Name: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Brand: American Express

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.

Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

The 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 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.

Cardmembers also get complimentary lounge access, two free checked bags (the first bag is free worldwide and the second bag on domestic U.S. flights) and priority upgrades.

Delta Reserve Amex card art — 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.

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 approval.

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
Ability to earn elite status through spending Annual companion ticket Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta Monthly and yearly statement credits Upgrade clearance priority	High annual fee High spending requirement to earn unlimited Sky Club access Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex benefits

The 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 cardmembers 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. It’s simple to keep track of your visits online or in the Delta app.

Cardmembers can pay a $50 fee per person, per location, for Sky Club access when traveling on a Delta partner airline flight that is 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.

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 per child aged 2 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 is especially useful 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) 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), Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean in first class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin (when you purchase one adult round-trip ticket).

Delta One Suite — 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.

I used my most recent 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 frequently or put significant spending on this card, reaching Gold Medallion status is realistic.

Preflight and inflight benefits

The offers several benefits that make your time in the airport, in the air and during your trips more comfortable:

Two free checked bags for the cardmember (and up to eight companions) traveling on the same reservation (the first bag is free worldwide and the second bag on domestic U.S. flights, though it's important to note only other eligible Delta cardmembers on the same reservation will receive a second checked bag free on domestic flights)
Zone 5 Priority boarding
15% off award redemptions for Delta flights
20% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases

Statement credits

The extends several other great travel-related perks, including:

Up to $200 annual Delta Stays statement credit per calendar year on eligible stays
$120 statement credit for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every four years
Up to $20 monthly Resy statement credit (up to $240 annually) for use at U.S. Resy restaurants
Up to $10 monthly ride-hailing statement credit (up to $120 annually) with eligible U.S. providers

(Enrollment is required for select benefits.)

Other perks

Cardmembers will additionally enjoy no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) when using their card abroad.

The Delta Reserve Amex also includes extensive shopping and travel protections when you use your card for certain purchases, and it includes complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status. Enrollment in the Hertz Gold+ program is required.

How to earn and use your rewards

With the , cardmembers 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 August 2026 valuations of Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, you’ll only get a 3.6% return on Delta purchases and a 1.2% return on everything else. As I mentioned before, this card's value doesn't come from everyday spending. I primarily use this card to earn MQDs and access its travel benefits.

Despite the frustration with Delta's dynamic pricing on award flights, I find redeeming Delta SkyMiles for Delta flights 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.

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 the Orlando theme parks, so I regularly check for available deals and often see round-trip pricing as low as 10,400 miles (plus taxes and fees) from my home airport to Orlando International Airport (MCO).

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 (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.

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 don't enjoy 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

For a limited time, new applicants can earn two domestic round-trip Delta Comfort flight certificates and 50,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. A 21+ day advance purchase is required; up to $80 per person in taxes and fees apply. Other restrictions apply. Offer ends Nov. 4.

The miles portion of this welcome offer is worth up to $600, according to TPG's valuations.

This is the first time flight certificates have been included in a welcome offer. If you can maximize them for at least $450 each, this would be the best-ever offer on this card. However, if you can't, you're better off holding out for an offer of at least 125,000 miles (offer no longer available).

Here are the key terms for the flight certificates:

Valid for round-trip travel to the U.S. mainland (48 states), Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands
Travel must be booked and completed by Jan. 15, 2028
Can be used for Delta Comfort or Delta Main Cabin
Passengers pay up to $80 per person in taxes and fees
Must book at least 21 days in advance
No blackout dates
Additional restrictions apply

Some applicants may not be eligible for this welcome offer due to Amex’s one-bonus-per-card-per-lifetime rule.

Other cards to consider if you don't want the Delta Reserve Amex

Most 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 earning rates: The offers a higher rate of return on flights than the Delta SkyMiles Reserve (in the form of Membership Rewards points). You can use points to book through American Express 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 , which also offers two free checked bags (the first bag is free worldwide and the second bag on domestic U.S. flights) and priority boarding. It 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 . 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.

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 bags and annual companion certificate. These benefits are especially valuable for parents who frequently travel with their children.

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 derive from them have made it the only airline card in my wallet.

For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.