Delta Reserve Business Card Review

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Small-business owners who frequently fly Delta should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. It offers lucrative benefits such as Delta Sky Club airport lounge access, but the $650 annual fee is only worth it if you can maximize the perks.

Delta Reserve Business Card Overview

American Express issues seven co-branded Delta credit cards, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is its most premium small-business credit card. If you're a frequent Delta flyer, whether for business or for pleasure, this card can make your travels much more comfortable and potentially save you a lot of money.

You'll need to own a small business to qualify for any of Delta's business cards. But your company doesn't have to be a big corporation: Even side gigs like driving for Lyft, delivering for DoorDash, or freelance work could qualify you for a small-business card.

Despite a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card isn't a good fit for you if you only fly Delta a couple of times a year. This card is only worth the $650 if you can take full advantage of its travel benefits. 

The card's most valuable benefit may well be the complimentary Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounge access for travelers on qualifying Delta flights. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders can access these lounges on the same day that they take a Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card earns 3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta, 1.5x miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, U.S. office supply stores, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year, and 1x mile on other purchases.

Delta Reserve Business Card Rewards

Amex Delta Reserve Business Welcome Bonus Offer

The card's current welcome bonus offer of $650 is worth around 88000 in flights, based on Business Insider's latest points and miles valuations.

How to earn miles from the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card

Apart from the welcome bonus offer, the card has a fairly straightforward and unexciting earning structure with only one bonus category to keep track of, but again it's not the best choice for everyday purchases unless you're a big spender. Cardholders earn:

• 3 miles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta (including airfare, upgrades, miles, seat selection, Delta Sky Club membership, and inflight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights)
• 1.5 miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, U.S. office supply stores, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year
• 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

The extra 0.5 miles on all non-bonus purchases after meeting that $150,000 threshold don't get tacked on to the Delta bonus category — you'll still earn 3x miles on those purchases, even if you meet the spending threshold.

How to use miles from the Delta Business Reserve card

Delta miles are worth 1.1 cents apiece, on average, based on Business Insider's points and miles valuations. If you get that rate or higher when you compare the cost of your award flight to that of a paid ticket, you can be confident you're getting a good deal. 

Delta miles aren't just useful for booking award flights on Delta. You can also redeem them for flights on SkyTeam alliance partners, and non-alliance partners, including Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and WestJet. Because Delta no longer publishes a fixed award chart, the number of miles you'll need for an award ticket varies depending on the paid ticket price, demand, time of year, and other factors.

This means award prices can sometimes be exorbitantly high. However, Delta occasionally offers flash sales with award tickets priced as low as 2,000 miles one-way on domestic flights and as little as 9,000 miles for international routes. These Delta SkyMiles deals arrive unexpectedly, so it's worth checking in occasionally to see if the route or destination you want is on sale.

If you'd rather not worry about tracking down award availability, there's an easier way to use your miles toward flights. All Amex Delta cardholders can redeem miles to fully or partially offset the cost of a paid ticket. The Delta Pay With Miles program allows members to cash in miles at a rate of 1 cent apiece, in 5,000-mile increments, so 5,000 miles is worth $50 off the cost of a paid ticket. This is handy if you don't have enough miles for an award or want to stretch your miles by combining them with cash.

There are other options for redeeming Delta miles, but you'll typically get a poor value compared to using them for award flights:

• Seat selection and upgrades
• Delta Sky Club lounge memberships are (Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter)
• Certain Delta fees (like ticket changes and award ticket redeposit fees)
• Gift cards
• Magazines
• Tour vouchers
• Charity donations
• Delta Vacations packages
• Premium drinks in Delta Sky Club lounges
• Delta SkyMiles Experiences 

Because Delta miles don't expire, you don't have to redeem them right away if you're not ready to book travel yet.

Delta Reserve Business Card Benefits and Features

As a premium credit card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers a wide range of benefits that can help offset its substantial annual fee. 

Delta Sky Club Airport Lounge Access

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card's most compelling benefit is Delta Sky Club airport lounge access. If you were to purchase an individual Sky Club membership separately, it would cost $545 per year. So if access is something you'd otherwise pay for, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is a better deal, considering the additional perks you'll receive.

Current Delta Business Reserve cardholders have unlimited Sky Club access until February 1, 2025, after which they will be limited to 15 Sky Club visits a year. Beginning in 2025, cardholders can earn unlimited access by spending $75,000 or more on the Delta Business Reserve in the previous calendar year. 

Delta operates dozens of Sky Clubs at major US airports, including Delta hubs such as Atlanta (ATL), Seattle (SEA), and New York (LGA and JFK), as well as many other destinations. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members receive access to Sky Clubs if they're flying on a Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight that day.

Cardholders also receive four one-time Sky Club guest passes each year, and can also bring in up to two guests (or immediate family) at a discounted rate of $50 per person, as long as they're also flying Delta.

If your home airport has a Delta Sky Club, or you often fly through airports with one of these lounges, this benefit can improve your travel experience and save you money in the long term. Delta Sky Clubs offer a quieter place to relax and get work done, with free Wi-Fi, snacks, light meals, beverages, and other amenities. 

But if Delta Sky Club access is your main objective, be sure to look at The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express as other options. These cards also offer Sky Club access when you fly Delta, so they may be a better choice if you prefer flexibility and don't want to be locked into earning Delta miles exclusively. Here's our comparison of the Amex Platinum versus Business Platinum for all the details.

Amex Centurion Lounge Access

Amex Centurion Lounges are much more upscale than Delta Sky Clubs, and if you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and are flying Delta that day, you'll have access if you used a US-issued American Express card to pay for your ticket.

Cardholders can currently bring in up to two guests, if they're also flying Delta, for $50 per person. Centurion Lounges are well known for premium food, craft cocktails, and a more exclusive atmosphere, but they're not in as many airports as Sky Clubs are.

Escape Lounge — The Centurion Studio Partner Access

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members can also access Escape Lounge — The Centurion Studio Partner locations in the U.S. when they fly on a Delta-operated or marketed flight the same day. Again, you'll need to use a U.S.-issued Amex card to pay for your ticket to gain entry to these lounges. You can also bring additional guests (who must also be flying Delta that day) for a guest fee that varies depending on the Escape Lounge location.

You can add authorized users to your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for $175 apiece for them to receive the same access to Delta Sky Clubs, Centurion Lounges, and Escape Lounges.

Upgrade Priority and Access to Complimentary Upgrades

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders get upgrade priority over non-cardholders with the same Medallion elite status level and fare class grouping. If you don't have Medallion status, you'll get added to the complimentary upgrade list after elite status holders.

Annual Delta Companion Certificate

You'll receive a Delta companion certificate valid on first class, Delta Comfort+®, or main cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card renewal anniversary.

If you buy a qualifying paid ticket, a travel buddy can join you for just the cost of taxes and fees on the same itinerary. This can be extremely lucrative if you've booked an expensive fare or pricey last-minute ticket — you could potentially save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.

Delta Companion Certificate Details

• Valid on Delta, Delta Connection, and Delta Shuttle flights
• Both passengers must be booked at the same time and you must use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card card to pay for the tickets
• Only certain fare classes are eligible: I and Z for first class, L, U, T, X, and V for economy class, and W and S  for Delta Comfort+ (only when L, U, T, X, or V classes of service are available in the Main Cabin)
• The companion certificate can't be combined with other promotions (like web fares, sale fares, and eCoupons)
• Companion tickets are eligible for Medallion® Complimentary Upgrades (subject to availability) based on the elite status of the higher-tiered member traveling

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card also offers an annual companion certificate, but it's only valid for economy class travel. If you book Comfort+ or first-class tickets, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is a better choice.

Elite Status Boost and Head Start (New in 2024)

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders get an automatic boost toward elite status qualification with this new benefit. Cardholders will receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) each Medallion Qualification Year toward their elite status qualification requirements, and earn $1 MQD for each $10 spent on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

Up to $240 Resy Restaurant Credit (New in 2024)

Reserve Business cardholders can earn a statement credit of up to $20 a month when they use the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to pay their bill at participating US Resy restaurants. You have to enroll your credit card with American Express in order to qualify for this benefit. 

Up to $120 Rideshare Credit (New in 2024)

You can get a statement credit of up to $10 a month when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to pay for your airport rideshare with select providers. You have to enroll your credit card before you can begin earning this benefit. 

Up to $250 Delta Stays Credit (New in 2024)

You can earn up to $250 per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. Unlike the Resy and restaurant credits mentioned above, this benefit is calculated from your total spend with Delta Stays each year. 

Free First Checked Bag

When you pay for travel with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you and up to eight companions on the same reservation can receive a free first checked bag on Delta flights. Delta usually charges $35 each way for the first checked bag, so this benefit can translate to significant savings if you fly Delta frequently.

This can be an especially good value if you travel with your family or as a group. For instance, four people with a checked bag each on a round-trip itinerary would normally be charged a total of $280 for their luggage.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit

Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® are trusted traveler programs that can save you a ton of time at the airport, and if you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to pay the application fee, you'll be reimbursed (up to $120 for Global Entry every four years or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck® every 4.5 years).

Priority Boarding

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card cardholders and up to eight companions on the same reservation receive Delta Zone 5 priority boarding, even when they fly Basic Economy. This gets you on the airplane earlier and gets you more time to find space in the overhead bins for your carry-on and get settled into your seat.

Zone 5 passengers board after those flying in premium cabins and most elite members, but before other economy class travelers or folks flying in basic economy.  

TakeOff 15 Discount

If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you're eligible for the airline's new TakeOff 15 benefit. As long as you're the primary cardholder and connect your card to your SkyMiles account, you'll receive a 15% discount when you book award tickets on Delta-operated flights through Delta.com or the Fly Delta app. 

This could amount to significant savings if you redeem miles for Delta flights regularly. Keep in mind that partner award flights don't qualify, and authorized users/employee cards aren't eligible for the discount.

20% Back on Inflight Purchases

When you pay for eligible inflight purchases like drinks, food, or audio headsets on Delta flights with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you'll receive 20% back in the form of a statement credit.

Secondary Car Rental Insurance

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with secondary car rental insurance when you use the card to pay for your rental in full and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver. You're eligible for coverage for damage due to theft or collision only (not liability), and some rentals, vehicle types, and countries are excluded, so be sure to read the terms.

Purchase Protection

When you pay for an eligible item with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you're eligible for purchase protection covering loss or damage coverage up to 90 days from the date of purchase, up to a maximum of $1,000 per occurrence, and $50,000 per year.

Extended Warranty

Cardholders can also get an extended warranty of up to one additional year on eligible US manufacturer warranties of five years or less, when they use their Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to pay for a qualifying item.

Return Protection

If a merchant won't accept your return of an eligible item you purchased with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you may get a refund of the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling), up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year.

Trip Delay Insurance

You can get reimbursed up to $500 for meals, lodging, toiletries, medication, and other personal items if you've paid for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and it's delayed by six hours or more, up to two times per consecutive 12-month period. Round-trip travel is required to be eligible for the card's trip delay insurance.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

If you paid for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and it's canceled or interrupted for a covered reason, you could be reimbursed up to $10,000 per trip and up to $20,000 per card per consecutive 12-month period.

Baggage Insurance

As long as you've paid for a covered trip with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you could be eligible for baggage loss or damage insurance, up to $500 per person for checked luggage, and $1,250 per person for carry-on bags.

There are exclusions for high-risk items and some states have different limits, so check the terms and conditions for specific details.

Cellphone Protection

A handful of Amex cards offer cell phone protection, including the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. When you use the card to pay your monthly wireless bill, you can be covered for the cost of repair or replacement if your phone is damaged or stolen, up to $800 per claim and up to two claims per 12-month period.

This coverage is secondary (it will pay out after any other insurance you have) and it starts the first day of the calendar month following payment of your monthly bill with your eligible card. You'll continue to have protection as long as you keep paying your bill with the card. There's a $50 deductible, and you must file your claim within 90 days of the incident. 

Premium Global Assist Hotline

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with an often overlooked benefit that can make a huge difference if you have an emergency while you're away from home. Cardholders get access to Amex's Premium Global Assist Hotline, which can help arrange things like passport replacement, medical referrals, translation services, and missing luggage assistance.

This service is complimentary, but you may be responsible for any third-party costs. One big difference from the regular (versus premium) Global Assist Hotline is emergency medical evacuation coverage — Amex may provide emergency medical transportation assistance at no cost if it's approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline.

Amex Offers

Like other American Express cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with targeted discounts or bonus miles at participating retailers, restaurants, services, and more through Amex Offers**. Activating and using these offers is a great way to save money on purchases you'd make anyway, and can help you offset the card's annual fee.

Delta Reserve Business Card Annual Fees and Other Costs

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card charges a $650 annual fee, and each additional cardholder costs $175. However, there are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so this is a good card to use for international purchases.

Be aware of the 19.99% - 28.99% Variable APR that's applied if you carry a balance, so try to pay your card off in full every month to avoid being charged interest.

There are other fees for certain situations, including:

• Cash advance fee
• Late payment fee
• Returned payment fee

Compare the Delta Reserve Business Card

If you want day-of-travel benefits on Delta, but don't want to pay a high annual fee, there are two other Delta small-business cards to consider with lower annual fees.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card comes with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150, and the mid-level Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card charges $350 per year. Both offer perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights.

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

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is a step down from the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, with a $350 annual fee and a 70,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership welcome bonus.

Unlike Reserve Business cardholders, Platinum Business cardholders don't automatically receive complimentary upgrades through the credit card, but they do receive the same flight benefits of priority boarding, free checked bag, and 20% off inflight purchases. They also earn an annual companion certificate each year, although these are limited to economy-class travel redemptions. 

Read our full Delta American Express Platinum Business card review.

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

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a great introductory business credit card card for Delta-flying business owners who want basic travel comforts, but don't want to pay a hefty annual fee for those benefits. 

The Delta Gold Business card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150, and comes with the same benefits of priority boarding, free checked bag, and 20% off inflight purchases as the Delta Platinum Business and the Delta Reserve Business.

First-time cardholders can also earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership, worth 66000 based on Business Insider's valuations. 

Read our full American Express Delta Gold Business card review.

American Express Credit Cards vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

If you just want to earn more Delta miles on day-to-day expenses, you might do better with a business credit card that earns Amex Membership Rewards points instead of a Delta credit card.

There are several cards that meet this criteria, including The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta at a 1:1 rate, or used a number of different ways toward travel expenses through Amex Travel or other American Express airline and hotel partners for additional travel flexibility.

Learn more about the best American Express business cards. 

Delta Reserve Business Card Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn a sign-up bonus on the Delta SkyMiles Business Reserve card?

If you've already had (or currently have) the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you won't qualify for the bonus again, although it may be possible to still be approved if you don't currently hold the card. Amex has a rule that only allows you to get one bonus, per specific card, per lifetime. 

Is the Delta Business Reserve hard to get?

You'll want to have excellent personal and business credit when applying for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card. We've seen reports of people qualifying with good to excellent credit, defined as a FICO score of at least 670.

Do I have to pay for my ticket with the Delta Business Reserve to get a free checked bag?

You don't have to buy your flight with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to get a free checked bag, as long as your business credit card is linked to your Delta SkyMiles loyalty account.

Is the Delta Business Reserve the best Delta credit card?

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is Delta's top-tier credit card for benefits and annual fee, but that doesn't mean it's the best card for everyone. Infrequent Delta travelers may do better with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, or with an American Express credit card that earns Membership Rewards points that transfer to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Delta Reserve Business Card

Business Insider's experts evaluated the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card in comparison to other Delta credit cards, and to premium cards from other major US airlines. We looked at several factors, including:

• Simplicity — Does the card make it easy to earn and redeem miles? Are there any restrictions or hoops to jump through?
• Earning potential — Are there appealing bonus categories for small-business owners and travelers? Are any capped at a spending maximum? 
• Annual fee — If there's an annual fee, particularly a hefty one, is it offset by the value of the rewards and perks offered by the card?
• Benefits — Do the card's perks save you money? Are the day-of-travel or airline-specific benefits generous, especially compared to other high-end cards?

You can read about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider for an in-depth look at our methodology.