Award System

Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles »

Bank

American Express

Bank Details »

Reconsideration Phone
800.528.4800

Breaking Points

Bonus Points Minimum Spend Point Value Annual Value Annual Fee 1st Year Value
10,000 $1,000 1.2 ¢ $0 $0 $132
Best Value Differentiating Perks Rules
Delta flights Amex 4 Credit , Amex 3/90 , No 5/24 , Amex 1/10
Most Recent Special Offer: 15,000 Bonus Points for $1,000 spend ended Apr 2020
Card Type: Personal, Airline

Spend Categories

Airfare - »

2X points
2.4¢ Per Dollar Spent

All Other - »

1X points
1.2¢ Per Dollar Spent

Restaurants = »

2X points
2.4¢ Per Dollar Spent

Card Benefits

Car Rental Insurance »
Using this card gives you secondary car rental insurance coverage up to $50,000 in collision damage and theft per incident.
Purchase Protection »
You're protected for up to 90 days from the purchase date up to $1,000 ($500 on natural disasters).
Extended Warranty »
Get up to 1 additional year on warranties of 5 years or less, up to $10,000 per purchase.

Point Transfer Options

Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes - $$

Transfer To Friends Yes - $$

Travel Partner Transfers

Outside Point System Delta SkyMiles

Transfers In From
Point Transfer Options
Amex Member Rewards

1:1 86% value retained

Point Transfer Options
IHG Rewards

5:1 40% value retained

Point Transfer Options
Marriott Bonvoy

3:1 57% value retained

Point Transfer Options
World of Hyatt

5:2 30% value retained

Bottom Line

The Delta SkyMiles Blue Credit Card earns Delta miles and has no annual fee. However, if you’re exploring this site, you likely know there are other no-annual-fee cards with higher sign-up bonuses than the Blue Card’s current 10,000 miles.

Why You Might Want This Card

The main reasons to consider the Blue Card are its 10,000-mile sign-up bonus and lack of an annual fee. If you’re brand new to points and miles, it could be a simple way to start without worrying about an annual fee. However, you may want to explore other no-annual-fee cards that come with significantly larger sign-up bonuses.

Exceptions To The Rule

If you want more perks than just “no annual fee,” this card might not be right for you. It doesn’t offer many other benefits.

About Delta SkyMiles

  • Delta SkyMiles are super easy to accumulate with American Express cards, whether they're specific for earning SkyMiles or American Express cards that have completely transferable and instant 1:1 ratio Amex points.

Redeeming SkyMiles isn’t difficult, but you might find that their value isn't as high as you'd think -- especially if you do a side-by-side comparison with our personal favorite, United. Delta’s redeeming quality, however, is the fact that they fly to over 325 locations. So sometimes when you want to go somewhere that United doesn't, you’ll find Delta’s got your back.

When Delta removed its online reward charts in 2015, no one was happy. Now, the more flexible you are, the more value you can squeeze out of your Miles -- especially when Delta runs one of its regular award sales that offer some deep discounts in economy and Delta One.

But the real ace up the sleeve here is booking international Business or First Class using alliances like China Eastern or one of their non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic. This can be done for fewer points than if you booked directly through the Delta website -- as long as the flight is operated by Delta, Delta Connections or Virgin Atlantic. Searching around for Delta’s flash sales based on region or utilizing one of their partners can get you a pretty impressive trip.

Where Delta SkyMiles Blue Fits In This Point Ecosystem

The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card is the lowest-tier offering among the four Delta-specific American Express cards. Its 10,000-mile sign-up bonus and lack of an annual fee may appeal to beginners, but it offers few other benefits.

If you want a Delta card, the Gold version is a better choice for most people. It waives its $150 annual fee for the first year, currently provides a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus, and includes additional perks that can offset the fee if you keep it longer.

Stepping up, the Platinum card charges a $350 annual fee but offers a 60,000-mile bonus and several perks that can justify the cost for frequent travelers. For those who are very loyal to Delta and fly multiple times per year, the top-tier Reserve card offers a 70,000-mile sign-up bonus. Although it has a $650 annual fee, it provides a range of exclusive benefits designed for Delta regulars.

Personal Experience

Application Rules

Amex will decline your application if you already have 4 credit cards (not charge) and apply for a fifth

You'll be declined if you apply for a fourth Amex card in 90 days

Card approval not subject to 5-personal-cards-in-24-months rule

Amex allows only 1 bonus per specific card per lifetime (yours or that version of the card)

Breaking Points

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