Amex Delta Gold Card vs. United Explorer Card: Which airline credit card is best for you?
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Nearly every major airline offers co-branded credit cards at various price points, but the sweet spot seems to be an annual fee of around $100. For that amount, you can at least expect to earn double miles on spending with the airline, while enjoying a free checked bag and discounts on your inflight purchases.
But that's just the beginning, as the right airline credit card can also offer you priority boarding, airport lounge access, and other perks when traveling. Let's take a look at the
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Gold Delta Amex vs. United Explorer Card: The biggest differences
The first and most obvious difference between these two cards is that they earn miles and offer benefits with two different airlines: Delta and United. If you're more loyal to one airline, that can make the decision easy. If not, you'll want to give the cards' other benefits a closer look.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
This is one of four SkyMiles credit cards offered by American Express, and that doesn't even include the small business cards. Right now, this card's best feature is its huge limited-time welcome bonus offer of
The
Benefits include a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight others traveling on the same reservation and priority boarding on Delta flights. You also receive a 20% savings on inflight purchases. There's a
United℠ Explorer Card
The current welcome bonus offer for the
You also get a free checked bag for yourself and a single companion on the same reservation, but you must use your card to pay for your ticket or any taxes and fees on an award reservation. This card offers you up to a $100 statement credit for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS programs (the latter two include PreCheck). Note that even if you're already a member of one of these programs, you can use this credit for your renewal or even to pay for someone else's application or renewal.
Other
Comparison: Delta SkyMiles Gold vs United Explorer
| Annual fee | ||
| Reward rates | 2x miles on eligible Delta purchases 2x miles at restaurants 2x miles at US supermarkets 1x miles on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining 2x miles on hotel stays booked with the hotel 1x miles on all other purchases
|
| Welcome bonus | ||
| Benefits | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights $100 flight credit when you spend $10,000 or more in a calendar year 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit Car rental insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Baggage insurance Global Assist Hotline Access to Amex Offers** No foreign transaction fees | Free first checked bag on United flights Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on inflight purchases 2 one-time United Club passes per anniversary year Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit Primary car rental insurance Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase protection Extended warranty Visa Signature Concierge Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort collection No foreign transaction fees
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| Review | United Explorer Card review |
Which card is right for you?
When comparing these two cards side by side, the best card for you comes down to which airline you fly most often and how you spend. United Airlines MileagePlus miles are typically worth slightly more than Delta SkyMiles. However,
Both cards earn 2x miles on multiple bonus categories. When looking for the card that best fits you, consider whether you'd prefer to earn on restaurant and US supermarket purchases (
You also want to compare the value of the miles that each card earns. While Delta has built a reputation for great service and operational reliability, its SkyMiles frequent flyer program isn't regarded nearly as well. It no longer publishes an award chart, and many travelers find that Delta charges far more miles for its award seats than its competitors do, especially when you're trying to redeem your miles for a premium-class ticket.
United also prices awards dynamically, but if you're a United cardholder, you'll get expanded access to saver awards in economy class which can help you save miles, especially during high-demand travel periods.
Bottom line
None of this may matter to you if you live near a major Delta or United hub, and you're dependent on one airline to serve most destinations non-stop. If you're committed to flying either Delta or United, then you can't really shop around. If so, you probably won't be choosing between a Delta or a United card, but just deciding which of the multiple cards offered by your preferred carrier is right for you.
In that case, Delta flyers will want to consider the