Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card — Full Review [2025]

Great Card If

• You are a frequent flyer and Delta loyalist
• You want Delta Sky Club access

Don’t Get If

• You are not a frequent traveler
• You don’t fly with Delta

Delta Reserve Card — Is It Worth It?

If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, the Delta Reserve card might just be a must-have card for you.

Thanks to its status boost ability, the card is a great option for those looking to qualify or re-qualify for high levels of Delta elite status. Plus, it offers complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access –– a huge benefit for frequent travelers.

Delta Reserve cardmembers receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive 4 one-time guest passes each year.

When you factor in the rest of the card’s benefits including the annual companion certificate, free checked bags, access to complimentary upgrades, and more, it’s easy to see how much value the card can offer to Delta flyers.

Delta Reserve Card Top Benefits

Delta Travel Benefits

The Delta Reserve card is loaded up with benefits that Delta flyers will love.

• Lounge Access: Visit Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying with Delta. Delta Reserve cardmembers receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of visits after spending $75,000 in purchases in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive 4 one-time guest passes each year.
• Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) Headstart: Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card will receive an MQD Headstart of $2,500 MQDs for the current Medallion Qualification Year.
• MQD Boost: Cardholders will earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
• Annual Companion Certificate: Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
• Complimentary Upgrades: You’ll be added to the upgrade list on flights, even if you don’t have Delta status.
• Upgrade Priority: Receive priority on the upgrade list for holding the Delta Reserve card over other flyers with the same status level as you.
• Free Checked Bag: Get your first checked bag free for you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same flight.
• Get 20% Back on Inflight Purchases: Applies to food, beverages, and audio headsets.

Card Protections

• Trip Delay Insurance: If your flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, you can receive up to $500 in coverage towards items including food and lodging.
• Trip Cancellation Insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you can receive up to $10,000 per trip, up to $20,000 per year, in coverage for non-refundable expenses.
• Rental Car Insurance: The card’s secondary insurance coverage covers accidental damage or theft of your rental car.
• Baggage Insurance: If a carrier loses your luggage, you’re covered for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.
• Return Protection: If the merchant you purchased an item from won’t accept a return within 90 days, you can receive coverage of up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per year.
• Purchase Protection: If an item is lost or damaged within 90 days of purchase, you can receive up to $10,000 in coverage per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
• Extended Warranty: Adds 1 year of warranty coverage to warranties of 5 years or less.

Alternative Cards to the Delta Reserve Card

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• With American Express Global Lounge Collection^® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion^® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club^® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express^® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 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.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

If you’re not totally committed to Delta, but still want a card that offers premium perks, then the Amex Platinum card could be the one for you.

It still offers access to Amex Centurion Lounges and 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spend, but also takes that a step further by offering you access to several other airport lounge networks including Priority Pass (upon enrollment) and Plaza Premium Lounges.

Sure, the card has a steep annual fee of $695, but when you consider the amount of value you can get from the annual credits, it’s easy to see how you might come out way ahead by holding the card (rates & fees).

See our detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card vs. the Delta Reserve card.

Business Owner? Check out our review of the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve Business American Express Card.

We’ve also compared the Delta Reserve card to other popular cards:

• Delta Reserve card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve^®
• Delta Reserve card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta Reserve card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card