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The American Express Delta Reserve® Credit Card is a Delta-branded credit card with a generous rewards program favoring frequent Delta flyers. New applicants can earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021.
Cardholders can quickly earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) for Medallion status and travel rewards with 3X SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases. All other purchases earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent.
Your SkyMiles can be redeemed at the Delta SkyMiles MarketPlace for gift cards, merchandise, and special experiences. However, the best bang for your buck will be redeeming for Delta airfare at variable redemption thresholds. Domestic economy one-ways typically start at 10,000 SkyMiles.
Delta’s redemption tables are subject to change over time, and certain travel times, dates, and destinations can require additional SkyMiles. SkyMile values fluctuate, generally ranging from $0.005 to $0.02 at redemption, but also depends on routes.
American Express Delta Reserve Credit Card Summary
 The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021. Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status. You can earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases & 1X mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases. This card does come with a $550 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Seems hefty but perks like being able to check your first bag free on Delta flights. In addition, you can enjoy complimentary access into the Delta SkyClubs for you when traveling on a Delta flight, complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card, fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. |
| Bonus Available | Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021. |
| *Bonus Value | $960 |
| Travel Credit | No travel credit, but you get:
|
| Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | Get 3X Miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
You (and up to 8 travel companions) get your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights. Enjoy 20% inflight savings in the form of statement credits on eligible purchases. Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus MQMs to help you reach Medallion Status. If you don’t have Medallion Status, your Card adds you to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Medallion Members. |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | No |
| Airport Lounge Access | Complimentary Delta Sky Club access for you. Two Delta Sky Club One-Time passes for your guests each year. Complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card. |
| Annual Fee | $550 |
Recommended Free Credit Score (Get Free Score)
720 – 850 (Excellent)
* The Delta Reserve® Credit Card is issued by American Express. They also offer great sign-up bonuses. You can also compare this card with other credit card bonuses!
* Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by BankCheckingSavings and not the card issuer.
View our latest valuations here.
PROS
- Welcome bonus
- Annual companion certificate
- Delta Sky Club access
- First checked bag free
- Priority boarding
- Partner airlines
- No foreign transaction fees
CONS
- Premium annual fee
Editor’s Alternate Pick
 The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You'll earn 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. When redeeming your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 50% more value. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. |
80,000 Bonus SkyMiles + 20,000 MQMs Offer
You can take advantage of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card’s welcome offer, where you can earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after meeting the requirements.
Here are some ideas on meeting the spending requirement:
• Plastiq - Using Plastiq allows you to pay for your personal expenses such as rent, tuition, mortgage, auto lease etc. Although they charge a 2.5% processing fee for using your credit card, this will contribute to the card bonus that you will receive. There is also a referral program that allows you to earn "Free-Free Dollars" that goes towards processing fees as well. • Funding Checking Accounts - When it comes to funding a checking account, opening your initial deposit with a credit card is the usual way to go about it. However, if you want to have more opportunities, you should open a checking account that offers a sign-up bonus. This allows you to work towards bonuses from not one but two different sources instead. Banks like Chase, Huntington Bank, TD Bank and BBVA offers credit card funding, and for your opening deposit, you can often fund anywhere from $50-$1000 with a credit card, depending on what bank offers it. • Gift Card Purchases With Using a Credit Card - Another way to acquire the bonus is using your credit card to purchase gift cards. Buying a a gift card or an individual merchant card typically do not require a purchase fee and are used towards leisure, so gift cards are ideal. However, gift cards such as a Visa or American Express do incur purchase fees because they can be spent anywhere, but gift cards that are specifically for a certain online shopping site such as Amazon or eBay don't. As for a Citi Credit Card, you should call customer service and ask them to lower your Cash Advance limit to $0 before making any purchases because Citi tends to read gift card purchases as a Cash Advance. Ideally, you should do this with any card just to be safe. Lastly, there is such thing as a discounted gift card which can be purchased on Raise or eBay. If you use a credit card often for everyday purchases, it can build your credit score that will contribute towards paying for things such as bills and taxes. |
What are Delta Skymiles Worth?
Just like other airline-branded cards, the value of your miles depends on how you use them. Your booking details – destination, flight time, day of flight, class of flight, etc. – will determine the trip cost in miles.
On average, one Delta SkyMile is worth $0.012, which is slightly above the rewards card average of $0.01 per point!
When you’re ready to redeem your SkyMiles, you can redeem them for:
- Flights with Delta
- Flights with partner airlines
- Upgrades
- Hotel stays
- Car rentals
- Vacation packages
- Exclusive experiences
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- Charity donations
To get the best value for your SkyMiles, use them for award travel with Delta or one of its many partners.
SkyMiles SkyTeam & Non-Alliance Partners Include
- Aeroflot
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Air Tahiti nui
- Alitalia
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- China Southern
- Czech Airlines
- Garuda Indonesia
- GOL
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Jet Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Air
- Mandarin Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudia Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
- Tarom Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Virgin Australia
- WestJet
* Visit Delta.com for an updated list of partners.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Top Features
Receive one domestic First Class, Comfort+ or Main Cabin roundtrip companion certificate every year when you renew your account. Cross-country flights can be pretty steep these days. So this perk could easily negate the card’s annual fee.
- First checked bag free. You, and up to 8 travel companions, get your first checked bag free. One checked bag is up to $30 a pop, one-way. So the maximum you could be saving with this perk is $540 (for 9 people) on a roundtrip flight.
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding. This means getting on the plane earlier and having first dibs on overhead bin space for your hand luggage.
- Inflight discount. Receive a 20% savings in the form of statement credit on eligible pre-purchased meals and inflight food, alcoholic beverages and headset purchases.
Get unlimited complimentary access to Delta Sky Club every year you’re a cardmember. You’ll also get 2 one-time passes each year for your guests. These lounges offer a place to work, relax and enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages and WiFi.
You’ll also get complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
You can earn onus MQMs when you spend certain amounts in one calendar year. Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus MQMs to help you reach Medallion Status.
Please note that the calendar year for this benefit ends on December 31 regardless of when your card account was opened.
This card will waive the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum status tiers if you spend at least $25,000 for that year. For Diamond status, you’ll need to spend $250,000 for the year to waive the MQD requirement.
Flyers want to earn Medallion status mainly for the unlimited complimentary ticket upgrades. Each Medallion tier also earns more miles and other benefits. If you don’t have Medallion Status, this card adds you to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Medallion Members.
Make purchases abroad without worrying about foreign transaction fees with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card.
Author’s Verdict
Delta is very prominent in the U.S. and around dozens of international destinations. If you do frequently fly Delta, the American Express Delta Reserve® Credit Card may be suitable for you.
It does come with generous perks like a companion certificate for 1 domestic first class or economy round-trip flight and complimentary Sky Club Access for the primary cardholder with discounted Sky Club access ($29 per person, versus $59 normally) for up to 2 ticketed companions.
However, if the annual fee turns you away from this card, you may want to see other American Express Credit Card Promotions or our list of the latest credit card deals.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021. Accelerate your path to Medallion Status, with Status Boost®. Plus, in 2021 you can earn even more bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) to help you reach Medallion Status. You can earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases & 1X mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases. This card does come with a $550 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Seems hefty but perks like being able to check your first bag free on Delta flights. In addition, you can enjoy complimentary access into the Delta SkyClubs for you when traveling on a Delta flight, complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book your Delta flight with your Reserve Card, fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. |
Alternative Credit Cards Options
* Below are some of the top competitors to the American Express Delta Reserve® Credit Card to consider.
 The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 4/28/2021. Earn now. Travel when you're ready. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit on your Card to inspire your next travel. You'll earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery, and at U.S. supermarkets; 1X mile for every eligible dollar you spend on purchases. Earn now. Travel when you're ready. After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year, you will receive a $100 Delta Flight Credit to inspire your next travel. There is a $99 annual fee, however, there is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (See Rates & Fees). Now, you'll get get more savings with your first checked bag for free on Delta flights. |
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You'll earn 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. When redeeming your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you'll get 50% more value. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. |
 The The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 75,000 Membership Rewards(R) Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 10X points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That's an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases. • 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards(R) Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. This card comes with an annual fee of $550 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Plus, up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card® & receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts. |
