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Card vs Card Comparison

Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve
vs
United Club Infinite.

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 Reserve

Annual fee

$650

Points

Delta SkyMiles

Signup bonus

Currently around 60K to 100K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →3x on Delta flights
  • →1x on everything else (weakest baseline)

Top perks

  • →Delta Sky Club access plus Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta
  • →Annual companion certificate good in domestic First Class
  • →Reserve MQM boost toward Medallion status
See Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve detailsarrow_forward

Chase

United Club Infinite

Annual fee

$695

Points

United MileagePlus

Signup bonus

Currently around 80K to 110K miles after spend, see issuer for the current offer

Top earning rates

  • →4x on United purchases
  • →2x on travel and dining
  • →1x everywhere else

Top perks

  • →United Club lounge membership
  • →Premier Access boarding and free checked bag
  • →Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
See United Club Infinite detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve wins if

Pick this if Delta is your default airline and you would buy a Sky Club membership anyway.

Honest downside: 1x baseline earn is genuinely poor. Only makes sense if Delta is your dominant airline.

United Club Infinite wins if

Pick this if you fly United often enough that you would buy a Club membership separately ($650 a year retail).

Honest downside: The lounge access makes or breaks the value. If you do not use United Clubs, the fee does not pencil out.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecAmex Delta SkyMiles ReserveUnited Club Infinite
Annual fee$650$695
Points currencyDelta SkyMilesUnited MileagePlus
Signup bonusCurrently around 60K to 100K milesCurrently around 80K to 110K miles
Top earn category3x on Delta flights4x on United purchases
Second earn category1x on everything else (weakest baseline)2x on travel and dining
Third earn categoryStandard 1x earn1x everywhere else
Signature perkDelta Sky Club access plus Centurion Lounge access when flying DeltaUnited Club lounge membership
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve or United Club Infinite?

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Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve wins if delta is your default airline and you would buy a Sky Club membership anyway. United Club Infinite wins if you fly United often enough that you would buy a Club membership separately ($650 a year retail).

Can I have both the Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve and the United Club Infinite?

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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 Reserve or United Club Infinite?

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United Club Infinite has the higher annual fee at $695, compared to $650 for Amex Delta SkyMiles Reserve. Whether the pricier card is worth the difference depends on which credits and perks you use each year.