Is the Delta Reserve Amex annual fee worth it?

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the most premium cobranded card Amex and Delta Air Lines offer, 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.

So, let’s take a look and see if the Delta Reserve card is worth the annual fee.

Welcome offer

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers 100,000 bonus SkyMiles after you spend $6,000 within the first six months of card membership. This matches the best-ever offer we have seen on this card. TPG values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents per mile, which makes this offer worth $1,200. This offer is good until March 27.

Not everyone may be eligible for a welcome offer, especially if you are upgrading from other SkyMiles Amex cards.

Earning rates

The Delta Reserve card earns Delta SkyMiles. This card earns 3 miles per dollar on all Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. 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

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

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For every $10 you spend, you will earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar. 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.

Statement credits

Ride-hailing credit

The Delta Reserve has a monthly up-to-$10 credit after you use your 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.)

Resy credits

Food lovers will appreciate that the Delta Reserve has monthly up-to-$20 Resy credits. Cardmembers receive up to $20 monthly in statement credits on eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants. Any restaurant on Resy is eligible for the credit if you pay using your Delta Reserve card. (Enrollment is required.)

Amex states: “Eligible Resy purchases include purchases at U.S. restaurants that offer reservations on Resy.com and the Resy app, and purchases made directly on Resy.com or in the Resy app. 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 made via Resy Pay and purchases of Resy OS restaurant management software are not eligible.”

Delta Stays credit

Delta Reserve cardmembers receive an annual up-to-$200 credit for Delta Stays bookings. You must book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta to receive the credit. If used to its maximum value, this can get one to two nights for free at a hotel or vacation home, depending on the destination’s cost.

Lounge access

Currently, Reserve cardmembers have unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs. You can bring up two guests for $50 per person. You will not be allowed in the lounge if you are a cardmember flying on a basic economy ticket.

However, starting Feb. 1, 2025, Delta Reserve cardmembers will receive only 15 visits to Delta Sky Clubs annually. Once you have used all 15 visits, you can use your card to purchase one-time passes for $50.

However, you will receive unlimited visits in 2025 if you spend over $75,000 on the card in 2024. This will continue year by year moving forward. Cardmembers also receive four guest passes per year.

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 and they may bring up to two guests for $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2-17.

Companion certificate

Cardmembers of the Delta Reserve 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, Premium Select, Comfort+ or Main Cabin on domestic (including Alaska and Hawaii), Caribbean and Central American routes.

If you use this certificate on a first-class ticket, you can recoup the cost of the annual fee from this benefit alone. Additionally, 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 Group 7 of 10
Free checked bags (first bag free for the cardmember and up to eight people traveling on the same reservation)
Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry every four years or up to an $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4 1/2 years
20% back on inflight purchases of food and drink (inflight Wi-Fi purchases not included)
Travel protections
Enrollment required for select card benefits

Bottom line

The Delta Reserve card is the top-tier card in the SkyMiles Amex family, with lounge access and other benefits like the companion certificate.

If you are a Delta loyalist and value Sky Club access and a faster path to Medallion elite status, this can be a great fit, with numerous credits to help offset the high annual fee (see rates and fees).

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

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

Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, click here.

Is the Delta Reserve Amex annual fee worth it?

Welcome offer

Earning rates

Earn Medallion status