Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

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Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

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ByDoug Milnes, CFA
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Reviewed byBrett Holzhauer
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Updated: March 19, 2024

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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 Card
    Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
  • Has Annual Fee
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  • Has Balance Transfer Offer
  • Has APR Offer
  • Cash Back Rewards
  • Travel Rewards
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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

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

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.

  • noForeignTransactionFee icon

    This card doesn’t charge for foreign transaction fees, which is ideal for individuals who travel abroad often.

  • travel icon

    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.

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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.

  • twoMilesPerDollar icon

    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.

  • travelProtection icon

    This card offers purchase protection, baggage insurance coverage, rental car insurance and a Global Assist hotline which you can contact while abroad for assistance.

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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.

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.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


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*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.
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