To learn more, read our
full review of the Amex Platinum
.
If you want a lower annual fee:
Try the
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
, which offers a first checked bag free and priority boarding. It also has a lower annual fee of $350 (see
rates and fees
), which may be easier to justify for some consumers. To learn more, read our
full review of the Delta Platinum Amex
.
If you’re eligible for a business card:
You might prefer the
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
. This way, you can easily separate your personal and business expenses while still enjoying similar travel perks, such as lounge access and an annual companion certificate. To learn more, read our
full review of the Delta Reserve Business Amex card
.
For additional options, check out our
full list of the best travel cards
.
Related:
Amex Platinum vs. Delta Reserve
Bottom line
As a frequent Delta flyer, I recommend the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex over other cards in the cobranded Delta Amex suite. This is because of the solid lounge access, discount on award bookings, free checked bag and annual companion certificate — ideal for parents who travel often with their kids. These benefits make flying with Delta stress-free and enjoyable, especially when I receive a coveted first-class upgrade. The perks this card offers and the value I extract from it have made it the only airline card in my wallet.
Apply here:
Delta SkyMiles Reserve
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click
here
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click
here
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.