Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Review: Lounge Access and Premium Perks

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Amex Card is the top-of-the-line choice for frequent Delta flyers, offering perks like 3X miles on Delta purchases, an annual Companion Certificate and 15 Sky Club visits. If you frequently fly in and out of Delta hubs like Atlanta, Boston or Cincinnati, this card can significantly improve your flying experience. However, the $650 annual fee (see rates and fees) and limited lounge access starting in 2025 may not suit everyone, especially if you don’t fly in and out of Delta hubs often enough to enjoy the card’s premium perks.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is tailored for elite Delta travelers who want to maximize their travel benefits while maintaining status. With 3X miles on Delta purchases, an annual companion certificate and executive lounge access, it’s a strong choice for those frequently flying out of Delta hubs like Atlanta, Boston or Cincinnati. The $650 annual fee is steep, but frequent travelers can easily recoup this cost through the range of perks and protections offered.

In addition to priority boarding, a free checked bag on Delta flights and statement credits, the card offers valuable travel protections like baggage insurance and trip delay reimbursement. Cardholders also receive Hertz President’s Circle® status, which guarantees rental upgrades and expedited service.

Access to Delta Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges can add significant value to your travel experience, though lounge access will be more limited starting February 2025. Despite the premium price tag, frequent flyers who leverage these benefits — especially the companion certificate and Medallion Qualification Boost® — may find the card’s rewards justify its cost. That said, more casual travelers might find the high annual fee and shifting lounge perks less compelling for their needs.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card offers robust rewards for frequent Delta flyers, making it an excellent choice for those who want to maximize their travel perks.

With this card, you can earn three miles for every dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases. This makes it particularly valuable for frequent Delta travelers who want to accumulate miles quickly. The value of Delta SkyMiles is approximately 1.4 cents and 1.5 per mile, which can add up significantly with regular use.

The card's rewards include:

• Earn three miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases
• 2X miles on U.S. shipping purchases and U.S. advertising in select media (up to $50,000 per category, per year). Terms apply.
• $1 Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent goes to ranking in the Medallion Status program
• 15% on Award Travel when booking Delta flights

When redeeming miles, the best option is to use them for Delta flights, where you can get the most value. Fortunately, Delta SkyMiles do not expire, giving you the flexibility to redeem them when it suits you best.

Yes, you can transfer Delta SkyMiles to another member, but it comes with a fee — about $0.01 per mile plus a flat fee. While it’s handy for pooling miles, the costs can add up, especially for large transfers. Since transfers are irreversible, consider if it’s the best value before proceeding.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card offers a range of valuable perks beyond priority boarding and lounge access to frequent Delta flyers. From free Delta Sky Club® access to a Companion Certificate valid for First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin round-trip flights, these benefits can significantly enhance your travel experience with added comfort and savings.

Travel Perks

• Free Delta Sky Club® Access: Enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Club® lounges. Starting February 1, 2025, you'll receive 15 visits per year, with unlimited visits available if you spend $75,000 or more annually.
• Priority Boarding on Delta Flights: Board with Zone 5, ensuring you have ample space for your carry-on and a more relaxed boarding experience.
• Free Checked Bag: Save up to $70 on a round-trip per person. A family of four can save up to $280 on a round-trip flight.
• Complimentary Access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge: Enjoy access to premium lounges when you purchase a Delta flight with your card.
• Annual Statement Credit for Delta Stays: Receive up to $250 in statement credits for bookings of prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Save on additional fees when using your card overseas.

More Rewards

• Introductory Offer of 80,000 Bonus Miles: Earn 80,000 bonus miles when you spend $10,000 on your new card within the first six months of membership.
• Companion Certificate: Each year after renewing your card, you’ll receive a valuable Companion Certificate, which allows you to book a round-trip flight for a companion in First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin within the U.S., Caribbean or Central America. This perk can save you hundreds of dollars on airfare, making it an excellent way to share your travel experience with a plus one.
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® President’s Circle® Status: The highest in Hertz’s loyalty program, this offers benefits such as car upgrades, expedited reservations and guaranteed availability of rental cars when booked in advance. President’s Circle members also earn extra points on rentals, which can be redeemed for free rental days.

Insurance

• Baggage Insurance: Coverage for lost, damaged or stolen checked and carry-on luggage during your trip.
• Trip Delay Insurance: Reimbursement for essential expenses (meals, lodging) if your flight is delayed by over 12 hours.
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Protection against damage or theft of rental vehicles when paid with the card, saving you from buying rental insurance

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Amex Card has its perks, but a $650 annual fee requires a second thought if you’re not looking into taking advantage of top-tier perks that the card has to offer. Here are a few other considerations to weigh:

High Annual Fee

The card comes with a $650 annual fee, which is steep compared to other travel cards and might be hard to justify if your spending spans categories where travel rewards fall short. However, for loyal Delta flyers, this fee can be offset by premium perks like complimentary Delta Sky Club® access, an annual Companion Certificate and the ability to earn MQDs. These benefits can deliver substantial value, especially if you frequently travel with Delta and take full advantage of the card’s offering.

Limited to Delta Airlines Benefits

If Delta is your go-to airline, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card’s perks shine, but they’re narrowly focused on Delta benefits. This can be limiting if your business requires flying with different airlines.

For a more versatile alternative, consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card from Chase, which offers 3X points on travel, shipping, advertising purchases and select business categories, plus 1X on all other purchases. With broader earning potential and flexible point redemption, including flights on various airlines, including United and Southwest, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers a more versatile solution for businesses that need rewards across a range of travel and expenses.

Limited Lounge Access Starting 2025

Beginning February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members will be limited to 15 Delta Sky Club® visits per year unless they spend $75,000 annually. This update could be a notable downside for frequent travelers who depend on lounge access for comfort during their journeys. For those seeking unlimited lounge access and more flexibility, the American Express® Business Platinum Card is an excellent alternative.

It offers unlimited lounge access and a more accessible spending structure, with 1.5X points on key business purchases and large transactions up to $2 million annually. This makes it a practical choice for businesses wanting high rewards without the steep $75,000 spending threshold of the Delta Reserve.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business card can also work if paired with another card like the Capital One Spark Cash Plus. This top airline card offers high rewards on Delta purchases and valuable travel perks. Pairing it with the Capital One Spark Cash Plus, which offers 2% cash back on all purchases, allows you to maximize rewards on non-Delta expenses. Having the Delta Reserve Business Card and Spark Cash Card in your arsenal ensures you get the best of both worlds: superb Delta travel benefits and solid cash back on everyday spending.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is tailored for those who frequently fly Delta and can fully leverage its extensive travel perks. If you’re a loyal Delta traveler, the card’s benefits — like the Companion Certificate, complimentary Sky Club access and priority boarding — could easily justify the steep annual fee.

You’ll earn three miles per dollar on Delta purchases and receive a Companion Certificate annually for First Class, Delta Comfort+ or Main Cabin flights. Starting February 1, 2025, you’ll get 15 Sky Club visits per year, with unlimited access requiring $75,000 in annual spending. However, if Delta isn’t your main airline or you can’t meet the spending requirement, the $650 annual fee might be hard to settle on.

We evaluated the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card by comparing it to 104 other cards. Our assessment focused on several key features, weighted as follows:

• Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to.
• Effective Reward Rate (15%): Measures how well the card rewards the consumer.
• Expected Value for Travelers (15%): Assesses the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees.
• Dining Rewards Rate (10%): Measures rewards earned on dining expenses.
• Issuer Satisfaction (10%): Measures customer fulfillment based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the card's annual fees from 1 to 5, where 5 is no annual fee.
• Offer ROI (10%): Considers the rate of return on the introductory bonus offers.
• Hotel Rewards Rate for Travelers (5%): Measures rewards earned on hotel expenditures for someone who vacations two to three times per year.
• Gas Rewards Rate (5%): Measures rewards earned on gas expenditures.

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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.