Card terms, credits and lounge rules change often — confirm on the issuer's page before you apply.
The United Club card and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve are the top airline cards for United and Delta loyalists. The United Club card is a lounge membership first: unlimited United Club visits with a guest, plus two free checked bags. The Delta Reserve is a bundle: 15 Sky Club visits, a premium companion certificate and a fast track to Medallion status. Verdict: pick by hub. If you're truly undecided, the United Club card is the better lounge product and the Reserve is the better all-round value if you'll use its companion certificate.
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Quick answer
- Pick the United Club card if: you fly United out of Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark, San Francisco, Washington Dulles or Los Angeles, use lounges often, and check bags.
- Pick the Delta Reserve if: you fly Delta, will use a companion certificate each year, and want Centurion Lounge access on Delta days too.
- Winner for lounges: United Club card. Unlimited visits with one adult guest and your children under 18. The Reserve caps you at 15 Sky Club visits a year unless you spend $75,000.
- Winner for everyday earning: United Club card, slightly. 2x on travel and dining and United miles worth ~1.35¢, versus 1x and ~1.2¢ on the Reserve outside Delta.
- Winner on net cost: Delta Reserve. It's $45 cheaper up front, nets about $370 against the United Club card's $510 on credits alone, and drops to about −$30 if you use the companion certificate.
Free tool: see which airport lounges your credit cards get you into, with guest rules at kritdeals.com/lounges, or in the free KritDeals app for iPhone and Android.
Side by side
| United Club card | Delta SkyMiles Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $695 | $650 |
| Welcome offer | See the current offer | Two round-trip Delta Comfort certificates + 50,000 miles after $10,000 in 6 months (ends 4 Nov 2026) |
| Earning | 5x other United purchases (Chase quotes up to 11x on United flights including flying miles), 2x travel and dining, 1x else | 3x Delta, 1x most else |
| Points worth | ~1.35¢ (MileagePlus) | ~1.2¢ (SkyMiles) |
| Lounge access | United Club membership, unlimited, 1 adult guest + kids; All Access at Premier Gold or $50K | 15 Sky Club visits/yr + 4 guest passes; Centurion when flying Delta |
| Key credits | Instacart $240, Renowned Hotels $200, JSX $200, rideshare $150, Avis/Budget $100 | Delta Stays $200, dining and rideshare credits, companion certificate |
| Authorized users | No membership of their own; enter only with you | Each gets their own 15 Sky Club visits; fee applies |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
Annual fee and real cost
United Club card ($695), conservative use:
- Instacart (two $10 credits a month, up to $240; ends 12/31/27): $80
- Rideshare (up to $150, monthly; enrollment): $75
- Avis/Budget via MileagePlus Travel (up to $100): $30
- Renowned Hotels & Resorts prepaid luxury stays (up to $200): $0 unless you book one
- JSX flights (up to $200): $0 for most people
Total $185, so $695 − $185 = $510 net for the club membership. United sells an Individual membership (you only, no guests) for $750 and All Access for $1,400, so if you'd use the club, the card beats buying it.
Delta Reserve ($650), conservative use:
- Dining credit (about $240 a year): $120
- Delta Stays (up to $200, prepaid hotel via delta.com): $100
- Rideshare benefit (about $120 a year): $60
Total $280, so $650 − $280 = $370 net.
- Companion certificate (First, Comfort or Main; taxes roughly $22–$250): about $400 if you use it, which takes the net to −$30.
Add bags to the United side: first and second checked bags free for you and one companion. Chase says that saves up to $440 per round trip. If you check bags as a couple, that alone can close the $140 gap on credits, though not the gap a used companion certificate opens.
Earning
- Airline purchases: the Club card earns 5x on United purchases like seats and bag fees, and Chase advertises up to 11x total on United flights once you include the miles you earn for flying. The Reserve earns 3x SkyMiles on Delta purchases: 3.6% at 1.2¢.
- Travel and dining: Club card 2x (2.7%); Reserve 1x (1.2%).
- Status: both are strong.
- United Club card: 1,500 bonus Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) a year, plus 1 PQP per $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQP, counting up to Premier 1K. Reaching Premier Gold also upgrades your club membership to All Access.
- Delta Reserve: $2,500 Medallion Qualifying Dollar headstart each year plus MQDs on spending (verify the current rate).
- Award discounts: United cardmembers get at least 10% off award prices on United (15% for Premier members) and a 10,000-mile award discount after $20,000 spend, up to twice a year. The Reserve gets 15% off Delta-operated awards (TakeOff 15).
Redeeming and transfer partners
Both are airline-only currencies. United MileagePlus has free changes, no close-in fees and no fuel surcharges on United, and partner business awards on Star Alliance can hit 3–6¢. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer in 1:1, so a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve can top you up. SkyMiles are dynamic with flash-sale value, and Amex Membership Rewards transfer in 1:1. We value MileagePlus at 1.35¢ and SkyMiles at 1.2¢.
Lounge access
United Club card: membership for you, one adult guest and your dependent children under 18 on each visit. No Star Alliance partner lounges at the base level. Reach Premier Gold or spend $50,000 in a calendar year and you get All Access: two adult guests (or one adult plus children) and Star Alliance lounges. Authorized users have no membership of their own; with All Access and an authorized user, Chase adds four one-time passes each anniversary. No card gets you into Polaris lounges. See United Club access.
Delta Reserve: 15 Sky Club visits per Medallion Year (February 1 to January 31), each covering 24 hours. Four guest passes a year (two per visit max); other guests $50. Unlimited after $75,000 spend. Centurion Lounge access when flying Delta on a ticket bought with the card, two guests at $50 each. Basic Economy never qualifies. See Delta Sky Club access.
A frequent flyer who visits lounges 30 days a year gets every visit on the United card; the Reserve covers half of them.
Travel perks and protections
- United Club card: first and second checked bags free for you and one companion, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 25% back on inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi and premium Club drinks, complimentary Instacart+ (Chase notes it renews at a cost unless cancelled).
- Delta Reserve: first checked bag free for you and companions on the reservation, Sky Priority boarding, 20% back on inflight purchases, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit.
Both have no foreign transaction fees. Check each benefits guide for trip delay and rental-car coverage.
Who should get which
- United hub (ORD, DEN, IAH, EWR, SFO, IAD): United Club card. See ORD, DEN and IAH lounges.
- Delta hub (ATL, DTW, MSP, SLC, JFK/LGA): Delta Reserve. See ATL airport lounges.
- You fly United a few times a year: skip the Club card. The United Explorer gives two club passes and a free bag for $150.
- You fly every airline: neither. Look at Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve or a flexible card like the Venture X.
FAQ
Which card gives more lounge visits? The United Club card. Its membership has no visit cap. The Delta Reserve gives 15 Sky Club visits per Medallion Year, unlimited only after $75,000 in calendar-year spending.
Can I bring a guest? United Club card: one adult guest plus your children under 18, or two adults once you have All Access. Delta Reserve: four free guest passes a year, then $50 per guest.
Does the United Club card get me into Polaris lounges? No. Polaris lounges are for same-day Polaris passengers (Standard or Flexible fares) and select partner premium passengers only.
Which card is better for elite status? Both help. The United Club card gives 1,500 PQP a year plus 1 PQP per $15 spent (up to 28,000). The Delta Reserve gives a $2,500 MQD headstart plus MQDs on spending. Which is better depends on which airline you're chasing status with.
Do authorized users get lounge access? Delta Reserve authorized users get their own 15 visits. United Club card authorized users only get in with you, though All Access adds four one-time passes a year when you have an authorized user.
Related guides
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve card page · Delta Amex cards guide
- United Explorer, Quest and Club guide · United MileagePlus guide
- Sapphire Reserve vs United Club card · Delta Reserve vs Citi AAdvantage Executive
- United Club access · Delta Sky Club access
- Best premium credit cards
Card terms, fees and offers change — check the issuer's page before you apply.
