AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here’s our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the Citi® /
Even if you fly just a few times each year, co-branded airline
Premium airline
Comparing the major similarities and differences among these premium airline credit cards can help you decide which is right for you.
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 significant overlap among their perks and benefits, but comparing the differences can have a big impact on which card provides the best long-term value.
We’ve summarized each card in the table below, followed by a deeper analysis of key features. We'll cover lounge access, free checked baggage, travel protection, and perks to elevate your travel experience with each airline.
| Benefits | United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® | Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 (Rates & Fees) | $695 | $650 |
| Authorized User Fee | $0 (Rates & Fees) | $175 for the first three authorized users, then $175 each | $175 |
| Welcome 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 125,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $15,000 in purchases in the first 5 months of account opening. | Earn two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026. |
| 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 |
| 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.) |
| 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 • Additional second free checked bag for cardholders on Delta domestic flights • 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 Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main upon renewal of your Card • Pay just taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) |
| 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 two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus 50,000
Compared to other premium airline credit cards, the Delta Reserve has had some of the most varied offers over the years.
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
Delta Reserve cardholders receive complimentary Delta Sky Club® access when traveling same-day on Delta, plus four Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year. After that, you can bring up to two guests for $50 per person, per visit. However, cardholders are limited to 15 Delta Sky Club visits per Medallion Year unless they spend $75,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.
You also receive a Delta Companion Certificate each year after renewing the card. The certificate is valid for round-trip itineraries in Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main flights to the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America. All you'll pay is the government-imposed taxes and fees.
Plus, you'll get priority boarding and a free checked bag for up to eight companions flying on the same reservation. The card also includes the following annual credits:
- 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
The Delta Reserve also offers travel protections, including trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage insurance, and car rental loss and damage insurance.
For more information on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, you can read our full Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review here.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
United Club℠ Card
Welcome offer
Netting a sign-up bonus on the United Club℠ Card is a great way to earn a lot of MileagePlus miles. Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
The standout benefit of the United Club is United Club lounge access. Cardholders can visit United Club locations with eligible guests, making this one of the card’s most valuable perks.
Other notable benefits include:
- Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion on the same reservation
- 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 eligible award tickets for MileagePlus Premier members
- Expanded access to additional MileagePlus award availability
- 10% United Economy Saver Award discount on United/United Express flights within the continental U.S. or between the continental U.S. and Canada.
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.
For more information on the United Club℠ Card, you can read our full United Club℠ Card review here.
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®
Welcome offer
As a new applicant for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®, you can earn 125,000
Feature benefits and lounge access perks
Similar to the cards above, the standout benefit of the AA Executive Card is the complimentary Admirals Club® membership you receive as the primary cardholder.
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 reservation, 25% off in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi 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.
The AA Executive Card also offers travel protections, including trip delay protection, trip cancellation and interruption protection, lost or damaged luggage coverage, and rental car insurance.
For more information on the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard®, you can read our full Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Legend Mastercard® review here.
Head-To-Head Comparison of Premium Airline Credit Cards
If you're deciding among these premium airline credit cards, the best fit will usually be the one associated with the carrier you fly most often. But if you split your travel among multiple airlines or are looking for a new airline of choice, here's a look at some of the main differences among the cards.
AA Executive Card vs. United Club Card vs. Delta Reserve Card
While these premium airline cards share many similarities, each has a few key differences.
- Top reasons to choose the AA Executive Card: Admirals Club access for authorized users, plus annual credits for eligible American Airlines Vacations purchases, Lyft rides, and Avis or Budget rentals.
- Top reasons to choose the United Club card: Primary rental car insurance, baggage delay insurance, and expanded access to additional MileagePlus award availability
- Top reasons to choose the Delta Reserve card: Annual companion certificate, Amex Centurion Lounge access, and annual statement credits on rideshare, Delta Stays, and Resy.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Which Premium Airline Card Is Right for You?
The biggest factor in deciding which of these three premium airline credit cards is right for you will usually be your travel plans. You might already have a preferred airline among these three, whether that's due to airline elite status, travel schedules, being an airline hub captive, or another factor.
In that case, it will usually make the most sense to get the premium credit card for the airline you fly most often. After all, lounge access won’t do you much good if you rarely fly that carrier.
$695
- Earn 12X 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
$650
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$695Rates & Fees
- Earn at least 11X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
- 5X miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
- 5X miles on eligible United purchases
- 2X miles on dining and all other travel
- 1X on all other purchases
- 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
- 5X miles on entire United purchases with the United Club℠ Card
Final Thoughts
With their high annual fees, premium airline cards make the most sense when you can take advantage of benefits like lounge access, free checked bags, and other airline-specific perks. 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.
Ultimately, the right card will depend on which airline you fly most often and which benefits you’ll actually use.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
![Take the Benefits for a Test Drive: Top Rewards Cards With Introductory $0 Annual Fees [2026]](https://awardwallet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Featured_Man-holding-a-credit-card-in-front-of-a-laptop-screen.jpeg)
