American vs Delta vs United — we compared the 3 most popular airline credit cards and named a winner
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- If you fly even just a couple of times a year, it's worth having an airline credit card.
- Perks and benefits that come with these cards, like free checked bags, priority boarding, or lounge passes, make flying easier and more enjoyable — and can save you money.
- We compared some of the most popular mainstream credit cards from the three big US airlines — American, United, and Delta.
- Read on to see what we found, and which one is best for you.
One of the best ways to earn a bunch of frequent flyer miles quickly is to open an airline credit card and earn the new card member bonus.
While a card that earns transferable points — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred — typically has more valuable and flexible rewards than fixed program cards, airline cards win in two respects.
If you generally fly with one preferred airline, and earn frequent flyer miles on that program when you travel, then it can make sense to earn the same kind of miles from your credit card. Between the mileage earning from both, your miles will add up quicker.
Second, airline credit cards come with various perks, specific to that airline, that can save you a ton of time and money. Things like complimentary checked bags, priority boarding, and even day passes to airport lounges will have you feeling like you're flying first class even when you're in basic economy.
Each of the three major US airlines (American, Delta, and United) offers a few different credit cards, but among the most popular are the "mainstream" cards. These products have annual fees between $95–$99 — often waived the first year — and feature benefits that appeal to everyone from casual fliers to road warriors.
Obviously, if you typically fly just one airline, or if you live somewhere that serves as a hub for one carrier, that airline's card is the best for you. However, if you live in an area serviced by several airlines or you have your choice, then you should consider each card before choosing one. While they all have similar features and benefits, and all offer a great value to cardholders, we've compared them and found that one stands out above the rest. Read on to see which it is.
Keep in mind that we're focusing on earning rewards and perks, not things like interest rates and late fees, which can far outweigh the value of any rewards or benefits.
When you're working to earn credit card rewards or take advantage of travel benefits, it's important to practice financial discipline, like paying your balances off in full each month, making payments on time, and not spending more than you can afford to pay back — or spending more than you would otherwise. Basically, treat your credit card like a debit card.
Click here to learn more about the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
Click here to learn more about the United MileagePlus Explorer card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
First up is American Airlines: the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard.
Fasttailwind/Shutterstock
The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard recently announced a few new benefits and positive changes to the card, which have made it particularly useful.
Currently, Citi and American offer a sign-up bonus of 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles when you spend $2,500 in the first three months with the card.
50,000 miles (or at least 52,500, when you factor in the miles you'll earn for completing the minimum spending requirement) can get you far on American Airlines. Based on American Airlines' award chart, it's nearly enough miles for a round-trip flight to Europe or South America during peak season, a one-way ticket to Europe in business class, or at least two domestic round-trips (or more, depending on the distance).
The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum card earns 2x miles per dollar spent on American Airlines purchases. Citi also recently added a few new bonus categories — new card members will earn 2x miles on restaurants and at gas stations, too (existing card members will start earning bonus miles on dining and gas on July 22). You'll earn 1x mile on everything else.
The card comes with a suite of useful benefits for American Airlines flyers.
You and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation each get a free checked bag on domestic flights (since American Airlines is a full-service carrier, most international flights include the first checked bag for free). Because the first checked bag is usually $25 each way, this benefit can save you $50 on a round-trip itinerary.
In addition, you and everyone on your reservation get preferred boarding — joining an earlier boarding zone. That gives you more time to settle in — and earlier access to the overhead bins, so that you can make sure you'll have room to store your bag.
The card also offers 25% discount on in-flight purchases, such as food and drinks, and access to discounted mileage award flights. Plus, you'll get 10% of all redeemed miles back each year up to 10,000 miles.
Another new perk: When you spend $20,000 or more on the card in a card membership year, you'll get a $100 discount on your next American Airlines flight (that's in addition to the miles you'll earn on those purchases).
The card has a $99 annual fee, which is waived for the first 12 months. It has no foreign transaction fees.
Click here to learn more about the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
Next is the United Mileage Plus Explorer Card.
United
The United Explorer Card from Chase is a solid option for United flyers. The card is actually being discontinued and replaced with a new product, the United Explorer Credit Card, on June 1, according to Zach Honig at The Points Guy — however, you can still apply for the current version, and you'll be automatically transferred to the new version with all other existing cardholders.
The United Explorer card offers 40,000 United miles when you spend $2,000 in the first three months. While the card has occasionally offered higher targeted offers, those typically don't waive the $95 annual fee for the first year — this current public offer does.
Like the other airlines' sub-$100 cards, the United card — both the current version and the new one — offers a free checked bag for the cardholder. Up to two traveling companions booking at the same time can also get a free checked bag each. Unlike the other airlines' cards, though, you'll have to actually buy the tickets with the United card in order to get the free checked bags — simply having the card isn't enough.
For those who don't have checked bags, the card offers priority boarding for everyone on your reservation — you'll get this benefit even if you pay for the tickets with another card. By boarding earlier, you can make sure to snag overhead space for your carry-on.
A unique benefit to the United card — each year, you'll get two complimentary passes to United Club lounges each year. If you get to the airport early or end up dealing with a delay, you can head to the lounge and enjoy free snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating.
When you spend $25,000 in a calendar year, you'll also get a PQD waiver — PQDs, or "Premier Qualifying Dollars," count toward earning elite status with the airline. When that requirement is waived, you'll earn status just based on how much you've flown, rather than how much you've flown and how much you've spent that year.
The card earns 2x miles per dollar spent on all United purchases, and when the card is rebranded in June, it will also earn 2x miles on all dining and hotel spending. It will continue earning 1x mile on everything else. There are no foreign transaction fees.
Other new features being added to the card include a fee credit to cover the cost of enrolling in Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, and a 25% discount on all in-flight United purchases.
One unique — but unpublished — perk of the card is that having it helps you access additional United award space. That means that you'll have an easier time finding the flights you want when it's time to actually use your miles. This benefit will remain when the card is changed to the new version.
Click here to learn more about the United Explorer card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
Finally, there's the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card from American Express.
David Slotnick/Business Insider
Until September 19, the Gold Delta Amex is offering 60,000 bonus Delta SkyMiles when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first four months. In terms of points, this is the highest-ever public offer on the Gold card, although in the past it's also offered a statement credit.
In addition to the welcome offer, the card comes with a handful of incredibly useful (and valuable) perks.
If you have the card open, you get a free checked bag on Delta flights, as does each other person on your reservation. Delta normally charges $25 for the first checked bag on each flight — so $50 for a round-trip — meaning that for a family of four, the free checked bag benefit would save $200.
The card also offers priority boarding to everyone on the cardholder's reservation. If you aren't checking a bag, that can come in useful — by boarding a little earlier, you'll get better access to the overhead compartments and won't have to worry about space running out.
For those who travel periodically, but not often enough to justify investing in a lounge membership (or getting access to Delta Sky Club lounges through the Amex Platinum Card), the Gold Delta SkyMiles card also offers discounted day passes to Delta's lounges — $29 per person, instead of the usual $59. That can be a useful backup to have in case you ever find yourself with a long layover or a delay.
Other benefits include a 20% discount on in-flight purchases (in the form of a statement credit), such as food or drinks, and no foreign transaction fees.
The card earns 2x Delta SkyMiles on every dollar spent with Delta, and one SkyMile per dollar spent on everything else. The card has an annual fee of $95, which is waived the first year.
While the Gold Delta card is a great option, you may also want to consider the Platinum version. Although it has a higher annual fee —$195, not waived the first year — it offers a companion pass each year on your cardmember anniversary. Plus, it currently has a welcome offer of 70,000 SkyMiles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months — also until September 19. You can learn more about the companion pass benefit and the Platinum SkyMiles card here.
Click here to learn more about the Gold Delta SkyMiles card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- 7 reasons to open the Chase Sapphire Preferred — even though the card doesn't come with as many flashy perks as the Sapphire Reserve
- I carry both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited card — but there's an obvious winner if I could only open one
- Amex Platinum vs Amex Business Platinum: We compared the credit cards in 9 areas and the choice is obvious
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