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American Express issues seven co-branded Delta credit cards, and the is its most premium small-business credit card. If you're a frequent Delta flyer — for business or pleasure — this card has the potential to make your travels much more comfortable and can potentially save you a lot of money.
Delta Reserve Business Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
The isn't the card for you if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year. With a annual fee, it's only worth it if you can take full advantage of its travel benefits.
It currently offers an elevated limited-time welcome bonus of . Plus, cardholders receive Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion airport lounge access when they fly Delta, Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) for meeting spending thresholds, complimentary upgrades, a free first checked bag on Delta flights, a 15% discount on Delta award flights, and an annual companion certificate that can be worth thousands, depending on how you redeem it.
This isn't the best card for everyday spending, because you'll earn 3x miles on Delta purchases and just 1 mile per dollar on everything else. However, if you're a big spender, you'll get an improved rate — after you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, you'll earn 1.5 miles per dollar in non-bonus category spending on eligible purchases for the rest of the year.
If you're just looking to earn more Delta miles on your day-to-day expenses, you might want to consider a card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points instead, like the or . You can transfer Amex points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio (as well as lots of other American Express airline and hotel partners), so one of these cards may be a better fit.
Alternately, if you want day-of-travel benefits on Delta, but don't want to pay a high annual fee, there are two other Delta small-business cards to consider with lower annual fees. The comes with an annual fee of , and the mid-level charges per year. Both offer perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights.
To qualify for any of Delta's business cards, you'll need a small business — but it doesn't have to be a big corporation. Even side gigs like driving for Lyft, delivering for DoorDash, or freelance work could qualify you for a small-business card.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Delta Reserve Business Card Rewards
Amex Delta Reserve Business welcome bonus offer
The card's sky-high welcome bonus offer of is worth around in flights, based on Insider's latest points and miles valuations. You can often fly round-trip in coach to Europe or beyond for that amount of miles, saving you potentially thousands.
Previously, the card's bonus was 70,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements, so this is a big boost in value.
How to earn miles from the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
Apart from the welcome bonus offer, the card has a fairly straightforward and unexciting earning structure with only one bonus category to keep track of, but again it's not the best choice for everyday purchases unless you're a big spender. Cardholders earn:
- 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta (including airfare, upgrades, miles, seat selection, Delta Sky Club membership, and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights)
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
However, when you spend $150,000 or more in a calendar year, all non-bonus purchases after meeting that threshold will earn 1.5 miles per dollar for the rest of the year. The extra 0.5 miles don't get tacked on to the Delta bonus category — you'll still earn 3x miles on those purchases, even if you meet the spending threshold.
How to use miles from the Delta Business Reserve card
Delta miles are worth 1.1 cents apiece, on average, based on Insider's points and miles valuations. If you get that rate or higher when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, you can be confident you're getting a good deal.
Delta miles aren't just useful for booking award flights on Delta. You can also redeem them for flights on SkyTeam alliance partners, and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet. Because Delta no longer publishes a fixed award chart, the number of miles you'll need for an award ticket varies depending on the paid ticket price, demand, time of year, and other factors.
This means award prices can sometimes be exorbitantly high. However, Delta occasionally offers flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way on domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. These Delta SkyMiles deals arrive unexpectedly, so it's worth checking in occasionally to see if the route or destination you want is on sale.
If you'd rather not worry about tracking down award availability, there's an easier way to use your miles toward flights. All Amex Delta cardholders can redeem miles to fully or partially offset the cost of a paid ticket. The Delta Pay With Miles program allows members to cash in miles at a rate of 1 cent apiece, in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is handy if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash.
There are other options for redeeming Delta miles, but you'll typically get a poor value compared to using them for award flights:
- Seat selection and upgrades
- Delta Sky Club lounge memberships
- Certain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)
- Gift cards
- Magazines
- Tour vouchers
- Charity donations
- Delta Vacations packages
- Premium drinks in Delta Sky Club lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Experiences
Because Delta miles don't expire, you don't have to redeem them right away if you're not ready to book travel yet.
Delta Reserve Business Card Benefits and Features
As a premium credit card, the offers a wide range of benefits that can help offset its substantial annual fee.
Delta Sky Club airport lounge access
The 's most compelling benefit is Delta Sky Club airport lounge access. If you were to purchase an individual Sky Club membership separately, it would cost $545 per year, so if that's something you'd otherwise pay for, the is a better deal, considering the additional perks you'll receive.
Delta operates dozens of Sky Clubs at major US airports, including Delta hubs like Atlanta (ATL), Seattle (SEA), and New York (LGA and JFK), as well as many other destinations. members receive access to Sky Clubs if they're flying on a Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight that day. Cardholders also receive two one-time Sky Club guest passes each year, and can also bring in up to two guests (or immediate family) at a discounted rate of $50 per person, as long as they're also flying Delta.
If your home airport has a Delta Sky Club, or you often fly through airports with one of these lounges, this benefit can improve your travel experience and save you money in the long term. Delta Sky Clubs offer a quieter place to relax and get work done, with free Wi-Fi, snacks, light meals, beverages, and other amenities.
But if Delta Sky Club access is your main objective, be sure to look at or as other options. These cards also offer Sky Club access when you fly Delta, so they may be a better choice if you prefer flexibility and don't want to be locked into earning Delta miles exclusively. Here's our comparison of the Amex Platinum versus Business Platinum for all the details.
Amex Centurion Lounge access
Amex Centurion Lounges are much more upscale than Delta Sky Clubs, and if you have the and are flying Delta that day, you'll have access if you used a US-issued American Express card to pay for your ticket.
Cardholders can currently bring in up to two guests, if they're also flying Delta, for $50 per person. Centurion Lounges are well known for premium food, craft cocktails, and a more exclusive atmosphere, but they're not in as many airports as Sky Clubs are.
Escape Lounge — The Centurion Studio Partner access
members can also access Escape Lounge — The Centurion Studio Partner locations in the US when they fly on a Delta-operated or marketed flight the same day. Again, you'll need to use a US-issued Amex card to pay for your ticket to gain entry to these lounges. You can also bring additional guests (who must also be flying Delta that day) for a guest fee that varies depending on the Escape Lounge location.
Upgrade priority and access to complimentary upgrades
cardholders get upgrade priority over non-cardholders with the same Medallion elite status level and fare class grouping. If you don't have Medallion status, you'll get added to the complimentary upgrade list after elite status holders.
Annual Delta companion certificate
Every anniversary, you'll receive a Delta companion certificate valid for round-trip, domestic first class, Delta Comfort+, or economy class travel within the contiguous 48 states.
If you buy a qualifying paid ticket, a travel buddy can join you for just the cost of taxes and fees on the same itinerary. This can be extremely lucrative if you've booked an expensive fare or pricey last-minute ticket — you could potentially save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
The also offers an annual companion certificate, but it's only valid for economy class travel. If you book Comfort+ or first-class tickets, the is a better choice.
Delta Status Boost
When you spend $30,000 or more on eligible purchases in a calendar year with your , you'll receive 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) that can help you qualify for elite status. You can receive this boost up to four times per year, for a total of up to 60,000 MQMs.
Free first checked bag
When you have the , you and up to eight companions on the same reservation can receive a free first checked bag on Delta flights. Delta usually charges $30 each way for the first checked bag, so this benefit can translate to significant savings if you fly Delta frequently.
This can be an especially good value if you travel with your family or as a group. For instance, four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally be charged a total of $240 for their luggage.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are trusted traveler programs that can save you a ton of time at the airport, and if you use your to pay the application fee, you'll be reimbursed (up to $100 for Global Entry every four years or up to $78 for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years).
Priority boarding
cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Delta Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, even when they fly Basic Economy. This gets you on the airplane earlier and gets you more time to find space in the overhead bins for your carry-on and get settled into your seat.
Main Cabin 1 passengers board after those flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or folks flying in basic economy.
TakeOff 15 discount
If you have the , you're eligible for the airline's new TakeOff 15 benefit. As long as you're the primary cardholder and connect your card to your SkyMiles account, you'll receive a 15% discount when you book award tickets on Delta-operated flights through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
This could amount to significant savings if you redeem miles for Delta flights regularly. Keep in mind that partner award flights don't qualify, and authorized users/employee cards aren't eligible for the discount.
20% back on inflight purchases
When you pay for eligible inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights with your , you'll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.
Car rental insurance
The comes with secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. You're eligible for coverage for damage due to theft or collision only (not liability), and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.
Purchase protection
When you pay for an eligible item with your , you're eligible for purchase protection covering loss or damage coverage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 per year.
Extended warranty
Cardholders can also get an extended warranty of up to one additional year on eligible US manufacturer's warranties of five years or less, when they use their to pay for a qualifying item.
Return protection
If you used your to pay for an eligible item and the merchant won't accept your return, you may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.
Trip delay insurance
You can get reimbursed up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for a covered trip with your and it's delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period. Round-trip travel is required to be eligible for the card's trip delay insurance.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
If you paid for a covered trip with your and it's canceled or interrupted for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.
Baggage insurance
As long as you've paid for a covered trip with your , you could be eligible for baggage loss or damage insurance, up to $500 per person for checked luggage, and $1,250 per person for carry-on bags.
There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.
Cell phone protection
A handful of Amex cards offer cell phone protection, including the . When you use the card to pay your monthly wireless bill, you can be covered for the cost of repair or replacement if your phone is damaged or stolen, up to $800 per claim and up to two claims per 12-month period.
This coverage is secondary (it will pay out after any other insurance you have) and it starts the first day of the calendar month following payment of your monthly bill with your eligible card. You'll continue to have protection as long as you keep paying your bill with the card. There's a $50 deductible, and you must file your claim within 90 days of the incident.
Premium Global Assist Hotline
The comes with an often overlooked benefit that can make a huge difference if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, translation services, and missing luggage assistance.
This service is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it's approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.
Amex Offers
Like other American Express cards, the comes with targeted discounts or bonus miles at participating retailers, restaurants, services, and more through Amex Offers**. Activating and using these offers is a great way to save money on purchases you'd make anyway and can help you offset the card's annual fee.
Delta Reserve Business Card Annual Fees and Other Costs
The charges a annual fee, and each additional cardholder costs $175. However, there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so it's a good card to use for international purchases.
Be aware there's a APR that's applied if you carry a balance, so try to pay your card off in full every month to avoid being charged interest.
There are other fees for certain situations, including:
- Cash advance fee
- Late payment fee
- Returned payment fee
How the Delta Reserve Business Card Compares
Delta Reserve Business card vs other Delta small-business cards
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Annual fee
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Rewards rate |
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 1.5x miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year (through the remainder of the calendar year) 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 3x miles on eligible purchases made directly with hotels 1.5x miles on single transactions totaling $5,000+ (up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year) 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
2x miles on eligible Delta purchases 2x miles on eligible US purchases for advertising in select media and on eligible US shipping purchases 2x miles at restaurants 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
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Welcome bonus offer |
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Travel benefits |
Annual Delta companion certificate, valid for up to first class Access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta Access to Amex Centurion Lounges when paying for your airfare with your card and flying Delta Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 on purchases with your card in a calendar year (up to 4 times per year) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit 15% off Delta award flights with TakeOff 15
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Annual Delta companion certificate Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Discounted Delta Sky Club access Earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25,000 on purchases in a calendar year (up to two times) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit 15% off Delta award flights with TakeOff 15 |
Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit 15% off Delta award flights with TakeOff 15 |
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Review |
Delta Reserve for Business vs other premium airline business credit cards
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Annual fee |
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Rewards rate |
3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 1.5 miles per dollar after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year (through the remainder of the calendar year) 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
4x points on Southwest purchases 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners 2x points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare 2x points on social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
2x miles on eligible United purchases 1.5 miles per dollar on all other purchases |
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Welcome bonus offer |
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Travel benefits |
Annual Delta companion certificate, valid for up to first class Access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta Access to Amex Centurion Lounges when paying for your airfare with your card and flying Delta Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $30,000 on purchases with your card in a calendar year (up to 4 times per year) Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit 15% off Delta award flights with TakeOff 15 |
9,000 points on your card anniversary Earn tier-qualifying points toward A-List elite status Four upgraded boardings per year, when available Up to 365 inflight Wi-Fi credits per year $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit every four years Up to $500 per year in Southwest fee credits for points transfers |
United Club membership Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights Premier Access travel services 25% back on inflight purchases Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases, up to 1,000 PQP per calendar year Expanded access to United award flights |
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Review |
*When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket
Delta Reserve Business Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is eligible for the Delta SkyMiles Business Reserve card?
If you've already had (or currently have) the , you won't qualify for the bonus again, although it may be possible to still be approved if you don't currently hold the card. Amex has a rule that only allows you to get one bonus, per specific card, per lifetime.
However, each Delta card is considered a different product. So if you have or had other Delta cards, like the personal or another Delta business card like the , you're still eligible to apply and earn the bonus from the .
What credit score is required for the Delta Business Reserve Amex card?
To be considered for the , you'll generally need a credit score in the good to excellent range (a FICO score of at least 670).
Will I have to pay for my ticket with the Amex Delta Business Reserve to get a free checked bag?
primary cardholders receive a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights as long as their Delta SkyMiles number is added to the reservation. You don't have to purchase the flight (or pay for the taxes and fees on an award flight) with the card to get these benefits.
However, authorized users don't qualify for these perks. That said, if an authorized user is flying on the same reservation as the primary cardholder, they'll also get the benefits (up to eight companions qualify on the same reservation).
Is the Delta Business Reserve the best Delta credit card?
If you're a very frequent Delta flyer and can use all the perks that come with the , especially Delta Sky Club lounge access and a companion certificate, it could be worth paying the high annual fee. That doesn't mean it's the best Delta card for everyone, though.
Occasional Delta flyers will likely do better with the or because they still offer perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding, for a lower annual fee.
If I close my Delta Business Reserve card, will I lose my SkyMiles?
After you've had the card for at least a year, if you decide the benefits don't justify the annual fee, you will not lose your miles if you cancel. Your miles are deposited into your Delta frequent flyer account, not your Amex account.
However, closing a card before you've had it for a year is not a good idea. Amex could take your welcome bonus offer miles back, so it's best to wait to make a decision after your first 12 months is up.
Is the Delta Companion Certificate from the Delta Reserve Business worth it?
As long as you'll have at least one eligible round-trip Delta flight with a companion each year, the Delta Companion Certificate can be very lucrative, especially because the certificate you earn with the is valid for any class of travel — including Comfort+ and first class.
You could get substantial savings on expensive routes or if you book a pricey last-minute ticket. Your travel partner can fly on the same flight with you for just the cost of taxes and fees, even if their ticket would normally cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Are Delta Sky Club lounges a good deal?
Purchased separately, Delta Sky Club lounge membership costs $545, so opening the is a better deal when you consider all the other benefits you receive. Delta Sky Clubs feature free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and a quieter place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the airport.
This perk makes the most sense if your home airport has a Delta Sky Club, or if you often fly through airports that do. If that doesn't apply to you, but you still want airport lounge access, or are better options. These cards offer access to Delta Sky Clubs when you fly Delta, as well as Centurion Lounge and Priority Pass lounge access. Read our American Express Platinum card review and Amex Business Platinum card review for all the details, and check out our comparison of the Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve to help you choose the best card for you.
Methodology: How We Reviewed the Delta Reserve Business Card
Insider's experts evaluated the in comparison to other Delta credit cards, and to premium cards from other major US airlines. We looked at several factors, including:
- Simplicity — Does the card make it easy to earn and redeem miles? Are there any restrictions or hoops to jump through?
- Earning potential — Are there appealing bonus categories for small-business owners and travelers? Are any capped at a spending maximum?
- Annual fee — If there's an annual fee, particularly a hefty one, is it offset by the value of the rewards and perks offered by the card?
- Benefits — Do the card's perks save you money? Are the day-of-travel or airline-specific benefits generous, especially compared to other high-end cards?
You can read about how we rate credit cards at Insider for an in-depth look at our methodology.
from All Content from Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/amex-business-delta-reserve-card-review
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