Here’s everything you need to know about the Delta Reserve card…
Overview
The Delta Reserve card is the most expensive of American Express' Delta cards in the U.S., but it is also loaded with high-end perks. Sky Club access alone makes this card worth considering for frequent Delta flyers. The card's annual companion ticket can also help defray the card's annual fee. Additionally, anyone interested in Delta elite status should seriously consider this card. Cardholders automatically get benefits similar to Delta Silver Medallion status. Plus, there are opportunities to earn MQMs towards elite status with big spend on this card. And, finally, having this card acts as a tie-breaker for upgrades when others on the same flight have the same elite status and booking class as you. The Delta Reserve card is available as both a consumer card and a business card. And while the two versions of the Delta Reserve card are nearly identical (other than having different category bonuses) they are considered different products and so it's possible to earn welcome bonuses for each, and even to earn MQMs with big spend on each.
Application Tips
Current offer
Here are the current offers for both the consumer and business versions of the Delta Reserve card:
| Card Offer |
|---|
Limited Time Offer: Up to 110k miles 100k after $12k spend in first 6 months, plus an additional 10k miles after an eligible Delta purchase within the first 6 months. Offer ends 10/25/23. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$550 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 8/2/23: 100K after spending $6K in first 3 months |
60K Miles 60K miles after $5K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$550 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 8/2/23: 85K after spending $6K in first 6 months |
Should you apply?
Many cards are worth earning for the welcome bonus offer 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 applying for this card only if you highly value the card’s perks, or if you are counting on using the card’s MQM offer and/or big-spend bonus to earn or retain Delta elite status.
If you’re primarily interested in earning Delta SkyMiles, then consider applying for one of the less expensive Delta cards:
| Card Offer |
|---|
Limited Time Offer: Up to 100k miles 90k after $8k spend in first 6 months, plus an additional 10k miles after an eligible Delta purchase within the first 6 months. Offer ends 10/25/23. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$250 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 95K after $4K in first 3 months [Expired 3-29-23] |
50K miles 50K miles after $3K spend in 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$250 Annual Fee Recent better offer: 85K after $4K spending in first 6 months [Expired 8/2/23] |
Limited Time Offer: Up to 80k miles 75k after $6k spend in first 6 months, plus an additional 5k miles after an eligible Delta purchase within the first 6 months. Offer ends 10/25/23. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees)$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 Recent better offer: 75K after $2K spend in first 3 months [Expired 3/29/23] |
40K miles 40K miles after $2K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 Recent better offer: 70K after $2K spending in first 3 months [Expired 3/30/23] |
10K miles 10K miles after $1000 spend in the first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)No Annual Fee Note an unusual restriction: Welcome bonus not available if you've had another Delta consumer card in the past 90 days. |
Are you eligible?
In most cases with Amex, if you’ve had the same card before, you can’t earn a welcome bonus offer when applying. 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 offer on all of the following cards since each one is a separate product:
| Card Offer Mini |
|---|
 Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Limited Time Offer: Up to 80k miles ⓘ $938 1st Yr Value Estimate |
 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Limited Time Offer: Up to 100k miles ⓘ $914 1st Yr Value Estimate |
 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Limited Time Offer: Up to 110k miles ⓘ $676 1st Yr Value Estimate |
Here are additional Amex application tips:
Amex Application Tips
Check application status here. |
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
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.
- 15% off award bookings: Cardholders get 15% off the mileage price of an award ticket when the entire itinerary is on Delta or Delta Connection.
- 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
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 (it's necessary to spend $250K for a Diamond MQD waiver). 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).
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.
For more details about earning Delta elite status from spend, see these posts:
Travel Protections
- Premium Global Assist Hotline: The most valuable part 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 Protections
- 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 Offer
Obviously, if eligible, you can earn miles by successfully applying up for this card and meeting the minimum spend requirements:
| Card Offer |
|---|
Limited Time Offer: Up to 110k miles 100k after $12k spend in first 6 months, plus an additional 10k miles after an eligible Delta purchase within the first 6 months. Offer ends 10/25/23. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$550 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 8/2/23: 100K after spending $6K in first 3 months |
60K Miles 60K miles after $5K spend in first 6 months. Terms apply. (Rates & Fees)$550 Annual Fee Recent better offer: Expired 8/2/23: 85K after spending $6K in first 6 months |
Welcome Bonus Offer MQMs are not giftable: Note that, unlike Status Boosts, when the welcome bonus offer includes the chance to earn 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 apply 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 apply for the Delta Reserve card. Similarly, a Delta Reserve referral link can be used to apply for the Delta Gold or Delta Platinum card. Regardless of which Delta card they apply 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.
The business version of the Delta Reserve card does offer a way to earn 1.5 miles per dollar for spend, but only after you spend $150K in a calendar year. For the rest of that calendar year you’ll earn 1.5X miles per dollar on all eligible purchases (except for Delta purchases which continue to earn 3X).
Redeem Miles
You don’t need a Delta credit card to redeem Delta miles for award flights, but there are a couple of features that require having a Delta credit card: 15% discount and Pay with miles…
TakeOff 15 (15% Discount on Award Flights)
Delta offers a 15% award discount to members who have a Delta Gold, Delta Platinum, or Delta Reserve card. This discount is called “TakeOff 15.” Discounts do not apply to itineraries that include partner flights, but otherwise they are applied across the board.
We did some research to see whether Delta simply increased award prices for those without credit cards, but found instead that this is a true discount. Award prices relative to cash prices were pretty consistent before and after this feature was introduced and so we concluded that the 15% discount is real. See: No catch -- Delta’s 15% discount is real.
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 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) |
|---|
FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate $250 Annual Fee Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ⚬ 1.5X on purchases of $5K or more (max 50K extra miles per year) Card Type: Amex Credit Card 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 (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver up to Platinum status with $25K spend across one or more Delta cards or $250K spend for Diamond status (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ Terms and limitations apply. Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ 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) |
FM Mini Review: Good choice for frequent Delta flyers who can make use of annual companion certificate $250 Annual Fee Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 3X purchases made directly with hotels ⚬ 2X restaurants ⚬ 2X US Supermarkets Card Type: Amex Credit Card 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 (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver up to Platinum status with $25K spend across one or more Delta cards or $250K spend for Diamond status (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ Terms and limitations apply. spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms apply. Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ 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) |
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. $550 Annual Fee Earning rate: 3X Delta ⚬ 1.5X on all eligible purchases per calendar year after spending $150K Card Type: Amex Credit Card Big spend bonus: Earn 15K MQMs (towards elite status) after $30K spend up to four times per year (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ Medallion Qualifying Dollar waiver up to Platinum status with $25K spend across one or more Delta cards or $250K spend for Diamond status (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ 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: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ Domestic economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ⚬ SkyClub access (starting 2/1/25, 10 visits per year or unlimited visits after spending $75K/calendar year on the card) ⚬ 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 |
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. $550 Annual Fee Earning rate: 3X Delta Card Type: Amex Credit Card 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 (ends 1/1/24) ⚬ 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 (ends 1/1/24) spend across one or more Delta cards (or $250K spend for Diamond status) ⚬ Terms apply. Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ Domestic economy or first class companion certificate (subject to taxes & fees) after card renewal ⚬ SkyClub access (starting 2/1/25, 10 visits per year or unlimited visits after spending $75K/calendar year on the card) ⚬ 2 Delta SkyClub one-time guest passes ⚬ Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta ⚬ Complimentary upgrades ⚬ One statement credit every 4 years for the $100 Global Entry application fee or one statement credit every 4.5 years for the $85 TSA Precheck application fee ⚬ Priority boarding ⚬ First checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) See also: Delta Reserve complete guide |
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. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 Earning rate: 2X Delta ⚬ 2X restaurants ⚬ 2X U.S. purchases for advertising in select media and U.S. shipping purchases (capped at $50k per year starting 1/1/24) Card Type: Amex Credit Card Big spend bonus: $100 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ Priority boarding, and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
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. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 Earning rate: 2X Delta ⚬ 2x restaurants worldwide ⚬ 2x US supermarkets Card Type: Amex Credit Card Big spend bonus: $100 Delta flight credit after $10K in purchases in a calendar year Noteworthy perks: 15% off when using miles to book an award flight (Delta metal only) ⚬ Priority boarding and first checked bag free on Delta flights. Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
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. No Annual Fee Earning rate: 2X restaurants worldwide ⚬ 2X Delta ⚬ 1X on all other eligible purchases Card Type: Amex Credit Card Noteworthy perks: 20% statement credit on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and headsets Terms and limitations apply. (Rates & Fees) |
Want to learn more about miles and points? Subscribe to email updates or check out our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.
If I get a reserve card and I add my spouse as an additional cardholder with a delta platinum card, if we do all our primary purchases on the platinum card and just use the reserve for Delta purchases…do the miles go to the primary cardholder account, and do the miles from the platinum card accrue per the platinum rates or the reserve rates? i.e. groceries, dining, travel, etc.
The answer to your first question is easy: yes, the miles go to the primary cardholder’s Delta account. As to the second question: I don’t know.
[…] you have a Delta Platinum or Delta Reserve card that you acquired before July 1st 2020, then you should have offers in your Amex account to […]
[…] If you’re a regular Delta flyer and you value the Delta Platinum card’s annual companion ticket and/or the ability to earn MQMs through spend, then the Platinum card probably makes sense to you. On the other hand, you might do even better with an ultra-premium Delta Reserve card. See: Delta Reserve complete guide. […]
[…] Read our in-depth analysis of the Delta Reserve cards here: Delta Reserve Complete Guide. […]
[…] A comprehensive Amex Delta Reserve card guide. […]
After spending $120k on the Delta Reserve can I ‘downgrade’ the card to Delta Platinum to qualify to earn more MQMs? This trick use to work in the past.
I expect so. I’m not aware of any changes that would prevent that.
I want to get 2 of the Delta cards, but on January 17, I got an Amx personal card. With a deadline of April 1, I am going to be just shy of meeting the 90 day period between applying for 2 cards. Is this a hard waiting period?
You don’t have to wait more than 5 days. “In general, you can get at most one credit card within 5 days and 2 within 90 days.”
Here something I can never find an answer to… If I have multiple LLC’s and I’ve had the Business Versions of all cards before under 1 LLC, could I technically apply and get the bonus under a new LLC for the Business Version of the card?
Not with Amex cards, no. For what its worth, Chase allows that.