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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a premium credit card designed for those who are frequent Delta flyers and want a card that enhances their flight experience and makes it easier to attain elite status with Delta.
If you’re interested in the Delta Reserve card, you should know that the welcome offer offered can fluctuate. But in this post, we will outline a few ways to help you get the biggest bonus possible.
Benefits of the Delta Reserve Card
Before we discuss the ways to find the highest bonus possible, you’ll want to make certain that the Delta Reserve card is a good fit for you. Here are some of the best benefits of the card.
Key Benefits
Complimentary Delta Sky Club Access: Visit Delta Sky Clubs for free anytime you fly with Delta. You’ll also receive 2 Delta Sky Club 1-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 domestic first class, Comfort+ or main cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon card renewal.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit: Receive a statement credit of $100 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 will get your first checked bag free of charge (saving up to $60 per passenger, per trip).
Priority Boarding: You will be placed in the Main Cabin 1 boarding group 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: You’ll receive 20% back when you use your card to pay for items like food, beverages, or Wi-Fi.
*Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
How to Find the 100,000 Delta Reserve Card Welcome Offer
If you’re looking to get a higher welcome offer than the current public offer, here are a few ways to track down 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.
Increased Public Welcome Offer (Try This First)
Oftentimes, American Express will run an increased welcome offer on the Delta Reserve card, so it always helps to check the website first as you begin your search for the best offer possible.
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.
Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.
Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
60,000 miles
$720
$550
20.99%-29.99% Variable
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 (670-850)
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its lounge access, status boost, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.
Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.
Pros
New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
1x SkyMile per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Delta Status Boost
Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver
Annual Companion Certificate
Access to Complimentary Upgrades and Upgrade Priority
Free checked bags
20% back on inflight purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
Eligible Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
CardMatch, is a credit card matching tool. Its primary service is to match you with 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 pre-qualified for. Why is that helpful? Put simply, pre-qualified offers are offers that you’re very likely to be approved for. Of course, approval is never guaranteed, but if you’re pre-qualified you’re much more likely to be approved than an applicant who is not pre-qualified.
Just to clarify, when using CardMatch, there’s no guarantee that you’ll see better offers than what is offered publicly. But it is worth the few minutes it takes to check, especially since the service is free and your credit doesn’t get pulled.
Using the CardMatch tool is quite easy, simply answer a few questions and you’ll instantly be matched with any offers you are targeted for.
If you’re worried about security concerns with providing any of this information, you’ll take comfort knowing that the entire website is secured using 256-bit encryption is a PCI Level 1 Compliant organization. This is the same level of security offered by most banks and other financial organizations.
Lastly, if you’re worried about this adding a new inquiry to your credit report — you have no need to worry! When you use the CardMatch tool, you will 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 pre-qualified for.
Hot Tip: For a step-by-step guide on how to get personalized offers through CardMatch, explore our detailed guide on CardMatch.
Targeted Offers at the Delta/American Express Website
Delta and American Express have teamed up to put together a helpful landing page designed entirely to match you with targeted offers for the Delta co-branded American Express cards. Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Sign Up for a Delta SkyMiles Account
For starters, if you do not already have a Delta SkyMiles account, you’re going to need one. The website will not allow you to check for targeted offers without entering a Delta SkyMiles number. Plus, it is free to sign up and you cannot earn miles when flying with Delta without one!
Step 2: Visit the Delta/Amex Website to See If You Have Targeted Offers
Once you’ve signed up for a SkyMiles account, or if you already had one, you’ll want to head to the Delta/American Express website. Once there, all you need to do is enter your Delta SkyMiles number and your last name, then click View My Offer.
Image Credit: Delta and American Express
Step 3: Review Your Offers
After you click View My Offer, the page will load any and all targeted offers that you’re eligible for. If no offers appear and the page gives an error message which reads “Please Verify The Information You Entered Is Correct And Try Again,” that means you are not targeted for any offers at this time.
Bottom Line: If your SkyMiles account is not targeted for any offers at this time, do not let that discourage you from trying again in the future. Targeted offers, just like public offers, can change often — so it is always worth taking the time to check!
Targeted Mailings From American Express
If you want American Express to contact you directly anytime you have a targeted offer for one of their credit cards, you should strongly consider opting in to receive mailings from American Express.
That’s right — if you opt-in to receive these offers, 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 communication via mail and email.
Check for Pre-Qualified Offers With American Express
American Express also allows you to check for pre-qualified offers directly on their website and, occasionally, these pre-qualified offers also come with an increased welcome offer!
Checking for pre-qualified offers on the American Express website is easy. First, head to the American Express website, then click Cards, followed by Check for Pre-Qualified Credit Card Offers. This will allow you to see all the cards you have pre-qualified offers for, across the entire suite of American Express personal cards.
Image Credit: American Express
Reasons You May Not Be Able to Get a Higher Welcome Offer
The Current Public Offer Is Not an Increased Offer
If the current public offer from American Express is not an increased offer, then obviously, that makes it a bit more difficult to track 1 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 one is that people can fail to consider but, if you have a low credit score, it is very unlikely that you will be approved for the Delta Reserve card, regardless of the offer you are applying for.
So what should you do if you get denied or think you’re unlikely to get approved with your current score? Focus on improving your credit score first! Work on paying down any current credit card debt you might have, and make sure you’re paying your credit card statements on time each and every month.
You’ve Opted out of Marketing Offers
If you don’t take it upon yourself to opt-in to marketing offers from American Express, then you are not going to receive any and could be missing 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 at all!
So, if the Delta Reserve card sounds like a perfect fit for you and your needs, it’s worth taking some extra time to make sure you’re getting the best offer possible!
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
It is important to note that points and miles valuations are entirely subjective, and what 1 person might find valuable, another might find less valuable.
With that said, we value Delta SkyMiles at 1 cent per point. While it is definitely possible to get more than 1 cent per point in value, we don’t recommend you redeem them for anything that would net you less value than 1 cent.
How can I create a Delta SkyMiles account?
You can create a Delta SkyMiles account on the Delta website.
Do Delta SkyMiles expire?
As long as your account remains open, your Delta SkyMiles will never expire.
How many Delta SkyMiles are needed for a free flight?
Delta no longer publishes an award chart, so the answer is — it depends! The number of miles needed can vary based on the destination, season, and many other factors.
Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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