I was a Diamond Medallion member for years but fell to Platinum Medallion when Delta Air Lines introduced higher qualifying requirements for elite status. Even so, most of my domestic flights are still on the airline, thanks to its extensive network from my home in New York City. And Delta has always made it right whenever I’ve faced an operational meltdown or other issues.
When the airline switched to Medallion Qualification Dollars as its sole elite status metric, it also revamped large parts of its credit card portfolio. As such, in my opinion, it’s now essential for most Delta elite members to have a Delta credit card — primarily because it makes qualifying for elite status much easier.
However, not all Delta credit cards are the same. The airline has a suite of cobranded cards issued by American Express, each offering different benefits. My card of choice is the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, which I’ve kept in my wallet for almost five years.
Let’s get into some of these benefits so I can explain why I continue to keep the Delta Reserve card in my wallet and spend on it every year. Enrollment is required for some of the benefits mentioned in this article; terms apply.
15% discount on award flights
TakeOff 15 is one of the Delta Reserve‘s standout features. It’s also included with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, as well as their business equivalents.
As the name suggests, the benefit gives you a 15% discount on all Delta award tickets, so long as Delta or Delta Connection operates the flight.
The discount is applied automatically and shows on Delta’s award calendar. In turn, this makes for some very cheap award tickets. For example, you can consistently book short-haul basic economy tickets on off-peak dates for as little as 3,800 SkyMiles.
There are deals to be found on longer domestic flights, too. For example, you can consistently book nonstop transcontinental flights for less than 10,000 SkyMiles in basic economy.
Remember, Delta awards MQDs on award tickets — excluding basic economy — at a rate of 1 MQD per 100 miles redeemed. So, each discounted award ticket you book brings you closer to elite status.
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This is one of my favorite parts of the Delta SkyMiles program, and it makes booking mileage tickets even more valuable as I work to earn status every year.
Included companion certificate
One exclusive perk of the Delta Reserve is its annual companion certificate.
This lets you bring a companion with you on a round-trip ticket within the continental U.S. or to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America for taxes and fees, which are no more than $250 (and usually much less). This can be in the main cabin, Comfort+ or domestic first class.
Companion space can be limited, but if you time your flights correctly, you can use it to save a pretty penny. In the past, I’ve used it to fly my partner and myself to Salt Lake City, saving us well over $300.
Depending on the flight I redeem my companion pass for, this could easily offset the Delta Reserve’s $650 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Upgrade priority
Another great Delta Reserve benefit is upgrade priority. Elite members with the card are prioritized above elite members in the same tier without a Delta Reserve card. This puts me ahead of other Platinum Medallions on the upgrade list, giving me a better shot at a seat at the front of the plane.
It’s hard to peg a cash value to this benefit, but it’s a nice addition for Delta elite members. And if you don’t have Medallion elite status, the card will get your name on the upgrade list. If you fall into this camp, don’t expect many upgrades — you’re still below all Medallion elite members on the upgrade list.
Related: Secure a better seat: The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta flights
Statement credits for Resy, ride-hailing services and hotels
The personal Delta Reserve card includes up to $20 per month in Resy credit (up to $240 each calendar year), up to $10 per month in ride-hailing credit (up to $120 each calendar year) and up to $200 annually in Delta Stays credit. I’ve found these easy enough to maximize every month, and they cover the card’s annual fee.
The Resy benefit gives you up to $20 per month in statement credits at any restaurant that takes reservations on Resy. You don’t need to make a reservation to use it. I’ve had no issue using this since multiple restaurants in my neighborhood are on Resy.
Further, the credit for ride-hailing services can be used for Uber and Lyft, among other options. I live in New York City, so this is an easy one for me to redeem since I ride with Uber and Lyft at least once per month. I charge my first ride of the month to my Delta Reserve, and the credit usually appears in my account within a week.
Finally, the Delta Stays credit can be used toward any prepaid hotel stay booked through Delta Stays. This is Delta’s hotel booking portal run by Expedia. You can book most hotels worldwide through the platform.
I haven’t had any issues using this credit yearly, but I try to save it for stays at boutique hotels. That’s because you will not earn hotel points or be able to use elite status perks when booking through Delta Stays. I’ve already used my credit this year at an airport hotel during an 18-hour layover.
Related: Do you have a Delta Amex card? Here are 9 things you need to do
Earn MQDs
When Delta made MQDs its sole qualifying metric, it added the ability to earn them to the Delta Reserve. Specifically, Delta Reserve cardmembers earn 1 MQD per $10 spent on the card, meaning a $100 purchase earns 10 MQDs toward elite status. Cardmembers also receive a 2,500-MQD head start at the beginning of every Medallion qualification year.
Opening the Delta Reserve could bridge the gap if you’re within 2,500 MQDs of your desired Delta Medallion status tier. Consider applying if you fall into this camp but don’t want to go on an MQD run for status.
Because of this, I put some nonbonused spending on my Delta Reserve card. For example, last year, I made an estimated tax payment on my Delta Reserve card to cross the threshold for Platinum Medallion elite status. I may do the same this year to (hopefully) upgrade to Diamond Medallion status.
Depending on what other cards you have in your wallet, you’ll likely give up some value by spending on the Delta Reserve compared to a transferable points card. However, if earning Delta elite status is important to you, this is a way to earn MQDs without flying.
Limited lounge access
The Delta Reserve has access to three lounge networks when you have a same-day flight on Delta: Delta’s own Sky Clubs, American Express Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges. However, Delta limited Sky Club access for cardmembers earlier this year.
In years past, the card offered unlimited Delta Sky Club visits before a Delta flight, but that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, cardmembers can access the Sky Club 15 times per year.
These 15 visits act as day passes, allowing you to visit as many Sky Clubs as you’d like within 24 hours, which is helpful for connecting flights. You can access Sky Clubs within three hours of departure, during a connection and upon arrival.
You can unlock unlimited Sky Club visits for the rest of the year and all of the next by spending $75,000 on your Delta Reserve in a calendar year. Otherwise, each extra Sky Club visit costs $50 after you exhaust your 15 visits.
Thankfully, these limits do not apply to American Express Centurion Lounges and Escape Lounges. Delta Reserve cardmembers can access these lounges so long as they have a same-day flight on Delta. You might consider visiting these lounges first so you don’t dig into your Sky Club visits.
The Delta Reserve’s Sky Club perk isn’t worth nearly as much as when the Delta Reserve card offered unlimited Sky Club visits. That said, it might not affect you if you visit Sky Clubs no more than 15 times per year. But for more frequent Delta flyers, you might need to spend your way to unlimited visits to maintain access.
I tend to visit Sky Clubs over 15 times per year, but I don’t plan to spend $75,000 on the card to unlock unlimited access. This is because I also get 10 Sky Club visits per year with my Platinum Card® from American Express, which should cover most of my annual Delta flights beyond the 15 visits included with the Delta Reserve.
Bottom line
The Delta Reserve card has a high annual fee, and its benefits have changed over the years. However, I still get a lot of value from the card.
It makes earning Delta elite status easier and saves me on Delta award tickets. Further, it enhances my travel experience with lounge access and upgrade priority. Better yet, I can offset the card’s annual fee by using the included companion certificate and its suite of statement credits.
Beyond this, having a Delta Reserve in your wallet makes it substantially easier to earn Medallion elite status. You get a 2,500-MQD boost every year, and you can earn even more MQDs when you spend on the card. With Diamond Medallion status now requiring 28,000 MQDs to earn, this card could be the only way many Delta elite members qualify.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta Reserve.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Delta Reserve, click here.
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