2021 Review: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card — For Delta-Loving Business Travelers
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Our Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars
We’re giving the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card 5 out of 5 Stars. Though the card doesn’t provide much in the way of business-specific features, it’s still an excellent option for businesspeople who frequently fly Delta.
Why We Like It
- 3X SkyMiles per dollar on direct Delta purchases
- Ramped-up rewards after spending $150,000 in a year
- Big intro bonus: 80,000 bonus miles, 20,000 MQMs, and a $200 statement credit for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
- Delta Sky Club/Centurion Lounge access, with two one-time Delta Sky Club passes per year
- Annual companion certificate (granted upon renewal), good for a round-trip domestic flight in first class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit covers the application fee of either program when you pay with the SkyMiles Reserve Business
- First checked bag free and Main Cabin 1 priority boarding for the cardholder and up to eight other passengers per reservation, plus a 20% discount on in-flight purchases like food and drinks (but excluding WiFi)
- Status Boost makes it easier to score Medallion status
- Potential access to complimentary upgrades, even if you don’t have Medallion status
Why It Could Be Better
- $550 annual fee is high, but expected at the premium tier (Rates & Fees)
- Rewards could be a bit more diverse
- Some premium cards offer better guest lounge access than two free one-time Delta Sky Club passes a year, and at a comparable price
Rounding out Delta Air Lines’ family of co-branded business credit cards, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business serves up a plateful of premium benefits, with a decent reward structure that nevertheless looks a bit more like an appetizer than a meal.
The card doles out 3X SkyMiles per dollar on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, its only specific bonus category. If you spend $150,000 in a year, every eligible purchase (aside from Delta) after you meet that threshold earns 1.5X miles, rather than 1X.
The Reserve’s benefits are about what you’d expect of a premium card. Highlights include complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and The Centurion Lounge, an annual companion certificate, priority boarding, and waived baggage fees (among other things).
Altogether, the SkyMiles Reserve Business is a great option for business owners who remain loyal to Delta and don’t mind the card’s relatively high price tag.
| Card | Annual Fee | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 (Rates & Fees) |
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| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Review) | $250 (Rates & Fees) |
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| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (This review) | $550 |
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Insider Advice: Getting the Most Out of Your Card
- Travel with Delta: Book eligible flights with Delta and its partners to get 3X miles per dollar on top of what you already get as a SkyMiles member. Aside from flights, the card’s 3X category also covers other Delta purchases, including class upgrades, seat selections, and in-flight food and drinks.
- Secure the welcome offer: The Reserve’s welcome bonus adds a lot of value, but avoid applying for this card if you’d have to spend unnecessary money to get it. Once you get the initial bonus, remain a cardholder for at least a year to get the additional bonus after your first anniversary of card membership.
- Lounge while you travel: Relax before or between your flights with free access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion airport lounges. An individual Sky Club membership would cost you $545, which almost entirely offsets the Reserve Business card’s fee. Centurion Lounge access is tougher to assign a monetary value to, but it’d likely be even higher; it’s only available through select American Express premium credit cards.
- Board early and check your first bag for free: Book your Delta itinerary with the same SkyMiles number that’s associated with your Reserve Business card for Main Cabin 1 priority boarding privileges and waived fees for your first checked bags (applies to you and up to eight additional passengers).
- Apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck: The Reserve card covers the fee of either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to help reduce the time you spend waiting around in airports. If you think you’ll qualify, Global Entry is the more valuable option, as it can include TSA PreCheck and typically costs $15 more.
- Achieve Medallion status: Status Boost speeds Reserve Business cardholders along the path to Medallion status by granting 15,000 MQMs (Medallion Qualification Miles) for every $30,000 spent in a calendar year, up to four times annually. There are four Medallion tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond), and each tier offers extra rewards and perks.
The Rewards
Too busy to worry over a credit card with a complicated reward structure, but still looking to earn rewards to put toward business travel? The SkyMiles Reserve Business is a strong contender.
The card earns 3X SkyMiles on direct Delta purchases in addition to whatever you’re earning from your SkyMiles membership status (which starts at 5X miles).
SkyMiles are generally worth about 1–1.5 cents, so you’re usually getting a cash back equivalent of at least 8% on Delta purchases if you redeem for airfare. That’ll increase with higher SkyMiles membership tiers.
Earning
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The SkyMiles Reserve Business has a run-of-the-mill airline reward structure. Keep in mind that the Delta category includes not only airfare, but class upgrades, seat selection, and more.
You start off earning 1X mile per dollar on everything else, but if you spend $150,000 on the card in a calendar year, that rate is bumped up to 1.5X per dollar. This adds a lot of value if you’re working with a bigger business.
Redeeming
Earning with the Reserve Business is simple. Developing a strategic redemption strategy can be a bit tougher, especially if you’re looking to get the absolute best value possible.
Reserve cardholders have a rich variety of redemption options, but we recommend ignoring most of them, and swapping your Delta miles for airfare to get the most bang for your buck.
You can redeem your points with Delta and its partner airlines right on the Delta website.
If you really want to redeem for something else, there are quite a few options, including gift cards, Delta Sky Club access (which you’ll already have), seat upgrades, and more. But, again, we suggest you stick with flights.
Redeeming SkyMiles for Flights
Delta flight redemptions typically deliver a value between 1–1.5 cents per SkyMile, but there are plenty of exceptions that fall both higher and lower. With that said, we’ll outline a few examples of what you can usually expect.
Here’s a round-trip flight in basic economy from New York (JFK) to Chicago (ORD).
For this flight, you’d get a value of about 1.15 cents per SkyMile. Pretty normal.
Now, take a look at this Main Cabin flight between Los Angeles (LAX) and Orlando (MCO).
You’re getting a better value here, but nothing outlandish — around 1.36 cents. And that’s generally how most redemptions will look.
We’ve calculated a few more examples, too, to help provide a clearer picture. They’re all round-trip flights in varying classes, and sure enough, the value per mile falls within the expected 1–1.5 cent range.
| Round Trip Route | Class | Cash Price | Miles Price | Value Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFK to IAD | Basic Economy | $196.20 | 16,000 + $11.20 | 1.23 cents |
| DET to YYZ | Main Cabin | $406.28 | 28,000 + $51.78 | 1.45 cents |
| DEN to SEA | Comfort+ | $274.20 | 21,000 + $11.20 | 1.3 cents |
| BOS to IND | First | $351.20 | 32,000 + $11.20 | 1.09 cents |
Quick Guide
Miles + Cash vs. Pay with Miles
Delta offers two booking options that let you book using both points and miles — Miles + Cash and Pay with Miles. Both tend to provide a worse return on spend than if you just redeem with miles normally.
Miles + Cash lets you purchase airfare with both miles and cash using a cash surcharge to lower the flight’s mile price.
Pay with Miles is slightly different; it allows you to book airfare with SkyMiles in increments of 5,000, and then cover the rest with cash.
Miles + Cash flights are categorized as award tickets, so they don’t earn you any rewards. Pay with Miles fares are considered normal tickets, so they accumulate SkyMiles on whatever portion you pay in cash.
The Benefits
The SkyMiles Reserve Business features most of the same benefits as its consumer counterpart. That’s a good thing — some of these benefits are very valuable.
- Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access: Access Delta Sky Clubs for free, and bring up to two guests at $39 each. Complimentary Centurion Lounge access is also included, with up to two guests at $50 each. Two free Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes per year are included. Complimentary lounge access requires a boarding pass for a same-day Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight. However, Reserve cardholders traveling with a partner airline on a flight that’s not marketed by Delta can still access Delta Sky Club lounges for $39 per person.
- Annual Companion Certificate: Each year, upon card renewal, get a certificate for one Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin round-trip flight. Certificate use requires the payment of applicable fees, not to exceed $75.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: Pay with the SkyMiles Reserve Business, and get a statement credit that covers the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four-and-a-half years).
- First checked bag free on Delta flights: Baggage fees for your party’s first checked bags are waived when you book with your Delta SkyMiles number (covers the cardholder and up to eight additional passengers on the same itinerary).
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding: Board your flight earlier (with up to eight additional passengers on the same itinerary) when you book with your Delta SkyMiles number.
- Complimentary upgrades: SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders are added to the complimentary upgrade waitlist after Medallion members, even without Medallion status.
- 20% in-flight discount on Delta flights: Enjoy a 20% discount (in the form of a statement credit) on various in-flight purchases, including food, drinks, and headsets, but excluding WiFi.
- Concierge service: Call for 24/7 non-emergency assistance with a variety of tasks, like arranging travel plans, making restaurant reservations, and locating hard-to-find gifts.
- Shopping and travel protections: Including car rental loss and damage insurance, baggage insurance, the Global Assist Hotline, return protection, dispute resolution, and extended warranty protection
The Terms & Fees
| Purchase APR | Balance Transfer APR | Cash Advance APR |
|---|---|---|
| 15.74% - 24.74% Variable | None | 25.24% Variable |
| Annual Fee | Foreign Transaction Fee |
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| $550 | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Cash Advance Fee |
|---|---|
| None | Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. |
| Penalty APR | Late Fee | Returned Payment Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 29.24% Variable | Up to $39 | $39 |
The Reserve’s annual fee is on par with most other premium travel cards — expensive, but not unusually so.
There’s no foreign transaction fee (again, normal for a business travel card), but Amex isn’t as widely accepted as networks like Visa or Mastercard, so this may not be your best pick for international business travel.
The Bottom Line
If you’re in the market for a business-focused travel card and you spend a lot of money with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is about as good as it gets.
The card’s rewards program is a great match for die-hard Delta customers — especially those whose businesses spend more than $150,000 a year without a second thought. Plus, the program’s simplicity could be a boon for busy businesspeople with no time to strategize a meticulous spending plan.
Though its rewards are fine, the SkyMiles Reserve Business card’s value is best demonstrated by its benefits. Complimentary Delta Sky Club access is great, but complimentary Centurion Lounge access is a rare treasure. The card’s other benefits are great, too — the annual companion fare, free checked bags, and priority boarding offer hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in potential yearly value, depending on how much you fly.
And that’s about all there is to it. Love flying with Delta and relaxing in airport lounges before you board? This is the card for you. Prefer redemption flexibility, or a more diverse rewards program? Consider an alternative.
How to Apply for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
Click the “Apply Now” button below, and you’ll be taken to the American Express website. There, you can fill out a secure application for the SkyMiles Reserve Business card. You’ll be required to submit a variety of personal and business information.
After you’ve submitted your application, Amex will conduct a hard check on your personal credit. You’ll likely be either approved or denied instantly. If not, the issuer might ask for more information, or simply request you wait while the decision is made.
Read more How to Apply for Business Credit Cards (Even If You Don’t Think You Qualify)What Credit Scores Do You Need to Get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card?
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is intended for cardholders with excellent credit.
VantageScore considers scores above 750 excellent. FICO isn’t quite as clear; scores between 740–799 are labeled exceptional, while 800 and up qualifies for excellent. You’re probably safe to assume anything in that range is good enough, though that’s not a guarantee.
Bear in mind that these are guidelines. You may be declined with very high credit scores, or approved with scores that aren’t great.
Qualifications and Requirements
- Must be 18 to apply
- Business information: Legal business name, business name on card, business address, business phone number, industry, company structure, years in business, employee count, annual business revenue, federal tax ID, role in company
- Personal information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number
- Address and contact information: Email address, home address, home phone number
- Financial information: Total annual income, non-taxable annual income
- Delta SkyMiles number (if you already have one)
Alternatives to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
For business owners committed to flying Delta, there are few better credit card offers than the SkyMiles Reserve Business. But not everyone’s loyal to a single airline, and even if you are, you may not travel enough to justify such a large annual fee. Here are a few other options.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Details
(Rates & Fees)Not every business owner spends enough to justify a premium airline card. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card isn’t as pricey as the Reserve, so it lacks many of its more valuable benefits.
Even so, the card features strong, business-minded rewards and enough perks to help you get your money’s worth without much hassle.
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The Gold’s reward program could actually be more lucrative than the Reserve’s for businesses with big shipping and advertising budgets. And one fewer mile per dollar on Delta purchases probably won’t make a huge difference in your SkyMiles balance at the end of the day.
- First checked bag free: On Delta flights, for you and up to eight others on your itinerary
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding: For you and up to eight traveling companions
- 20% back on in-flight purchases: Including food, drinks, and headsets, but excluding WiFi
- $100 Delta flight credit: Spend $10,000 in a calendar year, and get a $100 credit good for Delta flights and vacation packages.
- Baggage Insurance Plan: Coverage for carry-on bags and checked luggage with the purchase of any common carrier ticket (includes tickets for travel by plane, train, ship, or bus)
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you pay for an eligible rental and decline the agency’s collision damage waiver
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99
The information related to Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
What do you care more about — rewards or benefits?
If you’re big on rewards but have no use for airport lounge access, you might prefer the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card over the Reserve.
Its reward structure is slightly more diverse, but it lacks the Reserve’s most luxurious perks. Its annual fee is much lower, though it’s still on the pricier side.
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The Platinum matches the Reserve’s reward rate on Delta purchases, and adds two additional categories to boot.
The hotel category bumps up the card’s appeal to frequent overnight travelers.
Its 1.5X category is a neat addition, but the 50,000-mile limit is a touch restrictive, given how the least you can earn for a single $5,000 purchase in that category is 7,500 SkyMiles.
- Annual Companion Certificate: A once-yearly certificate for a domestic, round-trip Main Cabin flight upon card renewal
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of Global Entry ($100 every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four-and-a-half years)
- First checked bag free: Covers you and up to eight traveling companions on Delta flights
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding: Allows you and up to eight travel companions to board earlier
- Delta Sky Club access: Access Delta Sky Club airport lounges with up to two guests at an exclusive rate of $39 per person.
- 20% discount on in-flight purchases: 20% off purchases like food, beverages, movies, and audio headsets in the form of a statement credit (on Delta flights; excludes WiFi)
- Status Boost: Get 10,000 MQMs for every $25,000 in eligible purchases, up to twice annually.
- Purchase APR: 15.74% - 24.74% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $250
The information related to Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Details
It’s no secret why the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is such a well-loved business credit card.
The card offers few high-value benefits, but its reward structure is fairly diverse. And any rewards you earn can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to a plethora of airline and hotel loyalty programs. This point transfer feature, in particular, lends the card a lot of flexibility.
Ink Business Preferred cardholders also get a 25% point bonus when redeeming through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, which is a big plus if you’re not sure whether you’d like to transfer your points.
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The Ink Business Preferred is great because it rewards you for travel and various business essentials.
The main downside is that you can only earn in its 3X categories up to $150,000 in spending. For small businesses, that could be plenty, but bigger businesses might want to use this card alongside something less restrictive.
- Redemption bonus: Get a 25% point bonus when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Point transfer: Transfer points at a 1:1 rate to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs, including British Airways, United, Marriott Bonvoy, and Hyatt.
- Cell Phone Protection: Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Ink Business Preferred for coverage against theft and damage, up to $600 per claim with a $100 deductible.
- Shopping and travel protections: Other insurance perks include purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waivers, and more.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 15.99%-20.99% Variable
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $95
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is expensive, and it’s easy to see why.
Its benefits are among the best in the industry, bundling the most comprehensive airport lounge access available with elite hotel statuses, various statement credits, and much more.
Its rewards are less compelling than its benefits, but they’re still solid and comparable with the Reserve’s.
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If you spend a lot on travel and don’t mind booking most (or all) of that travel through the Amex Travel portal, this could be a very lucrative card.
You get a decent bonus on points redeemed with Amex Travel, too, which ramps up the value of your rewards even further.
- Global Lounge Collection: Complimentary access to Priority Pass, Centurion, American Express International, Delta Sky Club, Escape, Airspace, Lufthansa, and Plaza Premium Lounges
- Up to $200 in airline fee statement credits annually: Covers incidental costs, including checked bags and in-flight food, but not tickets, at your airline of choice
- 35% point bonus: Get a 35% point bonus when you use Pay With Points to redeem for airfare with your airline of choice (must be the same airline where you’ll use your annual airline fee).
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit: A statement credit for the application fee of either Global Entry ($100 once every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85 once every four-and-a-half years)
- Complimentary elite hotel statuses: Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- Up to $100 in statement credits semi-annually for U.S. Dell purchases: $100 from January through June, and $100 from July through December
- The Hotel Collection: Get a $100 hotel credit and room upgrades when available for every eligible two-night stay.
- Fine Hotels & Resorts Program: Daily breakfast for two, room upgrades when available, amenities valued at $100, and more at eligible properties
- Point transfer: To a selection of airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: $595
The information related to The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card lives up to its premium price tag with solid rewards on Delta purchases and a host of valuable benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access.
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