Updated: October 21, 2024
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The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the better choice for frequent Delta travelers seeking premium perks like lounge access and a companion certificate. Its high rewards rate on Delta purchases and exclusive benefits justify the $650 annual fee.
However, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card remains a strong contender for budget-conscious travelers, offering no annual fee and solid rewards on dining and Delta purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card is likely to be better for frequent Delta travelers who value premium perks like complimentary Delta Sky Club access and an annual companion certificate.
This card suits those who can justify its $650 annual fee through frequent travel and the use of its benefits. However, it may not be the best choice for individuals who do not travel often or cannot fully utilize the card's premium features.
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card is likely to be better for budget-conscious travelers who want to earn Delta SkyMiles without paying an annual fee.
It offers 2X miles on Delta purchases and dining, making it a good choice for those who dine out frequently. With no foreign transaction fees, it's also suitable for international travelers. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking premium travel benefits like lounge access or companion certificates.
In this section, we break down key differences between the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Blue cards, covering APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers. For instance, if you're focused on dining rewards, the Blue card offers 2X miles, while the Reserve card focuses more on Delta purchases with 3X miles. This detailed comparison helps you choose the card that aligns with your spending habits.
Regular APR: Tie
Both Delta SkyMiles Blue and Delta SkyMiles Reserve offer the same regular APR range of 20.49% to 29.49% variable, making them equal in this aspect.
Annual Fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue
Delta SkyMiles Blue is better for annual fees, as it has no annual fee. In contrast, Delta SkyMiles Reserve charges a $650 annual fee, which may be justified by its premium travel benefits.
Introductory 0% APRs: Tie
Neither Delta SkyMiles Blue nor Delta SkyMiles Reserve offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
Rewards: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Delta SkyMiles Reserve is better for rewards on Delta purchases, offering 3X miles compared to Delta SkyMiles Blue's 2X. However, Delta SkyMiles Blue provides 2X miles at restaurants, adding versatility for everyday spending.
Welcome Offers: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Delta SkyMiles Reserve is better for welcome offers, providing 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in 6 months. In contrast, Delta SkyMiles Blue offers 10,000 miles for $1,000 spent in the same period.
Recommended Credit Score: Tie
Both Delta SkyMiles Blue and Delta SkyMiles Reserve require a recommended credit score of 670 to 850, making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.
Penalties and Fees: Tie
Both Delta SkyMiles Blue and Delta SkyMiles Reserve have similar penalties and fees, including a late fee of up to $40, a penalty APR of 29.99%, and no foreign transaction fees. Cash advance fees are either $10 or 5% of the amount.
Issuer Satisfaction: Tie
Both the Reserve and Blue cards are issued by American Express, sharing the same issuer satisfaction score. This makes them equal in terms of issuer satisfaction.
Card Benefits: Delta SkyMiles Reserve
Delta SkyMiles Reserve is better for card benefits, offering high-value perks like lounge access and a companion certificate. Delta SkyMiles Blue provides basic perks like in-flight discounts, but Reserve's benefits are more valuable for frequent travelers.
When comparing the rewards value of the Delta SkyMiles Blue and Reserve cards, the Reserve card generally offers better rewards for frequent Delta flyers with its 3X miles on Delta purchases. However, the Blue card provides solid value with 2X miles on both Delta purchases and dining, making it a good choice for those who dine out often.
Both cards earn Delta SkyMiles, valued at approximately 1.4 cents each. This value is consistent across both cards, ensuring that your miles maintain their worth regardless of which card you choose.
The table below shows the specific rewards categories and rates for each card, allowing you to see the differences at a glance.
Category | Delta SkyMiles Reserve | Delta SkyMiles Blue |
|---|---|---|
Delta Purchases | 3X miles | 2X miles |
Dining | 1X miles | 2X miles |
All Other Purchases | 1X miles | 1X miles |
Both the Delta SkyMiles Blue and Reserve cards allow you to redeem miles for Delta flights, upgrades, and more. The Reserve card offers additional options like hotel stays and car rentals. Miles don't expire if your account remains active, providing flexibility in planning your travel rewards.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers superior benefits, particularly for frequent travelers. It includes 15 annual lounge visits and a companion certificate, providing significant value. The Reserve card also offers Resy and rideshare credits, enhancing dining and transportation experiences. In contrast, the Blue card is more suited for occasional travelers, with perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding.
The Delta SkyMiles Blue card offers a range of perks that cater to budget-conscious travelers and everyday optimizers.
Travel perks
Insurance & protections
Credits & discounts
All other perks
Delta SkyMiles Blue offers a range of perks that cater to budget-conscious travelers and everyday optimizers, providing value without an annual fee.
Travel perks
Insurance & protections
Credits & discounts
All other perks
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card has a $650 annual fee, while the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card has no annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card offers 3X miles on Delta purchases, compared to 2X miles with the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card.
Yes, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card provides access to Delta Sky Club lounges.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card offers 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in six months. The Blue Card offers 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in six months.
Of the two Delta credit cards, the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card offers 2X miles on dining, making it a better choice for dining rewards.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
