Our Verdict
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (terms apply, see rates & fees) is geared toward frequent Delta flyers who want to pursue elite status with Delta and access to Delta Sky Clubs or American Express Centurion Lounges when purchasing a Delta flight with the card. The annual fee is significant, but you’ll receive exceptional value if you fly Delta often and use the many perks offered by this card.
Pros
- Complimentary Delta Sky Club® access and entry into Amex Centurion Lounges when you fly Delta and use your card to book your flight (effective 2/1/25, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year; unlimited visits can be earned when total purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter)
- Rich travel benefits, including Reserve Concierge and annual companion ticket for eligible flights (taxes and fees apply)
- Status Boost program gives you a fast track to elite status
Cons
- High annual fee for an airline credit card
- High standard APR
- Lower rewards rates outside of Delta spending
Current Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Offer
- Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Reserve your piece of history with the new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card design.
- Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
- Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- With the $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
- Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
- Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Alternatives to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
Table of Contents
- Introducing the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
- Quick Facts
- What Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card Best For?
- American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Rewards
- Other American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Benefits
- Fine Print
- How the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Stacks Up
- Is the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card for You?
- Methodology
Introducing the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer who books airfare with Delta Air Lines often, this card’s travel perks and lounge access can make the annual fee well worth it. After all, a Delta Sky Club membership starts at $695 when you purchase one outright, and you’ll also get four one-time Sky Club passes for guests each year with this card that would normally cost $50 each. Effective February 1, 2025, cardholders will receive 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year. You can earn unlimited visits when total card purchases exceed $75,000 in 2024 and each calendar year thereafter.
When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you’ll receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge (The Centurion® Studio Partner), which can be helpful if you travel frequently through airports like Miami (MIA), Las Vegas (LAS), Houston (IAH) or Hong Kong (HKG).
In terms of rewards, you’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply. This includes Delta purchases, which already earn 3 miles per dollar. The card also offers additional travel benefits.
If you’re approved for the card, you’re eligible for a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.
Quick Facts
- $650 annual fee
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year
- Welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you’ll receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge—The Centurion® Studio Partner
- After you spend $150,000 on the card in a calendar year, you’ll earn 1.5 miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply
What Is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card Best For?
Small business owners will find that this card is best for airfare purchases made directly with Delta, as the earnings are higher, just like they are for all of their transit and U.S. shipping and office supply store purchases. This card is also best for those who are in the skies regularly, as they can enjoy airport lounge access, credits toward hotel stays booked with Delta Stays and rideshare services and even at restaurants thanks to Resy (enrollment required). Those who want to earn status with Delta can get a jump-start with the enhanced MQD boost.
American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
This card’s earning structure was designed with big spenders in mind, as well as individuals who regularly fly with Delta and need an extra boost to earn the next level of status. You’ll earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping and U.S. office supply store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. After spending $150,000 in a calendar year, earn 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible purchases the rest of the year.
As an added perk, the card comes with a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.
Redeeming Rewards
The Delta SkyMiles program lets you redeem miles for flights to more than 1,000 destinations around the world. You can redeem miles with Delta or with partners like Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and Hawaiian Airlines.
While Delta doesn’t offer a standard award chart, round-trip domestic flights typically start at 25,000 miles. Meanwhile, international economy flights often start at 45,000 miles round-trip for flights to the Caribbean or 60,000 miles round-trip to Europe and other destinations abroad. Keep in mind that these figures represent an estimate of the number of miles you’ll need, but you might find flight awards that cost significantly more or quite a bit less.
Ownership of this card also comes with Delta’s Take Off 15 feature, which automatically discounts by 15% the number of miles you’ll need to book a flight. Additionally, Delta also regularly offers award sales, so there are plenty of opportunities to snag a good deal.
If you don’t want to deal with searching for award availability, you should also know about the Pay with Miles feature. This perk lets you receive an airfare discount at a rate of up to $50 off for every 5,000 miles you redeem. However, you have to redeem miles this way in 5,000 increments.
Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed for an array of non-airfare options including seat upgrades, Delta Sky Club memberships, Delta Vacations, SkyMiles experiences, merchandise through the SkyMiles marketplace, Delta gift cards and even magazine subscriptions. However, these are generally not the most valuable ways to use SkyMiles.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, we look at the bonus categories and calculate what an example small business might spend in those areas. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households bring in $118,438 annually, and we base spending on that number. We base earnings on a freelancer or sole proprietorship.
Other American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Benefits
- Discounts on in-flight purchases. Receive 20% back in statement credits on in-flight Delta purchases of food, beverages and more when you pay with your card.
- Companion certificate. Qualify for a first-class, premium-economy or coach companion ticket on a domestic, Caribbean or Central American flight upon card renewal. Just pay taxes and fees on your ticket.
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Pay for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership with your credit card and receive an application fee credit of up to $100. This credit is available every four years for Global Entry or every four and a half years for TSA PreCheck.
- First checked bag free. Receive a first checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on your itinerary on a Delta marketed or Delta operated flight.
- Priority boarding. Qualify for Main Cabin 1 boarding on Delta flights for yourself and up to eight companions traveling on your itinerary.
- Baggage insurance¹. Provides coverage for eligible lost, damaged or stolen baggage. Terms Apply.
- Trip delay insurance². Qualify for special coverage and financial reimbursement when your eligible trip is delayed by a common carrier.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance³. When you use your card to pay for a rental vehicle and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental counter, you may receive secondary auto coverage in an eligible territory. Terms apply.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance². Get reimbursed for eligible prepaid expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. Terms Apply.
- Extended warranty¹. Get up to one additional year of warranty on manufacturer’s warranties of five years or less on eligible products when you pay with your card.
- Purchase protection¹. Covers eligible purchases from damage, loss or theft for up to 90 days. Terms Apply.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
- Purchase intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer intro APR: N/A
Fees
- Annual fee: $650
- Balance transfer fee: N/A
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: None
Terms apply. See rates & fees.
How the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card Stacks Up
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
If you want a Delta business credit card with a lower annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is worth considering. You’ll pay $350 per year (terms apply, see rates & fees). You’ll earn a welcome bonus of 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. You’ll also earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and hotels, 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & individual purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year), and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card has many of the same frequent flyer perks as the Reserve version, but doesn’t offer airport lounge access as a cardholder perk.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is an even more toned-down Delta business credit card, with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee (terms apply, see rates & fees). You won’t get as many frequent flyer benefits, but you can still earn a generous welcome bonus: 55,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 6 months of card membership. This one is best for the occasional Delta flyer.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card vs. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (terms apply, see rates & fees) is worth considering because you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards® directly to the Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program.
This card offers a welcome bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $20,000 in eligible purchases with the card within the first 3 months of card membership. For your business spending, you’ll also earn 5 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels through American Express Travel, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.
A $695 annual fee applies, but you’ll get access to the Global Lounge Collection, which includes a Priority Pass membership with enrollment, entry into Amex Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs when you purchase a Delta flight with the card. Other benefits include an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors when you enroll and more.
Is the American Express Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card for You?
If you fly with Delta often, want a boost to get to the next level of status and access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges, then this card is a real no-brainer. Just remember that Delta Sky Club unlimited access is changing effective February 1, 2025, and you can only use the airline lounge membership perk when you fly with Delta.
If you’re not loyal to Delta, check out other co-branded airline credit cards as well as flexible travel credit cards that offer more flexible airport lounge access, including Priority Pass Select. Also consider American Express Membership Rewards credit cards since this program lets you transfer points to the Delta SkyMiles program.
Find the Best Travel Credit Cards for 2024
Find the best travel credit card for your travel needs.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express please visit this page.
¹Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
²Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
³Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
