Is the Delta Reserve Amex worth the annual fee?

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the most premium cobranded card Amex and Delta Air Lines offer — and it comes with a steep annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees).

When you get into cards with $400-plus annual fees, you should receive premium benefits and outsize value that help offset the cost of heftier annual fees.

Let’s take a closer look to determine whether the Delta Reserve card is worth the annual fee.

Welcome offer

New Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardmembers can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of cardmembership. This limited-time offer ends on April 2.

TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents per mile, making this offer worth $1,200.

This offer meets our criteria for the best time to apply, so we recommend doing so if you’re interested or have been considering getting the Delta Reserve.

Not everyone may be eligible for a welcome offer, especially if you are upgrading from other SkyMiles Amex cards. You may also be ineligible if you’ve earned a welcome bonus on this card before.

Fortunately, American Express will inform you if you’re ineligible for this card’s welcome offer before performing a hard pull on your credit.

Earning rates

The Delta Reserve card earns Delta SkyMiles. This card earns 3 miles per dollar spent on all Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. Per TPG’s February 2025 valuations, these rates equate to a 3.6% and 1.2% return on spending, respectively.

Other cards have a higher return on spending than 1.2% on everyday purchases, but if you are a Delta frequent flyer, the Sky Club access and other benefits can help to offset this.

Related: Best premium credit cards

Earn Medallion status faster

The Delta Reserve comes with a helpful way to qualify for Medallion status.

For every $10 you spend, you will earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD). Additionally, cardmembers receive 2,500 MQDs deposited into their SkyMiles account every Medallion Qualification Year.

This is a great way to get a jump-start on earning those valuable MQDs that help you earn Medallion elite status.

Related: Secure a better seat! The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta flights

Useful credits

Ride-hailing statement credit

Delta Reserve cardmembers can earn a monthly up-to-$10 statement credit (up to $120 every calendar year) after using their card to pay for an eligible ride-hailing service. This credit is valid on select ride-hailing services in the U.S. Enrollment is required; terms apply.

Resy statement credits

Food lovers will appreciate that the Delta Reserve offers monthly up-to-$20 Resy statement credits. Cardmembers can receive up to $20 monthly in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants (up to $240 per calendar year). Enrollment is required; terms apply.

Any restaurant on Resy is eligible for the credit if you pay using your Delta Reserve card. No reservation is required.

Amex states: “Eligible Resy purchases include purchases at U.S. restaurants that offer reservations on Resy.com and the Resy app, purchases made directly on Resy.com or in the Resy app and purchases made via Resy Pay.

Restaurants must be live on Resy.com or the Resy app at time of purchase to be eligible for the statement credit and are subject to change at any time. Purchases of Resy OS restaurant management software are not eligible.”

Related: Why I value Priority Pass’ airport restaurant credit over lounge access

Delta Stays statement credit

Delta Reserve cardmembers receive an annual statement credit of up to $200 each calendar year for Delta Stays bookings. You must book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta to receive this statement credit.

If used to its maximum value, this can get you one to two nights at no cost at a hotel or vacation home (depending on the destination’s cost).

Lounge access

Delta Reserve cardmembers have limited access to Delta Sky Clubs. Keep in mind that you won’t be allowed in the lounge if you are a cardmember flying on a basic economy ticket.

You’ll receive 15 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually through your Delta Reserve. Once you have used all 15 visits, you can use your card to purchase one-time passes for $50.

However, if you spend over $75,000 on the card in 2025, you will receive unlimited visits in 2026. This will continue year by year moving forward if you continue to meet the spending requirement each year. Cardmembers also receive four guest passes per year.

Once you’ve used these guest passes, you’ll need to pay $50 per guest per visit. This fee is reduced to $25 per guest if you’re visiting a Delta Grab and Go location.

Cardmembers receive access to Centurion Lounges or Escape lounges when you book a Delta flight on your card. This access is unlimited for the cardmember. For Centurion Lounges, cardmembers may bring up to two guests for $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2-17.

Guest rates for Escape lounges vary by location, so make sure to check the policy of a given lounge before your trip. Note that guests must be flying on a same-day Delta flight to access Centurion Lounges or Escape lounges.

Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access 

Companion certificate

Delta Reserve cardmembers get a companion certificate each year after renewal. This companion certificate allows you to buy two round-trip tickets for the price of one, plus taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights.

This companion certificate is valid in first class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin on round-trip flights in the U.S. and to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

If you use this certificate on a first-class ticket, you can recoup the cost of the annual fee from this benefit alone. Alternatively, you can get outsize value by using it to travel in Main Cabin to a popular destination during peak season.

Other benefits

The Delta Reserve card comes with myriad other useful benefits, such as:

• Complimentary upgrades: Cardmembers who don’t have Delta SkyMiles Medallion status are eligible to receive complimentary upgrades for Delta One (within the 50 U.S. States), first class and Comfort+ after Medallion members
• 15% off all Delta-operated award flights in any cabin of service (I use this perk frequently when I am looking to book last-minute domestic transcontinental flights)
• Priority boarding in Zone 5
• Free checked bags (first bag free for the cardmember and up to eight people traveling on the same reservation)
• A $120 credit for Global Entry every four years or up to an $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years
• 20% back on eligible inflight purchases of food and drink (inflight Wi-Fi purchases not included)
• Travel protections

Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.

Related: Your complete guide to shopping protections on American Express cards

Bottom line

The Delta Reserve card is the top-tier card in the Delta SkyMiles Amex family. It offers lounge access and other perks, such as the companion certificate. If you are a Delta loyalist and value Sky Club access and a faster path to Medallion elite status, this card can be a great addition to your wallet. Its numerous benefits can help offset the card’s high annual fee.

If you don’t fly Delta frequently, however, there are other cards you should consider adding to your wallet instead.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta Reserve card.

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Card, click here.