If you’re an aviation buff or a Delta devotee, you’ve got an opportunity to carry a piece of airline history in your wallet.
American Express and Delta Air Lines have released a new card design on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . For a limited time, these cards will be made with 33% metal from retired Delta Boeing 747 aircraft (not to be confused with the recently scrutinized Boeing 737 Max 9). They feature a glossy white finish — an attention-grabbing departure from the cards’ usual dark purple color.
All information about Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
Unfortunately, the limited-edition metal cards aren’t tied to increased welcome bonus offers or other new perks, so the change is purely aesthetic — although the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, the Delta Reserve Business and other Delta credit cards underwent a more substantial makeover earlier this year.
Amex Delta Reserve Boeing 747 metal design
In 2022, Amex and Delta launched a similar limited-edition design that was made of 25% metal from a single retired Boeing 747 aircraft. This time, Amex says it’s making twice as many cards using metal from two Delta 747 planes that flew for more than 27 years before being retired in 2017.
Each card is embossed with the aircraft’s registration number, model, miles flown, and first and last flight dates. Delta was the last US airline to retire the Boeing 747, and now only a handful of international airlines operate the aircraft in passenger service. So if a flight on the “Queen of the Skies” isn’t on your horizon, owning a piece of one might be the next best thing.
These cards are available to new applicants between April 25 and June 5 but only while supplies last. If you’re an existing card holder, you can request the new design by calling the number on the back of your card or messaging American Express online or through the Amex app.
The current Delta Reserve welcome bonuses aren’t the highest we’ve seen; in fact, earlier this year the personal version offered 100,000 miles, and the business card offered 110,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements. Here’s what you can earn now:
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: 60,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
- Delta Reserve Business: 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months
Is it worth getting a Delta Reserve card?
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve (terms apply, see rates and fees) and Delta Reserve Business (terms apply, see rates and fees) are premium credit cards that charge a $650 annual fee, so they’re not for the casual traveler. However, if you fly Delta often, these cards can be a valuable tool for earning Delta SkyMiles and making your journey more comfortable.
Both cards offer Delta Sky Club lounge access, so if you frequently travel through cities that have these airport lounges, picking up a Delta Reserve card could be worth it. Each card comes with an array of other day-of-travel benefits, including a free first checked bag, priority boarding on Delta flights, complimentary upgrades when available and travel insurance.
Card holders can also get reimbursed when they use their cards for eligible rideshare, Resy and Delta Stays purchases, which can help offset the annual fee.
In addition, each year after you renew the card, you can get a free ticket for your plus-one on a qualifying journey (though you’ll still have to cover taxes and fees; up to $80 for domestic trips and $250 for round-trip international flights). You can use this perk, called a companion certificate, on eligible round-trip Delta domestic flights, along with eligible trips to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
If the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta Reserve Business are too pricey for you, be sure to check out other top Delta credit cards with lower annual fees. They aren’t getting a metal redesign and don’t come with Sky Club airport lounge access, but you’ll still get perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding on Delta.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , please visit this page.
To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , please visit this page.
All information about Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by CNN Underscored Money: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*The information for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
All information about Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored.
