American Express
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
Earn 2X miles on dining and Delta purchases with no annual fee. Includes 10,000 bonus miles for new cardmembers and travel benefits like no foreign transaction fees.
Annual fee
None
Top rate
2x dining & restaurants
Welcome bonus
$100
Quick look
Earn 2X miles on dining
Perfect for frequent flyers and restaurant enthusiasts
3.5
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Budget-conscious occasional Delta flyers and those new to airline rewards who want to test the SkyMiles program without annual fees.
The verdict
This is a no-brainer for occasional Delta flyers on a budget—it costs nothing and earns miles on two categories most people actually spend in. But it's also exactly what it appears to be: a starter card, not a strategy. You get no free checked bags (which every other Delta card includes), minimal perks, and earning rates that rank outside the top 30 in the catalog. If you fly Delta more than twice a year, the paid cards—Gold especially—deliver better value despite their fees. Skip this if you're a premium travel enthusiast; grab it if you're dipping your toe into airline miles without commitment.
The real value proposition isn't "miles on everything"—it's "miles on dining with zero cost." For restaurant spenders who occasionally book directly with Delta, it works.
Pros
- Zero annual fee makes it the only perpetual no-cost Delta option
- 2X on dining and Delta flights covers two frequent spending categories
- 10,000 bonus miles clears in just $1,000 of spend over 6 months
- No foreign transaction fees offset travel spending friction
Cons
- No free checked bag benefit—a major gap vs. other Delta cards
- Ranked 32nd in dining, 40th in flights; earning power is average to below-average
- Only two bonus categories; everything else earns just 1X
- No lounge access, priority boarding, or seat upgrades
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | 2X miles at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. |
| Flights | 2x | 2X miles on purchases made directly with Delta |
| Everything else | 1x | 1X mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases |
The 2X rate on dining and Delta flights is solid for a no-fee card—ranks 32nd in dining among 111 cards, behind premium travel cards and dining-heavy programs like the Hilton Honors Aspire (7X) and Citi Strata Elite (6X). The 1X on everything else is average; you'll find 2X and 3X cards in the no-fee category (VentureOne, Capital One Quicksilver). Where this card earns its place is in the intersection of "no annual fee" and "decent dining bonus"—there aren't many there.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
Zero dollars, forever. This is the only Delta card that doesn't charge an annual fee in year two and beyond. That's genuinely useful if you fly Delta occasionally but don't want to commit to a paid tier. The trade-off is perks: no free checked bags, no lounge access, no seat upgrades—all the things the Gold and Platinum cards use their annual fees to cover.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
10,000 miles after $1,000 in purchases within 6 months is achievable and uneventful. Competing airlines and travel programs offer 15,000-80,000 bonus miles at higher thresholds, but this card isn't chasing power users. The offer is designed for someone testing the SkyMiles ecosystem without friction; meeting $1,000 in 6 months isn't a pressure test.
Similar cards
No-fee airline card for light flyers: Citi's AAdvantage MileUp is the closest comparison—also no annual fee, also 2X on flights, but only 1X on dining vs. 2X on this card. MileUp offers no intro APR, so Delta Blue pulls ahead if you carry a balance short-term.
Paid alternative: If you fly Delta 3+ times yearly, the Gold card ($150/yr) includes a free checked bag ($35 value per flight) and $50 airline fee credit—it breaks even faster for active travelers, despite the fee.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get this card if I don't fly Delta regularly?
Probably not. You'd do better with a flat-rate 2% cash card (VentureOne, Capital One Quicksilver) that works everywhere. This card locks miles into the Delta/SkyTeam ecosystem; if you're just exploring airline rewards, a cash-back card stays flexible.
What's the foreign transaction fee situation?
This card charges zero foreign transaction fees, which is excellent. Most Amex cards do, but it's worth confirming—it means you can use it abroad without a 2-3% markup.
Does this card come with a free checked bag?
No. This is the biggest limitation. The Gold and Platinum Delta cards include free checked bags (worth $35+ per round trip), which pay for their annual fees if you fly twice yearly. The Blue card forces you to pay baggage fees like anyone else.
Can I upgrade to a premium Delta card later and keep my miles?
Yes. Miles live in your SkyMiles account and transfer to any Delta card you open. Starting with the Blue and upgrading to the Gold later is a viable path if you want to test the ecosystem first.
How do I redeem these miles?
Delta miles can be redeemed for flights on Delta and SkyTeam partners (KLM, Air France, Alitalia, etc.), or transferred to hotel/car rental partners. Valuations vary widely—sometimes as low as 0.7 cents per mile, sometimes 2+ cents. Redeeming strategically on premium cabins yields better value than economy.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026