Delta SkyMiles Blue vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Delta SkyMiles Blue

American Express

Delta SkyMiles Reserve

American Express

Economics

Annual fee

$650/yr less

$650

Ongoing annual value

$95

$653

$558/yr more

Net value (value − fee)

$95

$92/yr more

First-year value estimate

$96

$630

$534/yr more

Authorized user fee

—

$175

Sign-up Bonus

Current offer

10K miles after $1K spend in the first 6 months

two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50K bonus miles after you spend $10K in purchases on your new card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms apply. Rates & Fees(Offer Expires 11/4/2026) + 2 roundtrip flight certificates

Earning

Dining

2X2.2%

—

Delta purchases

2X2.2%

3X3.3%

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.

Benefits

Statement credits

—

Rideshare: $10 (Monthly)
Resy: $20 (Monthly)
Delta Stays: $200 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Uber One: $10 (Monthly)

Lounge access

—

American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
Delta Sky Club (15/yr)

Elite status

—

Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles
Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President's Circle

Protections

The same on both cards (6)

Foreign transaction fee

None

Issuer

American Express

Rewards currency

Delta SkyMiles

Card type

Personal

Network

American Express

All other purchases

1X1.1%

Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get

No ads, no paid placement · Your wallet, your math