Find Your Best
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
DC
BH
DC
BH
Updated: March 19, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.
It’s ideal to compare the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card rewards, features and fees to figure out which card best suits your needs.
Both American Express cards are great for earning Delta miles that can be redeemed with the airline for free flight. Although both cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card has no annual fee but the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card charges $99 after the first year.
Comparison Overview: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express CardDelta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card At a Glance
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has no annual fee and earns 2x miles on Delta purchases and dining with 1x miles for all other purchases. The card has no foreign transaction fees and can earn a welcome offer of 10,000 bonus miles when you spend a minimum of $500 within the first three months.
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual fees
- up to 2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No annual fee
- With welcome offer
- Gives perks for Delta purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Good/excellent credit needed
- Limited benefits compared to others
- No lounge access perks
- Less rewarding for non-Delta spend
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. No Annual Fee. Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Terms Apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card At a Glance
With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles when they spend $2,000 in the first three months of card membership. As you spend, you will earn 2x miles at supermarkets, restaurants and on Delta purchases and 1x miles on all other purchases. The card has no foreign transaction fees and the $99 annual fee is waived for your first year.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
A great credit card for individuals looking for basic travel perks and more opportunities to earn miles
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- 0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee
- $200 Delta flight credit
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
- Up to 20% savings on in-flight purchases
Cons
- Annual fee of $150 after the first year
- No luxury travel benefits
- Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
- Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
- Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- With Send & Split®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
- Terms Apply.
- (See rates and fees)
Comparison Summary
To help you choose the best airline credit card for your needs, MoneyGeek listed differences between the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Purchase Protection | Both the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offer protection that covers against theft or accidental damage with certain purchases within 90 days of purchase. Winner: Tie |
Welcome Bonus | The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card allows cardholders to earn 10,000 bonus miles when they spend $500 within the first three months of opening their account. If Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Cardholders spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months, they will earn 70,000 bonus miles. Winner: Delta SkyMiles Gold Card |
Rewards | With the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, cardholders can redeem SkyMiles for seat upgrades and Delta gift cards, which is a feature on all Delta credit cards. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers priority boarding, a baggage insurance plan, car rental loss and damage insurance and an opportunity to earn 2x miles on Delta purchases and restaurants. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card |
Annual Fee | The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has no annual fee while the annual fee of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is waived for the first year. However, for succeeding years, Delta SkyMiles Gold Cardholders must pay $99 per year. Winner: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
It’s always best to assess your situation to know whether the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card or Delta SkyMiles Gold Card fits your needs when choosing a miles rewards credit card.
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card?
If you’re a frequent flier looking for simple rewards and a low-cost credit card, you should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card since it has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee, and earns 2x miles per dollar on Delta and dining purchases.
This card doesn’t charge for foreign transaction fees, which is ideal for individuals who travel abroad often.
You can also lessen the cost of your flight up to $50 whenever you redeem 5,000 miles through the issuer’s Pay with Miles program.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card?
Individuals who want to earn miles with daily purchases may find value in the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card which offers no foreign transaction fees and the ability to earn miles for your everyday expenses.
Even if you don’t travel often, you can earn 2x miles at restaurants and U.S. gas stations. You can also earn 1x mile per dollar for other eligible purchases.
This card offers purchase protection, baggage insurance coverage, rental car insurance and a Global Assist hotline which you can contact while abroad for assistance.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
The Delta SkyMiles Blue Card offers very little value to cardholders. Even if you only fly once or twice per year on Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is the better option. You have more features, broader spending categories, a $100 Delta credit when you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, and a free checked bag when you fly on the airline.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Choosing the right credit card isn’t always easy. MoneyGeek answers some commonly asked questions so you can learn more about the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
This depends on what you’re looking for in a credit card. Both cards don’t charge an international transaction fee and have solid spending categories to earn Delta SkyMiles. If you prefer a card without an annual fee, then the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card may be a better option since the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card has an annual fee of $99 after the first year.
You can have both American Express credit cards, but keep in mind the 2/90 rule from American Express. This rule doesn’t allow for cardmembers to be approved for more than two American Express cards in a 90-day period.
All of the points earned on these cards will be automatically deposited in your Delta SkyMiles account.
Yes, you can change your card by contacting American Express.
Generally, you can get both cards with ease if you pre-qualify. You can apply through American Express’s online application form on their website. However, both cards require at a least a good credit score.
For the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, you’ll need to spend $500 within the first three months of opening your account to earn 10,000 bonus miles. On the other hand, once Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Cardholders spend $2,000 in the first six months, they can earn 75,000 bonus miles.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
If you’re still unsure after browsing the rewards and features of Delta SkyMiles Blue Card and Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, consider other airline credit cards or even travel credit cards.
Learn more about credit cards in general
Explore Topics
About Doug Milnes, CFA
sources
- American Express. "Welcome to Membership Rewards!." Accessed January 7, 2022.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.