Great Card If
- You are a frequent flyer and Delta loyalist
- You want Delta Sky Club access
Don’t Get If
- You are not a frequent traveler
- You don’t fly with Delta
Delta Reserve Card — Is It Worth It?
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer, the Delta Reserve card might just be a must-have card for you.
Thanks to its status boost ability, the card is a great option for those looking to qualify or re-qualify for high levels of Delta elite status. Plus, it offers complimentary Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access — a huge benefit for frequent travelers.
When you factor in the rest of the card’s benefits including the annual companion certificate, free checked bags, access to complimentary upgrades, and more, it’s easy to see how much value the card can offer to Delta flyers.
Delta Reserve Card Top Benefits
Delta Travel Benefits
The Delta Reserve card is loaded up with benefits that Delta flyers will love.
- Complimentary Lounge Access: Visit Delta Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges when flying with Delta.
- Status Boost: Earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to 4 times per year.
- Medallion Qualifying Dollar Waiver: Waive the MQDs requirement towards up to Platinum Medallion elite status after you make at least $25,000 in purchases in a year.
- Annual Companion Certificate: Receive up to a domestic first class round-trip companion certificate each year you renew your card, including taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights.
- Complimentary Upgrades: You’ll be added to the upgrade list on flights, even if you don’t have Delta status.
- Upgrade Priority: Receive priority on the upgrade list for holding the Delta Reserve card over other flyers with the same status level as you.
- Free Checked Bag: Get your first checked bag free for you and up to 8 traveling companions on the same flight.
- Get 20% Back on Inflight Purchases: Applies to food, beverages, and audio headsets.
Card Protections
- Trip Delay Insurance: If your flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, you can receive up to $500 in coverage towards items including food and lodging.
- Trip Cancellation Insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason, you can receive up to up to $10,000 per trip, up to $20,000 per year, in coverage for non-refundable expenses.
- Rental Car Insurance: The card’s secondary insurance coverage covers accidental damage or theft of your rental car.
- Baggage Insurance: If a carrier loses your luggage, you’re covered for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.
- Return Protection: If the merchant you purchased an item from won’t accept a return within 90 days, you can receive coverage of up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per year.
- Purchase Protection: If an item is lost or damaged within 90 days of purchase, you can receive up to $10,000 in coverage per occurrence, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
- Extended Warranty: Adds 1 year of warranty coverage to warranties of 5 years or less.
Alternative Cards to the Delta Reserve Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
If you’re not totally committed to Delta, but still want a card that offers premium perks, then the Amex Platinum card could be the one for you.
It still offers access to Amex Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs, but also takes that a step further by offering you access to several other airport lounge networks including Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Sure, the card has a steep annual fee of $695, but when you consider the amount of value you can get from the annual credits, it’s easy to see how you might come out way ahead by holding the card.
See our detailed comparison of the Amex Platinum card vs. the Delta Reserve card.
Business Owner?Check out our review of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
We’ve also compared the Delta Reserve card to other popular cards:
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
6 comments
tm
July 10, 2018
How much would you have to fly in order to go from silver to gold status with the reserve card?
Christine Krzyszton
July 10, 2018
The MQM (Medallion Qualifying Miles) requirement for Silver Medallion status with Delta is 25,000 MQMs. The MQM requirement for Gold Medallion status is 50,000 MQMs. If you had the Delta Reserve credit card and spent $30,000 on the card in a calendar year you would receive a total of 25,000 MQMs for that spending (10,000 MQMs for spending $3000 in the first 3 months and another 15,000 MQMs when you reach $30,000 in total spending).
You could then reach Gold status by earning another 25,000 MQMs by flying or by spending an additional $30,000 (total of $60,000) to earn another 15,000 MQMs and that would leave you with only needing to earn 10,000 MQMs from flying. Keep in mind that all of this activity has to be completed in a calendar year. I hope this answers your question.
George B
May 08, 2019
The real value of the card is the First Class companion certificate. I just got back from a MIA-SFO FC RT booking for $1,150. Now that price would be great, for an annual First Class transcon for two; to the West Coast or Vegas! That alone pays for the card, let alone for the Lounge Benefits, which can’t be bought (as of Jan 2019) for day pass, at any price!
Christine Krzyszton
May 08, 2019
Hello George and thanks for sharing your experience with the card. The companion certificate and lounge access are valuable benefits.
Tom L
August 03, 2023
I currently have the Delta Skymiles Platinum Amex. My daughter is an authorized user but she doesn’t get the first bag free if I’m not with her. It sounds like with the Reserve card she still wouldn’t get my free first bag bonus, but she *would* get lounge access as an authorized user. Is that true?
Jarrod West
August 03, 2023
Hi Tom,
Yes, she would get lounge access as an authorized user.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
Email needed if you'd like comment updates. It will NOT be published.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.