 The Pros and Cons of the Delta Reserve Card From American Express |
Source |
American Shipper |
Post Date |
04/11/2024 |
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The Pros and Cons of the Delta Reserve Card From American Express A rundown of the top-tier Delta credit cards current welcome offer, benefits, point earning structure, and more.
My introduction to travel credit cards began with Delta co-branded American Express cards. In 2008, I signed up for the Delta SkyMiles?Gold American Express Card during a flight to Puerto Rico. Fast forward to 2023, and I upgraded from the Delta SkyMiles?Platinum American Express Card to the Delta Reserve?Credit Card from American Express to maintain Medallion status and access to Delta Sky Clubs. This upgrade made perfect sense as I fly Delta often?y home airport happens to be the airlines main hub. Signing up for this card even rewarded me with enough points for a round-trip flight from Atlanta to Paris.
This card is a no-brainer if you?e a Delta loyalist like me, but it can be a good option for other frequent travelers, too. Keep reading to learn about the cards benefits and determine whether its worth adding to your wallet.
Is the Delta SkyMiles?Reserve American Express Card worth the $650 annual fee?
Shortly after I signed up for the card, Delta announced an increase in the annual fee from $550 to $650. Initially, I was disappointed, but the more I understood the increase in benefits that come with the price tag, the more I realized this card is worth the hefty fee. Before upgrading from the Delta SkyMiles Platinum to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, I considered a few factors. At the time, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex had an annual fee of $250 (it? now $350). While I had the card, I paid for entry into the SkyClub a few times. At $50 per visit, that added up.
With access to SkyClubs included with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex card and the enhanced companion pass, frequent use of the perks easily offset the $650 annual fee.
Additionally, while this card does not offer a high mileage earning rate per dollar spent (more on that below), it does help me reduce flight costs. I usually pair the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass?Card or the IHG?Rewards Club Premier Credit Card to maximize my travel savings.
Another important factor is that this card accelerates the attainment of Silver Medallion status by providing $2,500 toward the $5,000 MQD requirement (I?l explain this further below too). Because its the lower tier, people often overlook the perks of Silver Medallion status, but theyre worthwhile for frequent fliers: Cardholders get priority boarding and a discount on CLEAR Plus membership, which renews each year you have the card.
Delta SkyMiles?Reserve American Express Card benefits and perks
?Luxury lounge access: Cardholders get complimentary unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges, and will receive four one-time-use guest passes each year. Starting on February 1, 2025, the unlimited access benefit will be reduced to 15 visits per year unless you sp $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. After the 15 visits have been exhausted, you can purchase additional visits at $50 per person.
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?Medallion Status fast track: Recently, Delta revamped its tem for earning medallion status in 2025 and beyond. Previously, to earn Medallion status, SkyMiles members had to meet specific threshold qualifications in two categories: MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) and MQDs (Medallion Qualifying Dollars). The process has been simplified to only measure MQDs. For 2025 status, the MQD thresholds range from $5,000 MQDs for Silver Medallion status to $28,000 for Diamond Medallion status. With the Reserve? MQD Headstart & Boost benefit, cardholders will receive a $2,500 head start toward the threshold for earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) each year and will earn one additional MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
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?Companion certificate: Cardholders receive an annual companion certificate for a free domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight in First Class, Delta Comfort+? or Main Cabin for a fri booked on the same flight.
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?$240 Resy credit: Receive up to $20 in monthly statement credits at participating US Resy restaurants. Plus, unlock exclusive reservations with Global Dining Access by Resy.
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?$200 Delta Stays credit: Book a hotel stay and get up to $200 back on prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays.
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?$120 rideshare credit: Streamline your commutes and earn up to $10 in statement credits each month on rideshare purchases in the US with providers.
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?TakeOff 15: Save on travel booked with points with a 15% discount when using miles to book Delta flights through the airline? website or app.
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?Complimentary upgrade list: Even without Medallion Status, cardholders can be added to the upgrade list after Delta? elite members to potentially be bumped up into Comfort Plus or First Class.
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?Fee credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry: Breeze through security with a statement credit to cover the application fee for either program. You?l receive a $100 statement credit for Global Entry and up to $85 for TSA PreCheck.
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?Hertz President? Circle Status: Elevate your car rentals with complimentary Hertz President? Circle Status, offering exclusive benefits like priority service and vehicle upgrades.
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?No foreign transaction fees: There are no extra fees on international purchases.
Current welcome offer
New applicants can currently earn 60,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases during the first six months of card membership.
How to earn miles
Cardholders earn three miles for every dollar spent (3X) with Delta and one mile (1X) for all other purchases. While there aren? many options for earning extra miles through card sping alone, you can maximize your miles accumulation by ?ouble dipping?on certain buys within the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal. When using the Delta Reserve card for purchases in said portal, youll earn at least one mile per dollar spent; deping on the retailer, though, earnings can be anywhere from 1X to 9X per dollar. I?e double-dipped using the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card to purchase electronics and appliances from Samsung in the portal, earning around 5,700 SkyMiles this way.
How to redeem miles
Cardholders have options when it comes to redeeming SkyMiles for flights. You can redeem the total miles needed for the flight or opt for the cash and miles method. As a cardholder, when you redeem miles in increments of 5,000, youll receive a $50 discount for each increment applied to the cost while booking a flight. I usually book a domestic flight using 10,000 miles to get a $100 discount. This allows me to space out mile redemptions for future trips.
Additionally, I watch for Delta Flight deals, where trips paid for with miles often come with a 15% discount. By strategically combining these methods, I can maximize the value of my SkyMiles and stretch out the benefits of the signup bonus. Recently, I took advantage of a sale and booked a roundtrip ticket from Atlanta to Paris for just 75,000 SkyMiles. The cash value of the flight was $707.
What I wish I knew before signing up
Most perks are unavailable if you buy the cheapest Delta fare, Basic Economy (fare class E); in these seats, you are not eligible for the complimentary upgrade list, nor can you access the Delta SkyClub or use the companion certificate.
I am excited about the new Hertz Club President? Circle status benefit. I frequently use Hertz for rental cars. This benefit helps me skip the counter at the airport and makes me eligible for complimentary upgrades when available.
Over the years, I?e witnessed the gradual removal of perks from other Delta SkyMiles American Express cards. At one point, I could access Delta Sky Clubs with a Delta SkyMiles Gold card. However, with all the credits and benefits the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card provides, this card is here to stay in my wallet for now.
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