[Expired] How To Find the 100K Welcome Offer for the Delta Reserve Card [Current Public Offer Is 125K]

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is a premium credit card designed for frequent Delta flyers who want a card that improves their flight experience and makes it easier to attain Delta elite status.

If you’re interested in the Delta Reserve card, understand that the welcome offer can fluctuate. This guide outlines a few ways to help you get the biggest bonus possible.

Benefits of the Delta Reserve Card

Before we discuss how to find the highest possible bonus, be sure the Delta Reserve card is a good fit for you. Here are some of the card’s best benefits.

Key Benefits

• Delta Sky Club access: 15 visits to Delta Sky Clubs for when you fly with Delta. To earn an unlimited number of visits each year, spend $75,000 or more each calendar year. Plus, you receive 4 Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year.
• Complimentary access to Amex Centurion Lounges: Visit any Amex Centurion Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Delta Reserve card.
• Annual Companion Certificate: Receive a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Receive a statement credit of $120 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck.
• Upgrade priority: Receive upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same Medallion level and fare class grouping.
• Access to complimentary upgrades: If you don’t have Medallion Status, your Delta Reserve card adds you to the Complimentary Upgrade list after Medallion Members.
• First checked bag free: On all Delta-marketed and Delta-operated flights, you and up to 8 others on the same reservation get your first checked bag free of charge (saving up to $70 per passenger per trip).
• Priority boarding: You’re in Zone 5 on flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection. This benefit also applies to up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
• 20% back on inflight purchases: Cardholders receive 20% back when using the card to pay for items like food, beverages, or Wi-Fi.

How To Find the 100,000 Delta Reserve Card Welcome Offer

If you’re looking for a higher welcome offer than the current public offer, here are a few ways to find an increased bonus!

Targeted offers are discussed in the article below. Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been collected independently and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Option 1: Check on American Express Directly (Try This First)

American Express often runs a higher welcome offer on the Delta Reserve card, so it always helps to check the website first as you begin your search for the best possible offer.

Fortunately, that time is now, as American Express is currently running a new and improved welcome bonus offer on the Delta Reserve card that allows you to earn up to 125,000 bonus miles, which we value at $1,500 based on our valuation of Delta SkyMiles.

Here’s the current public offer: Earn as high as 100,000 miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months.  Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.

By checking directly with American Express first, you can earn as high as 125,000 bonus miles. Keep in mind that offers can vary.

If the offer works for you, all you need to do is apply for the card. If you’re approved, you can start earning the welcome offer bonus on your new card.

Option 2: Use CardMatch

CardMatch is a credit card matching tool. Its primary service is to identify targeted credit card offers from major U.S. banks like American Express and Chase.

With CardMatch, depending on your eligibility, you could see offers up to 100,000 SkyMiles for the Delta Reserve card.

Not only does CardMatch show you offers that you’re targeted for, but it also shows you credit cards that you’re prequalified for. Why is that helpful? Put simply, prequalified offers are offers that you’re very likely to be approved for. Of course, approval is never guaranteed, but if you’re prequalified, you’re much more likely to be approved than an applicant who is not prequalified.

There’s no guarantee you’ll see better offers on CardMatch than those publicly available. But it is worth the few minutes it takes to check, especially since the service is free and only requires a soft credit check.

Using the CardMatch tool is easy: Answer a few questions and you’ll instantly be matched with any offers you are targeted for.

CardMatch uses 256-bit encryption and is a PCI Level 1-compliant organization, providing the same level of security as most banks and other financial organizations.

When you use the CardMatch tool, you do not receive a hard pull or new inquiry on your credit report. This information is only used to determine what credit offers you’ve been targeted or prequalified for.

Hot Tip: For a step-by-step guide on getting personalized offers through CardMatch, read our detailed CardMatch guide.

Option 3: Targeted Mailings From American Express

If you want American Express to contact you directly whenever it has a targeted offer for one of its credit cards, you should strongly consider opting in to receive mailings from American Express. American Express will send you mailers with exclusive offers tied specifically to your account — but only if you opt in.

If you want to opt in, head to the communications preferences in your American Express account and enable mail and email communication.

Option 4: Friend Referrals

If you have a friend or family member with a Delta credit card, you might be able to receive a higher welcome offer when applying via a personal referral link.

This can really be a win-win situation: You earn more miles than you would have otherwise, and your friend or family member earns bonus miles for referring you!

Reasons You May Not Be Able To Get a Higher Welcome Offer

Current Public Offer Is Not an Increased Offer

If the current public offer from American Express isn’t an increased offer, it obviously makes it more difficult to track down.

In this case, you could check CardMatch, wait until you receive a targeted offer, or wait for American Express to bring back a higher welcome offer.

Low Credit

This is one people often fail to consider: If you have a low credit score, it is very unlikely you will be approved for the Delta Reserve card, regardless of the offer you are applying for.

So what should you do if you’re denied or think you’re unlikely to be approved with your current score? Focus on improving your credit score first. Work on paying down any current credit card debt, and make sure you pay your credit card bills on time each and every month.

You’ve Opted Out of Marketing Offers

If you don’t opt in to American Express marketing offers, you won’t receive any and could miss out on targeted offers. If you want to make sure you receive these targeted offers, then you need to opt in.

Final Thoughts

The Delta Reserve card is one of the best cards on the market for frequent Delta flyers. Those with the card will find it easier to reach higher status levels with Delta and can even get on the upgrade list without having any status.

If the Delta Reserve card sounds like a perfect fit for you and your needs, it’s worth taking extra time to make sure you’re getting the best offer possible.

Once you’ve got a nice stockpile of Delta SkyMiles, here are a few ways you can redeem those SkyMiles for huge value.