You’re standing at the kiosk, staring at a $35 baggage fee, and thinking, "Didn’t I get a credit card for this?"
If you're holding the Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles card, the answer is a resounding "no." And honestly? That’s perfectly fine. Most people look at this card, see the lack of free checked bags, and immediately dismiss it as a "weak" travel card. They’re wrong.
This isn't a card for the road warrior who lives in the Sky Club. It’s for the person who wants a piece of the Delta ecosystem without paying a $150 or $650 subscription fee just to keep a piece of plastic in their wallet. It’s the "set it and forget it" card of the SkyMiles world.
The Zero-Dollar Strategy
Let's be real: annual fees are getting out of control. We're living in an era where "entry-level" cards are creeping up to $150. The Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles is a rare holdout. It costs $0 to carry. No "introductory $0 for the first year" catch. Just zero.
Because there’s no fee, the miles you earn are pure profit. You aren't spending the first six months of the year just trying to "break even" on the annual fee. If you earn 10,000 miles, you have 10,000 miles. Period.
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What You Actually Get
The earning structure is surprisingly decent for a free card. You get 2X miles on Delta purchases—which includes everything from that flight to Paris to the overpriced snack box you bought because you forgot to eat at the terminal.
But the real win is the 2X miles at restaurants worldwide.
Including takeout.
Including delivery in the U.S.
Most "basic" airline cards only give you extra miles on the airline itself. By adding restaurants, Amex basically admitted that you probably spend more on pizza and tacos than you do on flights. Everything else earns 1X mile per dollar. It’s simple. It’s predictable.
The "Pay with Miles" Secret
Here’s something most people miss. Usually, to use Delta's "Pay with Miles" feature, you need to be a cardmember. This specific benefit lets you knock $50 off your flight cost for every 5,000 miles you redeem.
Even though the Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles is the "bottom" tier, it still grants you this power.
Imagine you have 7,000 miles sitting in your account. Not enough for a free flight to Hawaii? No problem. Use 5,000 of them to drop your ticket price by $50. It makes your miles liquid and useful even if you aren't a "points pro" who knows how to find hidden award space.
The 20% In-Flight Discount
If you do fly Delta, keep the card handy. You get 20% back (as a statement credit) on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and even those audio headsets if you forgot your AirPods. It’s not going to make you rich, but it covers the cost of a beer or a sandwich over the course of a few trips.
Why Some People Hate This Card (And Why They’re Being Dramatic)
The biggest gripe is the lack of a free checked bag.
Look, if you fly Delta four times a year and always check a suitcase, this card is a bad deal. You’d be much better off with the Delta Gold card, even with its $150 fee (after the first year), because the bag fees alone would cost you $280 round-trip.
But if you’re a "carry-on only" traveler? Or if you only fly Delta once a year to visit your aunt in Atlanta? Paying $150 for a "free" bag benefit you use once is just bad math.
The Welcome Offer Reality Check
Right now, the standard offer is 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in the first 6 months.
Is it the biggest bonus on the market? Not even close. You can find cards offering 60,000 or 100,000 miles. But those cards usually require you to spend $4,000 or $6,000 in a few months. For a lot of people, that’s a lot of pressure. $1,000 over six months is basically $166 a month. You can hit that just by putting your grocery bill on the card for eight weeks.
The "Hidden" Perks You’ll Actually Use
Since this is an American Express card, it comes with a few "Amex-lite" benefits that people often forget:
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: This is huge. Most $0 fee cards charge you 3% every time you buy something outside the U.S. This one doesn't.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage that can save your skin if you ding a rental car.
- Amex Offers: You can log into your app and find "spend $50 at [Store], get $10 back." These can easily save you $100+ a year if you actually check them.
- Global Assist Hotline: If you’re more than 100 miles from home and everything goes wrong, they can help with medical or legal referrals.
Who is the Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles actually for?
It’s for the Reluctant Loyalist. You like Delta. You think their planes are cleaner and the Wi-Fi is better. But you aren't ready to "marry" them for $150 a year.
It’s also the perfect "Down-Tier" Card. If you currently have a Delta Gold or Platinum card and you realize you aren't flying enough to justify the fee, don't just cancel the card. That hurts your credit score. Instead, ask Amex to "downgrade" you to the Blue card. You keep your credit line open, you keep your account age, and your annual fee drops to zero.
Actionable Steps for New Cardholders
If you just got the card or are about to apply, here is how to actually make it worth the space in your wallet:
- Sync your SkyMiles account immediately. Make sure the miles you earn are actually landing in your Delta account. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people have "ghost" accounts.
- Use it for Dining. Since it earns 2X on restaurants, it should be your go-to card for eating out unless you have a premium card that earns 3X or 4X.
- Link to Starbucks and Uber. Delta has partnerships with both. Once your card is linked to your SkyMiles account, you’ll double-dip on rewards every time you grab a latte or a ride.
- Avoid Carrying a Balance. The APR on this card can be high (often 20% to 28% depending on your credit). If you pay interest, those "free" miles become very, very expensive.
- Check for "Amex Offers" monthly. This is the easiest way to make a $0 fee card "pay" you to own it. Look for travel-related offers that can stack with your Delta perks.
The Amex Blue Delta SkyMiles isn't trying to be the best credit card in the world. It’s trying to be a free, low-stress way to keep your SkyMiles active and earn a few extra trips to the beach. For the casual traveler, that’s exactly what’s needed.