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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express card review: Full details

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Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card overview

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is Delta’s top-tier cobranded business credit card, offering benefits best suited for high-budget businesses loyal to Delta. If Delta Medallion elite status and lounge access are important to you, there’s a lot to love about this card. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐½

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is Delta’s top-tier business card and is a great option for business travelers looking for luxury benefits and a way to hit Medallion elite status faster through card spending.

However, the card does charge a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), so you’ll want to make sure you can take advantage of the card’s offerings enough to justify the cost.

I recommend a credit score of 670 or above to have the best chance of approval for the Delta Reserve Business Amex.

Here’s what you need to know to decide if this premium business card is right for you.

Delta Reserve Business Amex pros and cons

Pros Cons
  • Access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta (subject to limitations beginning Feb. 1, 2025)
  • An annual companion certificate
  • Status boost to attain elite status
  • Steep annual fee
  • Limited earning rates apart from Delta purchases

Delta Reserve Business Amex welcome offer

For a limited time, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex is offering new cardmembers a welcome bonus of 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

This almost matches the best-ever welcome offer we have seen on the card. It does require double the spending, but you have double the time to reach that requirement, and you’ll get the same number of miles. This offer ends Oct. 23.

Based on TPG’s September 2024 valuations, Delta SkyMiles are valued at 1.2 cents per mile, making this welcome offer worth $1,320.

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THE POINTS GUY

Remember that Amex does have a once-per-card-per-lifetime restriction when it comes to welcome bonuses. As a result, if you’ve ever had the Delta Reserve Business card in the past (even if you didn’t earn a bonus), you won’t be eligible for this welcome bonus.

American Express may consider other factors, such as other Delta cobranded cards you have or have had in the past, when determining your welcome offer eligibility.

Luckily, Amex has an on-site tool to warn you if you are ineligible for any given bonus before submitting your official application.

Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions

Delta Reserve Business Amex benefits

There is a lot to love about the Delta Reserve Business Amex when it comes to the perks the card offers — especially for Delta travelers or those who live in a Delta hub or focus city.

Firstly, until Jan. 31, 2025, you get unlimited access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Starting Feb. 1, 2025, that will be reduced to 15 annual visits or unlimited visits if you spend at least $75,000 each calendar year.

Cardmembers also get four one-time guest passes, with each guest visit costing $50 per guest per visit after that. Guests can enter Grab and Go Sky Club locations for $25 per person per visit.

CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY

You’ll also enjoy a few new annual credits: up to $240 in statement credits every calendar year (up to $20 monthly) with Resy (U.S. restaurants only); up to $120 in credits each calendar year (up to $10 monthly) on select U.S. ride-hailing apps; and up to $250 per calendar year in statement credits with Delta Stays, Delta’s hotel travel portal.

Other benefits include:

  • Complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status
  • 15% off award redemptions for Delta flights (when paying taxes and fees with this card)
  • 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) deposited automatically every Medallion Qualification Year
  • An earn rate of 1 MQD per $10 spent
  • An enhanced annual companion certificate for a first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin round-trip flight each year to domestic destinations, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America each cardmember year after renewal
  • $100 statement credit for Global Entry every 4 years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years

You also receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights and a free first checked bag, saving up to $70 round-trip per person on Delta flights.

Related: The ultimate credit card concierge test: 3 cards, $300 and 1 night in NYC

Earning miles on the Delta Reserve Business Amex

With the Delta Reserve Business Amex, you’ll earn 3 miles per eligible dollar spent on Delta purchases, including at delta.com, via phone reservations or at ticket counters.

This also applies to Delta Vacation packages, seat upgrades, seat selection fees, Delta Sky Club membership or passes, pre-purchased and inflight meals, inflight alcoholic beverages and audio headsets.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Those with high annual spending habits will also benefit from earning 1.5 miles per dollar on transit, U.S. shipping and office supply store purchases. All other purchases will earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

Redeeming miles on the Delta Reserve Business Amex

If you’re looking for bargains when redeeming your miles, go to the SkyMiles Deals page. Delta regularly posts deep discounts on round-trip tickets in economy and Delta One between specific city pairs.

Some notable Delta deals we’ve seen include Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., for 20,000 miles or Atlanta to New York City for only 13,000 miles.

ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY

TPG photo editor Emilia Wronski has redeemed SkyMiles for multiple trips; a recent redemption used 22,000 SkyMiles to fly round-trip from Atlanta to New Orleans. Points and miles enthusiasts often focus on long-haul, international trips, but domestic flights are an equally appealing use of your SkyMiles.

Which cards compete with the Delta Reserve Business Amex?

If you want more flexibility or a lower annual fee, other cards may be a better fit for you.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards and best American Express cards.

Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?

Is the Delta Reserve Business Amex worth it?

If you fly Delta regularly and Sky Club access is important to you, this card’s perks make it well worth its hefty annual fee. However, other cards offer better options if you fly Delta less regularly or want broader bonus categories more than Sky Club access.

Bottom line

If you’re in the market to earn Delta miles and elite status while enjoying many luxury Delta benefits, it doesn’t get much better than the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex. The Sky Club access perk is the main attraction of this card, so if you are a business owner who flies with Delta regularly, it’s a great choice, even considering the limitations coming in February 2025.


Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card


Related: Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold, click here.



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