The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is Delta’s starter credit card option for those new to the SkyMiles program. The card keeps things simple with basic earning rates and practical perks like inflight discounts, though frequent Delta flyers might want to consider more premium options.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The Delta Blue Amex currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Before applying, keep in mind that American Express follows a “once per lifetime” rule for welcome bonuses on their cards. If you’ve previously held this specific card and received a welcome bonus, you won’t be eligible for another bonus on the same card.
Good news though – having other Delta cards doesn’t affect your eligibility for this bonus. You can still qualify even if you’ve earned welcome bonuses on the Delta Gold, Platinum, or Reserve cards, whether personal or business versions.
Earning SkyMiles
The Delta Blue Amex earns Delta SkyMiles at the following rates:
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 2 SkyMiles per dollar on purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.
- 1 SkyMile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
This card’s earning rates are quite limited for a co-branded airline card, even considering its a no annual fee card.
You’ll want to look elsewhere for everyday spending since the base earning rate of 1x is below average compared to other no-fee cards. While the 2x dining bonus is nice, many transferable points cards offer higher multiples in this category with similar or better flexibility.
The 2x on Delta purchases also falls short of premium travel cards that can earn 3-5x points on airfare while offering transfer options to multiple airlines.
Annual Fee
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card has a $0 annual fee has no annual fee, which makes it an appealing option for occasional Delta flyers. While the card doesn’t offer premium travel perks, you’ll get benefits like 20% savings on inflight purchases and access to Pay With Miles that help provide some value.
You can also add authorized users to this card without an additional fee.
Delta Blue Amex Benefits
The Delta SkyMiles Blue offers the following benefits: 20% Back on In-Flight Purchases: When using your Delta American Express Card for eligible inflight purchases like food, beverages, and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights, you’ll receive a 20% savings as a statement credit. This discount applies to purchases made by primary cardholders and authorized users on domestic and international flights. However, it doesn’t cover inflight Wi-Fi. Pay with SkyMiles: Delta SkyMiles credit cards unlock the ability to ability to “Pay with Miles” allowing cardmembers to pay for flights with SkyMiles at a rate of 1.0 cents per mile (in increments of 5,000 miles per $50). Extended Warranty Protection: When you purchase items with your credit card, you’ll get an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items that have original manufacturer warranties of up to five years. This valuable perk means you can protect expensive electronics and appliances that come with longer manufacturer warranties without paying extra for store protection plans* 90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.* Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.* No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose. Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences. ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process. * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Redeeming Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles offers a variety of ways to redeem your hard-earned miles for travel. One of the most straightforward options is booking Delta-operated flights, where award pricing is dynamic. This means flexibility in your travel dates can often lead to better value. Keep an eye out for SkyMiles deals, which can offer significant savings on specific routes. For international travel, Delta’s extensive partner network opens up a world of possibilities. As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, Delta allows you to redeem miles on 18 partner airlines, including Air France, KLM, and Korean Air. Additionally, non-alliance partners like WestJet provide more options, especially for travel to Canada. Partner awards often provide better value than Delta-operated flights, particularly for premium cabin travel. For example, business class flights from the U.S. to Mexico or within Asia can be excellent uses of SkyMiles. However, it’s important to note that partner award availability can be limited, so booking in advance is recommended. Another option is using miles for upgrades on Delta and select partner flights. While this typically provides lower value than booking award flights outright, it can be a good choice if you have a surplus of miles. Delta Vacations presents another redemption opportunity, often yielding at least 1.15 cents per mile in value. This can be particularly appealing for package deals including flights and luxury hotel stays. Remember, award prices can change without notice, so it’s always wise to book when you find a good deal. With some strategic planning, Delta SkyMiles can be a valuable currency for your travel needs.
Pros and Cons of Delta Blue Amex
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros:
No Annual Fee: You’ll never pay an annual fee to keep this card in your wallet, making it an excellent option for casual Delta flyers who want to earn SkyMiles on their purchases.
Restaurant Rewards: The 2x miles earning at restaurants worldwide provides solid value for dining purchases, helping you rack up SkyMiles even when you’re not flying Delta.
Valuable In-Flight Savings: The 20% back on eligible in-flight purchases can add up quickly, especially if you’re someone who frequently buys food, drinks, or headphones on Delta flights.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: Unlike many no-annual-fee cards, you won’t pay extra when making purchases abroad, making this card a reliable travel companion for international trips.
Cons:
Limited Travel Benefits: The card lacks essential travel perks like free checked bags or priority boarding that are standard on other Delta co-branded cards, significantly reducing its value for regular Delta flyers.
Basic Earning Structure: The 2x miles on Delta purchases isn’t competitive compared to other travel cards, and the 1x earning rate on most purchases makes it difficult to accumulate meaningful rewards quickly.
Low Welcome Bonus: The welcome bonus is notably smaller than those offered by other airline cards, including Delta’s own portfolio of cards with annual fees.
Missing Premium Protections: The card doesn’t offer premium travel insurance benefits like trip delay or cancellation coverage, making it less valuable for protecting your travel.
Alternatives to the Delta Blue Amex
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (review) offers valuable perks for occasional Delta flyers at a reasonable annual fee. With benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding, this card can easily pay for itself if you fly Delta even a few times per year. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earn SkyMiles: 2x SkyMiles on Delta Air Lines purchases, at US supermarkets, and at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the US); 1x SkyMiles on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Free first checked bag and priority boarding for you and up to 8 travel companions, receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, 15% award discount, up to $100 back per year as a statement credit to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays, baggage insurance plan, secondary rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies; 
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card (review) delivers premium travel benefits without the premium price tag, making it ideal if you fly United just a few times yearly. You’ll enjoy practical perks like free checked bags and priority boarding alongside monthly credits for ride-sharing and grocery delivery that provide value throughout the year. Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Miles: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel; 1x miles on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for you and one companion, 2 United Club one-time passes each year, $120 Instacart credit, $100 JSX credit, $60 ridesharing credit, $100 United Hotels credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Is the Delta Blue Worth It?
The Delta Blue Amex presents a decent starter option if you’re looking to dip your toes into the Delta ecosystem without committing to an annual fee.
You’ll earn double miles on Delta purchases and restaurant spending worldwide, plus you can save 20% on inflight purchases and access useful features like Pay With Miles.
While the welcome bonus is modest compared to other Delta cards, the lack of foreign transaction fees and access to money-saving Amex Offers make this a practical choice for occasional Delta flyers.
However, you might get better overall value by starting with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and potentially downgrading later, since it offers a bigger welcome bonus and more substantial perks like free checked bags in the first year with no annual fee.
For most travelers, I’d suggest either going for the Gold version or considering a flexible rewards card that earns transferable points which can be used with Delta and other travel partners.
Learn How to Apply: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here. 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.
