Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card vs JetBlue Plus Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, JetBlue Plus Card $99/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card on everyday spending, JetBlue Plus Card on dining.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican Express · $650/yr
JetBlue Plus CardBarclays · $99/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card$650JetBlue Plus Card$99Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card—JetBlue Plus Card70,000 points
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardDelta SkyMilesJetBlue Plus CardJetBlue TrueBlue Rewards Program
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardNoneJetBlue Plus CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express CardAmerican ExpressJetBlue Plus CardMastercard World Elite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xJetBlue Plus Card2xHighest
- Grocery Stores
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xJetBlue Plus Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card1xJetBlue Plus Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $200 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
JetBlue Plus Card- $100 JetBlue Vacations
- Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
JetBlue Plus Card— - Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $20/mo Resy · $20 monthly
JetBlue Plus Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Delta Sky Club access with unlimited visits after $75K spend
- Access to The Centurion® Lounge
JetBlue Plus Card— - Hotel status & programs
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- MQD Headstart
- Access to Complimentary Upgrades
- MQD Boost
JetBlue Plus Card— - Airline perks
- 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
JetBlue Plus Card- Save 50% on inflight food and drinks
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 3 companions
- Other perks
- 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
JetBlue Plus Card- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 6 hours
JetBlue Plus Card— - Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
JetBlue Plus Card— - Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Hertz President's Circle® Status
- Car rental insurance up to $75,000
JetBlue Plus Card— - Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Up to $300 per item if merchant won't accept return
- Purchase protection for new items
JetBlue Plus Card— - Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
JetBlue Plus Card— - Cell phone
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- $800 cell phone protection per claim
JetBlue Plus Card— - Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
JetBlue Plus Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- 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
JetBlue Plus Card- 6x points on JetBlue purchases provides strong earning rate
- Free first checked bag extends to up to 3 companions on same reservation
- 10% points back when redeeming for JetBlue award flights
- 50% off eligible inflight food and drinks
- 5,000 anniversary bonus points each year
- Cons
- 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
JetBlue Plus Card- $99 annual fee may not be justified for occasional flyers
- No lounge access benefit
- No companion certificate
- No priority boarding
- Only 2x points on restaurants and groceries (same as no-fee card)
Category-by-Category Winner
The JetBlue Plus Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card leads in 0.
Dining
JetBlue Plus Card earns 2X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
JetBlue Plus Card earns 2X 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 JetBlue Plus Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | JetBlue Plus Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: -$189 Year one: -$189 | Rewards: $211 Credits (our usable estimate): $5 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $117 Year one: $1,062 | JetBlue Plus Card | JetBlue Plus Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $317 − Annual fee ($650) Ongoing: $243 Year one: $243 | Rewards: $842 Credits (our usable estimate): $5 − Annual fee ($99) Ongoing: $748 Year one: $1,693 | JetBlue Plus Card | JetBlue Plus Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card costs $650/yr — that's $551 more than the JetBlue Plus Card ($99/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $551 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $551 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $551 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card needs roughly $551 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on everyday spending and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing JetBlue Plus Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
Get the JetBlue Plus Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the JetBlue Plus Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card $650/yr, JetBlue Plus Card $99/yr — a $551 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card costs $650/yr vs $99/yr for the JetBlue Plus Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $551 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or JetBlue Plus 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 Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card have that the JetBlue Plus Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The JetBlue Plus Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card or the JetBlue Plus Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the JetBlue Plus Card has a lower $99/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $650/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.