Compare the Features and Benefits of Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card and
Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® Review

While at first it may be tempting to want a Delta American Express card with no annual fee, there’s little reason to get this card over all of the other six Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express considering that it is the most basic Delta credit card.

While there is no annual fee, of the 7 cards linked above, this is the only one that does not have:

• Priority Boarding
• Free Checked Bag
• A waiver on the MQD requirement to earn Delta Medallion Elite status when you spend $25,000 in a calendar year.
• The TakeOff15 benefit, which offers a 15% discount on SkyMiles award travel on Delta marketed and operated flights

Those are some HUGE benefits to give up. You’ll get TakeOff15, priority boarding and a free checked bag with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card allows you to earn MQDs for spend (and comes with an annual companion certificate that allows you to fly a friend or family member for the cost of government-imposed taxes (roughly under $80) for round trip domestic flights.

And while 2X miles on restaurants worldwide sounds good on the Delta Blue SkyMiles card, consider that there are two Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards that earn more on dining: The American Express® Gold Card (4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X) and the American Express® Green Card (3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent). And American Express Membership Rewards points can transfer to Delta – but they can also transfer to a huge range of other airlines and hotels. Isn’t flexibility better? Why be tied to one mileage program, Delta, when you mind find a better mileage deal elsewhere? Remember, you can fly Delta exclusively and collect lots of SkyMiles that way, but it doesn’t mean that should be all you earn on your credit cards….

In my opinion, the best reason for having a Delta Blue is when you have one of the annual fee Delta cards is your oldest credit card and want to downgrade to a no annual fee card to keep your credit score intact.

But other than that, 99% of people would come out ahead paying the annual fee on one of the other six Delta SkyMiles credit cards from American Express and taking advantage of the benefits that come with them.

Rates and Fees for the Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® is American Airlines’ mid-tier credit card option. All in all, it’s a solid card for semi-frequent American Airlines flyers who don’t live near an airport with an Admirals Club®. You’ll enjoy access to American Airlines lounges a few times per year, but you aren’t paying the hefty annual fee for unlimited access.

For starters, you’ll receive a $99 American Airlines companion certificate starting in your second year as a cardholder. Although it’s only valid on a main cabin domestic flight, you could potentially cover your entire annual fee from this benefit alone. You’ll also earn 3X miles per $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases, which is a great way to boost your AAdvantage miles balance.

You can earn three different statement credits annually — up to $240 back on Turo, up to $100 back on inflight purchases, and up to $100 for your Annual Splurge Credit, which can include merchants like Live Nation or AAdvantage Hotels. You’ll also earn a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years, which can provide value if you aren’t already enrolled.

The Flight Streak Bonus is also an interesting feature for anyone chasing status, allowing you to earn 5,000 bonus Loyalty Points for every four flights you take in a calendar year, up to 15,000 bonus Loyalty Points. If that’s not enough, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point for every AAdvantage mile you earn on purchases.

Plus, you’ll receive your first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries, enjoy preferred boarding, and a variety of travel and shopping protection benefits. When you add up each of these perks, it’s incredibly easy to find value in the card — much more value than a $350 annual fee.