Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Review

Overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve is a cash back card from American Express, running on the Amex network. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve keeps things simple, earning a flat 1x on every purchase with no categories to track or quarterly activations. It carries a $650 annual fee, so the real question is whether its rewards, credits, and perks clear that bar for the way you spend. New cardholders can earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after $6,000 in 6 months.

It sits at the premium end of the market, trading a steep annual fee for lounge access, statement credits, and travel protections. That makes the decision less about the rewards rate and more about whether you will use the perks enough to come out ahead.

Our 3.0 out of 5 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve earns a flat 1x on every purchase. On a typical $29,160 of annual spending that comes to about $292 back a year, with nothing to track or activate.

Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:

• 3x miles on Delta purchases

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

The current welcome offer is 100,000 Bonus Miles, earned after you spend $6,000 in 6 months. Valued honestly at a flat 1 cent per point, that is worth about $1,000. The spending requirement works out to roughly $1,000 per month, so make sure it fits your normal budget rather than pushing you to overspend. Stacking the welcome offer on top of a typical year of rewards and accounting for the $650 annual fee, the first year is worth roughly $642.

Is the annual fee worth it?

To come out ahead on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve you need to clear its $650 annual fee, and it leans on rewards rather than credits to get there. On typical spending it earns about $292 a year. On rewards and credits alone it is a close call, so it only makes sense if you will genuinely use the perks like lounge access, elite status, or travel protections.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• Delta Sky Club® access (15 visits/yr; unlimited with $75k annual spend)
• Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
• Annual companion certificate (domestic First Class or Comfort+)
• First checked bag free on Delta flights
• Priority boarding and upgraded boarding
• $2,500 MQD boost toward Medallion Status each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees

Statement credits

• Delta Sky Club access (15 visits/yr)
• Annual companion certificate (First Class or Comfort+)
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
• First checked bag free on Delta flights

Who should get it, and who should skip it

It is best for frequent flyers loyal to this airline who will use perks like free checked bags and priority boarding and want miles toward award flights.

Skip it if you will not use the lounge access and annual credits, or if you would rather not float a high fee and chase reimbursements every year.

Frequently asked questions