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Even if you fly just a few times each year, co-branded airline credit cards can provide benefits that make it easy to justify paying an annual fee. For many travelers, paying a sub-$100 annual fee to get a free first checked bag and other savings makes a lot of sense.
Premium airline rewards credit cards take this a step further with benefits that make it feel like you have top-tier elite status. In this post, we break down the welcome offers, earning potential, and feature benefits for the premium Delta, American, and United credit cards.
Hopefully, comparing the major similarities and differences among these premium airline credit cards can help you decide which is right for you.
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Overview of the Best Premium Airline Credit Cards
With the constant changes to premium co-branded cards, picking the best one can be challenging. There’s a significant overlap between premium card perks and benefits, and comparing these airline credit cards reveals more similarities than differences. However, individual benefits vary and can significantly impact which card will provide the best long-term value.
We’ve compiled a summary of each card in the table below, followed by a deeper analysis of key features. We'll cover lounge access policies, free checked baggage, travel protection benefits, and perks to elevate your travel experience with each airline.
| Benefits | The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $595 | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 | $175 for the first three authorized users, then $175 each | $175 (Rates & Fees) |
| Welcome Offer | Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | For a limited time, earn 100,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. |
| Bonus Earnings Toward Elite Status | Earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent (up to 28,000 PQP spent in a calendar year) | 10,000 Loyalty Points boost after earning 50,000 Loyalty Points in a single year, and another 10,000 after earning 90,000 LP. | • 2,500 MQDs head start each year • 1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card each year |
| Category Bonus | • 4x miles on United purchases • 2x miles on dining • 2x miles on all other travel • 1x on all other purchases | • 10x at aa.com/hotels and aa.com/cars • 4x on American flights (plus, after you've spent $150,000 on eligible purchases, earn 5x on AA purchases through the end of that calendar year) • 1x on all other purchases | • 3x on Delta purchases • 1x on other eligible purchases |
| Lounge Access | • United Club (1 adult and dependent children under 18 years of age) (Authorized users do not get their own membership) | • Admirals Club (+ 2 guests or immediate family) (AU cardholders also get access via their own membership) | • Delta Sky Club® & international partner lounges when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed/operated flight • 4X one-time guest passes for complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club • The Centurion Lounge - When flying a same-day Delta-marketed/operated flight paid for with a U.S.-issued American Express rewards Card Reserve Card members get 15 Delta Sky Club visits yearly. Spend $75,000+ on the card in a calendar year for unlimited visits - Learn more.) |
| Elite Status | • Avis President’s Club membership • IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status | N/A | Hertz President's Circle Status |
| Free Checked Bags | • 2 each for you and a companion on the same ticket • Ticket must be purchased using this card to qualify for the benefit | • Free first checked bag for cardholder and up to 8 companions • Adding your AAdvantage number to the reservation triggers the benefit | • 1 each for you and up to 8 companions on the same ticket • Adding your SkyMiles number to the reservation triggers the benefit |
| Companion Flight Ticket | N/A | N/A | • Domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip companion certificate each year in First Class, Delta Comfort+® or Main Cabin upon renewal of your Card • Pay just taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) |
| In-Flight Benefits | • 25% back (as a statement credit) on food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on board United- and United Express-operated flights | • 25% off in-flight purchases on AA domestic flights, which comes as a statement credit • Applies to food and beverage purchases only, not Wi-Fi | • 20% discount on pre-purchased meals and in-flight purchases of food, alcoholic beverages and audio headsets • Comes as a statement credit • Does not apply to WiFi purchases |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit | Every 4 years | Every 4 years | • Every 4 years for Global Entry • Every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck |
| Trip Delay | • 12 hours • $500 | • 6 hours • $500 | • 6 hours • $500 |
| Baggage Delay | • 6 hours • $100 day up to 3 days | N/A | N/A |
| Auto Rental CDW | Primary coverage and provides reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less. | Secondary in the U.S., primary outside the U.S. for up to $75K | Secondary up to $75K |
| Additional Perks & Benefits | • Expanded award availability • Premier Access (priority airport services) • Close-in award fees waived • Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets •Instacart+ Membership • Various statement credits including rideshare, rental cars, and Instacart+ | • Priority check-in, airport screening, and early boarding • Up to $120 in annual credits with Avis and Budget on prepaid rentals • Up to $120 in annual Lyft credits • Up to $120 in annual Grubhub credits | • Priority boarding • Up to $200 Delta Stays credit annually • Up to $120 Rideshare credit annually • Up to $240 Resy credit annually |
*Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Welcome offer
As Delta's top-tier consumer card, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card often has welcome offers to match. New applicants can earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Compared to other premium airline credit cards, the Delta Reserve has the most varied offer history. If you are planning to use this card's benefits right away, you will earn more bonus points with this recently increased offer.
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Earning potential and bonus categories
If you frequently book travel on Delta, few cards offer more rewards for doing so than the Delta Reserve. However, that's about the extent of what the card earns miles handsomely on. You'll earn Delta SkyMiles on purchases as follows:
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
Amex recently refreshed the benefits of the Delta Reserve. Cardholders receive complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when traveling same-day on Delta, plus, you receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
(Reserve Card members get 15 Delta Sky Club visits yearly. Spend $75,000+ in purchases on the card for unlimited visits in a calendar year – Learn more about Delta's status changes for 2024/2025.)
You also receive a Delta Companion Certificate each year you renew the card. The certificate is valid for Delta First Class, Comfort+, or Main Cabin flights to to Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and the continental United States. All you'll pay is the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
Plus, you'll get a free checked bag and priority boarding. These benefits also extend to up to 8 companions flying on the same itinerary. And, if something goes wrong, Amex recently added a new trip delay policy to this card that kicks in after a delay of only 6 hours.
And as part of the recent changes, American Express added $560 worth of annual statement credits to the card:
- Up to $240 Resy credit (available as $20 per month)
- Up to $120 rideshare credit (available as $10 per month)
- Up to $200 Delta Stays credit
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
The New United Club℠ Card
Welcome offer
Netting a sign-up bonus on The New United Club℠ Card is a great way to earn a lot of MileagePlus miles. Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership - at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight - up to two times each calendar year
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Earning potential and bonus categories
If you book a lot of United flights, the United Club is the card to have. It also offers bonus points on all travel purchases, including those from other airlines.
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
The feature benefit of the United Club is United Club lounge access for the primary cardholder, plus two adults or one adult and dependent children under 21 years of age. United charges up to $750 for an annual United Club membership, so you are essentially getting a discounted lounge membership in addition to all the other perks and benefits, not to mention the signup bonus.
Other notable benefits include:
- Free first and second checked bags
- Earn up to 28,000 Premier Qualifying Points per calendar year (1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases)
- Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck credit
- Complimentary upgrades on award tickets
- 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada — on top of expanded award inventory
You won’t pay a fee to add any additional cardholders, but they won’t get lounge access unless they are traveling with the primary cardholder. The United Club offers some great travel protection benefits for a co-brand card, including trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, and baggage delay coverage.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
Welcome offer
As a new applicant for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, you can earn 70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first 3 months of account opening. It's a helpful bonus if you want to stock up on valuable miles.
While it may not routinely be the biggest-looking welcome offer of all three cards, American hasn't devalued its miles to the extent United and Delta have — and continue to do.
- Complimentary Admirals Club® membership for the primary cardholder
- Admirals Club® membership for authorized user accounts
- First checked bag free on domestic AA flights for you and up to 8 companions
- Priority check-in, TSA screening lines, and boarding
- 10,000 bonus Loyalty Points after you spend $40,000 in purchases within the year
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
- Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Earning potential and bonus categories
The earning rates on the AA Executive Card are average in comparison to other airline cards. However, if you're serious about collecting AA miles, leveraging its 10X and 4X categories can help you pad your balance quickly. Here's a look at the card's earning rates:
- Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
- Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
Similar to the cards above, the flagship benefit of the AA Executive Card is the complimentary Admirals Club membership you receive for holding the $595 annual fee card.
American charges up to $850 a year for Admirals Club membership if you don’t hold elite status, so obtaining it via the AA Executive Card offers a huge discount over purchasing an annual membership.
A unique benefit of this card is that authorized user accounts also gain Admirals Club access! However, there is a cost for this: $175 for the first three authorized users, then $175 each.
You’ll also get a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions traveling on the same ticket, 25% off in-flight purchases, priority check-in, airport screening, early boarding, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit. And on purchases made abroad, you'll pay no foreign transaction fees.
Head-To-Head Comparison of Premium Airline Credit Cards
If you're deciding between two premium airline credit cards, choose the one associated with the carrier you fly the most. But if you fly two airlines with the same frequency or are looking for a new airline of choice, here's a look at the main differentiating factor of each card in a head-to-head format.
AA Executive Card vs. United Club
Torn between the AA Executive Card and the United Club? Of the two, the United Club stands out for its stronger overall travel protection benefits. It offers primary rental car insurance, baggage delay coverage, and trip delay reimbursement, which makes it more valuable for road warriors. And remember, these airline-related benefits apply when you fly more than just United, provided you use the card to pay for your trip.
The AA Executive Card‘s offerings are more minimal. You'll enjoy secondary auto rental coverage and trip delay insurance but won't have access to a baggage delay benefit.
- Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership - at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight - up to two times each calendar year
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Delta Reserve vs. AA Executive Card
The AA Executive Card and the Delta Reserve are two very different cards. However, one thing that is a clear differentiator between the cards is that the Delta Reserve offers a companion certificate and the AA Executive Card does not.
If you travel with a companion regularly, you may find a lot of value in using your companion certificate every year. Depending on the flight you book, it's possible to save hundreds of dollars on a given Delta itinerary. While other pros might tip the scales in favor of the AA Executive Card, the lack of a companion certificate is one of the most glaring differences.
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
United Club vs. Delta Reserve
On balance, the United Club is far more action-packed than the Delta Reserve. You get to check more bags for free with United's premium card, enjoy elite status in two brands (IHG and Avis) compared to just one with Delta (Hertz), and get a bigger discount on in-flight purchases. However, the biggest distinction between the two cards is the earning rates.
With the United Club, you can earn bonus miles on United purchases, dining, and all other travel. With the Delta Reserve, you can earn bonus miles on Delta purchases. Thus, if you plan to use your premium airline card for more than just purchases with the airline whose logo is on the front, you'll be better off applying for the United Club.
- Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ card membership - at least a $750 value
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight - up to two times each calendar year
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Final Thoughts
Due to the high annual fees on premium airline cards, you also need to make the most of big-ticket benefits like lounge access and free checked bags to justify keeping the card year after year. If you fly a legacy carrier more than a few times a year and can take full advantage of the benefits on offer, any of these three cards can provide outsized value.
This comparison evaluated numerous similarities and differences among premium airline credit cards. Our winner is the United Club, but make sure to do the math to ensure it's a good fit for you.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
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