Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card review: Loaded with benefits for avid Delta flyers

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a luxury co-branded airline card designed for travelers who fly with Delta often and want to upgrade their travel experience. As you spend on the card, you will earn Delta SkyMiles redeemable for free flights on Delta and its partners. In addition, the card gives benefits like free checked bags and complimentary access to Delta SkyClub® and Amex Centurion airport lounges.

CNBC Select reviews the Delta Reserve card, analyzing its welcome bonus offer and other benefits to help you decide if it deserves a spot in your wallet.

Once you are approved for the card, you will be able to earn a welcome offer.

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 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.*

Even at a modest 1 cent per point valuation, that bonus alone is $1250 worth of Delta SkyMiles within the first six months of having the card. However, you can likely get more value from SkyMiles than that, meaning this bonus could easily be worth over $1000 in travel.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card comes with a wide variety of benefits and perks for Delta flyers. When you have the card, you will have access to the following benefits:

• Spending categories: You can earn 3X miles for every dollar spent directly with Delta and 1X mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• MQD Headstart: Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year.
• MQD Boost: Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• First checked bag free on Delta flights: When you pay with your Delta Reserve card, up to nine people on the same flight itinerary will get one free checked bag. This perk can save cardholders up to $280 on a round-trip flight for a family of four. Get a second bag free when flying domestically. 
• Annual Companion Certificate: Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations 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.
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit: The Delta Reserve card you can receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Complimentary Delta SkyClub and Centurion Lounge access: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.

• Book Award Travel: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Complimentary seat upgrades: When you fly Delta, you will receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone
• Travel coverages: The Delta Reserve card offers travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation*, trip delay*, rental car insurance** and luggage insurance**. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide for more details.)

*Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

** Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Of all the benefits, the most unique one is the widespread access to Delta SkyClub and American Express Centurion lounges. You'll have dozens of lounges to choose from across the U.S., and even a few abroad. You'll be able to enjoy a long list of amenities, including: food, drinks, Wi-Fi, showers and most importantly — a relaxing atmosphere away from a busy airport terminal.

Overall, the earnings from this card are sub-par on daily expenses, so it may be worth pairing with another rewards credit card. However, the benefits of the card can quickly outweigh the hefty annual fee.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has a $650 annual fee. It does not have any foreign transaction fees*.

If you plan on carrying a balance month to month, this card may not be the best choice, as it has a high interest rate*. If you want to avoid accruing interest, consider a credit card with a 0% introductory APR offer.

Late payment fees can be up to $40*.

*See rates and fees.

Select analyzed two other travel credit cards with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to see how they match up with one another.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

These cards both serve a similar type of traveler: someone who flies with Delta regularly and is on track to earn elite status with the airline.

However, each card serves a different purpose.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with excellent benefits, including:

• You may be eligible for as high as 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 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. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.*
• MQD Headstart: Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations 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. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
• Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• 20% back as statement credit on in-flight purchases
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
• Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second bag free when flying domestically
• Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.

• Terms apply

If you are deciding between the two cards, consider that the major differences are: discounted or complimentary lounge access, spending categories, being considered for upgrades when flying on Delta, and most notably — the annual fee difference of $350 and $650. See rates of fees.

If you want the more luxurious experience and don't mind the premium annual fee, go with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. If you care less about upgrades, the Delta Platinum Amex may be the better choice of the two.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred (see rates and fees) is a well-known travel credit card that's popular thanks to its valuable rewards and modest $95 annual fee.

The card is currently offering a welcome offer where you can earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

While you can't book Delta flights by transferring Chase rewards to the Delta SkyMiles program, you can book Delta flights through Chase Travel℠, or when transferring points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which is partners with Delta Air Lines.

The two cards in question are extremely different, and fit two very different types of cardholders. If you want flexibility with how you can spend your travel rewards, consider the Sapphire Preferred. If you only fly Delta and want to experience comfort during your travels, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is a solid choice.

The Delta Reserve Amex is best for avid Delta flyers who want a luxurious experience when they fly. Additionally, consider that if you fly to and from a few select airports, it will be in your best interest to see if they have a Delta SkyClub or Amex Centurion lounge location. If the airports you frequent don't, you may not be able to use to benefits to the fullest potential.

If you currently have (or would consider having) multiple rewards credit cards, the Delta Reserve Amex would be a great fit for you. Because the card only rewards Delta purchases higher than one point per dollar, it is best to pair this card with another rewards credit card. The Reserve could be worth keeping for the travel benefits alone while you put most of your spend on another card to maximize your points earning.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is a great fit for Delta loyalists who want to upgrade their travel experience. Between access to the Delta SkyClub lounges, Centurion lounges, automatic consideration for upgraded seats when flying on Delta and the annual companion pass, the card is full of benefits to make flying more comfortable.

However, the card's $650 annual fee must be considered. It's important to remember that while earning miles for your next flight and having lounge access are enjoyable benefits, that stretching yourself financially in the process is not a good idea. But if you can stomach the annual fee and use the benefits of the card, the Delta Reserve Amex may be worth a spot in your wallet.

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.

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

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express 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.

*The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.