American Express
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
No annual fee to keep the card
- Annual fee
- None
- Welcome offer
- ~$120
- Annual benefits value
- $0
- Est. 1st-year value
- $120
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Our review
The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is the no-annual-fee entry point into the Delta co-brand family, designed for light Delta flyers who want to earn SkyMiles on their spending without paying a yearly fee. It is a lean card by design: the standout everyday perk is a discount on eligible in-flight Delta purchases, and there is no charge to carry it year after year.
This card ranks toward the bottom of the Delta group not because it is a poor card, but because it deliberately omits the benefits that make the others compelling, namely free checked bags, priority boarding, a companion certificate, and lounge access. What it offers is a cost-free way to keep a Delta card in your wallet and accumulate SkyMiles for occasional award redemptions.
SkyMiles earned on the Blue behave like SkyMiles everywhere in the program: they are a Delta-and-partner travel currency with dynamic award pricing and no fixed chart, and they do not expire. That makes the Blue a reasonable holding card for someone who wants their miles to stay alive and grow slowly between trips.
Because there is no annual fee, there is little downside to keeping the Blue long term, and it can serve as a way to preserve a Delta relationship without the commitment of a fee-bearing card. It is not the card to reach for when you want to save on bags or board early; it is the card to hold when you want simplicity and zero recurring cost.
Overall, the Blue is best for light Delta users who value a no-fee card and occasional SkyMiles earning. Travelers who check bags or fly Delta with any regularity will usually come out ahead with the Gold, and those who want a companion certificate or lounge access should look at the Platinum or Reserve.
Why we like it
- No annual fee, so there is minimal downside to holding it long term.
- A discount on eligible in-flight Delta purchases.
- SkyMiles that do not expire, useful for slowly building toward award travel.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Who it's best for
- Light Delta users who want a no-annual-fee card.
- People who want to keep a Delta relationship and earn SkyMiles without a recurring fee.
- Travelers who do not check bags often and do not need lounge access.
Welcome bonus
The current public welcome offer shown above is modest, in the range of 10,000 Delta SkyMiles after meeting a small spend requirement within the first several months of card membership.
American Express offers vary by applicant and are frequently targeted, and Amex generally limits welcome bonuses to once per lifetime per card product, so prior holders may not qualify.
Use the estimated value shown above as a guide rather than a guaranteed cash figure.
Using your rewards
Delta SkyMiles are best redeemed for Delta and SkyTeam partner flights.
Award pricing is dynamic with no fixed chart, and SkyMiles do not expire, so the Blue can be a patient, slow-earning card.
Airport lounge access
The Delta SkyMiles Blue does not include Delta Sky Club access.
Lounge access in this family is available only with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve.
Foreign transaction fees
This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is a nice touch for a no-fee card and makes it usable abroad.
American Express acceptance can be narrower than Visa or Mastercard internationally, so carry a backup card when traveling.
Major credits & annual benefits
The main ongoing benefit is a discount on eligible in-flight Delta purchases.
The Blue does not include free checked bags, priority boarding, a companion certificate, or a Medallion status head start; those belong to the fee-bearing Delta cards.
Insurance & protections
Some American Express protections may apply when you pay with the card, with the specifics defined in the benefit guide.
Coverage varies and tends to be lighter on no-fee cards, so review the current benefit documents before relying on any specific protection.
Fees & tradeoffs
The trade-off for no annual fee is the absence of the perks that make the other Delta cards worthwhile, such as free checked bags and priority boarding.
SkyMiles are Delta-specific and priced dynamically, so redemption value is less predictable than a flexible points currency.
Anyone who checks bags or flies Delta regularly will likely get more value from the Gold despite its annual fee.
Final verdict
The Blue's appeal is simple: no annual fee, a modest welcome bonus, and SkyMiles that do not expire.
It is best as a low-commitment holding card; if you check bags or fly Delta with any regularity, the Gold usually delivers more value even after its annual fee.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $0
- Welcome offer
- $120
- Annual fee
- +$0
- Estimated first-year net
- +$120
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 10,000 points after $1,000 in spend within 6 months
$120
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$0
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
20% Back on Delta Inflight 20% savings as a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight food, beverage, and audio headset purchases. | Annual | $0 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- No annual fee to keep the card
Maybe skip it if
- Verify current terms with the issuer before applying
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- None
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- American Express
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Delta SkyMiles
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | None | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$120 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $120 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | $0 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 3.1 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
