Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Delta Air Lines has four card options, starting with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. It doesn't charge an annual fee and offers a few useful features (see rates and fees). Not paying an annual fee is nice, but it also means this card is light on benefits. Keep reading this Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card review to learn what it offers.
Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
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
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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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= Best
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= Excellent
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Apply Now for Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Credit Score
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
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 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 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
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A suitable option for consumers who don't want to pay an annual fee -- but the perks are limited compared to most travel cards.
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- 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
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- 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 and beverages.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Terms Apply.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback 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—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Full Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles review
This credit card is a good fit for: Travelers who occasionally fly with Delta Air Lines. Frequent flyers may be better off with one of Delta's other airline cards, since those offer more benefits.
Top perks
Although the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card isn't feature-packed, it does have some valuable perks.
No annual fee
Most travel rewards cards charge an annual fee, but the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is one of the few that doesn't. That makes it a good choice if you want to earn miles without having another bill to worry about (see rates and fees).
SEE MORE: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Rewards
This Delta Air Lines card earns:
- 2x miles per $1 on Delta purchases
- 2x miles per $1 at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the United States
- 1x mile per $1 on other purchases
- Terms apply.
20% back on in-flight purchases
If you're on a Delta-operated flight and you use this card to purchase food or drinks, you'll get 20% back as a statement credit. The statement credit will appear eight to 12 weeks after the transaction is posted to your account. Terms apply.
No foreign transaction fee
You won't need to pay a foreign transaction fee when you use this card internationally (see rates and fees). Terms apply.
Consumer and travel protections
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers:
American Express cards are known for having quality protections, and these can come in handy. They can also give you a little extra peace of mind from knowing you're covered for potential issues with a purchase.
RELATED: Best American Express Cards
What could be improved
There are a couple areas where the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card comes up short.
Small welcome offer
You'll earn 10,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 on purchases with your card in the first 6 months. Terms apply. It's better than nothing, but it pales in comparison to the welcome offers on most travel cards. If you're open to paying an annual fee, and even if you aren't, you can find plenty of cards offering more upfront. Check out some more credit card reviews before you commit.
LEARN MORE: Best Credit Card Welcome Offers
No free checked bag
This is a useful benefit of many airline credit cards, as it can save you money on every flight. If you regularly travel with more than a carry on, you'll likely want to go with one of Delta's costlier cards that offer this perk. Terms apply.
Mediocre rewards rate
This card isn't the best for earning rewards. Even if you're only comparing cards with no annual fee, there are other options that have more bonus categories and/or earn more points in their bonus categories.
COMPARE TOP PICKS: Best Credit Cards
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested credit score
A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is suggested to apply for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. It's considered to be a card for consumers with good credit or excellent credit.
With any credit card application, your credit score isn't the only thing that matters. It's possible to get approved for this card with a lower credit score, or denied with a higher one. But if your credit score is lower than the recommended range, the safest option is to improve it first before applying.
LEARN MORE: How to Build Credit Fast
The Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles is right for you if:
You typically fly with Delta and want to earn miles with the airline, but you don't want to pay an annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is best suited for travelers who don't need many extra perks, such as a free checked bag or airport lounge access. Even then, it serves a small niche, as you could potentially get more value from a cash back card if you aren't looking for travel benefits.
If you're a frequent flyer, then you're probably better off getting another card with more travel perks, like one of the other cards from Delta Air Lines. But if you just need a basic Delta card, then the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card will do the trick.
SEE MORE: Best Delta Cards
Our credit card methodology
At The Motley Fool Ascent, 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 The Ascent rates credit cards.
FAQs
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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.
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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.
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Yes, you can use the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card internationally, and it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
Our Credit Cards Experts
Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool 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 The Ascent'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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*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.
**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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Discover Financial Services is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. American Express is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has positions in Delta Air Lines. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends PayPal and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines and Discover Financial Services and recommends the following options: short June 2024 $67.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.