Credit card showdown: Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

It’s an exciting time to apply for an airline credit card. Not only are there more and better choices than ever, but the ability to open personal and business credit cards is straightforward and easily accessible.

The two Delta cards that offer incredible value are the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (see rates and fees) and its business counterpart, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (see rates and fees). Both of these premium cards have comprehensive perks packages, including expanded lounge access, solid earning rates and the ability to accrue more Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) toward elite status with Delta.

Below is a quick look at how the two cards compare.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Comparison

1 mile per dollar on  everything else3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases

1.5 miles per dollar on everything after you spend $150,000 per calendar year

1 mile per dollar on everything elseDelta benefitsDelta Sky Club access

Amex Centurion Lounge access

Annual companion ticket

First free checked bag on Delta flights

Priority boarding

Spending-based MQM boost (until Dec. 31, 2023)Delta Sky Club access

Amex Centurion Lounge access

Annual companion ticket

First free checked bag on Delta flights

Priority boarding

Spending-based MQM boost (until Dec. 31, 2023)Other benefitsGlobal Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100)

No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

Trip delay coverage*

Trip cancellation/interruption coverage*

Cellphone protection*

Lost baggage coverage**Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit (up to $100)

No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)

Trip delay coverage*

Trip cancellation/interruption coverage*

Cellphone protection*

Lost baggage coverage**

*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business welcome offer

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is currently offering new applicants up to 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your card within the first six months of card membership. Although they’re not worth what they used to be, TPG values Delta SkyMiles at around 1.2 cents apiece, so the welcome offer is like getting $720 toward travel.

Meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card is offering new applicants up to 110,000 bonus miles. You’ll earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $12,000 in purchases on your card within the first six months of card membership, plus an additional 10,000 bonus miles after you make an eligible Delta purchase in the first six months. According to TPG’s valuation, the welcome offer is worth $1,320.

Winner: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex

Related reading: Choosing the best credit card for Delta flyers

Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business benefits

Because the cards are geared toward frequent and premium Delta flyers, you can expect both cards to offer members a comprehensive package of benefits when traveling with the airline.

The main and current benefit of the two cards is access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on Delta-marketed or operated flights. Cardholders can bring up to two guests for $50 each. However, the Sky Club access policy will change starting Feb. 1, 2025:

Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members will receive 10 Club visits per Program year. Members can earn unlimited Club access after spending $75,000 on their eligible Card in a calendar year and will have unlimited Club access for both the remainder of that year through January 31 of the next year. Spend tracking begins January 1, 2024, for the 2025 Medallion year.

Beyond club access, both cards include a free checked bag and priority boarding, along with up to eight companions on the same reservation, even when traveling in basic economy. Among the cards’ more interesting Delta-specific benefits is the opportunity for non-Medallion members to get complimentary upgrades.

Additionally, both cards currently offer the chance to earn a large number of MQMs simply through spending. Those with either the Delta Reserve Amex or the Delta Reserve Business Amex earn 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000 on purchases with their card in a calendar year, up to four times per year.

Both cards also include spending-based waivers for the airline’s MQD requirements. Specifically, when you spend $25,000 in a calendar year, you’ll receive an MQD waiver for Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion status. That waiver extends to the Diamond Medallion MQD requirement when you reach $250,000 in spending.

However, both of these status-based benefits will be discontinued on Jan. 1, 2024 and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.

As of that day, your spending on the card will earn MQDs at a flat rate of 1 MQD per $10 spent, with no cap. As a result, you can earn Medallion status via credit card spending in 2024 without setting foot on a Delta plane:

Finally, the two cards offer one of the best airline credit card companion-ticket benefits. Each year, upon renewal, cardholders receive a companion certificate good for one round-trip itinerary within the contiguous U.S. in economy, Comfort+ or first class. They just have to pay taxes and fees on the second ticket, up to $75. Both passengers are also eligible for Medallion upgrades, though only the primary passenger earns SkyMiles and credit toward elite status.

Aside from Delta-specific perks, the two cards now also include a few other travel benefits. The most exciting is that cardholders can get a refund for either a Global Entry application (once every four years) or TSA PreCheck application (once every four and a half years).

Both cards waive foreign transaction fees and include a variety of shopping protections and travel protections as well.

Winner: Tie

Earning MILES on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business

The Delta Reserve Amex earns 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer other bonus categories. Still, if you’re a frequent Delta flyer and spend a lot on the airline — including tickets, upgrades and seat assignments — you could be raking in the miles.

On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex features a potentially even more lucrative earning formula. Like the personal version, it accrues 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. However, once you make $150,000 or more in purchases on your card in a calendar year, you earn 1.5 miles per dollar. So, if you have a large cash outlay each year on business purchases, this card’s earning structure could shoot you through the stratosphere.

Winner: Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex

Redeeming miles on the Delta SkyMiles Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business

Both cards allow you to earn Delta miles through credit card spending, which are automatically deposited into your SkyMiles account. You can redeem SkyMiles for Delta flights and flights on SkyTeam carriers and partner airlines. You can also redeem your miles for seat upgrades on eligible reservations.

Note that Delta SkyMiles was one of the first frequent flyer programs to remove award charts and move toward dynamic pricing for award tickets, so prices vary by day, route, and class of service.

However, as a eligible Delta cobranded cardholder, you’ll automatically receive a 15% discount on Delta-operated award tickets via the TakeOff 15 benefit. This applies to all Delta-operated flights booked with SkyMiles, though you must pay the taxes and fees on the ticket with your Delta credit card.

Winner: Tie

Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve or Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business?

Given how similar the Delta Reserve Amex and the Delta Reserve Business Amex are, you might still be unsure about which to apply for. The deciding factor might be whether you would prefer a business credit card or a personal one.

Although you might be inclined to apply for the personal version, you could also be eligible for the business one, and there are a lot of great reasons why you might want a business credit card instead of a personal one.

First, it’s a way to keep your business and personal expenses separate. Doing so might help improve your personal credit score over time by lessening the debt-to-credit utilization ratio on your personal report. Business accounts generally do not count toward credit card issuers’ restrictions on the number of cards you can apply for or carry, either, so it could be a way to get around Chase’s 5/24 rule or Bank of America’s limitations.

Plus, if you’ve had the personal version in the past, you might be ineligible for its welcome offer thanks to American Express’ once-per-lifetime restriction. In contrast, you’d still be able to score the one available on the business card.

Bottom line

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card both boast a long list of similar benefits, including Global Entry and TSA PreCheck fee refunds as well as ongoing perks like companion tickets and day-of-travel add-ons. Before applying, make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirements to earn the welcome offer and can use the perks to justify the cards’ high annual fees.

Although Sky Club access is changing dramatically starting Feb. 1, 2025, you can still utilize the existing benefit until then.

For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business Amex, please click here.