Is the annual fee for the Delta Reserve Amex justified?

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is Amex and Delta Air Lines' premier cobranded card, featuring a hefty annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees).

When considering cards with annual fees exceeding $400, you should expect premium perks and significant value.

Let's examine whether the Delta Reserve card provides sufficient value for its annual fee.

Sign-up bonus

For a limited period, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is offering new cardholders 100,000 bonus miles after they spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of membership.

According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, Delta SkyMiles are valued at 1.2 cents each, making this bonus worth $1,200. This offer concludes on Oct. 23.

Not everyone will qualify for a welcome offer, especially if you're upgrading from another SkyMiles Amex card. Fortunately, American Express will notify you of your ineligibility for this card's welcome offer before conducting a hard inquiry on your credit.

Rewards structure

The Delta Reserve card allows you to earn Delta SkyMiles. You earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile for every dollar spent on other transactions. According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, these rates correspond to a 3.6% and 1.2% return on your spending, respectively.

While other cards may offer a better return than 1.2% on everyday expenses, frequent Delta flyers can benefit from Sky Club access and additional perks that can help offset this.

Accelerate your path to Medallion status

The Delta Reserve provides a convenient way to achieve Medallion status.

For every $10 spent, you will accumulate 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar. Additionally, cardholders receive 2,500 MQDs credited to their SkyMiles account each Medallion qualification year.

This is an excellent opportunity to jumpstart your accumulation of valuable MQDs that contribute to achieving Medallion elite status.

Valuable credits

Ride-hailing service credit

The Delta Reserve offers a monthly statement credit of up to $10 (totaling up to $120 each calendar year) when you use your card for eligible ride-hailing services. This benefit applies to select ride-hailing options in the U.S. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

Resy statement credits

Food enthusiasts will enjoy that the Delta Reserve provides monthly Resy credits of up to $20. Cardholders can earn up to $20 per month in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants (capping at $240 annually).

Any restaurant on Resy qualifies for the credit if you make the payment with your Delta Reserve card. Enrollment is necessary; terms apply.

Amex specifies: "Eligible Resy transactions include purchases at U.S. restaurants that accept reservations through Resy.com and the Resy app, transactions made directly on Resy.com or within the Resy app, and those processed via Resy Pay. Restaurants must be active on Resy.com or the Resy app at the time of purchase to qualify for the statement credit, which may change at any moment. Purchases of Resy OS restaurant management software are excluded."

Delta Stays statement credit

Cardholders of the Delta Reserve receive an annual statement credit of up to $200 each calendar year for bookings made through Delta Stays. To qualify for the credit, you must book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta. If fully utilized, this could cover one to two nights for free at a hotel or vacation home, depending on the destination's price.

Lounge access

Currently, Reserve cardholders enjoy unlimited entry to Delta Sky Clubs. You may bring up to two guests for $50 each. However, access to the lounge is not permitted if you are a cardholder traveling on a basic economy fare.

Starting February 1, 2025, Delta Reserve cardholders will only receive 15 annual visits to Delta Sky Clubs. After utilizing all 15 visits, you can purchase one-time passes for $50 using your card.

However, if you spend more than $75,000 on the card in 2024, you will qualify for unlimited visits in 2025. This benefit will continue annually as long as you meet the spending threshold each year. Additionally, cardholders receive four guest passes each year.

Cardholders gain access to Centurion Lounges or Escape lounges when they book a Delta flight using their card. This access is unlimited for the cardholder, and they can bring up to two guests for $50 per adult and $30 per child aged 2-17.

Companion certificate

Each year upon renewal, cardholders of the Delta Reserve receive a companion certificate. This certificate enables you to purchase two round-trip tickets for the cost of one, with taxes and fees capped at $80 for domestic flights and $250 for international flights.

This companion certificate is applicable for first class, Comfort+, or Main Cabin on domestic routes (including Alaska and Hawaii), as well as Caribbean and Central American round-trip journeys. Terms and conditions apply.

Utilizing this certificate on a first-class fare could offset the cost of your annual fee. Moreover, you can maximize its value by using it for Main Cabin travel to a sought-after destination during peak season.

Additional perks

The Delta Reserve card offers a variety of other valuable benefits, including:

• Complimentary upgrades: Cardholders without Delta SkyMiles Medallion status can receive complimentary upgrades to Delta One (within the 50 U.S. States), first class, and Comfort+ after Medallion members.
• 15% discount on all Delta-operated award flights in any cabin (I often utilize this benefit for last-minute domestic transcontinental bookings).
• Priority boarding in Zone 5.
• Free checked luggage (the first bag is free for the cardholder and up to eight people 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, starting Oct. 1, 2024.
• 20% rebate on inflight purchases of food and beverages (inflight Wi-Fi purchases are excluded).
• Travel protections.
• Enrollment is necessary for certain card benefits; terms apply.

In summary

The Delta Reserve card is the premier option in the SkyMiles Amex lineup. It provides lounge access along with other advantages, such as the companion certificate.

If you’re a dedicated Delta flyer who appreciates Sky Club access and a quicker route to Medallion elite status, this card can be an excellent choice, offering numerous benefits that can help justify the high annual fee.

If you don't frequently fly with Delta, there are other cards you might want to consider for your wallet.

For more information, check out our comprehensive review of the Delta Reserve card.