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Compare the Features and Benefits of United℠ Explorer Card and
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Credit Card

Detailed Comparison Overview

Key Facts
Annual Fee
Avg. Min. Credit Score
Ongoing APR
Balance transfers fees
Best Multiplier
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
Bonus Offer
Rating
Review
Key features
Unique Card Benefits
Free Checked Bags
Airport Lounge Access
Priority Boarding
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
Trip Protections
Purchase Protection
Extended Warranty
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Concierge Services
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Free Access to Credit Score
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Annual Statement Credits
Grants Car Rental Status
Cell Phone Protection
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
Return Protection
Does Not Report Credit Line to Personal Credit Profile
Metal Card
Amex Offers
Annual Fee
$0 Introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $95
Avg. Min. Credit Score
670-850
Ongoing APR
21.24%-28.24% (Variable)
Balance transfers fees
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Best Multiplier
2x Airfare

On United flights only; otherwise earn 1X

2x Dining Out / Food Delivery
2x Hotels
1x Everything Else
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.012
Bonus Offer
Earn 60,000 United MileagePlus® Miles after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months of opening an account, plus the Annual Fee waived for the first year.
Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(4.05) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

The United Explorer is one of the best credit cards out there for occasional United flyers. That’s because you’ll get useful perks, such as free first checked bags, priority boarding privileges, a 25% food and beverage discount on board United operated flights, and even get a taste of airport lounge access with two anniversary United Club passes. Plus. the annual fee is waived the first year, then just $95 thereafter.

Consider this scenario: Even if you only fly United a couple of times per year, the Explorer Card is worth it for the free checked bag benefit alone. Keep in mind, this applies to the primary card holder and one companion on the same reservation, as long as you use the card to pay for your ticket. At $35 for one checked bag, and $140 for a round-trip flight for two people, it’s easy to get value that exceeds the card’s annual fee.

In addition to the sign-up bonus earned after account opening, the United Explorer card earns a decent 2X miles on United Airlines purchases, 2X miles on dining, including eligible delivery services, 2X miles on hotel stays when booked with the hotel and 1x miles on all other purchases. Also, the card helps to fast track your United elite status goals with 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases (up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year). These PQPs can be applied toward your Premier status qualification — up to the Premier 1K level.

And don’t forget the ability to earn PQPs towards elite status from spend. You’ll earn 25 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $500 you spend on purchases – up to 1,000 PQPs per year.

If you’re in need of extra miles besides flying on United flights, keep in mind that Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to the United Mileage Plus program at a 1:1 ratio to help you top up your miles balance.

While the United Explorer card is a fantastic option for the occasional United flyer, those that travel more often with the airline might want to consider other options, including United’s other, more premium, credit cards.

In more simple terms, the Explorer card fits the “occasional United flyer” once or twice per year mold, while the $250-per-year United Quest fits the “semi-frequent United flyer.” Then, there’s the United Club Infinite Card for the “frequent United flyer.” If you’re looking for a United Club membership and need more than just two one-time passes, you’ll probably be better off with the United Club Infinite Card, which comes with a full United Club membership but also charges the highest annual fee of the United cards at $525.

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Free Checked Bags
yes
Airport Lounge Access
yes
Priority Boarding
yes
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
yes
Trip Protections
yes
Purchase Protection
yes
Extended Warranty
yes
No Foreign Transaction Fees
yes
Concierge Services
yes
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
yes
Free Access to Credit Score
yes
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
Annual Statement Credits
no
Grants Car Rental Status
no
Cell Phone Protection
no
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
no
Return Protection
no
Does Not Report Credit Line to Personal Credit Profile
no
Metal Card
no
Amex Offers
no
Annual Fee
$650 (Rates and fees)
Avg. Min. Credit Score
Good-Excellent
Ongoing APR
20.24%-29.24% (Variable)
Balance transfers fees
-
Best Multiplier
3x Airfare

Multiplier only applies to flights booked on Delta, otherwise earn 1X

1.5x Transit
1.5x Shipping

U.S. Shipping only

1.5x Office Supplies

U.S. office supply stores only

1x All Other Eligible Purchases
Avg. Point Value
(Learn More)
$0.012
Bonus Offer
Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
Rating
YBCC Card Rate Stars Filled
YBCC Card Rate Stars Empty
(3.88) Our Review

Our ratings are determined by the authors and editors on our team. Each individual card feature is compared against all other cards we offer and the total score is an average of those 4 ratings.

Review

Business owners who want to separate their personal and business expenses and maximize thousands of dollars in spend have no shortage of business cards to choose from. For frequent Delta flyers, the Delta Reserve Business American Express Card is among the most rewarding options out there once you can overlook the steep $650 annual fee.

delta credit card

Racking up Delta SkyMiles for award flights can be done effortlessly with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card. You’ll earn 3x bonus miles on eligible Delta purchases.

But the kicker is that you’ll start to earn a higher mileage accelerator once you spend $150,000 on the card annually — that’s when you’ll start to earn 1.5x miles on all eligible purchases. You’ll also earn 1.5X miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases. (If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.) Earn 1x miles per dollar spent on all other eligible non-bonus purchases.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cardholders can save 15% when redeeming SkyMiles for all award flights operated by Delta, which can add up significantly the more you book Delta award flights.

And there are a number of Delta-related benefits that extend to you and up to eight companions on the same reservation such as your first checked bag free and Main Cabin 1 priority boarding.

While you won’t get any free guest access, you can bring up to two guests for a $50 charge per person, or redeem one of your four guest passes you’ll get as a Delta Business Reserve cardholder every year.

Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

Other ways to recoup the $650 annual fee include the annual companion certificate, which allows you to get a ‘buy one, get one’ ticket for just the cost of government imposed taxes and fees (less than $80). This award is valid for domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights in nearly any of Delta’s classes of service, including for domestic First or Business Class (only Delta One is excluded).

night, city, shanghai

The card features a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application statement credit and ample trip and purchase protections that will help elevate your business travels.

And you’ll also receive up to $610 in statement credits each year with up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card, up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Enrollment Required) and up to $250 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. (Terms apply)

Don’t forget the opportunity to earn MQDs!

Earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card and receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year.

The Delta Reserve Business American Express card is a solid choice for business owners who are able to reap all the excellent benefits, but note that it may take significant card spend for you to justify the $650 annual fee year after year.

Rates and Fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Credit Card

Read more
Unique Card Benefits
yes
Free Checked Bags
yes
Airport Lounge Access
yes
Priority Boarding
yes
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
yes
Trip Protections
yes
Purchase Protection
yes
Extended Warranty
yes
No Foreign Transaction Fees
yes
Concierge Services
yes
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
yes
Free Access to Credit Score
yes
Primary Car Rental CDW Waiver
no
Annual Statement Credits
yes
Grants Car Rental Status
yes
Cell Phone Protection
yes
Secondary Car Rental CDW Waiver
yes
Return Protection
yes
Does Not Report Credit Line to Personal Credit Profile
yes
Metal Card
yes
Amex Offers
yes

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