Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card vs Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card $0/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card on dining, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express CardAmerican Express · No annual fee
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card$0LowestDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card$350
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card10,000 milesDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAs high as 90,000 miles — offers vary
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express CardDelta SkyMilesDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express CardNoneDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express CardAmerican ExpressDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Hotels
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card3xHighest
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card2xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card1xDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- 20% inflight purchases
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $150 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
- Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $10/mo Resy · $10 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
- Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions
- Complimentary Upgrade List
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- No foreign transaction fees
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Amex Offers
- MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- Secondary car rental insurance coverage
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Car rental insurance up to $50,000
- Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- Up to $10,000 per item against damage or theft
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds up to 1 year
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card—Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
- Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- No annual fee makes it easy to keep long-term
- 2x miles on Delta purchases and at U.S. restaurants
- 20% back on in-flight Delta purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Pay with Miles feature for partial flight redemptions
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America)
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
- Cons
- Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
- No free checked bag or priority boarding
- Weak 10,000 mile welcome bonus compared to premium Delta cards
- 1x on non-category spend limits earning potential
- Rewards locked in Delta SkyMiles (no transfer partners)
- No elite status boost or companion certificate
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card- $350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits
- Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal
- No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve)
- Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options
- Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard
Category-by-Category Winner
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $166 Year one: $286 | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $662 Year one: $782 | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card | Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr — that's $350 more than the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $350 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $350 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $350 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs roughly $350 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card means losing:
- -Free checked bags
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card $0/yr, Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr — a $350 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr vs $0/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $350 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card also lists travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card have that the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card offers travel credits. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $350/yr.
Related Comparisons
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.