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 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. However, you’ll also be subject to a $95 annual fee. With the Discover it^® Miles, you’ll automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase - with no annual fee.

• 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 sign-up bonus.

  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, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets 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.

  To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card please click here.

• Foreign transaction fee: None

  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.

  To see rates & fees for Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card please click here.

• 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, complimentary ShopRunner membership (enrollment required) and more — all for a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

• 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 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. And the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card lets you earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

  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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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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Rates & Fees

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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.74%-29.74% Variable

Annual Fee $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.

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

Highlights

• Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• New: 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 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
• $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
• Want even more flexibility? 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.
• Terms Apply.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

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If you fly more frequently with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card may be a better choice, since it offers an additional earning category, a higher welcome offer and more travel benefits than the Delta SkyMiles^® Blue American Express Card. The card does charge a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. But the rewards rate and benefits can help make up for the fee after the first year of card membership.

You’ll earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Also earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

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
• $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
• 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

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Rates & Fees

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Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

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Intro Purchase APR N/A

Regular Purchase APR 20.74%-29.74% Variable

Annual Fee $250

Rewards Rate Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus 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 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
• New: 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.
• Get access to Delta Sky Club® at a rate of $50 per person per visit for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Typical Credit Needed

660 720 850

Excellent/Good

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Show Detailsfor Citi Double Cash Card

If you want access to an even higher rewards rate and more premium travel benefits — and you fly enough on Delta Air Lines to justify the $250 annual fee — the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card may be your best bet.

Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. Also earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

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

• 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $25,000 up to two times in a calendar year
• Annual companion certificate
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Priority boarding on Delta flights
• Delta Sky Club® per-visit rate
• Trip delay insurance
• Baggage insurance plan

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.