Delta Reserve Credit Card Review: Best for Frequent Travelers

More than 145.6 million passengers entrust Delta Air Lines with their travel needs. Delta fliers might want to check out the Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express before planning their next trip. Continue reading this review to see if this travel credit card has a place in your itinerary.

The Delta Reserve card is designed for Delta die-hards, with enough bonus features to potentially offset that $450 annual fee. Take a look at a quick breakdown of the pros and cons to see if it’s right for you.

Delta Reserve Credit Card Pros

• High mileage bonus offer
• Cardholders can achieve Medallion status, which comes with additional bonuses
• No foreign transaction or over-limit fees

Check Out: American Express Delta Platinum SkyMiles Credit Card Review

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Delta Reserve Credit Card Cons

• High annual fee
• Tiered miles-to-dollar ratio only applies to Delta
• High variable APR

Continue reading this review to find out:

• Who This Card Is Best for
• Best Features of the Delta Reserve Credit Card
• Medallion Qualification Miles
• Travel Benefits

What You Need to Know About the Delta Reserve Card

Cardholders can rack up 40,000 bonus miles, which Delta calls SkyMiles, if they spend $3,000 within the first three months of opening an account. These miles can then be used for:

• Booking flights
• Flight upgrades to first class or Delta One
• Travel purchases such as hotel bookings, merchandise and car rentals
• Charity donations

Who this card is best for:

• Travelers looking to cut down on purchases during their trip
• Frequent patrons of Delta Air Lines

Best Features of the Delta Reserve Credit Card

The 40,000 bonus miles is definitely a plus, but the card comes equipped with other features to help you take advantage of Delta rewards. You earn one mile for every $1 spent on purchases, but two miles if those purchases are made directly with Delta.

The card also rewards high spending. Purchasing $30,000 on the card within the calendar year nets you an additional 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles. Two things to note is that this is an annual feature, not a one-time benefit, and those additional 15,000 Medallion miles — combined with the initial 10,000 offer — will officially qualify you for Silver Status.

Medallion Qualification Miles

Medallion Qualification Miles go toward your Medallion Status, which is Delta’s own tiered rewards program. Silver, the first attainable Medallion status, requires 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles. These benefits include complimentary flight upgrades, preferred seating and priority waitlist status.

Travel Benefits

The card does not incur a foreign transaction fee, so international travelers will benefit along with domestic. Other travel benefits include:

• First bag checked is free
• Baggage insurance plan
• Travel accident insurance
• Priority boarding
• 20 percent savings on in-flight purchases

Perhaps the most beneficial feature is a First Class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin companion certificate upon your renewal of the card, which is great for traveling in pairs.

The Bottom Line

The card is most beneficial for frequent travelers who fly Delta. The card’s main features all revolve around purchasing through Delta, with a design to guide cardholders toward Medallion Status. The card’s high fees should make potential customers consider what they want out of a travel card, and how long they intend to use it.

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This content is not provided by the companies mentioned. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express or Delta Air Lines.