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As air travel continues its slow climb back to pre-pandemic levels, airlines are pulling out numerous incentives to get flyers back in the sky — and one of those ways is with their cobranded cards. And as a small business owner, you have even more access to earn valuable rewards from personal and business credit cards.
With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you will earn Delta SkyMiles on all eligible purchases, which can be redeemed for flights on Delta Air Lines and its partners. In addition, you will have a long list of benefits including airport lounge access (enrollment required), *travel insurance, boosts toward elite status, complimentary seat upgrades and more.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card to help you decide if it's the right card for your needs.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers airport lounge access, Delta status boost opportunities and an elevated return for certain business expenditures.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $610 in yearly statement credits
- Delta elite status boosts (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Weak spending bonus categories compared to other business cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
- Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- With the $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card. Enrollment required.
- Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a group of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Enjoy travel without foreign transaction fees from American Express with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Terms and limitations apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card review
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex is valuable as you can earn miles to fly for free, and if you plan on flying often, this card can get you to Delta Medallion® loyalty status even quicker.
The welcome bonus is currently earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Since the card earns a minimum of 1X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases, you will have a minimum of 80,000 Delta SkyMiles if you meet the minimum spending threshold. Even at a modest valuation of one cent per mile, this is $800 in airline miles right off the bat — justifying the $650 annual fee in the first year (see rates and fees), plus some.
Benefits and perks
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is ripe with benefits. When you're approved for the card, you will have access to these perks:
Earning miles for spending
When you spend on the card, you will earn:
- 3X Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent on purchases directly with Delta
- 1.5X Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your Card in a year.
- 1X Delta SkyMiles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
If you aim to earn Delta Medallion® elite status, the Delta Amex Reserve Business Card will 'boost' your status with $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion® Qualification Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost lets you earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
So if you plan on spending heavily and value Delta elite status, this card can get you there even quicker.
Airport lounge access
With this card, you will get access to a wide array of airport lounges. First, when you're flying on Delta, you can enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
Additionally, when you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge.
And if you have employees working for you, you can add them as authorized users, and they will also receive the same lounge access.
Other benefits
- Access to complimentary seat upgrades on Delta
- Save 15% On Award Travel With TakeOff 15. Eligible card members now enjoy exclusive savings on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Zone 5 priority boarding
- First checked bag is free when flying on Delta
- Complimentary concierge service
- up to $85 fee credit every 4 years for TSA PreCheck or $120 every 4 years for Global Entry
- Comprehensive travel insurance*
- Rental car insurance*
- Integration with QuickBooks® for simple accounting
But arguably the best part of the card is earning Delta SkyMiles that can be redeemed in a variety of ways.
How to earn and redeem Delta SkyMiles
Earning Delta SkyMiles
There are several ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, but the two most prominent options are: flying with Delta Air Lines and spending (and earning welcome bonuses) on their cobranded cards.
As you fly with Delta Air Lines, you will earn miles based on how much you spend on your ticket. You'll earn fives miles for every dollar spent on Delta flights in Main Cabin or above. And if you have Delta Medallion® status, those earnings go up to 11 miles per dollar spent on tickets.
Additionally, there are several Delta SkyMiles cobranded cards to choose from, including both personal and business cards.
The other Delta cards available are:
Personal
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Business
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Redeeming Delta SkyMiles
After you earn the miles, the fun part is redeeming them for free flights. And the great part about Delta is not only their top-rated customer service, but the flexibility you have when using your miles.
First, you can easily redeem your miles for free flights on Delta's website. When you're searching for flights, be sure to click the checkbox saying 'shop with miles'. However, you may notice as you are searching that different airlines may pop up in your search. That's because Delta is part of SkyTeam, an airline alliance that partners together to fly their customers around efficiently. For example, if you search a flight from Los Angeles, CA to Paris, France, you will notice that Air France flights appear. That's because Air France is part of the SkyTeam alliance as well.
Airline alliances give you great opportunities to use your miles on other airlines. Keep in mind that as you earn Delta SkyMiles, you can redeem them with any of Delta's partner airlines, which include: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, AeroMexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Xiamen Air.
Rates and fees
The card has a *$650 annual fee. It doesn't have any *foreign transaction fees.
Late payment fees can be up to $39.
Card comparison
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card can provide great value for consumers who enjoy traveling and want perks to make their flying experience even better. But, is it the best travel-rewards card for you?
Select analyzed two other premium travel credit cards to see how they match up with the Delta Reserve Business Amex.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Chase Sapphire Reserve (see rates and fees) is a solid premium travel credit card offering the ability to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are transferable rewards that can be redeemed with several different airline and hotel loyalty programs. The card also comes with airport lounge access through Priority Pass, comprehensive travel insurance, annual travel credits, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credits and more.
However, you're not able to transfer Chase points to the Delta SkyMiles loyalty program. But, you can transfer them to the Flying Blue (Air France/KLM's loyalty program) and book Delta flights that way. It's one extra step, but you can find some great redemptions which are potentially cheaper than booking through Delta directly.
If you fly primarily with Delta and aim to earn Delta ®Medallion status, the Delta Reserve Business Amex card is probably the better fit of the two. If you prefer flexibility with the rewards you earn for your spending, and are impartial with the airline you fly, the Chase Sapphire Reserve could be a great pick for your go-to credit card.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card vs. American Express Platinum Card®
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
The American Express Platinum Card® is a popular premium card for its long-list of benefits, including complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required), travel credits, airport lounge access, concierge service and more. And as you spend on the card, you earn American Express Membership Rewards® Points, which can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Delta SkyMiles, plus 19 other partners like Air France/KLM's Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Marriott and British Airways.
However, the major difference is the Amex Platinum comes with an even higher annual fee of $895 (see rates and fees). But, if you use enough of the benefits you can quickly justify the cost of the annual fee.
So how should you decide between the two? The difference is how often you fly with Delta. If you fly regularly, the Delta Reserve Business Amex should be your pick as it has the MQD Boost feature to help you earn status.
While the cards have similar access to Delta and Amex Centurion lounges, the Amex Platinum comes with a Priority Pass membership (enrollment required) and less restrictions on visiting Centurion lounges. Understanding which airport lounges you'll visit could help you select one card over the other.
If you don't fly enough to earn status, and can justify the $345 difference in annual fee (see rates and fees), you should strongly consider the Amex Platinum for your wallet as you will get many more benefits and opportunities to earn back the value of the annual fee.
Who the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is best for
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is best for small business owners who regularly fly with Delta Air Lines and their partners, and for those who value elite status on the carrier. If you're spending tens of thousands of dollars per year on a business card, the Delta Reserve will reward that spending with boosts towards Delta Medallion® status. Plus, the lounge access and free checked bag benefits can save you money and make your travel experience a bit more comfortable.
Additionally, this is a great card for someone who travels occasionally with others, as you'll receive a yearly companion certificate good for domestic flights in any class of service. So if you want to pay for a first class seat, your travel companion will receive the same ticket — less taxes and fees.
Bottom line
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is the top-tier of the Delta business cards, and it packs a punch with its welcome offer, benefits and ability to help cardholders earn Medallion® status with the airline.
But as a small business owner, it's necessary to ensure your business is able to use a credit card responsibly. So before applying for the card, be sure to review your business' budget and planned expenses to see if the annual fee is worth it, and the potential value that you and your business could extract from the card.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
