Amex Delta Reserve Military Benefits 2023

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The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card military card is an excellent way for military servicemembers and their spouses to earn Delta Skymiles and other perks.

Before you apply, read important details on the protections American Express extends to you and your spouse.

These Delta credit cards travel credit cards provide lounge access, annual companion passes, and help you get upgraded to a higher class of travel on Delta.

American Express and Delta usually offer excellent limited time offers on these cards. Since you are restricted to earning Amex welcome bonuses once per lifetime, I recommend waiting for one of these limited time offers to come around and then applying.

American Express Delta Reserve Card Military

AMEX Delta Reserve card free for US military

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site

Annual Fee: $550 per year* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

  • This is my top recommended Amex Delta card for military
  • Enjoy Delta Sky Club® access at no cost and bring up to two guests or immediate family at a rate of $50 per person per visit. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; Starting on 2/1/25, spend a total of $75,000 or more on eligible purchases on the card between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter to earn an unlimited number of visits each year.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
  • With Status Boost®, earn 15,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card through 12/31/23, up to four times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion Status and are different from the miles you earn towards flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • Eligible 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.
  • Receive a domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+® or domestic Main Cabin round trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. 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.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees, terms apply

The Amex Delta Reserve is my top recommended Delta Amex card for military personnel and spouses.

This card really packs a lot of features in. The biggest benefit of this card is the annual companion certificate, which is especially generous if you live in Hawaii or Alaska.

After you have had the card for a year and renew it, you will be offered a companion pass. It's valid for a round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin companion ticket within the contiguous 48 states. You just have to pay taxes and fees for your companion.

The companion pass normally excludes Hawaii and Alaska. However, residents of Hawaii and Alaska, including military personnel stationed there, can take flights originating in Hawaii and Alaska to the main 48 states and return. You must have a Hawaii or Alaska address in your Skymiles account.

Here's the fine print:

Companion Certificate valid for one round-trip First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin Companion ticket with the payment of applicable taxes and fees detailed below and the purchase of certain adult round-trip fares on published routings within the 48 contiguous United States. Residents of Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) must originate from there to the 48 contiguous United States and have an address on their SkyMiles account in Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the USVI.

Amex Delta Reserve Benefits for Military

Second, you can earn the welcome bonus. That's a lot of miles in your account and Delta Skymiles never expire.

Third, you can get complimentary Delta Sky Club access with this card. You must have your card on you and a same day boarding pass on a Delta marketed (code-shared) or operated flight.

Guests are allowed at $29 per person. Not ideal, but if your spouse gets their own card, that can help out.

Delta Sky Clubs offer a break from the normal airport terminal experience, similar to what you get with an Amex Centurion lounge or Priority Pass lounge, both included with The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Finally, this card is offers protections for you and your spouse.

That could get you in Delta's lie flat business class, Delta One, from Honolulu to Atlanta round-trip:

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

AMEX DELTA Platinum no annual fee for military

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Annual fee: $250* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. 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.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • 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.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests or immediate family to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year through 12/31/23, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available, and there will be a new way to earn toward Medallion Status with the Card. Learn more at delta.com/skymilesprogramchanges.
  • No foreign transaction fees, terms apply (rates and fees)

This is a great card by itself, but like the American Express® Gold Card and Amex Green card, you can upgrade this card to the highest tier Amex Delta Reserve and earn an extra companion pass every year.

Learn more about upgrading the Amex Gold to The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Amex Green to Platinum.

Simply keep this card on a separate Amex login or move it to a separate login. After one year of card membership, you should be offered an upgrade link in the “Useful Links” section of your Amex account.

Normally upgrading would carry the $550 annual fee, but check your protections in this article.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

AMEX Delta Gold for Military and Spouses

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Annual fee: $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
  • 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.
  • Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
  • Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your ticket for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
  • Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
  • No foreign transaction fees, terms apply (rates and fees)

Like the Platinum Delta Skymiles from American Express above, you can upgrade this card after 1 year to an additional Delta Reserve. This unlocks yet another annual companion pass for you.

I hope you saved up a lot of leave for all the free flying you're going to be able to do!

Amex Delta Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are all Delta credit cards from American Express?

Yes, Delta and Amex have an exclusive agreement through 2029. All Delta credit cards are issued by Amex.

Does Delta Airlines accept Amex?

Of course, they are partners! Delta accepts Amex for all purchase, both on the ground and in flight.

Is the Delta American Express card worth it?

The Delta Reserve card from American Express is 100% worth it for military servicemembers and their spouses.

Is Delta Reserve better than Platinum?

Delta Reserve is definitely better than than the Amex Delta Platinum. However, you can get both and upgrade the Platinum to another Delta Reserve. Delta Reserve has an annual companion pass in Domestic First Class or Comfort+, while the Delta Platinum companion pass is only in Main Cabin economy.

What is the best Delta Amex card?

The best Delta Amex card is definitely the American Express Delta Skymiles Reserve card. The round-trip first class companion pass and complimentary Delta Skyclub access makes this card the obvious choice if you fly Delta often.

Is the Amex Delta Reserve card metal?

As of 2021, the Amex Delta Reserve card will start being manufactured out of metal, similar to the Amex Platinum card.

23 thoughts on “Amex Delta Reserve Military Benefits 2023”

  1. Will amex stop waiving the annual fee after you leave the military? Or will they continue to waive it as long as you got the card while you were active duty?

    Reply
  2. Hey Spencer thank you for all of your contributions. I’ve learned so much! However, I wanted to clarify… if you get a get a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and upgrade it to Platinum or Reserve you will NOT get the Welcome Bonus, right? If so, it sounds like each person ought to open an individual card to get the Welcome Bonus x3 lol.

    Reply
    • Yes, you should open the cards from highest to lowest. So start with Amex Delta Skymiles Reserve, then open a Platinum, then open a Gold. You’ll earn welcome bonuses on each one. Then upgrade the Platinum and Gold to Reserve cards. Now you earned 3 bonuses and have 3 Delta Reserve cards.

      Reply
  3. I am a military spouse and i have regular a sky miles card. Can i request to be upgrade to the Amex Delta Reserve Military Card?

    Reply
    • Yes, but you should probably just open your own Amex Delta Reserve card and earn the welcome bonus as well! Don’t upgrade if you haven’t had the card before. You will miss out on the valuable welcome bonus.

      Reply
  4. I have to put this card on a separate login to be eligible for an upgrade? I won’t get the upgrade offer if I put all the cards in a same account? I currently have platinum.

    Reply
    • That’s the easiest way to upgrade. If it’s on the same account you have to call to upgrade. If it’s on a separate login, then you can request the upgrade online. You can upgrade the Delta Platinum to the Delta Reserve. I recommend you get a Reserve first before you upgrade the Platinum to it, so you earn the welcome bonus.

      Reply
  5. Can someone help? I keep getting the runaround from AMEX. They are saying that because my account was opened during the active duty time period, my account is not eligible for relief under SCRA. Therefore, my annual fee will not be waived. Is this correct? The rep I talked with when setting it up said the annual fee is waived for AD/Reservists/NG SMs.

    Reply
  6. Another big bonus is being able to pay with miles. $0.01/mile isn’t a great redemption, but it beats their miles+dollars fares.

    You might want to include the other January additions. Delta Reserve gained guest passes to the Sky Club, Centurion lounge access, and travel insurance. Also, new bonuses: Reserve is 70k miles for $5,000 spend, Platinum is 70k for $2,000 spend plus a $100 credit for a Delta purchase, and Gold is 50k miles for $1,000 spend.

    Reply
  7. I am having trouble, as the military spouse, getting annual fee waived for my Delta Reserve under SCRA or otherwise. Does the AD SM have to be listed as a joint owner on the account for it to qualify? Under the SCRA eligibility section on AMEX website, it appears as though SM must be joint on account. What has been your experience?

    Reply
    • Wai – Yes! You can have up to 5 AMEX credit cards, so if you wanted to you could open up 2 more AMEX Delta Reserve cards and get 5 free companion passes a year. But you may want to fill those other 2 AMEX credit card slots with a hotel credit card.

      Reply
  8. Service members currently stationed overseas? Tickets from Korea to most of the surrounding countries aren’t expensive…

    Reply
  9. I thought you couldn’t stack cards like that. Meaning you could apply and received all three but you would not earn the rewards.

    Are you saying you have all three and received all the miles?

    Reply

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