Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express

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Card Details and Application Link
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express
 
 
 
100K miles
100K after $5K spend in 3 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
(Offer Expires 6/8/2022)
Click Here to Apply

$550 Annual Fee

 
 

Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.

Recent better offer: 80K miles + 20K MQMs after $5K spend in the first 3 months + up to $200 statement credit for purchases at select US furnishings stores in first 3 months. [Expired 5/5/21]

 
 

FM Mini Review: Excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of SkyClub access and companion certificate. Also a good choice for big spenders seeking Delta elite status.

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Brand

Earning rate: 3X Delta

Big spend bonus: Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times per year ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬  $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver (up to Platinum status) with $25K
spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms apply.

Noteworthy perks: Domestic economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ⚬ SkyClub access ⚬ 2 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ⚬ Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬  $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)

See also: Delta Reserve complete guide

Delta’s ultra-premium Amex credit card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express, underwent big changes as of January 30 2020.  The biggest change is arguably the bigger annual fee.  The card now costs $550 instead of $450 per year.  They also got rid of bonus miles with big spend.  You still get MQMs (Medallion Qualifying Miles — which help you earn elite status) with big spend, but you no longer get matching redeemable miles.  On the plus side, the card offers some new goodies:

  • Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
  • 2 Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes (the card continues to offer Sky Club access for the primary cardholder when flying Delta)
  • 4 Status Boosts Annually (previous limit was 2)
  • Earn 3X miles on Delta
  • Complimentary upgrades (non-elite cardholders get on the free upgrade list behind any elite members traveling on the same flights)
  • $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck)

Let’s take a deep dive into the Delta Reserve card.  Here’s everything you need to know…

Application Tips

Should you apply?

Many cards are worth getting for the welcome bonus alone.  In this case, though, it’s important to consider the card’s $550 annual fee which is not waived the first year.  I recommend signing up for this card only if you highly value the card’s perks, or if you are counting on using the card’s MQM welcome bonus and/or big-spend bonus to earn or retain Delta elite status.

If you’re primarily interested in earning Delta SkyMiles, then consider signing up for one of the less expensive Delta cards:

Card Offer
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
 
 
 
60K Miles + 5K MQMs
60K miles + 5K Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after $3K spend in 3 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)

$250 Annual Fee

 
 

Recent better offer: 90K + 10K MQMs

 
 
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
 
 
 
50K Miles
50K miles after $2K spend in the first 3 months. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)

No Annual Fee First Year, Then $99

 
 
Delta SkyMiles® Blue Credit Card from American Express

Are you eligible?

In most cases with Amex, if you’ve had the same card before, you can’t get a welcome bonus when signing up. Consider, though, that each variation of Delta card is considered a different product. Over time, it’s possible for you to earn the welcome bonus on all of the following cards since each one is a separate product:

Card Offer Mini

Here are additional Amex application tips:


Amex Application Tips



  • Safe to Apply: Amex is the safest bank for trying your luck at earning a new welcome bonus offer. They don’t usually issue a hard pull when denying your application, and if you already have an Amex card, they won't usually issue a hard pull when approved for another one. Plus, they’ll now warn you during the application process if you’re not eligible for the bonus.

  • Lifetime Rule: If you've ever had the same card before, you are most likely prohibited from earning a welcome bonus offer for the card if you apply now. Fortunately you'll be warned during the application process if this is the case. Amex is known to "forget" that you've had a card after about 7 years.

  • 90 Day Rule: You can get at most two credit cards within 90 days. This rule does not apply to Pay Over Time (charge) cards.

  • 5 credit card max: Amex usually won't approve applications for new credit cards if you already have 5 or more Amex credit cards or 10 or more charge cards.

  • Better Offers: You may be able to get a better offer than the best available public offer. Details here.

  • Hard inquiries combine into 1 when approved same day


Check application status here.
If denied, call reconsideration: 877-399-3083 (new accountholders); 866-314-0237 (current accountholders)

How to meet minimum spend requirements

In order to meet minimum spend requirements, people often look for options to increase spend in ways that result in getting their money back. These techniques are referred to as "manufacturing spend". American Express has terms in their welcome offers that exclude some manufactured spend techniques from counting towards the minimum spend requirements for the welcome bonus offer. For example, most new cardmember bonuses have terms like this:
Eligible purchases to meet the Threshold Amount do NOT include fees or interest charges, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of prepaid cards, purchases of gift cards, person-to-person payments, or purchases of other cash equivalents.
That said, many techniques for meeting minimum spend are perfectly fine. Here are some techniques that are safe for meeting Amex minimum spend requirements (click each link for more information):

Perks

Delta Reserve cards come loaded with perks:

Travel Perks

  • Domestic first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) each year upon card renewal.  See: Delta companion certificates quick guide.
  • Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta.  Pictured above is the Delta SkyClub at Washington National (DCA).
  • 2 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes per year
  • Amex Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
  • Complimentary upgrades: Non-elite cardholders get on the free upgrade list behind any elite members traveling on the same flights.
  • Upgrade Priority:  Get upgraded ahead of other passengers within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping
  • $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck)
  • Priority boarding
  • First checked bag free.
  • 20% Back on In-Flight Purchases

Elite Status Boosts (MQMs)

With the Delta Reserve card, it is possible to earn high level Delta Medallion elite status through credit card spend alone.  The chart below shows the MQM and MQD requirements for earning each level of status.  With the Delta Reserve card, $25,000 spend per year is enough to waive MQD requirements for Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.  Further, you will earn MQMs with each $30K spend within a calendar year.  You will earn 15K MQMs with $30K spend, $60K spend, $90K spend, and $120K spend for a potential total of 60K MQMs (more than enough to reach Gold status).  Year 2021 Only: Status Boosts earn 25% more MQMs.
Amex shows your progress towards these status boosts when you log into the American Express website to view your account:

Elite Status Boosts are giftable

Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs) earned from high spend on the Delta Reserve card can be applied to the primary cardholder's Delta account or they can be gifted to any other Delta SkyMiles member.  When each Status Boost is reached, the cardholder receives an email congratulating them and offering 30 days to gift the 15,000 MQMs to someone else.  If you do not gift the MQMs within 30 days, the MQMs automatically go to the primary cardholder.  Note too that the 15,000 MQMs cannot be split up.  You must keep all 15,000 MQMs or gift all 15,000 to a friend.  The Delta Platinum card does not offer the option to gift Status Boost MQMs.
The ability to gift Status Boost MQMs makes it possible to play "two player mode" towards seeking elite status.  For example, a couple could each have their own Delta Reserve card and swap back and forth each year who to assign all of the MQMs to.  As an extreme example, assume that the couple spends $120,000 on each card every year (a total of $240,000 spend).  In that case, the couple would collectively earn 120,000 MQMs from Status Boosts, and could assign all 120,000 MQMs to one person.  This would put that person way above Platinum status with 45,000 MQMs rolling over to the next year.  And that next year, the MQMs could be assigned to the other person, and so on.

Travel Protection

  • Premium Global Assist Hotline: The biggest benefit of this benefit is emergency medical evacuation.  Other benefits of the hotline include: customs info, inoculation info, passport/visa info, emergency translation, lost item & lost bag search.  To use this service, call: 1-800-345-AMEX (2639).  More details can be found here.
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: Up to $10K per trip / $20K per year.  You must pay in-part for your trip with your Delta Reserve card, but it is OK if the rest of the payment is from frequent flyer miles and/or gift cards.  Round-trip travel is required, but it is OK if multiple separate one-way tickets make up the round-trip.  Details here.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: Coverage kicks in after a 6 hour delay.  Details here.
  • Baggage Insurance: Up to $500 per person for checked luggage, and up to $1,250 per person for carry-ons.  Must pay transportation in full with your card to be covered.  Details here.
  • Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary car rental insurance. Must pay for rental in-full with card.  Details here.

Purchase Protection

  • Return protection: Limited to 90 days from purchase, up to $300 per item and up to a maximum of $1,000 per Card Member account per calendar year based on the date of purchase.
  • Extended warranty: Up to 1 extra year.
  • Purchase protection: Covers damage, loss, or theft up to 90 days after purchase.  Details here.

Cell Phone Protection

  • Coverage includes phones that are stolen or damaged.
  • Cracked screens are covered.
  • Max $800 per claim or $1,600 per 12 month period.
  • A $50 deductible applies to each claim.
  • “You must charge your monthly Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone bill to your Eligible Card Account.”  (interestingly, the terms do not say that you must pay in full each month, but maybe that’s implied?)
  • Policy details can be found here.

Earn Miles

There are few ways to earn Delta SkyMiles with this card:

Welcome Bonus

Obviously, if eligible, you can earn miles by successfully signing up for this card and meeting the minimum spend requirements:

Card Offer
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express
 
 
 
100K miles
100K after $5K spend in 3 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)
(Offer Expires 6/8/2022)

$550 Annual Fee

 
 

Info about this card has been collected independently by Frequent Miler. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.

Recent better offer: 80K miles + 20K MQMs after $5K spend in the first 3 months + up to $200 statement credit for purchases at select US furnishings stores in first 3 months. [Expired 5/5/21]

 
 

Welcome Bonus MQMs are not giftable: Note that, unlike Status Boosts, when the welcome bonus includes Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs), those MQMs are not giftable.  The MQMs automatically get assigned to the primary cardholder’s Delta account.

Refer Friends

The refer-a-friend offer shown above for the Delta Platinum card was in effect when this post was first written. Offers can and do change over time. Consider this only an example of the type of offer you may find.
By logging into your American Express account, you should be able to find an offer to earn miles when referring friends. It's often the case, but not always, that your friends can get bigger bonuses through your referral link than through a public offer.
Note that your friends can use your referral link to sign up for any Delta card. They are not limited to the one that you have. For example, a friend can use your Delta Gold or Delta Platinum friend-link to sign up for the Delta Reserve card.  Similarly, a Delta Reserve referral link can be used to sign up for the Delta Gold or Delta Platinum card.  Regardless of which Delta card they sign up for, you will earn a referral bonus if they are approved.

Bonus Spend

The Delta Reserve card doesn’t have any great way to earn redeemable miles through spend.  For most spend, you will earn only 1 mile per dollar.  With spend on Delta, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar.

Redeem Miles

You don’t need a Delta credit card to redeem Delta miles for award flights, but there is one feature that requires having a Delta credit card: Pay with miles…

Pay with Miles

Delta's "Pay with Miles" feature is limited to primary cardholders of any Delta card (Blue, Gold, Platinum, or Reserve). This feature lets you pay for cash tickets in part or in full with Delta SkyMiles at a value of 1 cent per mile. You must pay in increments of 5,000 miles. Every 5,000 miles you apply decreases the ticket cost by $50. In other words, each mile is worth exactly 1 penny with this feature.
No miles earned: Flights that are paid for in this way earn full MQMs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) and MQSs (Medallion Qualifying Segments). However, only the portion paid in cash earns redeemable SkyMiles and MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars). The latter two issues reduce the value of the Pay with Miles feature.
Tip: Unless the full ticket amount is an exact multiple of $50, I recommend stopping short of paying the whole fare with miles since you'll get lower value from the last 5,000 miles. For example, if you want to use this feature and your ticket costs $228, I recommend paying 20,000 miles to decrease the cash cost to $28. Otherwise you would have to pay another 5,000 miles for that last $28 (which is a poor value).

Keep, cancel, or product change?

The decision to keep this card long term is a tough one.  Yes, this card has great perks, but you can find even more perks, including SkyClub access, on the identically priced Amex Platinum card (not to be confused with the Delta Platinum card).  And, unlike the Delta Reserve card, the Platinum card comes with airline fee credits and other credits to help offset the annual fee.

The biggest benefits that the Reserve card has over the Amex Platinum are the annual companion certificate, the ability to earn Delta elite status through spend, and the ability to get free upgrades if you don’t have Delta status.  In other words, the Delta Reserve card makes the most sense for those who are sure to use the companion certificate towards good value each year and/or who covet Delta elite benefits.  Others may do better with an Amex Platinum card or the lower priced Delta Platinum card.

One way to decide is to use our spreadsheet to compare similar cards.  See: Which Ultra Premium Cards are Keepers?

Related Cards

Here’s a full list of Delta branded cards available in the United States:

Card Name w Details & Review (no offer)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate

Annual Fee: $250

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Travel
Brand
Other
1.5X
(1.8%)

Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ⚬ 1.5X on purchases of $5K or more (max 50K extra miles per year)

Big spend bonus: Spend $25,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn 10,000 Medallion(R) Qualification Miles (MQMs); spend a total of $50,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn an additional 10,000 MQMs ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver (up to Platinum status) with $25K spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms and limitations apply.

Noteworthy perks: Domestic economy companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) each year upon card renewal ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights ⚬ Terms and Limitations Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Credit Card from American Express

FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate

Annual Fee: $250

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Travel
Dine
Grocery
Brand

Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ⚬ 2X restaurants ⚬ 2X US Supermarkets

Big spend bonus: Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver (up to Platinum status) with $25K
spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms apply.

Noteworthy perks: Domestic economy companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) each year upon card renewal ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights ⚬ Terms and Limitations Apply. (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

FM Mini Review: Excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of SkyClub access and companion certificate. Also a good choice for big spenders seeking Delta elite status.

Annual Fee: $550

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Brand
Other
1.5X
(1.8%)

Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 1.5X on all spend per calendar year after spending $150K

Big spend bonus: Earn 15K MQMs (towards elite status) after $30K spend up to four times per year ⚬ Throughout 2021, earn an additional 3,750 MQMs with $30K in purchases up to 4 times ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver (up to Platinum status) with $25K spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ After you spend $150K in a calendar year, earn 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible purchases for the rest of the year (excludes Delta purchases after you meet the $150K requirement) ⚬ Terms and limitations apply.

Noteworthy perks: Domestic economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ⚬ SkyClub access ⚬ 2 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ⚬ Centurion Lounge access when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve card ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬ $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)

See also: Delta Reserve complete guide
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Credit Card from American Express

FM Mini Review: Excellent choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of SkyClub access and companion certificate. Also a good choice for big spenders seeking Delta elite status.

Annual Fee: $550

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Brand

Earning rate: 3X Delta

Big spend bonus: Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times per year ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬  $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver (up to Platinum status) with $25K
spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms apply.

Noteworthy perks: Domestic economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ⚬ SkyClub access ⚬ 2 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ⚬ Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬  $100 Global Entry fee credit every 4 years (or 4.5 years for TSA Precheck) ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)

See also: Delta Reserve complete guide
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

FM Mini Review: Priority boarding and first checked bag free make this a reasonably good option for Delta flyers who do not have elite status. However, those who can make use of an annual companion certificate would do better with the Delta Platinum card.

Annual Fee: First year free, then $99

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Dine
Brand
Other

Earning rate: 2X Delta ⚬ 2X U.S. purchases for advertising in select media ⚬ 2X U.S. shipping purchases ⚬ 2X restaurants

Big spend bonus: $100 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year

Noteworthy perks: Priority boarding, and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Credit Card from American Express

FM Mini Review: Priority boarding, and free checked bag make this a reasonably good option for Delta flyers who do not have elite status. However, those who can make use of an annual companion certificate would do better with the Delta Platinum card.

Annual Fee: First year free, then $99

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Dine
Grocery
Brand

Earning rate: 2X Delta ⚬ 2x restaurants worldwide ⚬ 2x US supermarkets

Big spend bonus: $100 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year

Noteworthy perks: Priority boarding and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)
Delta SkyMiles® Blue Credit Card from American Express

FM Mini Review: This card offers an OK welcome offer for a no-fee card, but many/most other cards offer better return for spend.

Annual Fee: $0

Card Type: Amex Credit Card

Base
Dine
Brand

Earning rate: 2X restaurants worldwide ⚬ 2X Delta ⚬ 1X on all other eligible purchases

Noteworthy perks: 20% statement credit on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and headsets Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)
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[…] Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business. For each $30K of calendar year spend (up to $120K), earn 18,750 MQMs in 2021 (usual: 15K MQMs) […]

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[…] I’ll probably choose 25,000 miles instead of the Sky Club Guest Pass. This is because the Delta Reserve card now comes with 2 SkyClub guest passes and we’ve been traveling less often with our son (who […]

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[…] Amex Delta Reserve: Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta same-day; priority boarding; and free checked bags. […]

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[…] Amex Delta Reserve or Delta Reserve Business: Spend $30,000, get 15,000 bonus miles plus 15,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles (towards elite status). At $60,000 spend, get another 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 Medallion Qualifying Miles. […]

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[…] a nice little surprise from Amex.  Delta Reserve and Delta Platinum cardholders will now see a Status Boost Tracker when they log in to American […]

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[…] In the past, the welcome offer has been for 10,000 MQMs (Delta Medallion Qualifying Miles) and 10,000 bonus miles (redeemable for travel) after your first purchase. See this page for current welcome bonus details. […]

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[…] the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card and the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express offer a free companion certificate each year upon renewal.  This means that […]

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[…] to get it: Both the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Credit Card and the Delta Reserve Credit Card offer a free companion certificate each year upon renewal. Note that you do not get the companion […]

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[…] the consumer Delta Reserve card and business Delta Reserve card offer Sky Club access to the account […]

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