Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Review: Up to 100k

Highlights

• Sky Club and Centurion Lounge：Receive 15 annual Sky Club visits on eligible Delta travel; spend $75,000 for unlimited visits under current terms, plus eligible Centurion Lounge access.
• Premium companion certificate：After renewal, receive an eligible round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort or Main Cabin companion certificate on select routes.
• MQD acceleration：Receive $2,500 MQDs each qualification year and earn $1 MQD per $10 spent.
• Annual credits：Up to $200 Delta Stays, $240 Resy and $120 rideshare annually.
• Four Sky Club guest passes：Receive four one-time Sky Club guest passes each Medallion Qualification Year.
• Bags and boarding：Eligible travelers receive a first checked bag free, an eligible second domestic bag and Zone 5 boarding.
• No foreign transaction fee：No foreign transaction fee.

How to judge long-term value

Delta Reserve is a frequent-Delta tool, not a general-purpose premium card. The certificate, Sky Club and MQD benefits can be valuable for loyalists; otherwise the $650 fee is too heavy.

What to know before applying

1. Sky Club access defaults to 15 visits, not unlimited; $75,000 annual spend unlocks unlimited visits.
2. The certificate is issued after renewal and has route and fare-class restrictions.
3. Value the lounge and status benefits highly only if you fly Delta frequently.

Drawbacks

• $650 annual fee：Infrequent Delta flyers will struggle to offset it.
• Lounge visits are capped：The default is 15 visits, with guest rules and passes to manage.

Frequently asked questions

Summary

Delta Reserve is a frequent-Delta tool, not a general-purpose premium card. The certificate, Sky Club and MQD benefits can be valuable for loyalists; otherwise the $650 fee is too heavy.