Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive vs Delta SkyMiles® Blue
Side-by-side comparison
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive | Delta SkyMiles® Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $595 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 70,000 AAdvantage® Miles | 10,000 Bonus Miles |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $292 | $322 |
| Points type | Locked to American Airlines AAdvantage | Locked to Delta SkyMiles |
| Network | Mastercard | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive earns about $292 a year in rewards and the Delta SkyMiles® Blue about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive charges $595, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The Delta SkyMiles® Blue has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue delivers more total value, about $625 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on dining. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Delta SkyMiles® Blue if your spending leans toward dining.