Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review

Finder experts pick Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card as a 2021 best product for credit cards.

How to apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card?

1. Go to the provider's site and select Apply now.
2. Complete the application form.
3. Review the details in your application and submit it.

How long will it take to get my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card?

American Express automates its online conditional approval, which means you could see a decision on your application in minutes. If further verification is needed, it could take a few business days up to a few weeks to get a decision.

After approval, you should receive your new card by mail within 10 business days.

What should I know before I apply?

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card benefits

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a lot to offer, so let’s break down the features you can expect with this card.

Delta SkyMiles perks

• Welcome offer. Earn 100,000 miles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after spending $5,000 in your first 3 months.
• Earn miles. Delta purchases earn you 3x miles, and you’ll earn 1x miles for every other purchase. You can redeem SkyMiles for flights, seat upgrades, gift cards, shopping and more.
• Status Boost. Spend $30,000 on purchases in a calendar year and get 15,000 MQMs. You’ll earn this bonus up to four times each year, once for every $30,000 you spend. For big spenders looking to reach higher Medallion Status tiers, this is the way to go.

Airport perks

• • Delta Sky Club, Centurion Lounge and Escape Lounge access. Get complimentary access to all Delta Sky Clubs and two one-time guest passes after opening your account and each year you renew. You’ll get discounted access of $39 for up to two guests after using the one-time passes. Single-visit passes were once $59 each, so if you visit Delta Sky Clubs once a month, you effectively save $708 a year with this perk. And new to the Delta Reserve‘s refresh is the addition of complimentary Centurion Lounge or Escape Lounge access if you book your flight with your Delta card.
  • TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry statement credit. New to the Delta Reserve is an application fee statement credit toward TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry. While it was strange the Delta Reserve didn’t have this benefit sooner, its addition is appreciated.
  • Priority boarding. Get on your plane and settle in to your seat earlier with Main Cabin 1 priority boarding.
  • Upgrade priority. You’ll receive upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same level and fare class when you book with your card.
  • First checked bag free. Save up to $60 round-trip with your card, which waives fees for your first checked bag. This benefit applies to up to nine passengers traveling on your reservation.

Delta flight perks

• Companion certificate. Each year you renew your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you receive a domestic first-class, Comfort+ or main-cabin round-trip companion certificate. This allows you to take a guest on a first-class or main cabin round-trip domestic flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. The companion certificate could easily offset the card’s annual fee. The card’s companion certificate is especially valuable if redeemed for a domestic first-class flight. Our April 2021 analysis finds it could be worth over $1,000, which easily covers the card’s annual fee. Payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions also apply.
• In-flight savings. Get 20% back in statement credit when you use your card to pay for in-flight food, beverages and audio headsets.

Other perks

• Concierge service. As a cardholder, you get access to a service that can help you arrange dining, get information about an area you’re traveling to or set up select events.
• No foreign transaction fees. Use your card internationally while traveling without the typical 3% transaction fee other cards charge.
• Global assistance. Get access to medical, legal, financial and other emergency services when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Purchase protection. Get a refund on eligible purchases, even if a merchant won’t accept it back, and get protection against damage or theft for your phone or other eligible items.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card drawbacks

• Annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with an annual fee of $550.
• High APR on purchases. All Delta cards come with relatively high APRs on purchases when compared with other American Express cards. For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a 17.24% to 26.24% variable APR, while the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card comes with an 13.74% to 24.74% variable APR.
• Not widely accepted overseas. American Express is not as widely accepted outside the States as Visa or Mastercard is, which could limit your payment options when traveling abroad.
• Steep penalties for late payments. Making late or returned payments could cost you a penalty APR as high as 29.99% variable. You may also incur late and returned payment fees of up to $40.

Compare Delta Reserve to similar credit cards

Here’s a look at how the Delta Reserve stacks up against two entry-level airline cards on the market. If you want to know more about how each Delta card compares against one another, check out our best Delta credit card page for more information.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card	Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card	United℠ Explorer Card
★★★★★ Finder rating 4.3 / 5	★★★★★ Finder rating 4 / 5	★★★★★ Finder rating 4.4 / 5
Read Review Terms apply, see rates & fees	Read Review Terms apply, see rates & fees	See offer on Creditcards.com's secure site
Minimum Credit Score 670	Minimum Credit Score 670	Minimum Credit Score 670
Annual Fee $550	Annual Fee $99 ongoing	Annual Fee $95 ongoing
Purchase APR Up to 26.24% variable	Purchase APR Up to 26.24% variable	Purchase APR Up to 24.24% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A	Balance transfer APR N/A	Balance transfer APR 17.24% to 24.24% variable
Rewards 3x miles	Rewards 2x miles	Rewards 2x miles
Welcome offer Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.	Welcome offer Limited Time Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer ends 8/3/2022.	Welcome offer Up to 70,000 bonus miles: 60,000 miles after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 miles after you spend $6,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months months

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How much is the Delta Reserve worth each year?

The following benefits could give you a stellar annual value of more than $2,321:

Note this is a conservative estimate, as it doesn’t include benefits like access to the Centurion lounge, Status Boost MQMs, travel insurance and purchase protection.

Delta Reserve reviews and complaints

Customers say they love the opportunity to boost miles, the card’s companion certificate and all the other airline rewards. Still, you’ll find complaints online about ultimately low credit limits, which customers say made reaching Medallion Status difficult. At least one Redditor warns that it’s only great if you spend a lot, given its steep annual fee.

The American Express Company has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1948 and earns an overall A+ rating as of August 2021. However, 90% of its reviews are negative and it has nearly 3,400 customer complaints. Amex cardholders in general complain of rude customer service reps, missing statement credit and issues disputing charges.

The company earns a Trustpilot score of 1.9 out of 5 as of August 2021. Many negative reviews cite unhelpful customer service and inflexible company policies. Positive reviews say the company employs pleasant customer service representatives. Overall, your mileage may vary with American Express customer support.

How has this card changed over time?

Bottom line

Travelers who are loyal to Delta should find the Delta Reserve worth it primarily for the travel perks, companion pass and boosted MQMs available through the card. It’s the best choice for taking advantage of Delta luxury perks while pushing to climb the Medallion status ranks as quickly as possible.

However, the Delta Reserve‘s mile earning rates aren’t especially impressive for a luxury card. For that reason, the mid-level Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card may be sufficient if you’re simply interested in building Delta SkyMiles without the need for excess luxury perks.

If neither card strikes your fancy, you can compare all airline cards to find one that offers the best combination of perks and rewards versus cost for your needs.