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Side-by-side

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card vs Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

Both are travel travel cards. The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature from Bank of America at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($940 more in estimated value) than the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card's. Get the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature first; revisit the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureDelta SkyMiles Blue American Express CardAlaska Airlines Visa Signature
Annual fee$0$95
Sign-up bonus10,000 Delta SkyMiles70,000 miles + Companion Fare
Bonus value (est.)$110$1,050
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$3,000 in 90 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressBank of America
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Delta)2x1x
Transfer partnersdelta-skymilesNone
Headline benefits
  • $0 annual fee
  • 2X Delta + 2X restaurants
  • 20% off Delta in-flight
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Companion Fare annually
  • Free checked bag
  • 3x on Alaska
  • No foreign tx fees
Read the full review
Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Delta SkyMiles
Read the full review
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
$95/yr · 70,000 miles + Companion Fare

Editorial take: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card

The entry-level Delta card with no annual fee. Useful for keeping SkyMiles alive at $0/year and locking in 20% off in-flight Delta purchases plus no FX fees. For anyone flying Delta even one round trip a year, the $150 Gold's first-bag-free benefit usually justifies the upgrade.

Editorial take: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature

The Companion Fare is the hook, $122 + taxes/fees to bring a companion on any Alaska flight, even international business class. If you fly Alaska once a year with a partner, this pays for itself many times over.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card or Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature has the bigger bonus, 70,000 miles + Companion Fare, worth roughly $1,050, versus 10,000 Delta SkyMiles (~$110) on the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card.
Is the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
The Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature's $95 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature's benefits to clear $95 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card.
Can I have both the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card and Alaska Airlines Visa Signature?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bank of America) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card or the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature: $3,000 in 90 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.