Frequent flyer miles can unlock incredible travel opportunities, from free flights to room upgrades. Airline co-branded credit cards that offer miles as rewards are popular among travelers looking to earn perks. But with so many options, choosing the right card for your needs can get overwhelming.
If you’re new to travel rewards credit cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is a great entry point. Delta’s no-annual-fee credit card makes earning SkyMiles simpler without a high barrier to entry.
However, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before signing up. This article will explore seven key things you should know about the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card to determine if it’s the right fit.
1. An Accessible Entry Point for Delta Fans
For beginners new to travel credit cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers a gentle introduction. With no annual fee, you can earn Delta miles without worrying about card costs eating into your rewards each year.
The signup bonus is also relatively attainable. You can earn 10,000 bonus miles by spending $1,000 on the card within the first 6 months. Compared to premium Delta cards with loftier minimum spending requirements, this makes the bonus miles easier to unlock.
While frequent Delta flyers may desire the perks of pricier Delta credit cards, the Blue version covers the basics if you fly just a few times annually. Consider it a starter card to test the waters of airline credit card rewards.
2. Earn 2X Miles on Delta Purchases and Dining
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers a flat 1 mile per dollar on everyday purchases. But you’ll earn double miles in two common spending categories:
- Delta purchases directly through the airline, including tickets, upgrades, and seat selection
- Dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery
With 2X miles on Delta and dining, areas you likely spend in already can quickly rack up rewards. Even casual Delta flyers can earn miles on the airline each year through the 2X category alone.
While basic, focusing bonus earnings on Delta and dining still makes this entry-level card rewarding. Charging your go-to travel and meal expenses to the card maximizes opportunities to earn extra miles.
3. Redeem Miles for Delta Flights Starting at 5,000
While Delta doesn’t publish an award chart, flights generally start at 5,000 miles each way for main cabin tickets. You can redeem miles for Delta-operated flights directly through the airline.
One unique perk of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the Pay with Miles feature. This allows you to redeem miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent each towards paid Delta tickets in 5,000-mile increments, starting at just 5,000 miles.
For instance, 5,000 miles would take $50 off the cash price of a ticket. It provides a straightforward way to redeem smaller mile balances. Just know that miles redeemed through Pay with Miles don’t count toward elite status.
4. No Foreign Transaction Fees
A major perk of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is no foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad. This makes the card an excellent option for international travelers.
With other credit cards, foreign transaction fees can be 3% of each overseas purchase. That adds up quickly. By using this card internationally instead, you can avoid unnecessary fees that would eat into your travel budget.
Note that you may still incur fees from certain merchants or ATMs overseas. But you won’t have to worry about card-imposed foreign transaction fees.
5. Limited Airline Benefits
Since it’s a no-annual-fee airline card, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card unsurprisingly doesn’t offer many Delta-specific perks. You won’t receive free checked bags or priority boarding.
However, it does include a 20% savings on in-flight Delta purchases as a statement credit. So while limited, the card still unlocks some money-saving Delta benefits.
However frequent Delta flyers would gain more value from the airline perks that premium Delta credit cards provide. Casual flyers likely won’t miss the extra benefits.
6. High Balance Transfer Fees
Balance transfers aren’t offered on the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. So if you want to consolidate credit card balances to this card, look at alternatives like the Citi Simplicity® Card instead.
But another thing to note is that if you request a balance transfer in the future, high fees apply. The balance transfer fee is set at the greater of $10 or 5% of the transferred amount.
So if you think you may want to transfer a balance to this card down the line, the steep fee is something to be aware of.
7. Alternatives for Frequent Delta Flyers
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card covers the essentials for earning Delta miles with no annual fee. However, frequent Delta flyers may benefit more from a premium Delta credit card.
For example, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has a $99 annual fee. But you get your first checked bag free on Delta flights, plus priority boarding and other perks.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card ($250 annual fee) and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee) offer even more airline benefits like annual companion certificates.
Consider your usual Delta flight frequency and spending habits to decide which tier of Delta credit card is right for your needs.
The Bottom Line
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card presents a simple way to start earning Delta miles with no annual fee. But the value you get from the card depends on how often you fly with Delta.
Infrequent Delta flyers who want an easy entry point to airline miles will appreciate the straightforward benefits. Heavy Delta travelers may desire a premium card with more perks instead.
What are your thoughts on the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card? Is it the right fit for your travel rewards strategy? Share your feedback in the comments below!
All information about Delta SkyMiles® Blue Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditPolice. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page.