MoneyGeek’s Take
American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve 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 American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card. In spite of a high annual fee, this card offers multiple perks that cardholders may find beneficial.
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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.

Card Details to Know Up Front
- Bonus, Fee or FeatureHas or Not
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card at a Glance
The American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card offers a welcome bonus of 50,000 miles, 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and $100 back in statement credit for eligible purchases at the U.S. restaurants when you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening. The MQMs you earn with this card get you closer to achieving Delta’s Medallion status, which lets you enjoy elite travel benefits. You also get a companion pass, which can be redeemed for a free round-trip Delta flight.
- American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
A good travel card with a great rewards program for frequent Delta flyers.
- Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
- $550Annual Fee
- 1–3 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 1xRewards Rate on Dining
Pros & Cons Explained
Understanding the pros and cons will give you a clear picture of the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card's benefits and drawbacks. In turn, this can help you decide if the card belongs in your wallet.
Pros
- BenefitsDescription
- Welcome offerWith this card, you get 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs when you spend $3,000 within the first three months. You also get $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants.
- High miles reward rateYou get three miles on every dollar spent on Delta purchases and one mile per dollar spent on other purchases. These miles can be redeemed to book flights, hotels and other travel purchases with Delta airlines.
- Premium lounge accessThis card offers you complimentary access to luxury airport lounges like the Delta Sky Club lounge and Centurion lounge to help you relax before your flight.
- Annual companion certificateWith the annual companion pass, you get a free round-trip Delta air ticket. You only have to pay applicable fees and taxes.
Cons
- DrawbacksDescription
- High annual feeWith a high annual fee of $550, this card may not be for people who don’t travel frequently since paying a high annual fee is only worth it if they benefit fully from the rewards program.
- High APRThis card charges a variable APR of 15.74% to 24.74% on purchases, higher than the average APR.
- Fewer rewards than other Delta cardsOther Delta cards available have better reward rates with a lower annual fee than this card.
If you want to compare the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card with other travel cards, MoneyGeek has you covered. Don’t miss the best travel cards of 2022 to see which card is the best fit for your needs.
Bonuses & Rewards Explained
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.
Welcome bonus
You get 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs when you spend $3,000 within three months of opening an account. You also get $100 back as a statement credit when making eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants.
Miles reward rate
With this card, you get three miles on spending one dollar making purchases with Delta airlines, such as buying seat upgrades, in-flight entertainment and many more. On every other purchase, you get one mile per dollar spent.
Status boost feature
You’ll earn 15,000 MQMs when you spend $30,000 with this card in a year, up to four times. That means if you spend $120,000 in a year with this card, you’ll get 60,000 MQMs, which may help you achieve Medallion status.
Lounge memberships
This card allows you access to luxury lounges like the Delta SkyMiles Club lounge and Centurion lounge, which offer amenities like WiFi, showers, power stations and much more. You also get two Sky Club one-time guest passes every year.
Other Features Explained
The American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card offers some additional features that may be beneficial for you.
- Card FeatureDescription
- Travel insuranceThis 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 boardingWhen 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 serviceYou 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.
You can get the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQDs) requirements for Silver, Platinum or Gold Medallion status waived if you spend at least $25,000 in a calendar year with this card.
Understanding the Fine Print
Knowing the fees and charges of the 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.
- Card FeatureAmount or Rate
- APR15.74%–24.74%
- Annual Fee$550
- Cash Back Rewards
- Rewards Rate1–3 Miles per $1*
- Airline Benefits
Regular APR
This card charges a variable APR of 15.74%-24.74%, higher than the average APR. You have to pay your balance in full every month to avoid accruing interest charges on your balance.
Annual Fee
With a high annual fee of $550, 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.
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.
You can find this information on your credit card issuer’s website, mobile app or the Credit Card Agreement Database maintained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Additionally, if you want to compare one of your current cards with the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you can look at the billing information on your current credit card.
Who Should & Shouldn’t Consider American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card?
Other Considerations for American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
It is important to consider your history with credit cards while getting this card, as your spending habits may differ based on how many cards you own.
Things to Consider if This Will Be Your First or Only Credit Card
Maximizing your rewards with only the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card in your wallet would be easy since you would be using it for making everyday purchases and travel purchases through Delta airlines.
As a result, you will reach the spending requirement for the welcome bonus sooner. The rewards you earn with this card will outweigh the hefty annual fee associated with it. However, the high APR of this card means you won’t be able to carry a balance forward every month and need to pay in full to avoid accruing high interest charges on your balance.
Things to Consider if This Will Be an Additional Card in Your Wallet
Since this card offers a high reward rate on travel purchases, you may want to keep it only for those purchases while using your other cards for everyday purchases. Also, the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it ideal to use while traveling internationally.
With maximum travel-related usage, you may be able to outweigh the high annual fee by earning many rewards with this card. This will make it easier for you to pay the annual fees of other cards that you own.
We follow a six-step process to review credit cards, and our methodology involves collecting credit card information, standardizing data points, potential cardholder profiles, considering annual and introductory bonuses, establishing the card values and reviewing data monthly to reprocess rankings.
How American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve 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.
Quick Comparison of American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card
- Purchase APR: 15.74% to 24.74%
- Annual fee: $550
- International transactions fee: $0
- Miles reward rate: Three miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, one mile per dollar spent on other purchases.
- Best For: Frequent Delta flyers looking for a card with a great rewards program.
Chase United Explorer Card
- Purchase APR: 16.49%-23.49%
- Annual fee: $95
- International transactions fee: $0
- Miles reward rate: Two miles per dollar spent on airline purchases, one mile per dollar spent on other purchases.
- Best For: Frequent users of United airlines looking for a card with low annual fee and a good rewards program
Other Helpful Decision-Making Q&As
The following frequently asked questions about American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card will help you understand many other important details about the card.
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If you are not convinced that the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is right for you, then you can take a look at other travel cards and compare their features to see if any of them are a better fit for your needs. If you would prefer a different type of card, you can also compare cash back, rewards, gas and business cards.
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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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