Blue Delta SkyMiles Review: Ideal for Loyal but Infrequent Flyers

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the only card in the AmEx-Delta Air Lines portfolio with a $0 annual fee. If you’re a less frequent traveler with a preference for Delta, that could make the card an ideal choice.

But if you fly Delta multiple times per year or you're in search of a card that offers major travel perks, you'll likely do better with another option.

» MORE: American Express cards with no annual fee

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Basics

Card type: Airline.

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.

Rewards:

• 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.

• 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Benefits:

• 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases.

» MORE: Benefits of Delta Air Lines credit cards

APR: The ongoing APR is 20.99%-29.99% Variable APR.

Foreign transaction fee: None.

$0 annual fee

It's relatively rare to find an airline credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee in exchange for miles-earning potential. With the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, any rewards you rack up are entirely in the "gains" column, as long as you don't carry a balance.

Decent ongoing rewards

Many co-branded airline credit cards earn elevated rewards only on flights or other eligible spending with that airline. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, on the other hand, earns double miles not just on eligible Delta purchases, but also when you use the card at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. That makes it easier to rack up miles quickly.

In-flight savings

With this card, you can get a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases, including food, beverages and audio headsets on Delta-operated flights. When you use your card for these purchases, you'll receive a statement credit within eight to 12 weeks after the transaction posts. Unless you do a lot of spending at 30,000 feet, this perk isn't exactly lucrative — but it's still a nice benefit, and can certainly make a pricey in-flight nosh a little more affordable.

» MORE: American Express credit cards mobile app review

How it compares with other Delta cards

Of all the Delta cards, the $0-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is the most basic. It lacks key benefits the other cards offer, such as free checked bags and priority boarding. But if you want to earn Delta SkyMiles without paying an annual fee, it's a solid option. For more analysis, read NerdWallet's comparison of Delta credit cards.

Here's how the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card stacks up with the others on key benefits.

No free checked bags

It's not surprising that the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card doesn't offer a free checked bags benefit. Usually, you have to pay an annual fee for that kind of perk. If you regularly check bags, one of the other Delta cards could be a better deal just from this benefit alone.

No priority boarding or lounge access

Unlike the other Delta cards, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card doesn't offer priority boarding. That means you might end up in one of the final boarding groups, unless you're eligible for pre-boarding or early boarding — for example, if you need assistance boarding, are active duty U.S. military with ID or are traveling with car seats or strollers.

You also can't purchase single-visit passes to Delta's Sky Club lounges, like you can with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. These passes cost $39 apiece and aren't available to the general public, so you won't be able to purchase them with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.

No 0% APR offer

Many no-annual-fee travel cards come with 0% APR offers, but the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card doesn't: The ongoing APR is 20.99%-29.99% Variable APR.

If you're looking for a travel card that gives you some breathing room for paying down a major purchase, consider the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card instead. The card earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases. Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel. There's also a sign-up bonus.

If you love Delta but you're dead set against paying an annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is right up your alley.

But if you fly several times a year with the airline, you're better off paying an annual fee for a higher-tier co-branded Delta card. And if you frequently travel internationally, a general travel card with broad merchant acceptance and no foreign transaction fees will be a better option.