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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum
vs
United Explorer.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

American Express

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum

Annual fee

$350

Points

Delta SkyMiles

Signup bonus

Currently around 75K to 90K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →3x on Delta and select hotels
  • →2x on dining and grocery (up to $5K)
  • →1x everywhere else

Top perks

  • →Annual companion certificate good in Main Cabin (48 contiguous states)
  • →First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
  • →20% off in-flight Delta purchases
See Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum detailsarrow_forward

Chase

United Explorer

Annual fee

$150

Points

United MileagePlus

Signup bonus

Currently around 60K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →2x on United purchases and travel
  • →2x on dining and select streaming
  • →1x everywhere else

Top perks

  • →First checked bag free
  • →Priority boarding (Group 2)
  • →2 United Club one-time passes each year
See United Explorer detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum wins if

Pick this if you fly Delta a few times a year and want the companion certificate without paying Reserve prices.

Honest downside: Companion certificate is Main Cabin only, far less valuable than the Reserve's First Class cert.

United Explorer wins if

Pick this if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Honest downside: No lounge membership. Earn rate is mediocre. Fee jumped from $95 to $150 in 2026, which weakens the value if you fly United only once or twice a year.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex Delta SkyMiles PlatinumUnited Explorer
Annual fee$350$150
Points currencyDelta SkyMilesUnited MileagePlus
Signup bonusCurrently around 75K to 90K milesCurrently around 60K miles
Top earn category3x on Delta and select hotels2x on United purchases and travel
Second earn category2x on dining and grocery (up to $5K)2x on dining and select streaming
Third earn category1x everywhere else1x everywhere else
Signature perkAnnual companion certificate good in Main Cabin (48 contiguous states)First checked bag free
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum or United Explorer?

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Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum wins if you fly Delta a few times a year and want the companion certificate without paying Reserve prices. United Explorer wins if you fly United a few times a year. The bag credit and priority boarding usually cover the $150 fee on a single round trip.

Can I have both the Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum and the United Explorer?

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Yes. These are issued by different banks (American Express and Chase), so they don't conflict on application rules. Many travelers carry both to stack the strongest benefits from each card's ecosystem.

Which has the higher annual fee, Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum or United Explorer?

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Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum has the higher annual fee at $350, compared to $150 for United Explorer. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.