Back in the summer of 2022, Delta and American Express practically broke the internet and delighted aviation geeks nationwide with arguably the coolest-looking credit card to date: A sleek *delta reserve card* made from the metal of a scrapped Delta Boeing 747. They're running it back.
Last month, the companies unveiled another special 747 edition Reserve Card – but this time around, Delta and Amex ditched the jet black look from 2022 in favor of a glossy white design, each emblazoned with a silhouette and statistics from the majestic double-decker plane it's made from. It's available until June 5 – or until they run out, whichever comes first.
These new designs are available on both the personal Reserve Card as well as the *delta reserve business*. You can get it whether you're applying for it for the first time today … and even if you're a longtime Reserve cardholder, too!
Already have the Reserve Card? Log into your American Express account, then navigate to “Account Services” and “Card Management” to request a replacement – you should see the option to select this new design!
Last time around, the buzz about these new cards (and record-setting 100,000-SkyMile bonuses) created a virtual stampede. Within weeks, Delta had to stop handing them out to existing cardholders.
Lesson learned: They've got twice as many 747 cards this time around, all made of 33% metal from not one but two old Delta double deckers.
Delta retired its Boeing 747s back in 2017, ditching the iconic double-decker plane in favor of a new generation of fuel-efficient wide body planes to connect the world. These two scrapped Queens of the Skies originally belonged to Minnesota-based Northwest Airlines until the two airlines merged in 2008, going onto fly more than 65 million miles apiece before being put to pasture in late 2017.
- N670US first hit the skies in 1990
- N662US was introduced into service in 1989
Here's a shot of one of those majestic planes taking off from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) in 2016, just over a year before it was retired.
Now, they'll find a home in thousands – maybe even millions – of Delta cardholders' wallets.
“We’re bringing back one of our most popular Card designs ever with a new look honoring the ‘Queen of the Skies,” Jon Gantman, American Express's senior vice president and general manager of co-brand product management, said in a statement. “Given the strong response from customers with our first Card design, we wanted to find another exciting opportunity for aviation enthusiasts and Card Members to have a piece of aviation history in their wallets.”
It's a savvy move by Delta and American Express – a surefire way to drum up additional interest in the top-dollar Delta SkyMiles card at a time they might need it.
Fresh off starting a firestorm with its botched overhaul of Medallion Status, Delta and Amex raised annual fees on their co-branded SkyMiles cards by as much as $100 in February while adding a slew of benefits – some better than others. Convincing travelers to open (or upgrade to) the top-tier Reserve card has long been the goal … but at a higher annual fee of $650 (see rates & fees) might have made it a much harder sell.
And this time around, the bank isn't pairing this special-edition design with a bigger bonus. New applicants still will generally earn a paltry 60,000 Delta SkyMiles after spending $5,000 in the first six months – a far cry from the bonuses of 100,000 SkyMiles or more we've seen in the past. That said, some lucky travelers might see a better offer of 90,000 SkyMiles, especially when opening an application link in an incognito window or from a personal referral link.
Let's be clear: Credit cards are serious business. You should never apply for a credit card if you're already in debt, and never charge more to a credit card than you can afford to pay off immediately. And of all the reasons to apply for a new credit card, the way it looks is at the bottom of the list.
But there's no denying this is cool one to have in your wallet. It might even be better than the jet black 2022 edition.
About the Delta Reserve Card
The Reserve Card is Delta's top card. That doesn't mean it's the best card for all Delta flyers.
It depends on what you need. The Reserve is best for ultra-frequent Delta flyers who want Sky Club access and are climbing the rungs of Delta Medallion Status. At $650 a year (see rates & fees), it's not for everyone.
In some ways, it's gotten even better. Its valuable annual companion certificate was recently expanded to include flights not just within the continental U.S. but also Hawaii, Mexico, and much of the Caribbean. Credits for hotels booked via Delta Stays, rideshares, and dining via Resy can add up … but it's up to you to jump through the hoops and remember to use them.
On the other hand, troubling changes are on the horizon. Come Feb. 1, 2025, Reserve cardholders will lose unlimited Sky Club access: Instead, you'll be able to get into Delta lounges for free just 15 days a year – unless you spend a whopping $75,000 a year.
It also has all the usual card perks you get from other Delta cards like free baggage, priority boarding, an automatic 15% discount when redeeming SkyMiles on Delta flights, and more. But if you're just in the market to earn a bunch of Delta SkyMiles, you're probably better off with a different Delta credit card. Instead, the real value of the Delta Reserve Card is in the chase for status … and you need to spend more money on it than ever to make it happen.
If this is all making your head spin and you don’t understand or care about status with Delta, move along. If you don’t value status, or can’t spend that much money to unlock it, this card isn’t really worth the annual fee of $650.
Full Benefits of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- bonus_miles_full, but check personal referral links or search in an incognito browser for a bonus of up to 90,000 SkyMiles!
- Check your first bag free on every Delta flight – savings of at least $70 on each round-trip flight, per person
- Priority boarding (even with a basic economy ticket)
- Get unlimited complimentary Delta Sky Club access when flying Delta, through Jan. 31, 2025. Beginning Feb. 1, 2025, you'll be limited to 15 Sky Club visits per year, unless you spend $75,000 or more on your card in a calendar year.
- You also get four free guest passes and can bring up to two guests in at a time. After that, each guest visit will cost an additional $50.
- Complimentary access to the American Express Centurion Lounges when you are flying Delta on a ticket purchased with your Reserve card
- Get a economy, Delta Comfort Plus, or first class companion certificate to destinations throughout the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) as well as many destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, each year upon card renewal
- MQD Headstart: Get a head start on earning Medallion status with an automatic 2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) each year on Feb. 1
- Earn 1 MQD for every $10 you spend on your card
- Earn 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on Delta purchases
- Earn 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
- Up to a $200 Delta Stays credit: Earn up to $200 in statement credits each year when you make a Delta Stays prepaid hotel or vacation rental booking on the Delta Stays platform.
- Up to a $120 Rideshare Credit: Get up to $120 in statement credits (doled out in $10 monthly installments) a year when you use your card to pay for a ride with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, or Alto.
- Up to a $240 Resy Credit: Get up to $240 in statement credits each year (doled out in $20 chunks each month) when you use your card to pay for eligible purchases on Resy, Amex's restaurant reservation platform. This is also a use-it-or-lose-it benefit: Any unused balance won't roll over to the following month.
- Get up to a $100 credit to cover the cost for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck® and every 4 years for Global Entry
- Complimentary space-available upgrades, even for non-Medallion members: A great way to improve your upgrade chances.
- Get 15% off SkyMiles award tickets with TakeOff 15 when booking on delta.com or through the Fly Delta app
- Hertz President's Circle Status: Receive complimentary top-tier Hertz President's Circle elite status upon enrollment.
- Enjoy 20% off in-flight purchases such as food & drinks in the form of a statement credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- $650 annual fee (See rates & fees)
Learn more about the *delta reserve card*.
Bottom Line
Delta and American Express went back to the well with one of the most popular, limited-edition credit card designs of all time.
The companies are back out with another extra special *delta reserve card* made of metal from a pair of retired Boeing 747s. They're available to both current cardholders and new applicants until June 5 … but they could disappear sooner.
If you've got your heart set on having a piece of aviation history in your wallet, don't wait around. These cards flew off virtual shelves fast the last time around.