Is the Delta Reserve Business Amex credit card worth it?

  • Meghan Hunter

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    If you’re a small-business owner who wants Delta elite status and access to Delta airport lounges, you should definitely consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.

    Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $100 statement credit after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months.

    It comes with a $550 annual fee (See Rates & Fees) – but also comes with incredible benefits and perks that can make it worth keeping.

    So why consider this card? Is the Delta Reserve Business Amex card worth it?

    Is the Amex Delta Reserve for Business worth it? It can be, especially for frequent flyers. (Photo by LukeandKarla.Trave/Shutterstock)

    The Amex Delta Reserve for Business Is Worth It (But Consider Other Delta Cards, Too)

    With the Delta Reserve Business Amex card, you can earn 60,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $100 statement credit after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first three months.

    There are multiple categories for bonus miles (terms apply):

    The card comes with a $550 annual fee (See Rates & Fees). However, access to Delta airport lounges negates the cost of the annual fee by itself. A Delta Sky Club annual membership for one person costs $545, so you will already be ahead at that rate.

    Another big perk is the annual companion certificate. Every year when you pay the annual fee, you’ll get a digital companion certificate that lets you add a second traveler to your domestic round-trip flight reservation (within the contiguous 48 US states) for just the cost of taxes and fees for that passenger. That can save you a lot of money, depending on your flight routes.

    The card’s other travel benefits also help to offset the card’s annual fee, such as the first checked bag free for you and up to 8 companions (a potential value of $540 per round-trip flight). And, cardholders will get access to Amex Offers with targeted discounts or bonus miles on everyday purchases (add the deals to your card and make an eligible purchase to earn the discounts).

    There’s also the newly introduced Status Boost™ benefit. With it, you’ll earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times per year, getting you closer to Medallion Status.

    And due to the coronavirus pandemic, your 2020 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) will roll over to 2021 (helping you qualify for 2022 status), meaning the MQMs you can earn with this card are even more valuable toward earning status because, in essence, you’ll have more time to do so.

    You’ll find a full rundown of the Delta Reserve Business Amex’s benefits here.

    The other Delta business cards may suit you better

    If you make the most of the Delta Reserve Business Amex card, you’ll come out well ahead of the annual fee. But keep in mind there are two other Delta Business cards, so be sure to look at the range of cards to compare different perks before you apply.

    Of the three Delta cards for businesses, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is actually my favorite. Even though it is the “lowest” on the Delta card rage, it gets the job done. I’m not a huge fan of status with Delta, so MQMs don’t mean much to me. Although one of the main perks of the Delta Reserve Business Amex card is access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying on Delta, I already have that in The Platinum Card® from American Express, which is better for me.

    Bottom line

    The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can definitely be worth it for some, and not just for the 60,000 Delta miles welcome bonus and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and a $100 statement credit  which help you earn elite status) you’ll earn after meeting minimum spending requirements. It’s especially worth it if you travel with Delta frequently and can take advantage of Delta Sky Club access.

    For the latest tips and tricks on traveling big without spending a fortune, please subscribe to the Million Mile Secrets daily email newsletter.

    For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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