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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Review

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By Jordan Tarver on August 18, 2020

Jordan is a financial analyst with over two years of experience in the mortgage industry. He brings his expertise to Fit Small Business’s credit card and bank account content.

This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Apply Now

on Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card's secure website.

See Rates and Fees

Fit Small Business Review
Rating 4 4
?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.

Best For: Unlocking the ultimate Delta travel experience

Intro APR Regular APR Annual Fee Credit Needed
N/A 15.74% - 24.74% Variable $550 Good, Excellent
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months.
  • With Status Boost™, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your new Card in a calendar year, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn toward flights.
  • Complimentary Delta Sky Club® Access and complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express Credit Card.
  • After you spend $150,000 on your Card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 Miles per dollar (that’s an extra half mile per dollar) on eligible purchases the rest of the year. Eligible purchases after spending $150,000 do not include Delta purchases. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
  • Pay no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
  • Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
  • Unlimited Delta Sky Club access
  • Free access to American Express’s The Centurion Lounge
Cons
  • $550 annual fee
  • No opportunity for introductory financing
  • Annual miles boost: Earn 15,000 MQMs and 15,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 each year.
  • Companion certificate: Receive a companion certificate valid for one round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin Companion ticket each year upon renewal of your card.
  • Free checked baggage: Receive free checked baggage for you and eight guests.
  • Priority boarding: You can board your flight when Main Cabin 1 priority boarding is called.
  • In-flight savings: Enjoy 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on select in-flight purchases.
  • Baggage insurance: Covers up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked baggage.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is a great travel rewards credit card designed for loyal Delta Air Lines flyers who want premium Delta travel perks like complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge and Delta Sky Club®. This business credit card comes with several features, including insurance coverage for travel accidents, lost baggage, and purchases.

Who Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Is Best For

  • Owners who primarily fly with Delta Air Lines: You can enjoy premium travel perks like free check-in baggage and complimentary access to airport lounges when you use your card to book for a flight with Delta.
  • Owners who can spend $150,000 in purchases annually: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers 1.5 miles per dollar, which is an extra half-mile per dollar, on eligible purchases for the rest of the calendar year after you spend at least $150,000 within the same calendar year.

How We Evaluate Travel Rewards Business Credit Cards

When grading a travel rewards business credit card like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, we weigh ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional card features the heaviest. We also consider the card’s annual fee and annual percentage rates (APRs).

Grading Criteria
Card Score
Highest Possible Score
Ongoing Rewards
20
25
Introductory Rewards
20
25
Additional Features
25
25
Annual Fee
15
15
Introductory APR
0
5
Ongoing APR
3
5
Total Score
83
100

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Fees

  • Introductory APR: None
  • Ongoing APR: 15.74% to 24.74% variable, which changes with the prime rate
  • Annual fee: $550
  • Balance transfer fee: Transfers are not allowed
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Cash advance fee: $5, or 3%, whichever is higher; cash advance APR is 25.24% variable

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Rewards

  • 3x miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
  • 1x mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases
  • 1.5x miles per dollar on eligible purchases for the rest of the calendar year after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in the same calendar year
  • Status Boost allows you to earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases within a calendar year, up to four times per year
  • Receive a companion certificate for a domestic first-class, Delta Comfort+® or main cabin round-trip each year upon renewal of your card

Welcome offer: Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months from account opening.

You can use miles toward flights, seat upgrades, car rentals, merchandise, and gift cards. You can redeem by booking travel for Delta-operated and ticketed flights through the Delta SkyMiles online portal. A minimum of $5,000 is required to redeem, and you must redeem in increments of 5,000 miles. You can opt to pay the remaining balance with your American Express business credit card if your miles are not enough.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Features

Delta Sky Club Access

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers complimentary Delta Sky Club access to cardholders and a reduced rate of $29 per person for up to two guests. To access the airport lounge, you must have a same-day boarding pass for a Delta Air Lines flight and a boarding pass in your name.

Premium Roadside Assistance

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers premium roadside assistance up to four times per year at no additional cost. The available services include towing up to 10 miles, winching, jump starts, flat tire assistance, lockout services, and limited gas delivery. This feature does not cover rental vehicles, motorcycles, unlicensed vehicles, taxis, and tractors or trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more.

Purchase Protection

Items purchased using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card are covered if they are stolen or damaged within 120 days from the purchase date and 90 days for New York residents. Purchase protection covers up to $10,000 per incident and up to $50,000 each year. Some items are excluded from this coverage like perishables, tickets, motorized vehicles, permanent fixtures, items for inventory, preowned items, living plants, and animals.

Extended Warranty Protection

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers extended warranties on purchases with warranties of five years or less. American Express will match warranties that are less than two years and will provide two years of extra warranty protection for warranties between two and five years long. Real estate, items for inventory, animals, living plants, motorized vehicles, and fixtures are excluded from this coverage.

Travel Accident Insurance

This American Express credit card offers travel accident insurance up to $500,000 if you die or lose a limb, sight, speech, or hearing. The travel accident insurance only covers incidents within a 100-day window. Losses resulting from war or acts of war, self-inflicted injuries, certain ailments, physical or mental weakness, and injuries sustained from commuting are not covered.

Baggage Insurance Plan

A baggage insurance plan is available to Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express cardholders. It offers between $250 and $1,250 coverage for lost carry-on bags, checked bags, and high-risk items. Cash, cash equivalents, tickets, consumables, gadgets, prosthetics, living plants, and animals are not included with the coverage.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers car rental loss and damage insurance up to $75,000 per rental agreement for the first 30 consecutive days of a car rental. It covers the actual cost to repair the rental vehicle, its wholesale book value, or its purchase invoice price, whichever is the least.

Global Assist Hotline

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers a 24-hour global assistance hotline for when you travel farther than 100 miles from home. The global assistance hotline connects cardholders to medical, legal, financial, or other emergency and assistance services. The hotline is toll-free, however, cardholders are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Account Management Tools

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with robust and beneficial account management tools that provide access to a mobile devices app so that you can manage your accounts while traveling. These tools also allow business owners to pay bills and track employee card transactions. Furthermore, business owners can connect their American Express accounts to their QuickBooks Online accounts easily to have their transaction data transferred automatically.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Alternatives

Chase Ink Business Preferred®

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Apply Now

on Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card's secure website.

Fit Small Business Review
Rating 4.5 4.5
?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.

Best For: Maximizing travel rewards at a lower annual fee

Intro APR Regular APR Annual Fee Credit Needed
N/A 15.99% to 20.99% Variable $95 Good to Excellent
  • New Offer! Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
  • Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases - with no limit to the amount you can earn
  • Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Redeem points for travel, cash back, gift cards and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Employee cards at no additional cost
  • $95 Annual Fee

Note: The information related to the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected by fitsmallbusiness.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

Pros
  • Opportunity to boost the value of reward points
  • Offers cellphone protection and trip cancellation insurance
Cons
  • Does not offer an interest-free financing period
  • Charges an annual fee
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver: Coverage is primary—meaning it replaces any coverage your personal insurance might offer—when renting for business purposes. It provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.
  • Cellphone protection: You and the employees named on the phone bill you pay for with your card are covered for up to $600 in theft or damages per claim. You are limited to three claims per 12-month period, with a $100 deductible per claim.
  • Trip cancellation and delay insurance: If your trip is canceled, you can be compensated up to $15,000 for prepaid expenses such as airfare or hotels. If your trip is delayed for 12 hours or more, you can be reimbursed up to $500 for your hotel room, meals, and transportation.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

Apply Now

on Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card's secure website.

See Rates and Fees

Fit Small Business Review
Rating 4 4
?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.

Best For: Frequent Delta flyers who want to access premium business Delta features

Intro APR Regular APR Annual Fee Credit Needed
N/A 15.74% - 24.74% Variable $250 Good, Excellent
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 45,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months. Plus, earn a $100 Statement Credit after your first Delta purchase on your new Card in the first 3 months.
  • Earn 3 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Status-like benefits: First Check Bag Free on Delta flights + Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half point per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
  • Get closer to status with Status Boost™. Spend $25,000 in purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs); spend a total of $50,000 in eligible purchases on the Card in a calendar year and earn an additional 10,000 MQMs. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn toward flights.
  • Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
  • Check your first bag for free on Delta flights
  • Receive priority boarding
  • Eligible for a Delta companion certificate
Cons
  • $250 annual fee
  • No free access to Delta Sky Club
  • No interest-free financing period on purchases or balance transfers
 
  • Delta benefits: Receive your first checked bag for free and access priority boarding.
  • Travel accident insurance: Provides card owners with travel accident insurance up to $100,000.
  • Purchase protection: Provides coverage for purchases that are damaged or stolen up to 120 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $1,000 for an item and up to $50,000 for all claims for one year.

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business

Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business

Apply Now

on Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business's secure website.

Fit Small Business Review
Rating 4 4
?Fit Small Business's ratings are calculated by industry experts of our editorial team. Our grading rubric considers the type of credit card (such as cash back or travel), and the card's rates, fees, rewards, and additional features like insurance.

Best For: Unlimited 2x miles with every swipe

Intro APR Regular APR Annual Fee Credit Needed
N/A 20.99% (Variable) $0 intro for first year; $95 after that Excellent, Good
  • Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
  • 2x miles per $1 spent
  • 5x miles on hotel and rental car bookings through the issuer
  • Issue employee cards for free
Pros
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • TSA Pre✓® or Global Entry application fee credit
Cons
  • You’ll pay an annual fee after the first year
  • Doesn’t offer interest-free financing
  • Airport security screening reimbursement: Either a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or an $85 statement credit for TSA Pre✓® once every four years.
  • Purchase assurance:  Most purchases made entirely with your card are covered if damaged or stolen within 90 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per cardholder account per 12 month period.
  • Extended warranty coverage: Doubles the original warranty time period and duplicates the coverage of the original manufacturer’s warranty up to a maximum of 12 months on most items you purchase. 
  • Travel medical emergency assitance: Provide referrals to medical services if you have a medical emergency while traveling. You’re covered if you’re 100 or more miles away from home and from the day you leave until midnight of the 60th day of your trip, or the day you return to your city of residence, whichever is sooner.

Bottom Line

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is an excellent card for owners who are frequent flyers of Delta Air Lines. It’s also ideal for those who want to enjoy premium travel perks and have large credit card purchases each year. If you think this business credit card is not what you’re looking for, compare other top cards.

About the Author

Jordan Tarver

Jordan Tarver is a financial analyst, writer, and editor at Fit Small Business focusing on credit cards and bank accounts. Jordan brings over two years of experience in account management and price analysis in the mortgage industry to Fit Small Business. He is also an accomplished self-published author.

@jordantarv