Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card Review

If you’re partial to Delta Air Lines and looking to dip your toe in the airline rewards game, the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card is a great place to start. That’s because the card lets you earn accelerated rewards on Delta purchases and dining without charging an annual fee — so carrying it in your wallet won’t cost you anything extra.

The downside to this entry-level Delta credit card is that it has few benefits. The card does not offer a free first checked bag, a perk that comes standard on Delta’s other co-branded cards. If you want access to more travel benefits and a higher welcome offer — and you fly frequently enough to make up for the card’s annual fee, you may want to opt for the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card instead.

We’ll highlight the pros and cons of the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card and show how it compares to the mid-level and premium Delta cards to help you determine which is the right fit for you.

• Double miles on Delta and restaurant purchases

  With this card, you’ll earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. You can redeem your miles for upgrades, gift cards, merchandise and donations, miles can be used for travel on Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection carriers and more than 30 partner airlines.

  While this is a pretty standard earning rate for an entry-level airline rewards card, there are travel cards available that offer an elevated rewards rate on every purchase you make. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card lets you earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. However, you’ll also be subject to a $95 annual fee (see rates & fees). With the Discover it^® Miles, you’ll earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.

• Easy-to-earn welcome offer

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card lets you earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. This spend requirement is low compared to most rewards cards that make you spend at least $3,000 in the first three months to earn the welcome offer.

  In fact, you can earn this welcome offer by spending just $333 each month for the first three months — making it obtainable even if you don’t spend heavily on the card.

• 20% back on in-flight purchases

  You’ll receive 20% back as a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases of food and alcoholic beverages when you use your card to make the purchase on Delta-operated flights.

  Note, this savings does not apply to in-flight wireless internet access.

• $0 annual fee

  This is the only Delta SkyMiles card with a $0 annual fee. So if you’re loyal to Delta but don’t fly frequently enough to make one of the higher-end cards with a fee worth it, the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card is perfect for you.

• No foreign transaction fee

  Some cards charge fees of 3% to 5% of the amount of each transaction when you use the card to make purchases outside the United States, but the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card charges none.

  Just be aware that American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard in some countries.

• Limited travel benefits

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card comes with limited flight benefits compared to some other airline rewards cards. For example, the card doesn’t offer priority boarding or free first checked bag.

  If you do want access to more travel perks, you’ll likely have to splurge on an annual fee (at least after the first year). For example, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card offers the first checked bag free, a flight credit and more — all for a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

• Welcome offer is low

  The Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card‘s welcome offer is nice in that it has a low spending requirement to earn it, but it also has a relatively low payout. By comparison, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card lets you earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. And the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card lets you earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

  But again — unlike the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card — those cards also charge annual fees.

Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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| Disclosures

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

|Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.24%-29.24% Variable

Annual Fee $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

Rewards Rate Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
• Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

660 720 850

Good / Excellent

Get my free score

Show Detailsfor Citi Double Cash Card

You’ll earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Also earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Along with offering the same benefits as the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card provides the following:

• Your first checked bag free
• $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
• Up to a $100 annual Delta Stays credit on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com
• 15% off when you book Award Travel with miles on Delta flights via delta.com or the Fly Delta app
• Up to $50 off the cost of your ticket for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book through delta.com

Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

How Does LendingTree Get Paid? How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

| Disclosures

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Apply Now

on American Express's secure site

Rates & Fees

|Terms Apply

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.24%-29.24% Variable

Annual Fee $350

Rewards Rate Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.… Read More

Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Recommended Credit

Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion

660 720 850

Good / Excellent

Get my free score

Show Detailsfor Citi Double Cash Card

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Also earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

In addition to the perks provided by the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, this card offers the following valuable benefits:

• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification year
• Annual companion certificate
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (enrollment required)
• Priority boarding on Delta flights
• Delta Sky Club® per-visit rate
• Trip delay insurance⁴
• Baggage insurance plan⁵

If you want to earn miles from your Delta and dining purchases to help offset the cost of future travel, the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card’s rewards rate and $0 annual fee make it a solid choice.

But if you prefer a mid-range Delta card that offers a higher welcome offer and a few more travel benefits, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card is worth the annual fee you’ll have to pay after the first year of card membership. Or, if you want to take advantage of more premium travel perks and need a boost to get you closer to Medallion status, the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card is an excellent option.