At a glance
- Best for: Casual Delta Fliers
- Annual Fee: $0
- APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 2X
- Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Earn 10,000 miles
Offer Details:
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.
Why we like it
It’s a simple, low-maintenance airline credit card that succeeds largely because it doesn’t overcomplicate things. You won’t get premium perks, but you also won’t pay an annual fee that just gifts you benefits you may never actually use.
The simplicity and balance of the card may work well for some. But those seeking more need to look at the airline’s other products — and there are quite a few.
Reward details
Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
2X miles at restaurants worldwide
No foreign transaction fees
Straightforward rewards structure
Useful for casual Delta travelers
Cons
No free checked bags
No priority boarding
Weak everyday earnings outside bonus categories
Limited premium travel perks
Frequent Delta travelers will likely get more value from higher-tier cards
Overview
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the airline’s most stripped-back consumer product, aimed very much at casual travelers who want to dip their toes into the waters of points and miles without spending an arm and a leg for the privilege.
You won’t find an array of luxury perks, and the earnings are paltry compared to the airline’s numerous higher-priced cards, but it still fills a gap for the right traveler. At the core, it’s a simple card for those with simple needs, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Let’s take a look at what the Blue has to offer.
Who is this card best for:
This card makes the most sense for casual Delta flyers, beginners to points and miles, and travelers who just don’t want to fork out on high annual fees.
If you only fly Delta a handful of times each year but don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to earn miles, you should consider this card. It’s also an excellent starter card for those who need a window into the game without the risk of a high-cost card.
The Bottom Line:
It’s a simple, low-maintenance airline credit card that succeeds largely because it doesn’t overcomplicate things. You won’t get premium perks, but you also won’t pay an annual fee that just gifts you benefits you may never actually use.
The simplicity and balance of the card may work well for some. But those seeking more need to look at the airline’s other products — and there are quite a few.
Intro Bonus
As can be expected with a no-annual-fee card, the Blue’s introductory offer isn’t anything to write home about. You’ll earn 10,000 bonus Skymiles after spending $1,000 on your new card within six months of opening the account. (See rates and fees).
It doesn’t seem like much, and it’s not, but bear in mind Delta has a ton of excellent offers on its SkyDeals page. At the time of writing, 10,000 miles could grab you a round-trip from San Francisco to Seattle. That’s definitely not nothing.
Annual Fee
One of the biggest selling points of the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card is its lack of an annual fee. This makes it super appealing for casual travelers who are unlikely to take advantage of all the bells and whistles that come in tow with premium cards. Even if you wind up not using it, it’s not costing you money — unless you’ve left a balance, of course, but we know you’re not doing that.
Having a card that doesn’t need any maintenance is great for your credit score in the long run, too.
Pros & Cons
As always, every card comes with its own strengths and weaknesses. The Blue may feel like it leans a little on the weak side, but its pros will be immensely valuable to the right person.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 2X miles at restaurants worldwide
- No foreign transaction fees
- Straightforward rewards structure
- Useful for casual Delta travelers
Cons
- No free checked bags
- No priority boarding
- Weak everyday earnings outside bonus categories
- Limited premium travel perks
- Frequent Delta travelers will likely get more value from higher-tier cards
Benefits & Perks
This card doesn’t come loaded with perks like its more expensive siblings. That’s fair for a no-annual-fee card, but it still has a few things worth noting.
No foreign transaction fees
20% back as a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases
Access to Pay with Miles redemptions on Delta flights
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Access to the Global Assist Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from home
Extended Warranty protection on eligible purchases
Access to Amex Presale and Reserved Tickets for select events
Access to dining reservations and experiences through Resy
The 20% statement credit is probably the one with the most direct value… That is, if you splash on snacks and wifi mid-flight. Other than that, the extended warranty can be helpful, and the Amex ticketing and reservations can be cool in certain situations.
Earning Rewards & Redeeming Points
Earning rewards
Earning rates on the card aren’t terrible, but not spectacular either. This is in line with low-cost cards. It’s good for casual earning and for those just trying to get going with points and miles. But you’ll find yourself limited pretty quickly if you’re hoping for any real progress.
You’ll earn:
2x SkyMiles on eligible Delta purchases
2x SkyMiles at restaurants worldwide
1x SkyMile on all other eligible purchases
Redeeming points
There are a number of Delta-centric ways to redeem your SkyMiles. The most common (and the best) way is to redeem them for flights with Delta and its partners. As it’s a co-branded card, there are no transfers needed. You just sign into your account and spend them however you will. You can check out our full guide to Delta SkyMiles here to see the best ways to use them.
Other than flights, you can also redeem them for:
Vacation packages with Delta
Seat upgrades
Checked bags
Car rentals
Gift them to others
Donate them
Flights will almost always get you the best value, so think twice before blowing your hard-earned miles on a sub-par redemption method.
Is This Card Right for You?
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card isn’t an exciting travel card, but that’s kind of its strength, too. It’s not trying to overdeliver, opting to remain free to use and let its customers earn some miles with no complications.
Obviously, that isn’t enough for everyone, and if you fly Delta even twice a year, it’s almost always worth it to upgrade even one card to start grabbing free checked bags and higher earning opportunities.
- Best for: Casual Delta Fliers
- Annual Fee: $0
- APR: 19.49%-28.49% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 2X
- Recommended Credit: Good to Excellent
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Earn 10,000 miles
Offer Details:
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.
Why we like it
It’s a simple, low-maintenance airline credit card that succeeds largely because it doesn’t overcomplicate things. You won’t get premium perks, but you also won’t pay an annual fee that just gifts you benefits you may never actually use.
The simplicity and balance of the card may work well for some. But those seeking more need to look at the airline’s other products — and there are quite a few.
Reward details
Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.
Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
2X miles at restaurants worldwide
No foreign transaction fees
Straightforward rewards structure
Useful for casual Delta travelers
Cons
No free checked bags
No priority boarding
Weak everyday earnings outside bonus categories
Limited premium travel perks
Frequent Delta travelers will likely get more value from higher-tier cards
*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
