Is the Delta Reserve Amex worth the annual fee?
Editor's Note
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the most premium Delta Air Lines cobranded card from American Express. It's packed with features like airport lounge access and upgrade priority, but you'll pay a steep $650 annual fee (see rates and fees) to enjoy these benefits.
When a card asks you to pay this much, you should receive premium benefits and outsize value in return. After all, if you can't use the benefits, you're better off saving the annual fee and putting your expenses on a card that makes more sense for how you travel.
Let's take a closer look at the benefits that can make the Delta SkyMiles Reserve worth it for frequent Delta flyers.
Welcome offer
New Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers can earn up to 125,000 bonus miles: 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus an additional 25,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership (for a total of $9,000 in spending). Offer ends April 1.
TPG's February 2026 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.25 cents per mile, making this offer worth up to $1,563. That said, you might get more or less value depending on how you redeem SkyMiles.
Not everyone may be eligible for a welcome offer on this card, especially if you're upgrading from another SkyMiles Amex card. You may also be ineligible if you've earned a welcome bonus on this card before.
Thankfully, American Express will inform you if you aren't able to earn this card's welcome offer before performing a hard pull on your credit. You should be notified if you're not eligible for the bonus during the application process.
Earning rates
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card earns Delta miles at the following rates:
- 3 miles per dollar spent on all Delta purchases
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Per TPG's valuations, these rates equate to a roughly 3.8% and 1.3% return on spending, respectively.
Other cards offer a higher return on everyday spending than 1.3%. However, if you're a Delta frequent flyer, this card can still be a solid choice for those purchases since you also earn Medallion Qualification Dollars toward elite status with every purchase.
Related: Best premium credit cards
Earn Medallion status faster
As mentioned, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve makes it easier to qualify for Medallion status.
For every $10 you spend, you will earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar. Additionally, cardmembers receive a bonus of 2,500 MQDs every Medallion Qualification Year. That puts you halfway to Delta Silver Medallion status without stepping foot on a plane.
Related: Sit up front: The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta flights
Useful statement credits
Ride-hailing statement credit
Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers can earn a monthly up-to-$10 statement credit (up to $120 every calendar year) after using their card to pay for an eligible ride-hailing service. This statement credit is valid on select ride-hailing services in the U.S. Enrollment is required.
Resy statement credits
Food lovers will appreciate that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve offers up to $20 in Resy statement credits per month (up to $240 per calendar year). Cardmembers can receive these statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment is required.
Any restaurant on Resy is eligible for this statement credit if you pay using your Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. No reservation is required.
Note that a restaurant must be live on the Resy platform at the time of purchase to count for your statement credit.
Delta Stays statement credit
Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers receive a statement credit of up to $200 per calendar year for Delta Stays bookings. You must book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta to receive this statement credit.
If you use this perk in full, you can get one to two nights at no cost at a hotel or vacation home, depending on your destination.
Lounge access
Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers have limited access to Delta Sky Clubs. Keep in mind that you won't be allowed in the lounge if you're flying on a basic economy ticket, even if you're a Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmember.
You'll receive 15 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually through your Delta Reserve. Once you've used all 15 visits, you can use your card to purchase one-time passes for $50.
However, if you spend over $75,000 on the card in 2026, you'll receive unlimited visits for the remainder of this year and all of 2027. This will continue year by year moving forward if you continue to meet the spending requirement. Cardmembers also receive four guest passes per year.
Once you've used these guest passes, you'll need to pay $50 per guest, per visit. This fee is reduced to $25 per guest if you're visiting a Delta Grab and Go location.
Cardmembers receive access to Centurion Lounges or Escape lounges if they're flying on a Delta flight booked with their Reserve card. This access is unlimited for the cardmember.
For Centurion Lounges, cardmembers may bring up to two guests for $50 per adult and $30 per child age 2-17.
Guest rates for Escape lounges vary by location, so check the policy of a given lounge before your trip. Note that guests must be flying on a same-day Delta flight to access Centurion Lounges or Escape lounges.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Companion certificate
Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers get a companion certificate each year after renewal. This companion certificate allows you to buy two round-trip tickets for the price of one, plus taxes and fees between $22 and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights.
This companion certificate is valid in first class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin on round-trip flights in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
If you use this certificate on a first-class ticket or fly during peak season, you can recoup the cost of the annual fee from this benefit alone.
15% discount on Delta-operated award flights
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve gives cardmembers 15% off all Delta-operated award flights booked with SkyMiles. The discount will appear alongside search results so long as your card is linked to your SkyMiles account. Unfortunately, partner flights are not eligible for this discount.
Depending on how often you redeem miles, this benefit could save you thousands of miles per year.
Related: How to use and maximize Delta's TakeOff 15 feature to save on award tickets
Other benefits
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card comes with myriad other useful benefits:
- Complimentary upgrades: Cardmembers who don't have Delta SkyMiles Medallion status are eligible to receive complimentary upgrades for Delta One (within the 50 U.S. states), first class and Comfort after Medallion members
- Priority boarding in Zone 5
- Free checked bags (first bag free for the cardmember and up to eight people traveling on the same reservation)
- A $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or up to an $85 statement credit for TSA PreCheck every 4 1/2 years
- 20% back as a statement credit on eligible inflight purchases of food and drink (inflight Wi-Fi purchases not included)
- Travel protections
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards
Bottom line
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is the top-tier card in the Delta SkyMiles Amex family. It offers airport lounge access and other perks, such as a valuable annual companion certificate.
If you're a Delta loyalist and value Sky Club access and a faster path to Medallion elite status, this card can be a great addition to your wallet. Its numerous benefits can help offset the card's high annual fee.
If you don't fly Delta frequently, however, there are other cards you should consider adding to your wallet instead.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- 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.
- 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.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees