Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review: Premium value for Delta loyalists

• MQD Boost and MQD Headstart perks

  With the MQD Headstart feature, Reserve cardholders will earn $2,500 MQDs during each Medallion Qualification Year. This bonus alone can get you halfway to Silver Medallion status. Meanwhile, the MQD Boost feature lets you earn $1 MQD for every $10 you spend using the Delta SkyMiles Reserve. Since Medallion status tiers are tied solely to MQDs, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve makes it easier to reach that next tier even if you aren’t using your card for Delta purchases. Before these perks became available, you could only earn status through a combination of eligible Delta travel (Medallion Qualification Miles) and purchases.

• Complimentary Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access

  If you like to avoid crowded terminals, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card offers complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges for the primary cardholder and four free Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes annually.

  Reserve cardholders will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club and can unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on their card in a calendar year. Every year you meet this spending requirement will qualify you for unlimited lounge access in the subsequent year.

  An individual membership to the Delta Sky Club would normally cost at least $695 annually (or 69,500 miles), and additional guest passes typically run for $50 per visit. This complimentary benefit alone could justify the annual fee for Delta loyalists who prefer the peace and quiet of a lounge.

  You also have complimentary access to The Centurion Lounges which features exclusive experiences like signature cocktails, spa services and concierge services.

  While lounge access is an appealing luxury benefit, the card only gives access to just under 100 lounges, which is not competitive considering its high annual fee. This is only a drop in the bucket compared to our top picks for credit cards that provide airport lounge access.

• Annual companion certificate

  Delta flyers with the SkyMiles Reserve card receive one companion certificate good for a round-trip flight each year upon their renewal month. The certificate covers the cost of one First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin adult companion flight, though it doesn’t cover the ticket’s taxes and fees. It’s worth noting that the certificate only covers flights within the U.S and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America.

  Nonetheless, this outstanding value makes the companion certificate one of the best perks to help offset the annual fee. For example, using your certificate to cover a first-class companion ticket from Los Angeles to New York City round trip that costs $2,200 would make up for your annual fee three times over.

  Note that this perk doesn’t kick in until your first anniversary. Once you’ve paid the annual fee for that anniversary year, Delta automatically issues the pass to your SkyMiles account. And compared to Delta’s basic and mid-level SkyMiles cards, Reserve cardholders get enhanced features that will let them use the companion certificate for premium seats since the pass also covers First Class and Delta Comfort+ along with Main Cabin.

• First checked bag free and TSA Precheck® statement credit

  One of the nice features of any airline credit card is getting your first checked bag for free. Checked bags normally cost up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person, but this card offers a free checked bag for you and up to eight additional passengers traveling on the same reservation. On top of that, you can enjoy expedited airport security screenings with the Reserve card's statement credit for a TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Bankrate Score

Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5

4.1

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

$650

Intro offer

Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles

Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/2/2025.

Rewards rate

1X - 3X

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. . Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Bankrate Score

Rating: 4.7 stars out of 5

4.7

See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Apply now

on American Express's secure site

Annual fee

$350

Intro offer

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards rate

1X - 3X

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.

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Bankrate Score

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

5.0

Apply now

on Chase's secure site

Annual fee

$550

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Rewards rate

1x - 10x

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent (740 – 850)

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

  The showdown between Delta’s premium Reserve card and mid-level Delta SkyMiles Platinum card comes down to the benefits that matter most to you. Both cards boast generous welcome offers, 3X miles on Delta purchases and chances to earn a companion certificate and reach elite status faster. But the SkyMiles Reserve adds some enhanced features to help justify its supersized annual fee.

  For instance, the SkyMiles Platinum doesn’t grant any lounge access and you can only use your annual companion certificate for Main Cabin round trips (within the U.S, Mexico, the Carribean and Central America each year). Additionally, the Reserve card earns MQDs at 1 per $10, while the Platinum earns 1 per $20, so Reserve cardholders will have an easier time reaching elite status. 

  However, the SkyMiles Platinum also has a lower annual fee and the chance to earn rewards in everyday bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets and restaurants. This will get the job done for Delta loyalists with a smaller budget who want to earn rewards on everyday spending, but you’ll have to be content with the limited perks.

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

  If you prefer having more options with how you fly and where you can redeem your points, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve may be a better fit.

  Though a bit lower than the SkyMiles Reserve, the Sapphire Reserve also has a high annual fee, but it packs plenty of features that make the price tag worth it for far more travelers. You can earn up to $300 in statement credits toward a variety of travel purchases each year, plus application fee credits for expedited airport screening programs, including NEXUS. You'll find similar comprehensive travel and shopping protections, but its complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge access is much more convenient with more than 1,300 lounges across the globe.

  If you’re not committed to one airline, the Sapphire Reserve provides more opportunities to flexible earn points that can be more valuable than Delta SkyMiles. You can rack up 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. 

  You can redeem these for a variety of non-travel options, including for cash back at an even 1-cent value per point. However, your points are worth an impressive 1.5 cents apiece toward Chase Travel℠. You can even net around 2.0 cents per point on average with the right transfer partner based on Bankrate’s latest point valuations.

• American Express® Gold Card

  The popular American Express Gold Card makes a terrific pairing with the Delta SkyMile Reserve if you don’t mind paying an additional annual fee.

  It earns:

  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

  You can transfer Membership Rewards points to your Delta SkyMiles account at a 1:1 ratio. This means you can essentially earn Delta SkyMiles on non-Delta flights if you use your Amex Gold Card. 

  The Amex Gold Card also comes with a strong welcome offer and a variety of perks, including annual statement credits on participating dining locations, Uber Cash and experience credits with The Hotel Collection. Once you’ve used your Delta SkyMiles Reserve enough to boost your elite status, the Amex Gold Card is a great pick to take over the rest of your travel and dining purchase needs.

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

  If you want to keep things simple and within Delta, the no-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card provides a solid dining rate at unlimited 2X miles on restaurant purchases. It’s a safe option for expanding your Delta mile earning capabilities, though it doesn't feature much perks.

• Frequent Delta flyers and SkyMiles enthusiasts

  Only cardholders who regularly take advantage of the Delta SkyMiles loyalty program and primarily fly via Delta stand to gain the maximum value available from this card. Its primary strengths lie in its perks rather than its earning rates, so Delta flyers mainly looking to accrue Delta miles will find a better option in Delta’s lower-tier cards. 

• Rewards value

  The primary criteria for a rewards or cash back card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

  To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

  Based on this data, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). This includes the following spending by category:

  • Groceries: $5,200
  • Dining out: $3,000
  • Entertainment: $2,500
  • Gas: $2,100
  • Apparel and services: $1,700

  Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 23 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

  This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases, as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

  With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

• Rates and fees

  We also rate cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance. 

  To start, each rewards or cash back card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards or cash back cards. 

  We also score each card based on how its annual fee influences its overall value. 

  We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value, but if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score even if it carries a high annual fee. 

  With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against other cards in the category when you subtract its annual fee.

• Flexibility

  We rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards and factor this rating into a card’s overall score. 

  Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you redeem for some options versus others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners. 

• Perks

  We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating. 

  We break down these tiers as follows:

  • Tier 1 has less than standard card features (an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits. 
  • Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges. 
  • Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection. 
  • Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs. 
  • Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.

• What credit score is needed for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card?

  You’ll have the best approval odds for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve if you apply with a good to excellent credit score (a FICO Score of 670 or higher, or a VantageScore of 661 or higher).

• Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card metal?

  If you’re looking for your premium rewards card to have a matching premium feel, then you’re in luck — the Delta SkyMiles Reserve is a metal credit card. In fact, you can choose between a metal design or an eco-friendly card option made from 70 percent reclaimed plastic.

  However, whether a card is metal doesn’t affect the value of its features. A sleek metallic design is nice, but you should base your decision on selecting the best card for your spending habits.

What cardholders think

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

4.1

50 ratings

In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with third-party SliceMR to survey 6160 cardholders nationwide. Bankrate and Slice MR collected, averaged and presented website analytics and cardholder responses to six questions on a 5-point scale. Responses are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by credit card issuers.

76% of customers recommend this card

Score breakdown

5 stars

52%

4 stars

24%

3 stars

16%

2 stars

0%

1 star

8%

Score by category

Overall 4.1 / 5

Extra perks 4.0 / 5

Privacy and security 4.0 / 5

Customer service 4.4 / 5

Online portal or mobile app 4.0 / 5

In May 2024, Bankrate collaborated with third-party SliceMR to survey 6160 cardholders nationwide. Bankrate and Slice MR collected, averaged and presented website analytics and cardholder responses to six questions on a 5-point scale. Responses are based on individual cardholder’s product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. Users received an incentive for their feedback. User ratings are unedited and have not been reviewed or approved by credit card issuers, nor do these ratings reflect Bankrate’s own reviews of these cards.