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Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles Review: A Starter Card for Delta Loyalists

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is good for earning miles without paying an annual fee (see rates and fees). While this card can help you save on travel, it's light on benefits.

Keep reading this Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card review to learn what it offers.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Ratings Methodology

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Great for: Price-conscious Delta flyers

Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.

1X-2X Miles

Annual Fee

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

10,000 bonus miles

  • Delta's most basic card option is suitable for travelers who don't want to pay an annual fee. But the perks are limited compared to most travel cards.

    • No annual fee
    • Bonus miles on Delta and restaurant purchases
    • Statement credit on in-flight purchases
    • No foreign transaction fee
    • No free checked bag
    • Mediocre rewards rate
    • Small welcome offer
    • Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
    • No Annual Fee.
    • Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
    • Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
    • Pay with Miles: 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 after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
    • 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.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. • Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. • Extended warranty, car rental loss & damage insurance, and purchase protection underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
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Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5-3 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles review

Is the Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles worth it?

Even though it has no annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card won't be the best choice for most people. If you fly with Delta regularly, you're probably better off with one of the other Delta credit cards. These have far more benefits, so they deliver more value overall.

Author's note
Image of reviewer

I love travel credit cards, but I'm not keen on travel cards with no annual fee. Frequent travelers will almost always get more out of a travel card with an annual fee and more features. For anyone who isn't sold, cash back cards tend to be the better option. Instead of getting a card that earns you 1X to 2X Delta miles per $1, you could just go with a card that earns 2% everywhere. Cash back is easier to use than Delta miles, since you can redeem it whenever you want. And if you fly with Delta often enough that you want a credit card with the airline, you'll get much more out of its other cards.

Apply now for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

Terms apply

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

What everyone else is saying

If you're interested in more opinions on this Delta card, we dove into professional reviews and social media comments. Here's what we found.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 3.2 / 5.0 stars

Credit card review sites don't exactly shower this card with praise. One review did say this is one of the best American Express cards for Delta fans, but then later called it "passable." Even the good reviews aren't overly positive.

Everyone agrees on the high points of this card: No annual fee and a reasonable rewards rate in its bonus categories. And everyone agrees that it doesn't have a whole lot more to offer, especially compared to the top credit cards.

Online consensus

Most people on social media don't recommend the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. It's mainly seen as a card to choose as a downgrade, if you have a different Delta card and want to stop paying an annual fee.

When people ask if they should get this card, other users normally suggest either getting one of the other Delta cards or just opening a cash back card. To be fair, there was one argument somewhat in favor of this card, at least for a specific target market: Travelers who want to earn Delta miles and can't afford to pay an annual fee.

Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles features and benefits

Earn miles for no annual fee

The No. 1 reason to get this Delta card is to earn miles without adding to your yearly bills. If you don't have a Delta card yet, opening one can help you earn more miles.

For starters, this card has a welcome offer of 10,000 bonus miles bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Terms apply. You'll also earn miles on your credit card spending at the following rates:

  • 2X miles on dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the United States
  • 2X miles on Delta purchases
  • 1X miles on other purchases
  • Terms apply

If you spend $5,000 on dining and Delta purchases per year, that's 10,000 miles. If you spend $20,000 on everything else, that's another 20,000 miles. You'd be earning 30,000 miles per year, enough for a round-trip domestic flight.

Save on an in-flight meal with 20% back

Sometimes that in-flight meal service comes in handy. Maybe you're traveling with your kids and don't have snacks in your bag. Or you're on a tight schedule and don't have time to visit a restaurant after you land.

With this Delta credit card, you receive 20% back on eligible Delta in-flight food and beverage purchases. You receive that in the form of a statement credit on your credit card bill. Terms apply.

Complimentary insurance to protect purchases and travel bookings

American Express cards usually offer helpful complimentary protections on eligible purchases. This one is no exception, as it has:

The only downside is that this card doesn't have any protections related to air travel. For example, many other American Express cards have a complimentary baggage insurance plan. It's understandable why this one doesn't, since it's a no annual fee card.

What could be improved

Poor earnings opportunities with a small welcome offer and mediocre rewards rate

At first, this card's welcome offer of 10,000 bonus miles bonus miles may seem great. While bonus miles are always better than nothing, it's much less than you could earn with a different card. The other Delta cards generally have welcome offers of 50,000 bonus miles or more.

This card also doesn't earn much on purchases, even for a no annual fee card. It only has two bonus categories where it earns 2X miles. On the vast majority of your spending, you'll likely be earning 1X miles per $1.

No free checked bag or premium Delta travel perks

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card doesn't have many travel perks. Here are examples of common airline credit card perks that it's missing:

  • Free checked baggage
  • A Delta Flight Credit
  • A companion pass
  • Complimentary access to Delta Sky Club® lounges

It's understandable that a no annual fee card wouldn't offer any of these. But they're all benefits you could get from other Delta cards. And if you're considering a Delta credit card, you presumably fly with the airline often enough to use at least some of those benefits.

Find the best credit card for your needs
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Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

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What to know before applying

Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles credit score

A FICO® Score of at least 670 or higher is recommended when applying for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. While your credit score isn't the only factor that matters, this is considered a card for consumers with good or excellent credit.

Pre-approval process

American Express offers an online pre-approval tool you can use with no impact on your credit score. If you already have American Express cards, pre-approval offers are also available in your online account.

Regular APR

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has a 20.24%-29.24% Variable APR. Unlike some no annual fee travel cards, it doesn't have a 0% intro APR.

Fees

Here are the fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card:

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Cash advance fee: 5% ($10 minimum)
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Returned payment fee: Up to $40
  • See rates and fees.

Credit limit

Credit limits for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card normally start at $1,000. On the high end, cardholders have reported limits of $10,000 or more.

Should you apply for the Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles?

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card may be right for you if you're a Delta flyer on a tight budget. Before you apply, check out more card reviews and compare it to other travel cards, as well as cash back cards. You could find that there's another card available that will save you more money overall.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The credit limit for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card typically ranges from $1,000 to $10,000 or more. The specific credit limit you're granted depends on a number of factors, including income, credit score, and payment history.

  • No, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card normally isn't hard to get if you have good credit. A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is recommended. It's more difficult to get approved if your credit score is lower than that, but it's still possible.

  • Yes, you can use the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.