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Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card Review

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Earn 2 Miles for Every Dollar You Spend With Delta

Credit Needed: Good/Excellent

Whether you are already a loyal Delta Airlines client or not, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card holds some solid rewards.

Every dollar you spend directly with Delta – in-flight and online – and at restaurants worldwide plus takeout and delivery in the U.S, will result in you receiving 2 miles. You’ll earn 1 mile per dollar spent on other eligible purchases. You can also earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 bonus miles when you spend at least $500 during your first three months as a cardholder.

You can redeem these rewards either on a Delta flight or at one of its more than 15 in-air partners. Note that Delta flights will never have blackout dates, though its partners may.

When you are flying with Delta, you can save 20% off your purchases of in-flight food and drinks made with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. That discount will be returned to you in the form of a statement credit. Flying a specific amount of miles and spending a certain amount of money on those flights could qualify you for Delta’s prestigious Medallion status, affording you even more benefits.

Perhaps best of all, there’s no annual fee for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. Cardholders can expect their APR to fall between 17.24% - 26.24% Variable, depending on their credit score and history. However, if you make a late or returned payment, you could be charged a 29.99% variable penalty APR. That’s something to keep in mind if you’ve had issues with late payments in the past. Terms and Conditions apply to the features of this card. 

Smart Features

10,000-mile welcome bonus -  If you spend at least $500 in purchases during your first three months as a cardholder, you’ll earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles towards your account. 

2 miles on Delta and restaurant purchases - 2 miles on Delta and restaurant purchases - Every dollar you spend with either Delta Airlines -- in-flight and online -- or at restaurants worldwide (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) will earn you 2 miles. Other everyday purchases (deemed eligible) will earn 1 mile per dollar spent.

  • Smart Tip - There’s no limit to the number of miles you can earn as a cardholder, so hold onto your rewards until you need them most.

Rewards for your miles - Redeem your mileage earnings directly on Delta flights and other benefits, as well as offerings from its more than 15 airline partners. There are no blackout dates on any Delta flights, though airline partners may have blackout dates.

No annual fee - There’s no yearly charge to remain a cardholder of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. 

Save money on in-flight buys - Earn 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible purchases made in-flight with Delta. This may include purchases of food, beverages, and audio sets. Please see the terms for additional details.

Gain Medallion status - Medallion members get extra perks from Delta Airlines depending on which level of the program they qualify for. This will be determined by how many total miles or segments you fly with Delta and its airline partners, as well as how much you spend on those flights. The second qualification can be waived if you spend $25,000 or more during the calendar year. Enrollment is required. 

Gold level - Benefits include 8 miles per dollar spent with Delta, Sky Priority boarding, priority baggage handling and more. You can qualify for this by flying a total of 50,000 miles, or 60 segments, and spending $6,000 on those flights. Enrollment is required. 

Platinum level - Benefits include 9 miles per dollar spent with Delta, unlimited free first-class upgrades up to 5 days before departure and more. You can qualify for this by flying a total of 75,000 miles, or 100 segments, and spending $9,000 on those flights. Enrollment is required. 

Diamond level - Benefits include 11 miles per dollar spent with Delta, admission to the Delta Sky Club and more. You can qualify for this by flying a total of 125,000 miles, or 140 segments, and spending $15,000 on those flights. Enrollment is required. Enrollment is required. 

Amex cardholder mobile app - You’ll constantly be able to keep track of the most current information related to your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card through its mobile app.

Who It Benefits

An already loyal Delta Airlines flier stands to gain significantly from being a Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card cardholder. The best mileage-earning rate is on purchases with Delta, so if you already find yourself booking Delta flights frequently and you tend to spend on those flights, having this card in your wallet could earn you some serious savings.

If you’re not necessarily loyal to Delta but you’re a frequent traveler, you can still benefit from the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, as there are more than 15 airline partners in the redemption network. 

Rates and Fees

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases  

17.24% - 26.24% Variable, based on your creditworthiness. 

APR for Balance Transfers

At this time, there is no option to transfer a balance with this card

APR for Cash Advances 

26.74% Variable

Penalty APR and When It Applies

29.99% Variable. This APR may be applied to new transactions on your account if you make one or more late payments or your payment is returned by your bank. If the penalty APR is applied, it will apply for at least six months. 

How to Avoid Paying Interest on Purchases 

Your due date is at least 25 days after the close of each billing period. You won’t be charged interest if you pay the full balance on time each month.

Annual Fee    

$0

Transaction Fees

  •   Balance Transfer Fee No option to transfer a balance with this card

  •   Cash Advance Fee Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

  •   Foreign Transaction Fee None

Penalty Fees  

  • Late Payment Up to $40

  • Returned Payment Up to $40

  • Overlimit None

Bottom Line

You can earn great rewards by spending on Delta and restaurant purchases with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. If you’re a loyal Delta customer, you may want to strongly consider adding this card to your wallet. But if you’re looking for any airline credit card and aren’t yet loyal to one brand, there are better options out there, like The JetBlue Plus Card.

This isn’t to say that the Delta Card doesn’t provide a substantial mileage and redemption program, because it does. However, unless you’re really attached to Delta Airlines, there might be better choices for you. Terms and Conditions apply to the features of this card. 

Next Steps

  • Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors that serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • Saving money is easier said than done, but having a high-yield savings account is a great start. To see what's available today, take a look at our overview of the best savings accounts.

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Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.