Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
A American Express American Express card with a $650 annual fee. Here's what it pays back after that fee for three spending profiles, simulated month by month. Terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
What it's worth
5 years, the welcome offer counted when the profile's own spending reaches it, rewards valued as cash. Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles. Assumes you fly mostly Delta.
| Profile | Year 1 | Then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $100 | −$400 | −$1,502 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $330 | −$170 | −$350 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $618 | $118 | $1,090 |
Your spending isn't one of our profiles. Drop in a year of statements and see where the Delta Reserve ranks against every card we track. They're read on this device and never uploaded.
Terms
| Term | Delta Reserve |
|---|---|
| Issuer and network | American Express, American Express |
| Annual fee | $650 |
| Requires | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 50,000 points after $10,000 in 6 months |
| Earning | 3x on Delta purchases (flights, seats, upgrades, Delta Vacations, Delta Stays, in-flight food and drink) · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | Delta SkyMiles |
| Statement credits | $240 Resy credit ($20 a month) · $120 rideshare credit ($10 a month) · $200 Delta Stays credit |
| Lounges | Delta Sky Club, American Express Centurion Lounge, Escape Lounges (The Centurion Studio Partner) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Authorized users | $175 each |
| Availability | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 |
Checked against the issuer's page. Dates and sources for each part.
Fine print
- Miles are Delta SkyMiles. They do not transfer anywhere. The fixed-value floor is Pay with Miles on delta.com: 5,000 miles = $50 (1.0 cent a mile), Basic Card Member only.
- $650 annual fee. Additional Reserve cards (with their own 15 Sky Club Visits) cost $175 each a year. Additional Delta Platinum cards on the account are free.
- Only Delta purchases earn a bonus (3x). Everything else, including dining and groceries, earns 1x.
- The companion certificate arrives after the first renewal, so year 1 has none. It can be used in Delta First, unlike the Platinum's Main-only certificate.
- Summer 2026 refresh (effective 2026-06-04, no fee change): second checked bag free for the cardholder on domestic Delta flights.
Already have it? Is the Delta Reserve still worth $650 a year?