If you fly Delta a few times a year but don’t want to commit to a card with an annual fee, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is worth a look. The Points Guy’s fresh review calls it “a simple option for occasional Delta Air Lines flyers,” and that simplicity is really the whole pitch: you earn Delta SkyMiles on your everyday spending without paying a yearly fee just to keep the card in your wallet.
Why it’s notable
Most Delta co-branded cards — the Gold, Platinum, and Reserve tiers — carry annual fees that only pay for themselves if you’re checking bags, boarding early, or flying Delta often enough to lean on the perks. The SkyMiles Blue strips that calculus out entirely. There’s no fee to weigh against your flying habits, which makes it a low-pressure entry point into the Delta ecosystem rather than a card you have to “justify” every January.
Who this is best for
This card makes the most sense for:
- Occasional Delta flyers who take a couple of trips a year and want to earn miles without a subscription-style fee eating into the value
- Southern travelers near a Delta hub, where Atlanta’s role as one of Delta’s largest hubs means more nonstop options and more chances to actually use the miles you earn
- Families easing into travel rewards who aren’t ready for a premium annual-fee card but still want their spending to count toward something
- Anyone testing the waters before deciding whether to upgrade to a fee-based Delta card down the road
It’s not the card for road warriors — if you’re checking bags on every trip or chasing companion certificates, a fee-based Delta card or a flexible points card will likely earn its keep faster.
How it stacks up
Compared to cards built around big sign-up bonuses or transferable points, the SkyMiles Blue is intentionally modest. It won’t out-earn a top welcome-bonus card in year one, and it doesn’t offer the flexibility of a points currency that moves across multiple airlines. What it offers instead is zero downside: no fee to offset, no complicated math about whether you flew enough this year to make it worth it.
Caveats
This is an evergreen card review, not a limited-time offer — there’s no expiration or deadline attached to it. As with any credit card decision, approval depends on your credit profile, and it’s worth reading the full terms before applying. Southern flyers who live near Atlanta will likely get the most practical mileage out of it simply because of how many Delta routes touch that hub.
Bottom line: If you want to dip a toe into Delta SkyMiles without an annual fee hanging over your head, this card does the job. Read The Points Guy’s full review for the complete rundown on earning rates and benefits before you decide.