American Express Delta Reserve Personal Card 70,000 Miles + 10,000 MQM Increased Signup Bonus (Highest Ever)

The Offer

Direct link to offer

  • Signup for the Amex Delta Reserve Card and after spending $5,000 within 3 months, you’ll get:
    • 70,000 Delta miles
    • 10,000 MQM (Medallion Qualification Miles). These miles are not redeemable and instead count towards elite status.

Card Details

  • $450 annual fee, not waived the first year
  • If you spend $30,000 or more in a calendar year you receive 15,000 bonus miles and 15,000 MQM; if you spend $60,000 or more you’ll earn an additional 15,000 bonus miles and an additional 15,000 MQM
  • 0% introductory APR on purchases for six months
  • $250,000 spend across all American Express Delta cards currently results in a MQD waiver through Diamond Medallion.  (previously $25,000)
  • Delta Sky Club access (can also bring two guests for $29 per person. Keep in mind you must be arriving or departing on a Delta marketed or operated flight to be eligible for access). Authorized users also get this access, previously they were $175 each but possibly free now?
  • Companion Certificate (domestic first class or main cabin round trip companion)
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 2x miles on Delta purchases
    • 1x miles on all other purchases
  • Holding this card is used as a tie breaker for upgrades

Our Verdict

Yesterday we posted about the same bonus on the business version of this card, it’s also available on the personal version. Previous high on this bonus was 40,000 miles + 10,000 MQM so this is an extra 30,000 miles. Even with the massively increased bonus I don’t think it’s worth considering unless your desperate for the MQM (and have already done the Platinum offers) or really want the Delta club access due to the massive $450 annual fee. I won’t be adding this to the best credit card bonuses because of that. As always if you have questions about, please read this post first before asking them.

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11 Comments
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Jack
Jack (@guest_646385)
September 23, 2018 02:13

To me the only reason to get the card would be for the MQM. With the 10k after the sign up bonus and the additional 15k with 30k purchases, that gives you enough to get Delta silver status (the spending requirement for the status is waived after spending 25k on the card). Benefits of status is a free checked bag, which is free with Delta cc’s either way, and seat upgrades. The real benefit and value though, is that you can status match Delta silver to United and others. If you fly a few times a year (or ever, if you can continue matching indefinitely) this can add enough value to make the 450 AF worth it.

Just my two cents.

Bo knows
Bo knows (@guest_649149)
September 29, 2018 01:29

match to United and what others?

Jack
Jack (@guest_652849)
October 5, 2018 00:35

Check Status Matcher. They will have an up to date list of attempts to match.

Mark
Mark (@guest_764516)
May 29, 2019 11:20

agree- and although the terms state that MQMs earned via credit card bonus don’t count toward status challenge, they counted toward mine least year when I got 10k with the Platinum.

Marshall
Marshall (@guest_645754)
September 21, 2018 14:44

This card isn’t really that great because it only allows the cardholder into the lounge. They charge $29 for up to 2 additional people. That’s a lot of money. I’d rather go to a Priority Pass restaurant. And this credit card has no bonus categories other than 2x on Delta. And skymiles aren’t very valuable or exciting especially since Delta has no award chart.
I’ll pass on this card.

BW
BW (@guest_645643)
September 21, 2018 12:26

$450 annual fee not waived, that’s steep. I guess if 70k sky pesos and the 10k MQM are worth it to you, go for it.

Mike
Mike (@guest_645657)
September 21, 2018 12:39
  BW

Seems like a killer deal if you fly a ton on Delta as the lounge access could be well worth it. I don’t fly nearly enough on Delta to come close to justifying it.

Matt Katakis
Matt Katakis (@guest_645996)
September 21, 2018 22:20

The problem is that Delta shot themselves in the foot by allowing this benefit to AMEX plat holders. So most people who have the plat aren’t going to get this card because they already have free lounge access.

That said, I think 70K miles + the 10K MQMs does make it worth it if you’re close on status. I haven’t pulled the trigger on this card but I think this is enough to get me there although the prior spend was $3K and not 5K. Still worth it for the extra 30K miles though.

BW
BW (@guest_646012)
September 21, 2018 23:20

Already have Delta lounge access with my Biz Plat card.

Alex
Alex (@guest_645808)
September 21, 2018 17:07
  BW

If you have a definite plan for the BOGO 1st class companion certificate after year one, then the $450 annual fee should come close to paying for itself. The 70k bonus is an added bare minimum of $700 in Delta flights on top of that.

Not the worst offer ever, but very niche. I don’t personally value flying first class on domestic flights very highly, so the companion certificate isn’t too valuable, but I could see it being a fun benefit for some people in certain situations.

BW
BW (@guest_646014)
September 21, 2018 23:22

Agreed. I never pay cash for flights I always use miles so the BOGO first class is pretty low value to me.