Underrated Reasons Why You Need a Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card

American Express and Delta offer an entry-level credit card worth checking out: The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card. If you occasionally fly with Delta and are looking for a simple travel credit card, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card includes some solid rewards — including a few new perks that might pique your interest. Here’s why this $0-annual-fee credit card is a strong competitor.

The well-known reasons

• Welcome bonus. Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Terms Apply.

• $0 annual fee: There’s no yearly charge for you to use your card.

• Instant card number: Once you’re approved for your card, you’re eligible to receive a card number to start using immediately — even before you have a physical card.

• Earn miles on purchases: You’ll earn Delta miles that do not expire, including:

  • 2x SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent at eligible restaurants around the world.

  • 2x SkyMiles for purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines.

  • 1x SkyMiles per eligible dollar spent for all other purchases.

Terms apply.

The underrated reasons

New: No foreign transaction fees

This card no longer levies foreign transaction fees on purchases made with the card outside the United States. This can add up to decent savings for frequent international travelers. Terms apply.

No blackout dates on Delta

Book your flight with SkyMiles and enjoy no blackout dates on Delta flights. Be warned that these may still apply when flying on partner carriers. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Our full Blue Delta SkyMiles review

New: Pay with Miles

If you don’t have enough miles to pay for an entire flight, you can still redeem available miles in 5,000-mile increments for $50 in savings. This translates into $100 off the price of a flight when you use your 10,000 mile welcome bonus alone. Terms apply.

In-flight discounts

Get 20% back on in-flight purchases as a statement credit when you use your card to stock up on snacks, drinks and other items on Delta-operated flights. Terms apply.

Lowest hotel rates guarantee

Book your stay with confidence. If you purchase a qualifying prepaid hotel rate on AmExTravel.com and later find a lower price for the identical room, hotel, dates and occupants, you'll be refunded the difference. Terms apply.

Redeem rewards with SkyTeam

Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which means you can use your miles to fly with 19 partner airlines. Once you start stacking up rewards, you can redeem your miles to fly to more than 1,000 destinations in 170 countries.

» Learn more: Is the Blue Delta SkyMiles credit card right for you?

Additional perks

Take advantage of all the perks that come with being a cardholder, including:

• Car rental loss and damage insurance.

• 24/7 access to the Global Assist® hotline.

• Purchase protection.

• Fraud protection.

• Exclusive access to ticket presales and seating.

Terms apply.

» Learn more: How much are my Delta SkyMiles worth?

The bottom line

If you’ve had the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card on your radar, now may be a good time to apply and take advantage of the newly added perks.

This card may not offer free checked bags or priority boarding like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, but with a $0 annual fee and some useful perks, even casual Delta travelers eager to earn SkyMiles may find this card a worthwhile choice. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program: The complete guide

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for: