Delta SkyMiles Reserve
The welcome offer, Sky Club and Centurion access, the First Class Companion Certificate, every credit and its catch, the insurance, and whether the $650 fee pays for itself.
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Airline cards · American Express
Welcome offer
2 round trips + 50,000 miles
Annual fee
$650
Two round-trip Delta Comfort flight certificates (U.S. 48, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands; 21-day advance purchase; taxes and fees up to $80 per person) plus 50,000 bonus miles after $10,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Limited time; ends November 4, 2026.
Foreign transaction fees: NoneAdditional cards: $175 each for an additional Reserve card; additional Delta Platinum cards on the account have no feeRewards: Delta SkyMiles
The Atelier Take
A status card for Delta loyalists; a poor rewards card for anyone else.
Who it suits
Delta frequent flyers who want Sky Club access, a faster route to Medallion status and a companion ticket that works in First.
Who should skip it
Anyone who doesn’t fly Delta most months of the year: the Amex Platinum gives broader lounge access and better earning on flights for a similar fee.
Every credit, and the catch
The Companion Certificate and lounge access carry the card; the credits help at the margin.
Companion Certificate
One companion round trip a year, First included
Delta First, Premium Select, Comfort or Main, within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. Taxes and fees of $22 to $250 apply; Basic fares are excluded.
Resy credit
Up to $240 a year
U.S. restaurants marked eligible on Resy only.
Delta Stays credit
Up to $200 a year
Prepaid hotels or vacation rentals booked through Delta Stays only.
Rideshare credit
Up to $120 a year
U.S. rides with select providers only.
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Up to $120 every 4 years
What it earns
Rewards: Delta SkyMiles.
3x
Delta purchases
Bought directly from Delta
1x
Everything else
TPG values SkyMiles at 1.2¢ each, below most airline and bank currencies. Delta prices awards dynamically, so value varies widely by route and date. At 1x on everything outside Delta, this card is for benefits, not earning.
Lounges, status and other benefits
Delta Sky Club
15 visits each Medallion year when flying Delta; unlimited after $75,000 of spending in a calendar year. One-time guest passes are included.
Centurion Lounges
Free access when flying a Delta flight booked with the card, plus Sidecar and Escape Lounges.
MQD Headstart
$2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion year.
MQD Boost
$1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card.
Upgrades
Complimentary upgrade eligibility and upgrade priority on Delta.
Checked bags
First checked bag free for the cardholder and up to 8 companions on the same reservation, worldwide; second bag free on domestic Delta flights. Without the card Delta charges $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second, each way, in the U.S.
Hertz President’s Circle
Top-tier Hertz status.
TakeOff 15
15% off award flights on Delta booked at delta.com or in the Fly Delta app; not on partner flights, taxes or fees.
20% back on in-flight purchases
As a statement credit on food and drinks bought on Delta flights.
Will the $650 fee pay off?
Enter what would go on this card. The result values points at TPG’s valuation, adds the credits that would actually be used and, in year one, the welcome offer, then sets the total against a no-fee card that pays 2% back on everything.
1 · Spending on this card
Example figures are filled in; replace them with real ones.
Delta flights and other Delta purchasesBought directly from Delta
3x
Dining
1x
Groceries
1x
Hotels
1x
Gas
1x
Everything else
1x
2 · Credits that would be used
Tick only what would be used anyway, at full value.
3 · Assumptions
The result
The Companion Certificate arrives after each renewal, so it starts in year two; its value is an example. Not counted: Sky Club and Centurion lounge access, MQD Headstart and Boost toward Medallion status and the insurance. At 1x outside Delta, this card is bought for the lounges and status, which this calculator does not value.
Insurance and protections
Pay for the trip or purchase with the card to be covered. Travel cover is secondary: it pays after any other insurance. Amex’s Guides to Benefits have the full terms and exclusions.
Trip delay
Up to $500 per trip after a delay of more than 6 hours, for up to 2 claims per 12 months. The round trip must be paid entirely with the card. Secondary.
Trip cancellation and interruption
Up to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per card per 12 months, for covered reasons such as illness or severe weather. Secondary.
Cell phone protection
Up to $800 per claim for theft or damage, after a $50 deductible, for up to 2 claims per 12 months. The monthly phone bill must be paid with the card.
Baggage insurance
Covers lost, damaged or stolen bags on trips paid with the card; limits are in Amex’s Baggage Insurance Plan guide. Secondary.
Car rental loss and damage
Up to $75,000 for theft or damage to a rental car, for rentals up to 30 days, when the rental company’s damage waiver is declined. Secondary.
Purchase protection
Theft or accidental damage within 90 days of purchase: up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 a year.
Extended warranty
Adds up to one year to manufacturer warranties of five years or less: up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 a year.
Return protection
If a store won’t take back an eligible item within 90 days, Amex may refund up to $300 per item and $1,000 a year.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
- The Companion Certificate works in First
- A quick card route to Medallion status
- Premium insurance, including trip cancellation and 6-hour trip delay cover
Cons
- $650 fee and 1x on everything outside Delta
- Sky Club visits are capped at 15 below $75,000 of spending
- Only for committed Delta flyers
Card terms change often and some offers are personalized; the issuer’s page is the final word.