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MoneyGeek’s Take
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Review
People who are frequent Delta airline flyers and want a travel card with a great rewards program will benefit the most from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. In spite of a high annual fee, this card offers multiple perks that cardholders may find beneficial.
![Credit card image](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/v1717688117/Delta_Sky_Miles_Reserve_American_Express_Card_1_06cf08443d.png)
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Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_100,b_white/v1630654707/Alene_Laney_26e3c3120c.jpg)
Alene Laney
Finance Journalist
Alene Laney is an award-winning personal finance writer with over a decade of experience in media. Her works have been featured on Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, GoBankingRates and Yahoo! Finance, among others. Laney has a degree in English literature, history from the University of Utah.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_100,b_white/v1585262247/bbgpw5eliaweh29jfpd8.png)
Doug Milnes, CFA
Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets. Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_100,b_white/v1630654707/Alene_Laney_26e3c3120c.jpg)
Alene Laney
Finance Journalist
Alene Laney is an award-winning personal finance writer with over a decade of experience in media. Her works have been featured on Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, GoBankingRates and Yahoo! Finance, among others. Laney has a degree in English literature, history from the University of Utah.
Updated: July 21, 2024
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With this card, you earn three miles on every dollar spent making purchases through Delta. This includes seat upgrades, lounge passes, food, drinks and more. For every other purchase, you earn one mile per dollar. You also get complimentary access to Delta Sky Miles Club lounge and the Centurion lounge, where you can relax before boarding a Delta flight and enjoy amenities like WiFi, showers, food and drinks, power stations and much more.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Overview
Looking over the bonuses and rewards structure of this card will help you decide if it offers more value than other cards of the same category.
Quick Take
- Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of your card membership.
- Enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Club with 15 visits per year starting 2/1/25. Spend $75,000 or more annually for unlimited visits.
- Receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year to share with family and friends.
- Get complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year to help you get closer to Status.
- Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 spent on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
- Receive a Companion Certificate for First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after card renewal. Taxes and fees apply.
- Get a $240 Resy Credit for eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants, up to $20 each month. Enrollment required.
- Earn a $120 Rideshare Credit for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers, up to $10 back each month. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app.
- Receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
- Be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list for eligible ticket holders.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. See rates and fees.
- $650 Annual Fee. See rates and fees.
- Terms Apply.
Important Card Details
Knowing the fees and charges of American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card can help you use this card more effectively as well as allow you to determine if the fees make sense for your financial needs.
Regular APR
This card charges a variable APR of 20.99% – 29.99%, higher than the average APR. You have to pay your balance in full every month to avoid accruing interest charges on your balance. See rates and fees
Annual Fee
With a high annual fee of $650, this card may be an expensive option compared to other cards of the same category. However, paying this annual fee may be worth it if you utilize the rewards program fully. See Rates and Fees
Cash Advance Fee
When taking out a cash advance with this card, you either pay $10 or 5% of the total amount, whichever is greater, as a cash advance fee. See Rates and Fees
Additional Benefits
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers some additional features that may be beneficial for you.
- Travel insurance: This card provides you with travel insurance that covers trip delays, cancellations, baggage damage or theft and car rental or loss so you can enjoy your trip in peace.
- Priority boarding: When flying Delta flights, you can get the main cabin one priority boarding for you and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation.
- Concierge service: You can call the number on the back of your card for the complimentary concierge service, which can help you choose restaurants for dining or select the perfect gift for a loved one and much more.
- Free first checked bag: You can check a bag for free for you and up to eight of your companions, saving up to $30 per bag.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. For more details, please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
How the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Compares To Other Cards
While the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve is a great travel rewards card and it offers a good rewards program for frequent Delta flyers, it has a high annual fee compared to other cards of the same category. Analyzing this card as well as one of its competitors can help you determine if it’s the right card for you.
How the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Compares
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Purchase APR: 20.99% – 29.99% variable See rates and fees
- Annual fee: $650 See rates and fees
- International transactions fee: $0 See rates and fees
- Miles reward rate: Three miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, one mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Terms Apply
- Best For: Frequent Delta flyers looking for a card with a great rewards program.
United Explorer Card
- Purchase APR: 21.99% – 28.99% variable
- Annual fee: $95, $0 Intro for First Year
- International transactions fee: $0
- Miles reward rate: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Best For: Frequent users of United airlines looking for a card with low annual fee and a good rewards program
Frequently Asked Questions
Good to excellent credit scores are required to get the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Yes, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card reports to all three credit bureaus.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card application process is not lengthy. You can receive a response in 60 seconds. You can also pre-qualify online by filling a form on the website.
The information required usually includes your legal name, SSN, address, date of birth and financial information.
Yes, American Express has good customer service and satisfaction.
Yes, American Express has a mobile app to help you manage your account online.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card raises credit limits automatically.
Yes, American Express offers tons of security features to keep your account secure.
Yes, American Express offers Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and other cards besides this card. Other options include, but are not limited to, the Hilton Honors American Express Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express and more.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click here.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
![Doug Milnes, CFA headshot](https://res.cloudinary.com/moneygeek/image/upload/c_scale,q_auto:eco,f_auto,fl_lossy,w_160/v1585262247/bbgpw5eliaweh29jfpd8.png)
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- American Express. "Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card." Accessed September 9, 2021.
- American Express. "Credit Card Limits Explained." Accessed September 9, 2021.
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