Amex
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Annual Fee
$650
Bonus Value
$1,200
Min Spend
$6K/6mo
Current Welcome Offer
100,000
Delta SkyMiles — worth ~$1,200
Spend $6,000 in 6 months
Verify offer with issuer
Source: www.americanexpress.com
Personalize
Will you be approved for this card?
Take the 1-minute Approval Predictor and we'll show your odds on every card.
Directed to Amex's secure application · We may earn a commission
Key facts
| Annual fee | $650 |
|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 100,000 Delta SkyMiles after $6,000 spend in 6 months |
| Bonus value estimate | ~$1,200 |
| Top earning rates | 3× flights |
| Points program | Delta SkyMiles |
| Card network | Amex |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
What you get
All 8 perks ↓Perks/yr up to
$1,825
Annual Fee
$650
Covers fee (realistic use)
1.4×
2 of 8 need activation — credits often split into small chunks, easy to miss.
Historical Intelligence
Offer history & timing
Current
100,000
Average
100,000
Tracked High
—
No offer change history on record yet.
Timing Intelligence
Stable offer — no timing signal
This offer hasn't changed across our tracked observations, so there's no timing advantage to waiting or rushing. Apply whenever the card itself fits your plans.
Based on limited history.Not financial advice. Always verify with issuer.
Intelligence
Decision guide
Offer Score
Average
Worth keeping for ongoing value (~$177/yr after bonus)
Timing
Stable offer — no timing signal
This offer hasn't changed across our tracked observations, so there's no timing advantage to waiting or rushing. Apply whenever the card itself fits your plans.
Verified from issuer · May 12
Ecosystem
Delta SkyMiles
SkyMiles for Delta flights and SkyTeam partner airlines. Medallion status path.
Value
First-year value estimate
Conservative
+$1,191
65% benefit utilization, minimal travel redemptions
Realistic
+$1,377
85% benefit utilization, occasional transfer partner redemptions
Optimized
+$1,703
100% utilization, premium transfer partner redemptions
Keeper Value (Year 2+)
After the signup bonus — is it worth keeping?
+$177/yr
Assumes ~$24,120/yr of typical US household card spend consolidated on this card · statement credits counted at 30–85% of face value by tier (never 100% — credits are enrollment-gated and merchant-restricted) · Year 1 includes signup bonus when verified offer data exists. Illustrative — actual value varies by spending habits and redemption strategy.
Benefits & Transfer Partners
Benefits
Card perks & credits
Up to $1,825/yr in benefits
✈️travel credit
Rideshare Credit
$120/yr
$10/mo
$10/month ($120/yr) in statement credits on US rideshare. Requires enrollment.
⚠ Enrollment required
US rideshare apps (Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, Alto)
🍽️dining credit
Resy Restaurant Credit
$240/yr
$20/mo
$20/month ($240/yr) at participating Resy restaurants. Requires enrollment.
⚠ Enrollment required
US Resy restaurants and Resy.com
🛫airline credit
Annual Companion Certificate
$500/yr
Companion certificate after renewal — buy one ticket, companion flies for taxes/fees. Typical value $300-$800.
Main, Comfort+, or first cabin on domestic Delta + select international (US territories, Caribbean, Central America)
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
First checked bag free for cardmember and up to 8 companions on Delta-operated flights.
Domestic Delta flights, up to 9 passengers
Priority Boarding
Zone 1 priority boarding on Delta flights.
Delta-marketed flights
🏛️lounge
Delta Sky Club Access
$695/yr
15 free Sky Club visits/yr; unlimited after $75K annual card spend. Guest fee $50/visit (waived once you hit unlimited tier).
Delta Sky Club lounges (when flying Delta-marketed flights)
Amex Centurion Lounge (Delta flyers)
$200/yr
Access to Centurion Lounges when on a same-day Delta-marketed flight.
Centurion Lounges when flying Delta-marketed flight same day
⭐status
MQD Boost
$2,500 in MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) added each Medallion year, helping reach Delta elite status.
Approval & Best For
Fit assessment
Best For / Not Best For
Best For
- Frequent flyers with a preferred airline wanting companion benefits
Not Best For
- Occasional credit card users who won't recoup the $650 annual fee through benefits
- Those who prefer straightforward cash back over points/miles redemptions
Current Offer Status
Offer status
100,000 Delta SkyMiles
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Annual fee
$650/year
Compare & Alternatives
Compare with
Popular side-by-side comparisons.
Amex
Amex Platinum
Compare →
Amex
Amex Gold
Compare →
Amex
Bonvoy Brilliant
Compare →
Amex
Delta Platinum
Compare →
All Delta Reserve comparisons
Alternatives
Consider these cards instead
Chase
United Explorer
Lower-fee option if you don't need all the premium perks.
$150/yr
50,000 pts
View review
Chase
United Quest
Lower-fee option if you don't need all the premium perks.
$250/yr
90,000 pts
View review
Chase
SW Priority
Lower-fee option if you don't need all the premium perks.
$229/yr
60,000 pts
View review
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the current Delta Reserve welcome bonus?
100,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months. Welcome bonus offers change frequently — the value shown on this page is updated against the issuer's published offer. For the live offer, click through to the apply page; the bonus is confirmed at approval time, not click time.
Is the Delta Reserve worth the $650 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~$1,200 estimated cash value) plus up to ~$1,825/yr in tracked benefits and credits typically covers the $650 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on whether you actually use the recurring credits and category multipliers. Run your real spending through our Annual Fee Calculator before deciding to renew.
What are the main benefits of the Delta Reserve?
The highest-value benefits we track on the Delta Reserve: Delta Sky Club Access (~$695), Annual Companion Certificate (~$500), Resy Restaurant Credit (~$240), Amex Centurion Lounge (Delta flyers) (~$200). Combined tracked benefit value is up to ~$1,825 per year against the $650 annual fee. Dollar values are our estimates of realistic usage — credits that require enrollment or expire monthly are worth less if you don't actively use them.
What credit score do I need for Delta Reserve?
Realistic target: 740+ FICO. Issuers don't publish hard cutoffs, but data points from approval/denial reports suggest 740+ is the floor for reliable approval on cards in Delta Reserve's tier. Income, debt-to-income ratio, and existing relationship with Amex also matter — use our Approval Predictor for a more personalized estimate.
What credit limit does the Delta Reserve come with?
Amex doesn't publish credit limits for the Delta Reserve — your starting line is assigned individually at approval based on income, existing debt obligations, and credit history, so reported limits vary widely between applicants. If your initial limit is lower than you'd like, most issuers let you request a credit-line increase after several months of on-time payments.
What airport lounge access does Delta Reserve include?
Delta Reserve includes unlimited Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta. Lounge networks differ significantly between issuers — Centurion is Amex-only, Sapphire Lounges are Chase-only, Capital One Lounges are Cap One only. Pick the card whose network actually exists at the airports you fly through.
Editorial guides
More on Delta Reserve and Amex
Delta SkyMiles: The Complete 2026 Program Guide
Why Delta SkyMiles is the only US-major airline with exclusive Amex MR 1:1 transfer access — Delta One transcons at 50-75K, Sky Club lounge access, no expiration policy.
Read
Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access in 2026
The 5 cards that maximize airport lounge access in 2026 — Centurion + Sky Club + Priority Pass + Capital One Lounges + Admirals Club coverage at every major US airport.
Read
Delta Reserve vs Amex Platinum: Which is Worth It? (2026)
Delta Reserve ($650/yr) wins for Delta loyalists: unlimited Sky Club, MQM acceleration, any-cabin companion cert. Amex Platinum ($895/yr) wins for multi-airline travelers: 5x on all flights, 35+ Centurion Lounges, transferable MR to 19 partners.
Read
Why trust this review
- Independent research. CreditPoints is not paid by issuers to rank cards. All scores are algorithmic, based on public offer data, benefit valuations, and issuer rules.
- Regular verification. Offer amounts, spend requirements, and benefit values are checked against issuer pages via automated monitoring and manual audit.
- Transparent methodology. Every value estimate uses disclosed assumptions. Read our full scoring methodology.
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page. The first-year value math, transfer-partner analysis and approval signals on this card review are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Current offer: 100,000 Delta — worth ~$1,200
View Official OffersAmex's secure site · No data stored · Commission may apply
Offers are based on publicly available information and are subject to change without notice. Estimated values are illustrative. CreditPoints is independent and not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by any card issuer; some Apply links are referral links that earn us compensation, which never affects a card's score or verdict.
Delta Reserve
100,000 Delta offer