Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Review for 2023
Tricia has nearly two decades of experience in commercial and federal government lending. Her expertise is highlighted throughout small business loan content on Fit Small Business.
Benilyn has over a decade of experience as a banking officer. Her expertise is featured throughout Fit Small Business in personal finance, credit card, and real estate investing content.
This article is part of a larger series on Best Small Business Credit Cards.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is designed for loyal Delta Air Lines flyers who want premium Delta travel perks, like complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge and Delta Sky Club®. The ultimate Delta travel experience that you can get from this card justifies its high annual fee of $550—plus you can earn unlimited miles that don’t expire and enjoy zero foreign transaction fees. However, it doesn’t allow balance transfers.
To see how this card stacks up against others we have reviewed on our site, click Add to Compare on the card below and select up to two additional cards for comparison.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
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
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$550
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- 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. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
- Plus enjoy 3X miles per dollar on all eligible Delta purchases.
- With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- Premium travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lucrative welcome bonus
Cons
- High annual fee
- No opportunity for introductory financing
- Balance transfers aren’t available
- 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.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$550
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- With complimentary access into Delta Sky Club®, you can relax before your Delta flight, or find downtime between connections. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year so you can share the experience with others when you’re traveling together.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- 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. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta instead of 1.5X).
- Plus enjoy 3X miles per dollar on all eligible Delta purchases.
- With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 4x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- Premium travel perks
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lucrative welcome bonus
Cons
- High annual fee
- No opportunity for introductory financing
- Balance transfers aren’t available
- 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.
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 first consider ongoing rewards, introductory rewards, and additional card features. We also take into account the card’s annual fee and annual percentage rates (APRs).
| Grading Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
Ongoing Rewards | ||
Introductory Rewards | ||
Additional Features | ||
Annual Fee | ||
Introductory APR | ||
Ongoing APR | ||
| Total Score |
Who Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Is Best For
- Business owners who primarily fly with Delta Air Lines: You can enjoy premium travel perks, such as free check-in baggage and complimentary access to airport lounges, when you use this card to book a flight with Delta.
- Business owners who can spend $150,000 in purchases annually: After you spend $150,000 on your card in a calendar year, you’ll earn 1.5x miles per dollar, which is an extra half-mile per dollar, on eligible purchases for the rest of the year.
- Business owners who don’t need to use the card for balance transfers: It doesn’t allow balance transfers, which may not be an issue if you don’t plan to transfer a balance from another credit card.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, head over to our recommended alternatives below for other options.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Fees
APR
- Introductory APR: None
- Ongoing APR: 19.99% to 28.99% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate
- Cash advance APR: 29.49% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate
- Penalty APR*: 29.99% variable, which adjusts with the Prime rate; will be applied to your account if you meet at least one of the following conditions:
- Made two or more late payments within a 12-month period
- Didn’t pay the Minimum Payment due by the closing date of the billing period
- Made a returned payment
*The Penalty APR will be applied for a minimum of 12 consecutive billing periods and will continue to apply until after you made timely payments with no returned payments for 12 consecutive billing periods.
Fees
- Annual: $550
- Balance transfer: Transfers aren’t allowed
- Foreign transaction: None
- Cash advance: $5 or 3%, whichever is higher
- Late payment: Up to $39
- Overlimit fee: None
- Returned payment: $39
How To Make Payments on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Online banking: You can pay your credit card bills from either the Amex website or its official Android or iOS app.
- Phone: Call (800) 472-9297, state your card information when prompted, and then follow the prompts.
- AutoPay: Log in to your online account and click “Payments,” located in the blue navigation bar, then choose “Manage AutoPay.”
- Mail: You can send your credit card bills via courier or express delivery mail to either address below. Ensure to include your account number on the front of your payment for easy reference.
First Class Mail
American Express
PO Box 650448
Dallas, TX 75265-0448
Express Mail
American Express
Attn: Express Mail Remittance Processing
20500 Belshaw Ave.
Carson, CA 90746
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Rewards
- 60,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 worth of purchases within the first three months of card membership
- 3x miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5x miles per dollar on eligible purchases for the rest of the calendar year after you spend $150,000 on your card within the same calendar year
- 1x mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases
- 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles* (MQMs) with Status Boost® after spending $30,000 in purchases within a calendar year, up to four times per year
- Companion certificate for Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip each year upon card renewal
*MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and differ from the miles you earn toward flights.
You can use miles toward flights, seat upgrades, car rentals, merchandise, and gift cards. You can redeem your miles by booking travel for Delta-operated and ticketed flights through the Delta SkyMiles online portal. You can opt to pay the remaining balance with your American Express business credit card if your miles aren’t enough.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Features
Travel
- Delta Sky Club®Access: It offers complimentary Delta Sky Club® access to cardholders and a reduced rate of $39 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. You’ll also receive two Delta Sky Club® one-time guest passes each year.
- Main Cabin 1 priority boarding and first free checked bag: Cardholders can enjoy early boarding on Delta flights when Main Cabin 1 priority boarding is called. On top of this, you can check your first bag for free and save up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight.
- Global Entry or TSA PrePreCheck® Fee Credit: You’ll receive a statement credit of up to $100 for a five-year membership every four years for Global Entry or up to $85 every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck®.
Cash Management
- QuickBooks integration: You can save time with auto-expense categorization in QuickBooks after enrolling your card.
- Year-end summary: At the start of every year, you’ll have access to a Year-End Summary of charges to review your annual spending.
- Account manager: You can assign a trusted team member who can oversee your card account to free up time. Account Managers handle tasks such as making payments, reviewing transactions, and adding employee cards, giving you the time to focus on other priorities.
Protection Coverage
- Trip delay insurance: You’ll be reimbursed for certain additional expenses purchased on your card―up to $500 per trip―if your trip is delayed for more than 6 hours. To be eligible, a round trip should be paid for entirely using your American Express credit card. This insurance only covers a maximum of two claims per cardholder within a 12-consecutive-month period.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: The trip cancellation and interruption insurance will reimburse the nonrefundable travel expenses purchased using your American Express credit card if a round-trip is paid for entirely with your card and your trip is interrupted or canceled. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per cardholder, per 12-consecutive-month period.
- Baggage insurance plan: A baggage insurance plan offers coverage of up to $500 for lost checked bags and up to $1,250 for lost carry-on bags.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: The card offers car rental loss and damage insurance that covers the actual cost to repair the rental vehicle, its wholesale book value, or its purchase invoice price, whichever costs the least. You need to pay for the car rental using your American Express credit card and decline the collision damage waiver to be eligible.
- Purchase protection: Items purchased using this card are covered if they’re stolen or damaged within 90 days from the purchase date. Purchase protection covers up to $10,000 per incident and up to $50,000 per cardholder each year.
- Extended warranty protection: American Express will extend the warranty for one additional year on purchased items with warranties of five years or less.
- Cellphone protection: You can be reimbursed for the costs to repair or replace your damaged or stolen cellphone for a maximum of $800 per claim, with a limit of two approved claims per 12-month period, To be eligible, your cellphone line should be listed on a wireless bill, and the prior month’s wireless bill should have been paid with your American Express credit card.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Alternatives
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
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
N/A
Regular APR
25.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® 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 PreCheck® 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 assistance: 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.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
25.24% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0 intro for first year; $95 after that
Credit Needed
Excellent, Good
- Introductory reward worth $500 in travel after you spend $4,500 within the first three months
- 2x miles per $1 spent
- Issue employee cards for free
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- TSA PreCheck® 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 PreCheck® 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 assistance: 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.
- Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business is a good alternative if you want a card with a low annual fee and fixed-rate rewards on all purchases
- Comes with an annual fee of $95 per year, waived on the first year
- Offers unlimited 2x miles on all spending, regardless of expense categories
- Allows you to transfer your miles to Capital One’s travel partners
- Is our top choice for both the best business credit cards for miles and best business credit cards for travel
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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
N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 25.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $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 Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interst-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts – and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 25.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $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 Fraud Protection your card transactions will be monitored for possible signs of fraudulent activity using real-time fraud monitoring.
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Pros
- Reward points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® card
- Comprehensive travel and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- No interst-free financing option on both purchases and balance transfers
- With annual fee
- Need to make extremely large purchases to qualify for the sign-up bonus
- Cellphone protection: Get up to $1,000 per claim in cellphone protection against covered theft or damage for you and your employees listed on your monthly cellphone bill
- Purchase protection: Can cover your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the period of the US manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Fraud monitoring: Chase will help keep your accounts safe with account alerts – and you can choose how you’d like to receive them
- Free employee cards: You can create employee cards at no additional cost, and lets you set individual spending limits―helping you earn rewards even faster
- Chase Ink Business Preferred® is a great option if you travel frequently but don’t need travel perks like airport lounge access or free expedited airport security screening
- Has a low annual fee of $95
- Offers 3x points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year, then 1x point per dollar on all other purchases
- Is one of our recommended business credit cards for travel and credit cards for real estate agents
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
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
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$250
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Take a friend or family member when you fly Delta. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and Hotel Stays instead of 1.5X).
- Delta Sky Club® Access – enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- In-flight savings
- Business management tools
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- No interest-free financing period
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- 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.
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$250
Credit Needed
Good, Excellent
- Welcome Offer: Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months.
- You can receive a domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Take a friend or family member when you fly Delta. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Earn more miles on big purchases with 1.5 miles per dollar on single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more (that’s an extra half mile per dollar), up to 50,000 additional miles per year. If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply (ex. you would earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and Hotel Stays instead of 1.5X).
- Delta Sky Club® Access – enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- With Status Boost®, earn 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to 2x per year getting you closer to Medallion Status.
- Terms and limitations apply.
Pros
- No foreign transaction fees
- In-flight savings
- Business management tools
Cons
- $250 annual fee
- No interest-free financing period
- Balance transfers aren’t allowed
- 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.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is an excellent alternative if you frequently fly on Delta Air Lines but want a lower annual fee compared to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Comes with an annual fee of $250
- Allows you to transfer a balance from another card
- Is one of our best business credit cards for miles and leading business credit cards for travel
Do you need more options? Head to our Credit Card Marketplace and check out our guide to the best small business credit cards.
Bottom Line
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is an excellent choice for business owners who are Delta Air Lines frequent flyers and want to enjoy premium travel perks. Keep in mind that it comes with a high annual fee of $550 and doesn’t allow balance transfer transactions. If you prefer another credit card from American Express, check out our review of the best American Express credit cards.
