Delta skymiles reserve american express card credit score

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees) is a premium co-branded Delta Air Lines credit card. It’s especially useful to flyers who can benefit from the Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta and access to American Express Centurion Lounges, but it’s not great for everyday spending. Unless you are a Delta loyalist, look elsewhere.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

Welcome Bonus

95,000 bonus miles

Regular APR

18.74%-27.74% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent/Good

Pros

• Rich Delta perks, including a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights
• Access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges when flying Delta
• Annual companion certificate good for both economy and first class

Cons

• High regular APR
• Mediocre earning rates on rewards
• Companion Certificate only valid on domestic flights
• Complimentary Sky Club access is only for one person

Highlights

• Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Earn up to 60,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 15,000 MQMs up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
• Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Complimentary access into the Delta Sky Club® for you when travelling on a Delta flight.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
• Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $550 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Introduction

An airport terminal with its many lines, luggage piles and unruly children isn’t the best place to focus. If you travel for business and need a quiet place to work, you might want to look for other options than a noisy gate.

As a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card account holder, you’re eligible for complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs (comparable membership is worth $545 per year) when you present a same-day Delta boarding pass at check-in. Customers on flights operated by a Delta partner that aren’t Delta-marketed are eligible for a discounted entry for $39.

You also receive two one-time guest passes to use annually at the lounge. Once the passes are used, you’re eligible to invite up to two guests at a discounted rate of $39 per person whenever you and your companions fly on Delta.

Another perk of the Delta Reserve card is complimentary access to American Express Centurion Lounges. However, entry is only available when flying same-day on a Delta-issued ticket paid for with your Reserve card. No guest access is included, but up to two guests can join the primary cardholder at a rate of $50 per person.

In addition to lounge access, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card members receive an annual Companion Certificate good for a buy-one-get-one flight within the 48 contiguous United States in the following cabins of service: Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+ or First Class. The certificate is available to you every year you renew your account and pay the annual fee. Using the Delta Companion Certificate every year is one of the easiest ways to offset the card’s high annual fee, but be aware that you will be on the hook for taxes and fees for your companion ticket.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Quick Facts

• Annual fee of $550
• Welcome bonus: 95,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
• Status Boost: Earn 15,000 MQMs for every $30,000 spent, up to four times per year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment fee credit
• Save 20% on eligible in-flight Delta purchases with your card. Savings are issued as a statement credit
• Check the first bag for free for up to nine passengers booked on the same Delta reservation
• Board a Delta aircraft in the Main Cabin 1 group

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Rewards

Earning Rewards

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

In addition, the card offers Status Boost™, which allows you to earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times per year. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the redeemable miles earned through spending.

Redeeming Rewards

Delta’s SkyMiles program isn’t what one would call foolproof. Since the airline stopped publishing award charts on its website, it’s hard to tell how much exactly an award ticket should cost. To rub salt into the wound, Delta implemented dynamic pricing on award tickets, which means that award flights now price out according to demand. You guessed it—more desirable flights cost more miles.

With some diligence you can find round-trip flights in the U.S. for 25,000 miles or less and round-trip flights to Europe in economy under 60,000 miles. To get a better deal, keep checking the SkyMiles Deals page every now and then to stay current on the latest award ticket sales. Sales are intermittent but are worth watching.

Luckily, SkyMiles don’t have to be redeemed on Delta flights only. Flights on other SkyTeam alliance members can be booked with Delta SkyMiles. Other SkyTeam member airlines include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and XiamenAir.

Rewards Potential

The card’s earning rate on eligible Delta purchases is 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases. Unfortunately, no other bonus spending categories are available to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders. The rewards structure of this card is rather poor, though its membership perks may still make it worth having.

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 earners bring in $107,908 annually and we base spending on that number.

The typical household at this income level spends $1,520 on airfare. Because this is a premium airline card, we can safely assume the cardholder is a moderate to frequent Delta flyer so we will double that number to $3,040. At 3 SkyMiles per dollar spent, the Delta Reserve card would earn 9,120 SkyMiles per year on Delta airfare purchases.

Forbes Advisor estimates that our sample household has $29,032 in additional expenses that could reasonably be put on the card, earning 29,032 SkyMiles. This means the card would earn a total of 38,152 SkyMiles in addition to the welcome bonus, annual companion certificate and lounge access benefits.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card Benefits

• Sky Club Membership: The primary cardholder gets access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying on Delta Air Lines. Two one-time guest passes are included annually. After that, up to two guests can pay for lounge access at a reduced rate of $39 per person.
• Centurion Lounge Access: A card member can visit any Centurion Lounge location in conjunction with a Delta ticket. Up to two guests are allowed at a rate of $50 per person.
• Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) Waiver: Spend at least $25,000 in a calendar year on the Delta Reserve Card, and the MQD requirements to qualify for Silver, Gold or Platinum Medallion elite status are waived. (Spend $250,000 for a Diamond Medallion MQD waiver.)
• Free First Checked Bag: Check a bag for free for you and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation on a Delta flight and save $30 per bag.
• Priority Boarding: The cardholder and up to eight additional travelers on the same reservation can board with the Main Cabin 1 group.
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or up to $100 for Global Entry.
• 20% Statement Credit on In-Flight Purchases: Receive 20% back as a statement credit when using your co-branded Delta card for in-flight snacks, drinks or entertainment.

The Fine Print

Interest Rates

• Regular APR: 18.74%-27.74% Variable
• Purchase Intro APR: N/A
• Balance Transfer Intro APR: N/A

Fees

• Annual Fee: $550
• Balance Transfer Fee: N/A
• Cash Advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
• Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: None

How the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card Stacks Up

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Not sure which Delta SkyMiles card is right for you? If you’re not a road warrior but still fly with Delta three to five times per year, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees) might be a better fit.

For a $250 annual fee, you still get your Companion Certificate when you pay taxes and fees (although it’s limited to Main Cabin domestic flights), a free checked bag when you fly Delta, priority boarding and the ability to purchase Sky Club passes at a reduced rate of $39 per visit when flying Delta same-day.

You’ll also earn 10,000  MQMs with Status Boost by spending $25,000 on the card in a calendar year, up to two times per year.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

For a different type of premium experience, look no further than The Platinum Card® from American Express (Terms apply. See rates & fees).

The card’s annual fee is $695, but you get so many more perks: access to Delta Sky Clubs with a Delta ticket for the primary card member, access to The Centurion Lounge locations with a ticket on any airline, as well access to Priority Pass lounges once you enroll. You also get Gold Elite status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy with enrollment.

You don’t receive Delta-specific benefits, such as free checked bags or priority boarding, but you receive a variety of travel credits, such as an up to $200 annual airline incidental statement credit on an eligible airline you can choose each year, up to $200 in hotel statement credits each on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or Hotel Collection bookings, up to $200 in annual Uber Cash for eligible U.S. expenses when your card is connected to your Uber account ($15 per month, $35 in December) and up to $189 in credits toward CLEAR® membership to help make up for the annual fee. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

From the redemption standpoint, you’ll earn Membership Rewards, which transfer to over a dozen airline programs, including Delta SkyMiles, and three hotel programs. Terms and conditions apply to benefits. See the card application for more details.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. American Express® Gold Card

The American Express® Gold Card (Terms apply. See rates & fees) might just be a happy medium for those looking to earn flexible Membership Rewards points for a lower annual fee.

Although you don’t get lounge access with this card, you can earn rewards at a rapid pace. Earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. That’s an identical earning rate for Delta flights as the Delta Reserve—and it extends to all airlines. You’ll also outearn the Delta Reserve card on supermarket and dining purchases.

The points can be transferred to a number of airline partners including Delta SkyMiles as well as Delta’s partnersAir France-KLM Flying Blue or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. In some cases, the redemption rates you find with Flying Blue and Flying Club are lower than what you find with Delta itself.

Compare Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express with Other Cards

Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card for You?

For a frequent Delta Air Lines flyer who prioritizes being productive while on the road, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a rewarding credit card option. As long as you visit Delta Sky Clubs when you’re flying Delta and take advantage of the Companion Certificate, it’s not hard to come out ahead of the annual fee. But if you’re more of a casual Delta flyer, consider other options.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this page.

To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this page.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please visit this page.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the credit score needed for Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card?

American Express uses more than just a credit score to determine whether you’re approved for their cards. However, it’s safe to expect that a good credit score or better is needed for the Delta Reserve card since it is an ultra-premium card.

Who is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card for?

The SkyMiles Reserve card is intended for frequent flyers who want access to Delta Sky Clubs, since that is the primary benefit not found on other Delta credit cards. Delta frequent flyers will also appreciate other benefits of the card, including free checked bags, status boosts and priority boarding.

How do I redeem Delta Reserve Miles?

All Delta Reserve miles will be added to your Delta SkyMiles balance automatically so they commingle with miles earned through other methods. From there, you can redeem miles for award flights by searching and booking through the Delta website, app or by phone. Other types of redemptions can also easily be made through your online account.

How can you qualify for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Credit Card?

To qualify for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card, you should have a strong credit score, history of on-time payments and a low debt-to-income ratio. You can estimate your odds of approval before applying by checking for pre-qualified offers on the American Express website.

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