Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
vs. United℠ Explorer Card

The Delta SkyMiles Card and the United Explorer Card are both excellent choices for frequent flyers, offering valuable airline rewards and travel perks. However, the United Explorer is the better choice for most travelers due to its broader airline scope and lower annual fee after the first year. It provides United Club passes and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, enhancing its value.

However, the Delta SkyMiles Gold is still worth considering for those loyal to Delta, offering high rewards on Delta flights and U.S. groceries.

MoneyGeek's comparison breaks down the card details, rewards and perks to help you decide which is right for you.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card is likely to be better for frequent Delta flyers who want to maximize their rewards on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets and dining worldwide. It offers a generous sign-up bonus and benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding.

The Unite Explorer Card is likely to be better for travelers who frequently fly with United Airlines and value perks like United Club passes and a lower annual fee. This card offers 2X miles on dining, hotel stays, and United purchases, making it suitable for those who spend in these categories.

Point-by-point comparisons of APRs, fees, required credit, rewards, introductory offers and other features help you determine which card best meets your needs. For example, if you spend heavily on dining, United Explorer's 2X miles on dining might suit you better than Delta SkyMiles Gold's 1X rate on non-Delta purchases.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card provides 2X miles on Delta purchases, U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, making it a strong choice for those who spend heavily in these categories. Meanwhile, the United Explorer Card offers 2X miles on dining, hotel stays and United purchases, appealing to those who frequently dine out or stay in hotels.

Both cards use airline miles as their rewards unit, with Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus miles each valued at approximately 1.4 cents. This makes them comparable in terms of rewards value for those indifferent to airline loyalty. Below is a table summarizing the bonus categories for each card.

Delta SkyMiles are best redeemed for Delta flights and upgrades, offering excellent value. They never expire, providing flexibility. United miles can be used for flights, car rentals and more, but have limited transfer partners. Both programs offer valuable options, but Delta's redemptions are more straightforward for frequent Delta flyers.

Delta SkyMiles Gold offers more valuable perks for typical travelers, with a total value of $911. It includes a $200 Delta flight credit and savings on checked bags. United Explorer, valued at $795, stands out with lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance, appealing to frequent travelers.

Travel Perks

• Free checked first bags for you and a companion on Delta flights, saving up to $70 per round-trip per person
• Priority boarding for you and up to eight companions on Delta flights

Insurance & Protections

• Secondary coverage for damage or theft of rental cars
• Coverage for lost, damaged or stolen baggage, with up to $1,250 for checked baggage and $500 for carry-ons

Credits & Discounts

• $200 Delta Flight Credit after spending $10,000 in purchases in a calendar year
• 20% savings on eligible Delta in-flight purchases
• $100 back per year as a statement credit after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays

All Other Perks

• Free enrollment for a complimentary ShopRunner membership, offering free 2-day shipping and free return shipping on eligible items
• Global Assist® Hotline for 24/7 emergency assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home

Travel Perks

• Free checked bag for you and a companion
• Priority boarding
• Two United Club one-time passes per year offer lounge access

Status

• Earn up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP)

Insurance & Protections

• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver provides primary coverage for rental cars
• Travel Insurance (baggage loss/delay, cancellation)

Credits & Discounts

• ID Statement Credit provides a small but useful reimbursement for travel security programs like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• A 25% discount on incidentals applied to in-flight purchases

All Other Perks

• One-year complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.