Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card review: Full details
Overview of the
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express card
The Delta SkyMiles (r) Blue American Express card offers a This card offers 2 miles for every dollar spent at restaurants, including takeout or delivery within the U.S. and on eligible Delta purchases directly from the airline. It lacks some premium features but is still worth having in your wallet as an occasional If you’re looking for a card with a lot of perks, including complimentary access to any Delta Sky Club around the world, then you should consider the Delta SkyMiles(r) Reserve You can choose between a card that offers a lot of benefits, such as complimentary access to all Delta Sky Clubs around the globe, and a card that is easier on your wallet. You’ll typically need to have a credit rating of 670 or above for the Delta SkyMiles blue. If you’re there and considering the card, here’s what you need to know.
Related: How to earn more Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles Blue pros and consProsCons
Receives cash back, as a statement credit, on inflight purchases
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
No annual fee
Lacks Delta-associated perks, such as a free checked bag or statement credits
| Bonus rewards categories are pretty limited and do not include many common everyday expenses | Delta SkyMiles Blue welcome offer |
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Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsRelated: Here are the best credit card welcome offersDelta SkyMiles Blue benefits
The benefits of the
Delta SkyMiles Blue
are solid, but don’t expect to find things such as the checked bag fee waiver that you’ll see on the more premium Delta cards. But then again, it is a no-annual-fee credit card.
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Here’s what you can expect:
20% savings on Delta inflight purchases of food and beverages (not Wi-Fi)
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 with Delta
Car rental loss and damage insurance*
24/7 access to Global Assist Hotline**Extended warranty***Purchase protection***
Access to Events with Amex
ShopRunner membership (enrollment required; terms apply)
- Buy now, pay later with Plan It
- Additional terms may apply to the above benefits
- Again, this isn’t the stacked list of benefits you’ll see on a more premium card, but they’re solid perks for a card without an annual fee.
- *Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. ShopRunner membership (enrollment required; terms apply)
- Access to Events with Amex
- Extended warranty***
- Purchase protection***
- Access to Events with Am Conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are insured by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
- **Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
- ***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Conditions and restrictions apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Related: Here are the current Delta Amex welcome offers
Earning miles on the Delta SkyMiles Blue
The
Delta SkyMiles Blue
offers various ways to earn miles beyond Delta purchases.
Here’s the breakdown (terms apply):
2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants (including eligible takeout and delivery in the U.S.)2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
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- For a no-annual-fee airline card, the restaurant bonus category is decent. For example, the
- Delta SkyMiles(r) Gold American Express Card
- — considered an upgrade from the Delta Blue — comes with a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year; see rates and fees) and has the same earning rates on Delta and dining purchases (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
Related: No-annual-fee credit cards that earn transferable points
Redeeming miles on the Delta SkyMiles BlueYou can’t redeem your SkyMiles earned with the Delta SkyMiles Blue
for statement credit or cash back, but you can use them toward flights, upgrades, Delta Stays vacations, car rentals and gift cards, among other things. The best value for your miles is redemptions for flights and flight upgrades.
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Delta often offers great SkyMiles Deals. We’ve seen domestic flights for as low as 2,400 SkyMiles. We’ve also seen domestic flights for as low as 2,400 SkyMiles.TPG Senior Travel Editor Lyndsey Matthews recently redeemed 18,000 SkyMiles to fly round-trip in economy from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY).Related: Delta SkyMiles: Your complete guide to earning, redeeming and elite status
Which cards compete with the Delta SkyMiles Blue?
Virtually every U.S. airline has a cobranded credit card. You can get more Delta benefits with the
Delta SkyMiles American Express Card
. It has a $150 fee (with a $0 annual fee in the first year). For more information, read our review of the Delta SkyMiles gold card. The card offers a 25% statement credit for purchases of food, drinks and Wi-Fi aboard United operated flights. For more information, please read our review of the United Gateway Card. The card comes with a $50 hotel credit per year for bookings made through Chase Travel (sm). This can offset the $95 fee. For more information, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred card. To learn more, see our full review of the Sapphire Preferred card.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best airline credit cards.
Related: Is the Delta Gold Amex worth the annual fee?
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Blue worth it?The Delta SkyMiles Blue is worth it for those who only fly with the airline a few times a year. This card is a good addition to any wallet, and it offers some simple benefits that will help you get closer to redeeming your SkyMiles. However, if you fly Delta regularly and want more perks, you’ll want to go with one of Delta’s more premium card offerings.
- Related: Airline and hotel dining rewards programs: Which is best for you?Bottom line
- For a no-annual-fee airline credit card, the Delta SkyMiles Blue offers solid earnings outside of Delta purchases, which isn’t common for cards like this.It’s missing the perks that the other Delta cards offer, such as a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, but those cards all come with annual fees. But if you’re looking to earn SkyMiles at no out-of-pocket cost, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is definitely one to consider.
Apply here:
Delta SkyMiles Blue
Related: Delta to test new fare ‘subcategories’; ponders higher-end Amex credit card
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Blue card, click here. Click here for rates and fees on the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. Click here to see the rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card.
