Bottom Line

So what do you get for $550 with the Delta Reserve card that you can't get with the $99 Delta Gold Business card? There's unlimited Sky Lounge ($29 per visit or $545 for the year) and Centurion Lounge access. An annual companion pass, plus an additional 20,000 points every anniversary year. And then you have the chance to rack up some MQMs and MQDs, to help you gain status and more perks -- but only after dropping an additional spend of $25,000-$50,000 in a calendar year. Bearing in mind that you can use that $25,000-plus to leverage a lot more bonus points from other cards, it's hard for us to recommend chasing status with Delta. But even considering just the other perks you'll get with the Delta Reserve, you might justify the annual $550 if there is a high offer. If you do decide to pull the trigger on this card, make sure you wait till Amex offers a sign-up bonus, since you're bound by their "once in a lifetime" point bonus.

Why You Might Want This Card

If You're In Love With Delta...

This is the granddaddy of cards for the Delta-centric business owner. For starters, you get an expense management tools to help track and organize your expenses. The card also gives you concierge services, statement credit for Global Entry or TSA, traveling-delay-baggage and car rental insurance for your business travel, and it waives all foreign transaction fees. More perks include your first checked bag free, priority boarding, complimentary upgrades -- and here's a huge one, unlimited complimentary access to Delta's Sky and Amex's Centurion Lounges (even when not flying Delta). Finally, you get an annual companion certificate, and a 20,000 point bonus on your anniversary date. That's a lot of stuff to offset the $550 annual fee for this prestigious card, especially on a tax deductible business expense.

... And If You Want Delta Status

Earning the welcome bonus after spending $5,000 (special offer spend) in 3 months is easy enough for most business owners. Where you have to start dropping larger spends is chasing even the lowest Delta status tier. You'll earn 10,000 MQM’s after you spend $30,000 per calendar year, up to 4 times per year. Which if you’re a frequent Delta traveler, you know how valuable MQM’s can be -- getting you automatic upgrades to first class, waived baggage fees, priority boarding and mileage boosts. Since you get a portion of that with this card, however, you have to weigh spending tens of thousands of dollars more to achieve Delta status.

Check out our Delta SkyMiles page for more details on how to best use Delta Points.

Exceptions To The Rule

About Delta SkyMiles

• Delta SkyMiles are super easy to accumulate with American Express cards, whether they're specific for earning SkyMiles or American Express cards that have completely transferable and instant 1:1 ratio Amex points.

Redeeming SkyMiles isn’t difficult, but you might find that their value isn't as high as you'd think -- especially if you do a side-by-side comparison with our personal favorite, United. Delta’s redeeming quality, however, is the fact that they fly to over 325 locations. So sometimes when you want to go somewhere that United doesn't, you’ll find Delta’s got your back.

When Delta removed its online reward charts in 2015, no one was happy. Now, the more flexible you are, the more value you can squeeze out of your Miles -- especially when Delta runs one of its regular award sales that offer some deep discounts in economy and Delta One.

But the real ace up the sleeve here is booking international Business or First Class using alliances like China Eastern or one of their non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic. This can be done for fewer points than if you booked directly through the Delta website -- as long as the flight is operated by Delta, Delta Connections or Virgin Atlantic. Searching around for Delta’s flash sales based on region or utilizing one of their partners can get you a pretty impressive trip.

Where Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Fits In This Point Ecosystem

Personal Experience