Compare the Features and Benefits of Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card

There are many reasons why frequent Delta flyers look toward the carrier’s top product: the Delta Reserve card with a $650 annual fee. This rewards card provides outstanding benefits when you’re flying Delta, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny.

First and foremost, you can get complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club, The Centurion Lounge, or Escape Lounge locations when presenting a same-day boarding pass with Delta Air Lines, giving you ample space to rest up, grab a meal or a drink, and get work done in the airport. While guest access isn’t included, you can bring up to two guests for a $50 per-person rate, or you can cash in your two guest passes that you’ll be awarded every card membership year.

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.

The annual companion certificate can also save you hundreds of dollars on Delta flights, as it’s eligible for round trip domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights in any class of service including First Class.

You’ll just need to pay the government imposed taxes and fees of less than $80 for domestic and $250 for international round trips — a steal for a second ticket on Delta Air Lines.

Furthermore, Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders receive unmatched status boost benefits for those who can meet the certain benchmarks.

For those that need a hand with reaching the next Delta Medallion® elite status level, this card earns $1 MQD (Medallion Qualifying Dollars) for every $10 spent on eligible purchases with your Card – plus a $2,500 MQD boost each calendar year just for holding the Card.

The Delta Reserve card is also popular for elites as it provides upgrade priority over other Medallion members at the same status tier. Two elite members may be on the same elite status level, but with the Delta Reserve credit card, you’ll get higher priority on the upgrade list — which can mean all the difference in a sea of elite members.

And you’ll also receive up to $560 in statement credits each year with up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card, up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Enrollment Required) and up to $200 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. (Terms apply)

You may be thinking that the Delta Reserve card is only targeted for those chasing Delta’s frequent flyer status. However, you may be surprised to find that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is also a fantastic choice for those without status but who want elite-like benefits.

Case in point: you and up to eight companions on the same reservation can bring your first checked bag free. And you can still get access to complimentary seat upgrades, although you’ll be placed on the bottom of the list after Medallion members.

There’s a long list of benefits that also come with the Delta Reserve card, such as the statement credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, 15% award discount when redeeming for SkyMiles flights and travel and purchase protection benefits.

Simply put: it’s a huge step-up for Delta loyalists.

Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

With an affordable $95 annual fee and a great introductory bonus to boot, there are many ways to justify keeping the Alaska Airlines card in your wallet. In fact, there are two types of travelers who would benefit from this airline credit card: one who’s loyal to the West Coast-based carrier and wants extra perks when flying, and the other who wants an easier way to earn Alaska Airlines miles for bucket-list, premium cabin redemptions.

Let’s talk about the first type of traveler: Alaska Airlines frequent flyers. To start, you get a free checked bag on every Alaska flight and get to board the plane soon after elite status holders. While potentially less utilized, the 20% discount for onboard purchases and a $100 statement credit toward a Lounge+ membership can still prove to be beneficial if you frequently fly on Alaska Airlines network.

Now, let’s discuss the second traveler: the travel optimizer. That’s because Alaska’s Mileage Plan loyalty program allow you to redeem miles at a reasonable rate for a broad range of global airline partners beyond just Alaska. From Oneworld alliance partners to highly-rated carriers like Singapore Airlines and Starlux, Alaska miles are easily some of the most valuable airline miles out there.

As well, Alaska miles can be quite difficult to earn compared to other airline miles — unless you open the Alaska Visa to earn both the bonus offer and miles on eligible card purchases. Fortunately, the Alaska Airlines Visa Credit Card comes with a solid earning rate on Alaska flights and purchases (3x miles); everyday purchases including eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services, and local transit (2x miles); and a standard 1x miles pr dollar spent on all other purchases.

No matter what your travel goals are with this credit card, the final component to discuss is Alaska’s famous companion fare, which you’ll earn as part of the welcome bonus — assuming you meet minimum spend from account opening. Essentially, you’re able to score a round-trip companion ticket from $99 (plus taxes and fees starting at $23), which can provide excellent value to many destinations. Best of all, cardholders get the opportunity to earn another companion ticket every single year by spending at least $6,000 on card purchases in the prior anniversary year.

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