SIDE A
A
American Express · American Express
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
VS.
×
SIDE B
B
Chase · Visa
United Explorer Card
FILING
Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly
Both the Delta SkyMiles Gold and United Explorer cards are airline-specific rewards cards targeting frequent flyers. The Delta card costs $150 annually with a 40,000-mile signup bonus, while United's offering costs $95 with a 50,000-mile bonus. Delta emphasizes supermarket and restaurant rewards alongside airline purchases, while United broadens its dining category and throws in two Club passes yearly. For most travelers, the $55 annual fee difference and United's superior signup bonus create a meaningful advantage, but your choice ultimately depends on which airline dominates your travel schedule and whether you value everyday spending categories or airline-specific perks.
THE VERDICT
Our ruling.
“United Explorer Card wins for most travelers. The $55 lower annual fee, larger signup bonus, and two Club passes annually deliver better value unless you're a Delta-focused frequent flyer who specifically uses supermarkets as a primary spending category. If you fly exclusively Delta and value that first checked bag benefit, the SkyMiles card justifies its premium, but United's generosity elsewhere makes it the smarter default choice.”
CHOOSE A
Side A is for you if…
- 01You're a Delta loyalist and fly exclusively (or nearly exclusively) with Delta, making the first checked bag benefit essential for multiple annual trips
- 02You spend heavily at US supermarkets and want to maximize miles per dollar on groceries, a category where Delta offers 2x versus United's standard 1x
- 03You value the $200 Delta flight credit after meeting the $10K spending threshold, which effectively subsidizes your annual fee if you hit that spend level
CHOOSE B
Side B is for you if…
- 01You want the lowest net annual cost, as the $95 fee is $55 cheaper than Delta's $150, representing real savings even before factoring rewards differences
- 02You dine out frequently and want 2x miles on all dining purchases, not just US restaurants, giving you more flexibility than Delta's more restrictive bonus category
- 03You value the two United Club one-time passes annually, which can offset the annual fee during premium travel periods when Club access costs $50+ per visit
THE LEDGER
Side by side.
- ISSUER
- American Express
- Chase
- NETWORK
- American Express
- Visa
- ANNUAL FEE
- $150
- $95
- APR RANGE
- 21.49% – 29.49%
- 22.49% – 29.49%
- INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
- None
- None
- INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
- None
- None
- REWARDS TYPE
- miles
- miles
- REWARDS RATE
- 1x miles on all purchases
- 1x miles on all purchases
- SIGN-UP BONUS
- 40,000 miles
- 50,000 miles
- BONUS VALUE
- $480
- $650
- MIN. CREDIT SCORE
- 670+
- 670+
- FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
- None
- None
A HIGHLIGHTS
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- —First checked bag free on Delta flights
- —Priority boarding on Delta flights
- —20% back on Delta in-flight purchases
- —$200 annual Delta flight credit (after $10K spend)
- —No foreign transaction fees
B HIGHLIGHTS
United Explorer Card
- —Free first checked bag for you and a companion
- —Two United Club one-time passes per year
- —25% back on United in-flight purchases
- —Priority boarding on United flights
- —No foreign transaction fees
QUESTIONS · ANSWERS
Frequently filed.
United Explorer wins decisively. At 2x miles on all $6,000 in dining, you earn 12,000 bonus miles. Delta only offers 2x on US restaurants, which typically means less coverage. United's dining reward also tends to overlap with travel and entertainment spending more seamlessly, making the category more valuable in practice.