Best for elite Delta flyers
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex is an excellent choice for Delta frequent flyers who value Sky Club airport lounge access, or who need an extra boost to hit Delta Medallion elite status. (Partner offer)
At a glance
- 3X Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1.5X After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
At a glance
- 3X Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- 1.5X After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Card Members now enjoy savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections.* You'll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you're traveling together. *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. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
- Enjoy 3x miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
- 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.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Our Take
TPG Editor's Rating
Overview
If you fly Delta regularly and are looking to hit a higher level of Medallion elite status, this card can be an invaluable asset in your wallet. Not only do cardmembers enjoy access to the airline’s Sky Clubs when flying Delta, but they can earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 on purchases, up to four times per calendar year (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). 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.
Pros
- Access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying the airline
- A companion certificate that can be used for a domestic first-class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin round-trip flight
- Earn Medallion Qualification Miles toward elite status through spending (Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges).
Cons
- Steep $550 annual fee
- Limited earning rates apart from Delta purchases
Who is this card good for?
This card was made especially for frequent Delta flyers since it confers access to Delta Sky Club lounges to the cardholder when flying Delta. Folks with the card can also earn MQMs toward elite status through spending, and even receive an annual companion certificate annually, good for one round-trip domestic itinerary in Main Cabin, Comfort+ or first class (you just pay taxes and fees on the second ticket).
Earning Rewards
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases made through Delta and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. After you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year.