Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Which Is Better in 2026?

Chase Sapphire Preferred Breakdown

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The Sapphire Preferred earns 5x points on Chase Travel℠ purchases; 3x on dining, gas stations, EV charging, vacation homes at top brands, top streaming services, and online grocery (exclusions apply); 2x on all other travel; and 1x on everything else.

Benefits include up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $120 every four years, and a complimentary DashPass membership when activated by December 31, 2029. Points transfer to Chase's airline and hotel partners, and the card has no foreign transaction fees.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Breakdown

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The Delta Reserve earns 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X on other eligible purchases. Its value is mostly in its benefits.

• 15 Delta Sky Club® visits each Medallion® Year when flying Delta, with unlimited access after $75,000 in card purchases in a calendar year.
• Complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book your Delta flight with the card.
• A Companion Certificate each year after card renewal, valid on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round trip within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. Taxes and fees of $22 to $250 apply.
• $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year, plus $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases.
• Up to $20 per month in Resy statement credits and up to $10 per month in U.S. rideshare credits (enrollment required), plus up to $200 per year on prepaid Delta Stays bookings.
• First checked bag free on Delta flights worldwide and a second bag free on domestic Delta flights.

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Head-to-Head: How They Compare

Cost to Carry

The Sapphire Preferred costs $95 per year. The Delta Reserve's annual fee is far higher (see the card details above for the current amount), so it only makes sense if you'll use its Delta credits, Sky Club visits, and Companion Certificate.

Rewards Earning

For everyday spending, the Sapphire Preferred earns more. It pays 3x on dining, gas, streaming, and online grocery, while the Delta Reserve earns 1X outside of Delta purchases.

On Delta purchases, the Delta Reserve earns 3X miles versus 2x points on the Sapphire Preferred's "all other travel" category.

Booking Delta Flights With Chase Points

Chase points don't transfer to Delta SkyMiles. They do transfer to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, which lets members book reward seats on Delta-operated flights through Virgin Atlantic. Pricing and availability vary, so compare the cost in Virgin points against the SkyMiles price before you transfer.

Delta-Specific Perks

The Delta Reserve wins here. Sky Club and Centurion Lounge access, the Companion Certificate, free checked bags, Zone 5 priority boarding, MQD earning, and 15% off Delta award flights booked on delta.com are things the Sapphire Preferred doesn't offer.

Travel Insurance

The Sapphire Preferred includes primary auto rental coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance. The Delta Reserve includes trip delay insurance (up to $500 per trip for delays over six hours, maximum two claims per card per 12 consecutive months), trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurance.

Redemption Flexibility

The Sapphire Preferred is more flexible. Its points can be used through Chase Travel or transferred to airline and hotel partners, including United, Southwest, JetBlue, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy. SkyMiles are mainly useful for Delta and partner flights.

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

You're a strong fit if you:

• Want flexible points that transfer to multiple airline and hotel programs
• Fly several different airlines instead of one
• Spend regularly on dining, gas, streaming, or online groceries
• Want solid travel protections at a $95 annual fee
• Are a Delta flyer who wants more value from everyday spending

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Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles Reserve?

You're a strong fit if you:

• Fly Delta several times a year and check bags
• Will use the yearly Companion Certificate
• Can use the Resy, rideshare, and Delta Stays credits
• Want MQD earning to help reach or keep Medallion status
• Connect through airports with Delta Sky Club locations

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The Case for Holding Both

You don't have to choose. Some Delta loyalists use the Sapphire Preferred for dining, gas, streaming, and non-Delta travel, and keep the Delta Reserve for Delta purchases, Sky Club visits, the Companion Certificate, and MQD earning.

If you want both, consider applying for the Chase card first. Chase may consider how many cards you've opened recently, a pattern known as the Chase 5/24 rule, and a new personal Amex card would add to that count.

Kudos can help you run a two-card setup. Its browser extension can autofill your best card at checkout, so each purchase goes on the card that earns more.

With Kudos Premium, Kudos can also automatically activate your Chase and American Express offers when you visit the issuer portals, then remind you at checkout. That way the offers on both your Sapphire Preferred and your Delta Reserve get used instead of sitting unactivated.

Alternatives to Consider

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Chase's premium card, with 8x on Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, 3x on dining, a $300 annual travel credit, and lounge access.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: an entry-level Delta card with 2X miles on Delta, at restaurants, and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: a mid-tier Delta card with 3X miles on Delta and on purchases made directly with hotels, plus a yearly Companion Certificate.

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^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

Before you apply:

• Check your credit. Both cards are generally designed for applicants with good to excellent credit.
• For the Sapphire Preferred, Chase says the new cardmember bonus may not be available if you previously held the card or received its bonus, and that it may consider how many cards you've opened and closed.
• For the Delta Reserve, Amex may not grant a Welcome Offer if you have or have had this card. Review the offer terms before applying.
• Confirm the current welcome offer, spend requirement, and timeframe on each issuer's page.

Application strategy:

• If you want both cards, apply for the Chase card first.
• Time your application before a planned large expense so you can meet the spending requirement with normal purchases.
• Space out applications to limit hard inquiries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Transfer Chase Points to Delta SkyMiles?

No. Delta isn't a Chase transfer partner. You can transfer Chase points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and book reward seats on Delta-operated flights through Virgin Atlantic, subject to availability.

How Do the Lounge Benefits Compare?

The Delta Reserve includes 15 Sky Club visits per Medallion Year when flying Delta, unlimited visits after $75,000 in calendar-year card spend, and Centurion Lounge access when you book your Delta flight with the card. The Sapphire Preferred doesn't include lounge access.

Which Card Is Better for Everyday Spending?

The Sapphire Preferred. It earns 3x on dining, gas, EV charging, top streaming services, and online grocery, while the Delta Reserve earns 1X on purchases outside of Delta.

Where Can I Use the Delta Companion Certificate?

It's valid on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round trip within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. You pay government-imposed taxes and fees of $22 to $250, and Delta Basic fares aren't eligible.

What Is MQD Earning?

Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) count toward Delta Medallion status. The Delta Reserve gives a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and $1 MQD for every $10 in card purchases. The Sapphire Preferred doesn't earn MQDs.

Which Card Has Better Travel Insurance?

Both include trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay coverage. The Sapphire Preferred adds primary auto rental coverage, while the Delta Reserve includes car rental loss and damage insurance.

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}