Does Blue Sky really have worthwhile benefits or is it just another credit card that doesn’t deliver? My updated review for 2013 explains.

Blue Sky card
Travel rewards aren't my preferred choice. Why? Because so many of them use sneaky tricks like blackout dates, penalties for booking less than 21 days from departure, etc. To make matters worse, many charge you an annual fee. So when the Blue Sky credit card came out, I was extremely suspicious to say the least. I have reviewed dozens and dozens of travel credit cards and the majority of them are a scam. Was the Blue Sky going to be any better?

Surprisingly, I found out the Blue Sky card is completely different than the others. Here are 10 reasons why…

#1 – Higher Rewards
Let’s be completely honest… rewards are the main reason most of us are interested in credit cards anyway. Without rewards, we would probably just stick to our debit cards. As you and I both know, many airline cards only give rebates which equal out to be a rebate of 1% or less.

However, the American Express Blue Sky gives you rewards worth 1.33% on all your spending! Like most cards, it gives you 1 point per dollar spent, but each point is worth more than 1%. For every 7,500 points, you get a $100 statement credit good towards virtually any travel purchase. That means you are earning 33% more than the other guys! And right now you can get an extra 7,500 points (worth $100) when you apply.

#2 – Hassle-Free Rewards Redemption
With the Blue Sky card, you don’t have to worry about things like peak and off-peak, blackout dates, and other tricks. In fact, you don’t even have to worry about which airline has the better deal on the ticket you want. Instead this is how it works...
  • American Express allows you to book your own travel however you wish. You can go to a travel agent, buy from a site like Expedia, or even buy from an airline directly!
  • After you do that, just redeem your points and American Express will credit your account $100 for every 7,500 points! This is a huge benefit; you can choose the best deal out there, and in doing so, you are making your reward points go even further!
  • The rewards on Blue Sky are so flexible, you can even use them for other travel related purchases like hotel, rental cars, cruises, tours, train tickets, and much more.

#3 – Guaranteed Room
Have you ever made a hotel reservation, only to arrive at the hotel and have them tell you it’s overbooked and they can’t fulfill your reservation? I know that’s happened to me before! Or have you ever arrived late, and because you did, they gave your room to someone else? With the American Express Blue Sky, they guarantee every hotel reservation you make using the card! This applies to all hotels!

Blue savings examples
#4 – Travel Discounts
With the Blue Sky Travel Savings Program, you can get additional discounts at Enterprise, Alamo, Atlantis Resort, and more. For example, the discount at Hertz is up to 20 percent!

#5 – Rental Car Collision Coverage
Why pay extra for collision coverage on your rental car? With the Blue Sky credit card, you get free car rental collision coverage on eligible rentals!

#6 – Travel Accident Insurance
I sincerely hope this is a feature you will never have to use, but in the event of death or dismemberment during travel, you and your family are protected with up to $100,000 in travel accident insurance (as long as you paid for your eligible plane/train/ship/bus ticket with your American Express Blue Sky card). Again, I hope this is something that will never apply to you, but the truth is accidents happen all the time, especially overseas. It’s nice to know you are covered up to $100,000 while traveling in the U.S. as well as abroad.

#7 – Purchase Protection
Have you ever bought a new pair of sunglasses, only to drop them on the pavement a week or two later? Accidentally damaging something after we buy it is extremely frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. With the Blue Sky credit card, you have “Purchase Protection.” If an eligible purchase is accidentally damaged or stolen within the first 90 days, they will pay for it… up to $1,000 per incident! So if that pair of shades is ruined, American Express has you covered!

#8 – Extended Warranty
How often have you bought something, only to have it break down right after the warranty expires? I don't know about you but it seems to always happen with my computers!

For example, let’s say your new iPad has a one year warranty. After you have it a year and a half, the screen goes bad. Replacing that part would normally cost you several hundred dollars. But with Amex Blue Sky, the manufacturer’s US warranty is doubled on eligible purchases, up to one extra year! Yes, you heard right - American Express will replace or repair those items up to a year after their warranty has expired… for free!

#9 – Return Protection
Returning merchandise isn’t always easy. Maybe you lost the receipt or the store just doesn’t accept returns. Or the store may wrongfully claim the item isn’t in the same condition as it was sold. Whatever the reason may be, you get left with something you don’t want.

When you pay with Blue Sky card, you don’t have to worry about these things! If a store won’t let you return something, American Express will take it back for you and refund the money! This applies up to ninety days after purchase and up to $300 for each eligible item. Try doing that with your Visa or MasterCard!

#10 – No Annual Fee
After reading all these benefits, you were probably guessing this card carried a hefty annual fee. Guess what? There's never an annual fee!

And right now you can apply for the AmEx Blue Sky and earn 7,500 bonus points (worth $100). Previously there was no bonus on it, so get it while they're still offering it!