Top perks
There aren't many airline credit cards with more benefits than the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Welcome offer
You'll earn 95,000 Bonus Miles miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months. Terms apply.
Rewards
This card earns 3X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases. It also earns 1X miles on other purchases. Terms apply.
Airport lounge access
This card comes with complimentary access to Delta Sky Club®, American Express Centurion, and Escape Lounges locations when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Even better, any authorized users on your card can also enjoy complimentary lounge access. Terms apply.
Read more: Best Credit Cards With Airport Lounge Access
Annual companion certificate
One of the most valuable benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the Delta Reserve Companion Certificate. You'll receive it each year you renew the card by paying the annual fee. Your companion certificate is valid for one round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin ticket. You still need to pay government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80. Terms apply.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
This card covers the cost of a membership fee to Global Entry or TSA Pre✓. Receive either a statement credit available every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit available every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for TSA Pre✓® (up to $85) It's better to apply for Global Entry, because that program includes TSA Pre✓®. Terms apply.
Free checked bag
You and up to eight additional travelers on your reservation can check one bag free of charge. Since Delta normally charges $30 per flight for the first checked bag, this can save you $60 per round trip if you're traveling solo. If you're traveling with family or a large group, it can be worth much more. Terms apply.
Reach elite status more quickly
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card can help you reach elite Delta Medallion status. Elite status unlocks perks like free upgrades and fee waivers.
Until 2024, this happens via StatusBoost™, which gives you 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 in purchases on your card per calendar year, up to four times. Terms apply. Cardholders also get a Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) waiver when they spend $25,000 on their card in a calendar year.
Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Delta will switch to its revamped SkyMiles program in which only MQDs matter. If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you won't have StatusBoost and MQM waiver anymore. Instead, cardholders earn $1 MQD for every $10 they spend on their card. Bottom-tier Silver status will require $6,000 MQDs, which means you could potentially earn status by spending $60,000 on your card in a calendar year.
Complimentary upgrades
As a Card Member, you'll be eligible for complimentary upgrades when available, and you'll have priority over other passengers within the same status tier of Delta Medallion. For example, if you have Gold status, you'd receive upgrades after Diamond and Platinum passengers, but before any other Gold passengers. Terms apply.
20% back on in-flight purchases:
You'll get 20% back as a statement credit when you use your card for eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, or headphones. Terms apply.
Priority boarding
When flying in the main cabin, you'll be in the Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding group, which boards before the other main cabin passengers. This benefit also applies to up to eight companions flying on your same reservation. Terms apply.
Consumer and travel protections
This card has an excellent set of consumer and travel protections, which include:
- Purchase protection*
- Extended warranty coverage*
- Trip delay and cancellation insurance**
- Baggage insurance***
- Car rental loss and damage insurance****
Terms apply.
No foreign transaction fees
As you'd hope from a luxury travel card, there are no foreign transaction fees for purchases made in non-U.S. currencies (see rates and fees).
See more: Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards