Terms and conditions apply to American Express benefits and offers. Certain American Express benefits and offers may require enrollment. Visit americanexpress.com for more information.
While Delta offers numerous options when it comes to credit cards, both personal and business, it reserves the most coveted benefits for its top card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Packed with Delta-related benefits and a few general benefits, the card usually finds its intended target among the most loyal Delta flyers who can get the most out of it and aren’t shy about paying a premium annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
See Rates and Fees
Intro bonus
Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 on purchases on your new card during the first six months of your card membership
Annual contribution | $650 |
Regular April | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
Reward rates
- 3xEarn 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases
- 1.5xEarn 1.5X miles on qualifying purchases at public transit, US shipping and US office supply stores, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 on purchases on your card in a year. If your purchase qualifies for a higher mileage accelerator category, only the higher accelerator applies
- 1xEarn 1X Miles on other purchases
Positives
- Premium benefits for Delta flyers, including free first checked bag and access to the Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge network
- Companion certificate, valid every year for a domestic return flight in Main Cabin, Comfort+ or First Class, upon renewal of your card
- Declaration credits potentially worth hundreds of dollars
Cons
- High annual fee
- Delta Sky Club access limited to 15 passes per year after February 2025
- Declaration credits are awarded in monthly increments
- 15% discount on Delta award flights
- Travel protection including accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
- Upgradeable, first bag checked free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation,
Learn more
Who is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card worth it for?
Travelers with a committed relationship with Delta who fly often enough and would like some help achieving status can generally find some value, provided they’re willing to pay the high annual fee that comes with this card. There are a few very good reasons to get this card, and if the following categories describe you, you may be able to make this premium credit card work for you.
Travelers enjoying lounge access
Travelers who want to spend some time in the lounge before each flight will be happy with this card, as it gives them access to the Centurion or Escape Lounges as long as they fly on a Delta Air Lines flight purchased with this card. Cardholders also gain access to the Delta Sky Club, but please note that as of 2/1/2025 their Sky Club visits will be limited to 15 per year unless they unlock unlimited visits by spending a minimum of $75,000 on purchases with their card in a calendar year. For those traveling with a partner, the card comes with four one-time guest passes to the Delta Sky Club each year so they can treat their fellow traveler.
Airmen checking in luggage
Worrying about checked bag fees will be a thing of the past when you have this card, as the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation will actually waive the cost of one first checked bag. For families traveling together, this can mean hundreds of dollars in savings, as Delta charges $60 per bag for a round-trip flight.
Major publishers
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card is specifically designed for businesses with relatively high spending, and a number of benefits are activated once you reach a specific spending threshold with the card. Cardholders receive a whopping 110,000 Delta SkyMiles welcome bonus after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of their account membership. Unlimited Delta Sky Club visits are unlocked once you exceed $75,000 in a calendar year.
The card also rewards big spenders with a head start on their Delta Medallion status. With this card, you’ll earn $1 in Medallion Qualification Dollars for every $10 in purchases you make with the card, giving you a significant boost on your way to your next level. Additionally, the card provides an edge by giving cardholders $2,500 each year toward their Medallion qualification.
Travelers who want to spoil their plus one
Perhaps one of the potentially most lucrative benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card is the Companion Certificate. This allows you to purchase a ticket for your companion at no cost, apart from paying taxes and fees. This can be as much as $80 for a domestic return flight and up to $250 for international return destinations. You can use this certificate for First Class, Comfort+ or Main Cabin flights to domestic, Caribbean or Central American destinations, and these benefits are repeated each year when you renew your card.
Considering that you can redeem this benefit for an accompanying ticket to destinations like Hawaii, Aruba, St. Maarten or even Saint Kitts and in first class, no less, this has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars on the purchase of that second ticket. a ticket for your companion every year.
For whom is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card not worth it?
If you’re struggling to fall into any of the above categories, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should automatically ignore this card, but just make sure you’re still getting something from this card. Travelers in the categories below will likely find it difficult to clear a spot in their wallet for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card and may need to look elsewhere for a better-suited credit card that can help them get more of what they want.
Cost-conscious entrepreneurs
Cost-conscious business owners may find it difficult to justify the higher annual fee if they see little or no value in the benefits the card offers, or if they are just a little averse to spending that large sum of money as their business expenses be high. narrow. While the card comes with a few statement credits to take the sting out of the annual fee, they do need to be used monthly, making them more likely to be forgotten and unused.
Irregular Delta Flyers or Free Agents
If you only fly Delta Air Lines sporadically or don’t fly much at all, it’s hard to see how a premium airline card would be a good fit for you. At $650 per year, and with as many benefits as it offers, there’s no denying that this card is aimed at those who see themselves in the air regularly enough to get substantial value out of the card through the benefits make maximum use of it.
Frequent travelers who want unlimited lounge access
Travelers who don’t fly with Delta often will quickly discover that the lounge access this credit card offers isn’t just limited in the number of visits. If you’re trying to get into the Delta Sky Club, you’ll only get a pass if you’re flying Delta, and when it comes to getting into a Centurion or Escape Lounge, you would have had to pay for that Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card to be let in.
How to maximize your rewards with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
New cardholders getting this card for the first time will earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 Bonus Miles after they make $10,000 in purchases on your new card during the first six months of their card membership, bringing them even closer to their next redemption.
Those who use their Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for purchases in bonus categories will earn more miles faster, but unless you spend significant amounts of money on Delta flights, transit, US shipping or office supply stores or regularly make purchases above $ 5,000, you won’t see your Delta SkyMiles balance grow too quickly. The only way to earn more is to spend more.
Other ways to slowly earn more miles is by enrolling in the Delta SkyMiles Dining program. This way you earn extra miles when you use your registered card at a restaurant that participates in the program. In addition, if your business needs to make online purchases, Delta has a shopping portal – the Delta SkyMiles Shopping Portal – that allows you to earn extra miles every time you click on the portal’s links before redirecting you to your regular shopping experience.
The takeaway
With so many premium travel cards on the market, it’s always difficult to find one that exactly suits your needs. Travelers who are avid Delta loyalists and want to get more value from their business expenses and turn them into better travel experiences should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card. Conversely, if you don’t expect to fly Delta regularly but still want to travel in style, other general premium travel business cards like the Capital One Venture X Business may be better suited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Delta SkyMiles to other airlines?
Delta SkyMiles are not transferable to other airline loyalty programs, but can be used to book flights with Delta’s SkyTeam partners. That way, not only can you use them to fly anywhere Delta can take you, but you also virtually unlock the chance to fly virtually anywhere in the world thanks to the SkyTeam alliance’s partner airlines.
Does the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card give me status?
While no automatic status is granted to cardholders, this card can help you earn status based on your spending. Purchases made with the Reserve Card can earn you more Medallion Qualifying Dollars of $1 for every $10 in purchases. Plus, you’ll earn $2,500 Medallion qualifying dollars per year as a head start.
Do I get a 15% discount on Delta flights when I buy tickets with the card?
This card does offer a 15% discount on your flights, but only applies to award tickets redeemed with your Delta SkyMiles. Cash tickets that you buy with the card do not enjoy this benefit. Your TakeOff15 discount will be applied automatically when you search for the flights you want using the ‘Shop with Miles’ option, but please note that taxes and fees are not included in this discount and the code is only valid on flights operated by Delta are executed. and not his partners.
Please note that card details are correct as of date of publication, but are subject to change at any time at the publisher’s discretion. Contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees and benefits before signing up.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms and conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Endorsed by Amex Assurance Company.