Is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card worth it?
If you’re loyal to Delta but don’t travel frequently, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card could be a good option.
It offers an easy way to earn SkyMiles on your everyday purchases, so you can save money on flights in the future — and you don’t need to pay an annual fee. Plus, you’ll get a few perks that come in handy on vacation and in real life, including car rental insurance and purchase protection.
Pros and cons
Learn more about Delta SkyMiles Blue card
Terms apply / Rates & fees
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card rewards
The Delta SkyMiles Blue card from American Express is a co-branded card; instead of points, it earns Delta SkyMiles. That’s a great perk, especially if you tend to fly Delta more than other airlines.
Welcome bonus
If you spend up to $1,000 in the first six months of having the Delta SkyMiles Blue card, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles. Only purchases of goods and services count toward this spending threshold; fees and interest charges, prepaid card purchases and gift cards do not.
Keep in mind that American Express may decide you’re not eligible for this welcome offer if you’ve ever had one of the following cards:
Earning rewards
The most exciting aspect of this SkyMiles credit card is, of course, the rewards. There are three easy-to-understand earnings tiers. You’ll earn 2 Delta SkyMiles per dollar for every purchase you make at restaurants and directly with the airline. For all other eligible purchases, you’ll earn 1 mile for every dollar you spend. If you’re a Delta flyer, it’s relatively easy to accrue miles — a $500 flight earns 1,000 SkyMiles.
Redeeming rewards
Delta and American Express offer a variety of ways to redeem the SkyMiles you earn with your Amex Delta Blue card. One of the most popular is the Pay with Miles option. When you book a flight on Delta, you can redeem miles to pay for part or all of the flight. Every 5,000 miles gives you up to $50 off the cost, which is a maximum value of 1 cent per mile.
However, it’s important to note that you can only redeem blocks of 5,000 miles. If your flight isn’t an exact multiple of $50, you’ll lose a bit of value. To pay for a $175 flight entirely with rewards, you’ll need to redeem 20,000 miles.
Can’t fly with Delta? You can also use SkyMiles to book SkyTeam Alliance flights. Member airlines include KLM, AirFrance, AeroMexico, Virgin Atlantic and Korean Air.
Other ways to redeem your Amex Delta SkyMiles rewards include:
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card benefits
SkyMiles aren’t the only perk you get with a Delta Blue card from American Express. Your card also entitles you to a variety of benefits you can use while traveling or going about your life.
Travel benefits
Taking a trip? Make sure you’re taking advantage of these Delta SkyMiles card benefits:
-
Car rental insurance: With the Delta SkyMiles Blue card, you don’t need to worry if your rental car is damaged or stolen. As long as you book and pay for it with your card — not with miles — you’ll be covered for up to $50,000.
-
In-flight savings: Pay for food and drinks with your Blue card on a Delta flight, and you’ll automatically get a statement credit that equals a 20% discount.
-
Global Assist Hotline: In trouble on the road? The Global Assist Hotline can help you access a range of services, including referrals for medical or legal assistance. It can even wire you cash if you can’t access it otherwise.
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.
If you love to shop and seek out entertainment experiences, these Delta SkyMiles Blue card benefits may save you money:
-
ShopRunner membership: Your Delta SkyMiles Blue card entitles you to free two-day shipping if you enroll in a ShopRunner subscription.
-
Amex Offers: Use your Delta Blue card to enroll in Amex Offers, and you can earn extra SkyMiles on certain deals.
-
American Express Experiences: Get access to exclusive tickets for events, including concerts and sporting events; these deals are available only to American Express cardholders.
-
Send & Split: This special feature allows you to split payments with friends who use PayPal or Venmo — without ever logging into either platform. You can manage the split right in the American Express app.
Protections and assistance
If you love to shop, these Delta SkyMiles Blue card benefits can help you save:
-
Purchase protection: When you make a purchase with your Delta Blue card, American Express will reimburse you if it’s damaged or stolen in the first 90 days of ownership. That means if your brand-new laptop is stolen, you can get your money back — coverage includes up to $10,000 per item.
-
Extended warranty: Get an extra year of warranty protection on eligible purchases with manufacturer’s warranties of up to five years. If you need to make a claim against the extended warranty, you can get up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per card per year.
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.
Fees, rates & limit
Before you make a final decision on the Delta Blue Amex card, make sure to consider the fees and interest rates (see rates and fees).
Fees
When it comes to fees, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card offers a good deal — you won’t pay an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
Here are the card’s standard fees:
-
Annual fee: $0
-
Foreign transaction fee: $0
-
Balance transfer fee: N/A
-
Cash advance fee: The greater of $10 or 5% of the transfer
-
Late or returned payment fee: Up to $40
Interest rates
Your Delta Blue card from American Express includes a variable annual percentage rate (APR) of 20.99% to 29.99%. American Express will determine your APR based on your application and credit profile.
Here’s a look at variable APRs available at Delta SkyMiles Blue card:
| Regular APR |
Purchase Intro APR |
Balance Transfer Intro APR |
Cash Advance APR |
| 20.99% - 29.99% |
N/A |
N/A |
29.99% |
If you make a late payment or if your bank returns a payment, American Express is within its rights to switch you to a penalty APR of 29.99%. It may not, depending on your creditworthiness and account history. After you’re hit with the penalty, this APR will stay for a minimum of six months.
Credit limit
If American Express approves you for the Delta SkyMiles Blue card, your credit limit will be assigned based on a range of factors. This might include your income, credit history, credit score, debt and other factors the issuer decides are relevant. Most cardholders have a limit of at least $1,000; yours may be considerably higher.
How the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card compares
Compared to other Delta airlines cards, the Delta Amex Blue card is a pared-down option.
Although it earns miles and offers a few perks, it doesn’t include benefits that are standard on other cards — namely, free checked bags. If you travel frequently, you’re probably better off getting a different card; the lack of bag fees alone will likely make up for the annual fee. If not, this card is a solid option; it’s a basic airline credit card with no annual fee.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
American Express issues both the Delta SkyMiles Blue and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, but they sit at opposite ends of the travel card spectrum. While the Delta Blue is a no annual fee card, the Reserve will run you a whopping $650 per year (see rates and fees).
The Reserve is geared toward frequent travelers — it comes with $2,500 Delta Medallion Qualification Dollars per year, free access to Delta Sky Clubs, a free round-trip companion certificate each year, and more. The Blue card, on the other hand, is intended for occasional travelers who are Delta-loyal.
Read our full Delta SkyMiles Reserve card review
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card falls somewhere between the Blue and the Reserve cards. It has a $150 annual fee after the first year (see rates and fees). For that, you get a free checked bag, priority boarding, a $100 credit to Delta Stays and a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend at least $10,000 in a year. Plus, you’ll earn 2 SkyMiles for every dollar spent, compared to the 1 mile per dollar with the Blue card.
If you’re a somewhat regular traveler but not quite ready for a luxury card, the Gold card is better than the Blue — it only takes five flights to make up for the annual fee in checked bag fees alone.
Read our full Delta SkyMiles Gold card review
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a general travel credit card; instead of SkyMiles, it earns points that you can redeem for travel. You’ll need excellent credit to be approved for this Capital One card, compared to the good credit that’s required for the Delta SkyMiles American Express card.
Both cards eliminate foreign transaction fees, but the VentureOne is accepted in more places around the world — an important consideration if you plan to travel internationally.
Read our full Capital One VentureOne card review
Is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card right for me?
You might choose the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card if you’re a Delta fan and you’re searching for a basic rewards credit card.
It’s an effective way to earn SkyMiles on your everyday purchases — and with no annual fee, you don’t have to worry about getting your money’s worth in perks. As long as you can spend an average of $167 per month in the first six months, you’ll earn a 10,000-mile welcome bonus.
If you don’t travel often, one of these general rewards cards may suit you better:
How do I apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card?
You can learn more about the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and apply online.
To get approved for the Delta Blue card, you’ll need good to excellent credit.
While American Express doesn’t give a credit score requirement, this usually means 690 FICO score or higher. When you apply, expect to provide your employment information and financial details.
