Amex Delta Reserve Military Benefits 2024 Credit Card

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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

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

Annual Fee: $650 per year* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

• This is my top recommended Amex Delta card for military
• Enjoy the lounge life with complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• When you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card you'll get complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge.
• Don't want to roam the terminal while you wait? Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Want status? Earn $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year to get closer to Higher Status with MQD Headstart.
• You can earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year giving you a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+(R), or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• Need a ride? Enjoy $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Save 15% on travel as a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express member by booking Award Travel using miles on Delta flights through Delta.com and the Fly Delta app! Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Increase your chance for a better seat with your Card. Receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Get on the upgrade list! Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
• 1X Miles 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 $50 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

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

Annual fee: $350* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Want status? Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Save money as a Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Member and 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.
• You can earn Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year to get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 back each month in statement credits.
• Need a ride? Earn up $120 a years with $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• If you are an over packer or just want to save money, you can enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Board earlier with Zone 5 Priority Boarding
• Save A LOT of time! Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, 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!
• Looking for an upgrade? Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No foreign transaction fees, terms apply (rates and fees)

This is a great card by itself, but like the American Express^® Gold Card and American Express 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 $350 annual fee, but check your protections in this article.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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

Annual fee: $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150* *see more details on American Express protections for you and spouse

Welcome Bonus Offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

• Get 15% off as a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members 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.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• Check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. That could save a family of four up to $280 per round-trip flight!
• Board early with Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
• Book on delta.com as a Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Member and earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Get 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• Send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App when you use Send & Split(R). Enroll today.
• 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)