Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card vs United Explorer Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels, United Explorer Card on dining.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican Express · $350/yr
United Explorer CardChase · $150/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card$350United Explorer Card$150LowestWaived first year
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAs high as 90,000 miles — offers varyUnited Explorer CardUp to 80,000 miles
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMilesUnited Explorer CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardNoneUnited Explorer CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardAmerican ExpressUnited Explorer CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Hotels
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card3xHighestUnited Explorer Card2x
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2xUnited Explorer Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card2xHighestUnited Explorer Card1x
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card1xUnited Explorer Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $150 Delta stays credit
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
- 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
United Explorer Card- $100 United travel
- $100 JSX flights
- $100 United Hotels
- $50 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- Rideshare & transit
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
United Explorer Card- $5/mo rideshare credit · $5 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $10/mo Resy · $10 monthly
United Explorer Card- $10/mo Instacart+ · $10 monthly
- 3-mo Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card—United Explorer Card
- 2 United Club one-time passes annually
- Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions
- Complimentary Upgrade List
United Explorer Card- Free first checked bag for you plus companion
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
United Explorer Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours
United Explorer Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
United Explorer Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Car rental insurance up to $50,000
United Explorer Card- Rental car insurance up to $60,000 coverage
- Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
United Explorer Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
United Explorer Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
United Explorer Card— - Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
United Explorer Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America)
- MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent
- Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
- Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets
- Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
United Explorer Card- $0 intro annual fee first year, then $150—reasonable for the benefits
- Free first checked bag for cardholder and companion saves up to $200 roundtrip
- 3x miles on United, 2x on dining and hotels—solid everyday earning
- Up to $530+ in annual credits (United travel, hotels, rideshare, Instacart, JSX)
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year worth $100+
- Cons
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
- $350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits
- Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal
- No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve)
- Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options
- Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard
United Explorer Card- Only 1x miles on non-category spend limits earning potential
- Best credits require hitting $10K-$20K spend thresholds
- No United Club membership—just 2 single-use passes
- Priority boarding is Group 2, not as early as premium cards
- Miles locked to United MileagePlus with limited transfer flexibility
Expert Analysis
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card and United Explorer Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card's strongest category is Delta Purchases at 3X, while the United Explorer Card leads with 2X on United Purchases. Overall, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card wins in more bonus categories (3 vs 2) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $150/yr vs $350/yr, the United Explorer Card is the more accessible option. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs to deliver at least $200 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X on Delta Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X on Delta Airlines vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X on Grocery Stores vs 1X for the other
- The United Explorer Card costs $150/yr vs $350/yr — a $200 annual gap
- Only the United Explorer Card offers airport lounge access
- Different networks: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is AMEX, United Explorer Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on delta purchases
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on delta airlines
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on united airlines
United Explorer CardUnited Explorer Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
United Explorer CardWithout heavy spending in the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card's premium categories, the $200 fee difference is hard to recover. The United Explorer Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if:
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on delta purchases and delta airlines. At $350/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Explorer Card if:
The United Explorer Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and united airlines and keeping annual costs low. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card wins in 2 of 2 categories. The United Explorer Card leads in 0.
Hotels
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X vs 2X
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | United Explorer Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9 | Rewards: $166 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $198 Year one: $1,188 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571 | Rewards: $662 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $694 Year one: $1,684 | United Explorer Card | United Explorer Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr — that's $200 more than the United Explorer Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $200 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card includes travel credits, dining credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $200 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $200 fee gap means the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card needs roughly $200 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
Get the United Explorer Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the United Explorer Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Explorer Card $150/yr — a $200 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card costs $350/yr vs $150/yr for the United Explorer Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $200 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card also lists travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or United Explorer Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card have that the United Explorer Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The United Explorer Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or the United Explorer Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the United Explorer Card has a lower $150/yr fee; the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $350/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.