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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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and the United℠ Explorer Card from Chase, two of the most popular airline credit cards in this price range, and see which one is right for you.
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.
Gold Delta Amex vs United Explorer welcome bonuses
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card United℠ Explorer Card: Earn United℠ Explorer Card
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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card. That’s worth around Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card in flights, based on Insider’s valuation of Delta miles at 1.1 cents each.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on eligible Delta purchases (such as tickets, upgrades, Delta Sky Club membership, and inflight purchases), 2x miles at restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets, and 1x on all other eligible purchases.
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 Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card annual fee for this card.
United℠ Explorer Card
The current welcome bonus offer for the United℠ Explorer Card is United℠ Explorer Card (worth about United℠ Explorer Card in flights, based on Insider’s valuations) — but this card’s rewards for spending and travel benefits are even more exciting. It earns 2x miles not just on United® purchases, but also on dining purchases and hotel bookings when booked with the hotel. These are two of the largest expenses faced by frequent travelers.
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 United℠ Explorer Card benefits include two single-visit passes to the United Club lounge per anniversary year, 25% back on United inflight purchases, and priority boarding. United cardholders also receive expanded access to saver-level awards in economy class, making your miles even more valuable. There’s a United℠ Explorer Card annual fee.
Comparison: Delta SkyMiles Gold vs United Explorer
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
United℠ Explorer CardAnnual fee
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
United℠ Explorer CardReward 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
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
United℠ Explorer CardBenefits
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
Review
Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex 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, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card’s limited-time welcome bonus gives United℠ Explorer Card a run for its money. But the United℠ Explorer Card does offer more perks.
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 (Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card), or on dining and hotel bookings (United℠ Explorer Card).
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 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card . It offers numerous benefits that the Gold Delta SkyMiles card lacks, and an annual companion certificate that can easily justify its Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card annual fee. Moreover, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card is also offering an elevated welcome bonus of Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Here’s our review of the Amex Delta Platinum for all the details.