My foray into the world of credit cards, points and miles began when I joined TPG a few years ago. I had a couple of cards before working here, but I didn’t give much thought to which card to use or when or how to maximize the benefits.
Now that I am surrounded by credit card experts every day, my strategy has changed drastically. I’ve added about four new cards to my wallet and even made a spreadsheet to ensure I use the right card for the right purchases.
Of those new cards, my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has provided some of the most useful benefits. Here are five reasons I love this card and how I get the most out of it.
Perks when flying Delta
I actually hadn’t stepped foot into an airport lounge until I began working at TPG, but this card comes with complimentary access to Delta Sky Club lounges and American Express Centurion Lounges when traveling on a same-day, Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Now, I get to visit a lounge almost every time I fly.
A quiet space to work or rest between flights is a huge help during a long layover. Or, if I am being a responsible adult and get to the airport early, I can grab a bite to eat or a drink before my flight without paying the high airport prices.
With my Delta SkyMiles Reserve, I also get four one-time Sky Club guest passes each year upon account renewal, allowing me to bring family members or friends to the lounge with me when we travel together.
Delta Reserve cardmembers are limited to 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year, but it’s easy for me to track my visits in the Delta app. Centurion Lounge visits are still unlimited, so even if I were to use all 15 of my Sky Club visits, I could still head over there.
In addition to lounge access, I get my first checked bag free (this extends to passengers traveling with me, so it’s a huge perk when traveling with my three kids), priority boarding and discounts on inflight purchases and award redemptions. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve also provides a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, so I can breeze through the airport every time I fly.
Welcome offer
Right now, the Delta Reserve Amex offers new cardmembers the ability to earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. The card does come with an annual fee of $650 (see rates and fees).
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After earning the bonus, I redeemed some miles to book positioning flights for my first big award redemption trip to Germany and Belgium with my husband. A few months later, I also used some of the points to bring my family along on a work trip to Disneyland. The cost of flights when all five of us fly together can add up quickly. The welcome bonus I earned with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve was a huge help in keeping our flight expenses down so we could splurge a bit at Disney.
Useful statement credits
Last year, Delta revamped the monthly and annual statement credits for several cards, including the Delta Reserve Amex. I will admit I’m not the biggest fan of tracking statement credits, but I want to maximize my card’s value, so I try my best to plug them all into a spreadsheet and keep it up to date.
The easiest to use is up to $120 in ride-hailing credits annually (up to $10 in monthly credits). There isn’t a month that goes by when I don’t use Lyft or Uber at least once. This credit is valid on select ride-hailing services in the U.S. Enrollment is required; terms apply.
My card also comes with up to $200 in Delta Stays credits each year. My husband travels almost weekly for work, so we have several opportunities to use this credit on one of his eligible hotel stays. All he has to do is book through the Delta Stays website and pay with the Delta Reserve Amex to earn this benefit.
Related: How I get this monthly credit on my Delta Amex without even trying
This card also earns me up to $240 annually (up to $20 per month) in statement credits for use at U.S. Resy restaurants. There aren’t a ton of eligible restaurants in my area, so I don’t always remember to use this one. However, I have gotten creative by purchasing gift cards to eligible restaurants and checking for eligible dining locations when I travel. Most months, I find a way to use it, even if it takes a bit of virtual legwork on my end.
Flexible award redemptions
When I’ve searched for Delta SkyMiles redemptions, I’ve been impressed with my options. You can redeem SkyMiles for Delta flights, as I did, and for flights on partner airlines like Air France, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and WestJet. This opens up a ton of flight choices.
I also like how Delta displays its award pricing. In the above example, I entered dates of Apr. 9 through Apr. 12 for a round-trip flight between my home airport and Orlando International Airport (MCO).
In addition to viewing the prices for my dates, Delta displays pricing for alternate date combinations. You can get an even better redemption value if your dates are flexible. Some airlines make finding the best award availability difficult, so I appreciate Delta’s easy-to-use calendar.
My card also earns me a 15% discount on award flights, allowing me to stretch my miles even further.
Annual companion certificate
With my Delta SkyMiles Reserve, I get an annual companion certificate added to my account each year after my anniversary date. The companion certificate is valid for one round-trip ticket to select domestic, Caribbean, or Central American destinations.
When you purchase a round-trip ticket in first class, Delta Comfort+ or the Main Cabin, you can use the certificate to have a companion fly with you for free. You only have to pay the taxes and fees on the second ticket.
I used my first companion certificate to get my oldest son and me to New York before flying to Paris. This year, I am using it to fly myself and my husband to Disney World for a runDisney race.
Bottom line
Choosing the Delta SkyMiles Reserve was a no-brainer for someone still relatively new to points and miles. While not the most lucrative, the earning structure is simple.
But that’s not the real reason I love this card. As someone who often flies Delta, the perks like lounge access, a free checked bag and an annual companion certificate are unmatched.
To learn more, read our full review of the Delta Reserve.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve please click here.