Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express

Blue is the no-fee entry point into the SkyMiles lineup, and it plays that role honestly: 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and at restaurants, 1 mile everywhere else, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee. The welcome offer is modest at 10,000 miles after $1,000 of spend in six months, but the commitment is modest too. What it does not carry is the perk most people buy a Delta card for: no free checked bag and no priority boarding, just a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight food and drinks and 10% back on concessions at select stadiums through the Amex Venue Collection, capped at $250 a year and requiring enrollment. We rate it the best no-fee option among airline cards, though its #19 overall ranking reflects how thin the benefits are once the price stops being the argument. It makes sense if you fly Delta occasionally and want somewhere to accumulate miles without paying for the privilege.