Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
Annual fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve $795/yr, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Reserve on travel, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Chase Sapphire ReserveChase · $795/yr
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican Express · $650/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Reserve$795Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card$650Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Chase Sapphire Reserve100,000 pointsDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card—
- Rewards
- Chase Sapphire ReserveChase Ultimate RewardsDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMiles
- Foreign transaction fee
- Chase Sapphire ReserveNoneDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardNone
- Network
- Chase Sapphire ReserveVisa InfiniteDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Flights
- Chase Sapphire Reserve4xHighestDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1x
- Hotels
- Chase Sapphire Reserve4xHighestDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1x
- Dining
- Chase Sapphire Reserve3xHighestDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1x
- Everything else
- Chase Sapphire Reserve1xDelta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 travel credit
- $500 hotel credit
- $250 select hotels · $250 one-time
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $120 every 4 years
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- $200 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $10/mo Lyft credit · $10 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 dining at 275+ restaurants
- $35/mo DoorDash + DashPass · $35 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- $20/mo Resy · $20 monthly
- Entertainment & streaming
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 event tickets StubHub
- $27/mo Apple TV & Music · $27 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card— - Shopping & wellness
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $10/mo Peloton credits · $10 monthly
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge on Star Alliance (1 guest)
- 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges with 2 free guests
- 8 Chase Sapphire Lounges with 2 free guests
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Delta Sky Club access with unlimited visits after $75K spend
- Access to The Centurion® Lounge
- Hotel status & programs
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- IHG Platinum Elite with 60% bonus points, no stays
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- MQD Headstart
- Access to Complimentary Upgrades
- MQD Boost
- Airline perks
- Chase Sapphire Reserve—Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate
- First & second bags free (2nd bag domestic only)
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
- Other perks
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $750 in credits plus elite status at $75k spend
- Dedicated Customer Support with 24/7 priority service
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases
- Roadside Assistance with $50 reimbursement per incident
- Sapphire Reserve Experiences and Venue Benefits
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services 24/7
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- Reserve Travel Designer complimentary planning service
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- Concierge Services
- Upgrade Priority
Show 1 more
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Emergency Evacuation up to $100,000 coverage
- Emergency Medical and Dental up to $2,500
- Travel Accident Insurance up to $1,000,000
- Trip cancellation insurance up to $10,000 per person
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 6 hours
- Baggage
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Baggage insurance up to $3,000 for lost luggage
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
- Rental car
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Primary rental car insurance up to $75,000
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Hertz President's Circle® Status
- Car rental insurance up to $75,000
- Purchase & returns
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim for 120 days
- Return protection up to $500 per item within 90 days
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Up to $300 per item if merchant won't accept return
- Purchase protection for new items
- Extended warranty
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer coverage
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- Chase Sapphire Reserve—Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $800 cell phone protection per claim
- Other protections
- Chase Sapphire Reserve—Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Up to $2,060 in annual credits and promos can more than cover the $795 fee
- Priority Pass Select with 2 guests included
- Exclusive Chase Sapphire Lounge access
- Primary rental car coverage saves $15-30/day
- Points Boost values points at up to 2 cents each on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- 15 Delta Sky Club visits a year when flying Delta same-day, with unlimited access after $75,000 in card spend (estimated $600+ annual value)
- Annual First Class or Comfort+ companion certificate with no spend requirement
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus MQD Boost ($1 Medallion Qualification Dollar per $10 spent)
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
- Cons
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $795 annual fee is substantial commitment
- 5/24 rule restricts applicants with recent cards
- Credits require specific spending patterns to use
- $195 authorized user fee with no free users
- No 0% intro APR offer
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card- $650 annual fee is highest among Delta personal cards
- $175 authorized user fee adds significant cost for family travelers
- Sky Club access requires same-day Delta flight; no standalone entry
- Sky Club guest access is limited to four one-time guest passes a year
- Miles locked to Delta SkyMiles with limited transfer flexibility
Category-by-Category Winner
The Chase Sapphire Reserve wins in 3 of 3 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card leads in 0. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Depends: via Chase Travel portal
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Hotels
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X vs 1X
Dining
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3X vs 1X
Flights
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Chase Sapphire Reserve on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $281 Credits (our usable estimate): $995 − Annual fee ($795) Ongoing: $481 Year one: $2,406 | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$189 Year one: -$189 | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,123 Credits (our usable estimate): $995 − Annual fee ($795) Ongoing: $1,323 Year one: $3,248 | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $243 Year one: $243 | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr — that's $145 more than the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card ($650/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $145 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $145 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $145 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Reserve needs roughly $145 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and hotels and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Chase Sapphire Reserve means losing:
- -Free checked bags
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Chase Sapphire Reserve on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve $795/yr, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr — a $145 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the higher annual fee?
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr vs $650/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $145 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Chase Sapphire Reserve also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Reserve have that the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card doesn't?
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection.
- Should I get the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card has a lower $650/yr fee; the Chase Sapphire Reserve must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $795/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.