When is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card worth it?

While Delta offers myriad options when it comes to credit cards, both on the personal and business sides, it reserves its most coveted benefits to its top tier card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. Packed with Delta-related perks and a few general benefits, the card tends to find its intended target in the most loyal Delta flyers who can make the most out of it and aren’t shy about paying premium annual fees.

For whom is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card worth It?

Travelers in 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 this card comes with. There are a few very good reasons to get this card, and if the following categories describe you, you might be able to make this premium credit card work for you.

Travelers who enjoy lounge access

Travelers who want to spend some time at the lounge before every flight will be happy with this card, as it gets them in the Centurion or Escape Lounges as long as they are flying on a Delta Air Lines flight they purchased using this card. Cardholders also receive access to the Delta Sky Club, but do note that starting 2/1/2025, their visits to the Sky Club will be capped at 15 per year, unless they unlock unlimited visits by spending a minimum of $75,000 in purchases with their card in a calendar year. For those who travel with a significant other, the card comes with four one-time guest passes into the Delta Sky Club each year so they can treat their fellow traveler.

Flyers who check baggage

Worrying about the cost of checked baggage is a thing of the past if you hold this card, as it will effectively waive the cost of one first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight other passengers traveling on the same reservation. For families traveling together, this can represent hundreds of dollars in savings as Delta charges $60 per bag on a round-trip flight. 

Big spenders

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card is targeted specially to businesses with relatively large expenses, and a few of its perks activate once you reach a specific spending threshold with the card. Cardholders receive a whopping 110,000 Delta SkyMiles welcome bonus after spending $12,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of account membership. Unlimited Delta Sky Club visits unlock once you’ve passed the $75,000 in a calendar year. 

The card also rewards big spenders with a leg up on their Delta Medallion status. With this card, you’ll earn $1 in Medallion Qualification Dollars for every $10 in purchases made with the card, giving you a significant boost towards your next level. Additionally, the card offers a head start by giving cardholders $2,500 each year towards their Medallion qualification.

Travelers who would like to treat their plus one

Perhaps one of the most potentially lucrative perks of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card is its Companion Certificate. With it, you can purchase a ticket for your companion for no cost beyond paying taxes and fees – which can be up to $80 for a round-trip domestic flight and up to $250 for international round-trip destinations. You can use this certificate for first class, Comfort+ or main cabin flights for domestic, Caribbean or Central American destinations, and this benefits reups every year with the renewal of your card.

Considering that you can cash in this perk for a companion ticket to destinations like Hawaii, Aruba, St. Maarten or even Saint Kitts and in first class, no less, this has the potential of saving you hundreds of dollars in the purchase of that second ticket for your companion every year.

For whom is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card not worth it?

If you struggle to find yourself falling within any of the categories above, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should automatically disregard this card, but make sure you’re still getting something from this card. Travelers in the below categories will likely find it hard to save a slot in their wallets for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card and should perhaps search elsewhere for a better fitting credit card that can get them more of what they want.

Cost conscious business owners

Cost conscious business owners might find it hard to justify the elevated annual fee if they see little or no value in the benefits the card comes with, or if they’re just a little averse to spending that large sum of money if their business expenses are tight. While the card does come with a few statement credits to take the sting off the annual fee, it does require them to be used on a monthly basis, making it more likely to be forgotten and have it go unused.

Infrequent Delta flyers or free agents

If you only fly Delta Air Lines sporadically or just don’t do that much flying at all, it’s hard to see how a premium airline card would be a great fit for you. At $650 a year, and with as many benefits as it offers, it’s undeniable that this card is for those who see themselves up in the air regularly enough to squeeze substantial value from the card by using its perks to the max.

Frequent travelers who want unrestricted lounge access

Infrequent Delta flyers will quickly discover that the lounge access this credit card confers is restricted not just in the number of visits. When trying to visit the Delta Sky Club, you’ll only be granted passage when flying Delta, and when it comes down to entering a Centurion or Escape Lounge, you would have had to pay for that Delta flight using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card in order to be let in. 

How to Maximize Rewards with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

New cardmembers who are getting this card for the first time earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of card membership, which will get 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 in Delta flights, transit, U.S. shipping or office supply stores or regularly make purchases above $5,000, you won’t see your Delta SkyMiles balances growing 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 to earn additional miles whenever you use your enrolled card at a restaurant that participates in the program. Additionally, if your business requires making online purchases, Delta runs a shopping portal  -the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal- which can help earn additional miles every time you click through the portal’s links before you’re redirected to your normal shopping experience.

The takeaway

With as many premium travel cards in the market, it’s always hard to find one that fits your needs just right. Travelers who are avid Delta loyalists and would like to get more value out of 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 be flying Delta regularly but would still like to travel in style, other general premium travel business cards like the Capital One Venture X Business might be a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Delta SkyMiles to any other airlines?

Delta SkyMiles cannot be transferred to any other airlines’ loyalty programs, but they can be used to book flights on Delta’s SkyTeam partners. That way, not only can you use them to fly anywhere Delta can take you but you’re virtually unlocking the chance to fly almost anywhere in the world thanks to the SkyTeam alliance partner airlines.

Does the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card give me status?

While it comes with no automatic status granted to its cardholders, this card can help you earn status based on spend. Purchases you make with the Reserve card will help you earn more towards Medallion qualification dollars, at $1 for every $10 in purchases. Additionally, you’ll earn $2,500 Medallion qualification dollars per year as a head start.

Do I get 15% off of Delta flights when I buy tickets with the card?

This card does come with a 15% discount for your flights, but it only applies to award tickets redeemed using your Delta SkyMiles. Cash tickets you buy with the card will not enjoy this benefit. Your TakeOff15 discount is automatically applied when you search for your desired flights by using the ‘Shop with Miles” option, but do keep in mind that taxes and fees are not covered by this discount, and the code is only valid for Delta-operated flights and not its partners.

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Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying. 

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.