Airline co-branded cards: top-tier (club cards– 2022 outdated edition)

The final set of airline co-branded cards to investigate are the top tier cards.  These cards all offer a key perk: airline club access.  They also all have high annual fees ($450+), but the annual fee is consistently lower than buying a club membership.  So, off the bat, if you would independently buy a club membership with a given airline, getting one of these cards already makes sense.  The interesting follow-up though is if any of the cards are worth using beyond that single perk. 

American offers the Executive World Elite Mastercard through Citi ($450 annual fee).  United offers the Club Infinite Card through Chase ($525).  Delta offers the Reserve Card through Amex ($550).

I provide the information here just to give readers a vague idea if the rewards offered by the card might make sense for them to consider the card.  All information should be confirmed with the card company before applying.

Welcome Offers

American’s Executive card offers 80 000 bonus miles after spending $5 500 in the first 3 months (and at the time of posting 4x miles/$ on American instead of 2x miles).  Delta’s reserve card offers 50 000 bonus miles and 10 000 MQM after spending $3 000 in the first 3 months.  United’s Club Infinite card offers 100 000 bonus miles after you spend $5 000 in the first 3 months. 

All three cards offer solid welcome offers, but United’s offer tops it for 3 points.  American’s card gets 2 points, and Delta’s gets 1 point. 

Points earnings

Like the cheaper versions of these cards, the best multiplier is offered on direct airline purchases.  American’s card offers 2x miles on American.  Delta’s card offers 3x miles on Delta.  United’s card offers 4x miles on United, 2x miles on all other travel (including non-United airfare) and dining.  All cards offer 1 mile/$ on everything else.

As the only card with a non-airline bonus category, the United Club Infinite card wins (3 points), followed by the Delta Reserve (2 points) and the American Executive card (1 point).

Elite earnings

The American Executive card has the typical earning of 1 loyalty point per $1 spent.  This means if you spent $30 000 on the card, you’d get entry-level Gold Status on American.  You can also get 10 000 additional Loyalty Points after spending $40 000 in a year.

The Delta Reserve card offers 15 000 MQM after you spend $30 000 on the card (max 60 000 MQM for $120 000).  That means if you spend $30 000 on the card in your first year, you’d be granted entry-level Medallion Silver status.

The United Club Infinite card offers 500 PQP per $12 000 spent on the card (up to a maximum of 8 000 PQP). This means if you spent $120 000 on the card, you’d be granted entry-level Premier Silver status, which is extremely weak.

The American card wins (3 points), followed by the Delta card (2 points), and then the United card (1 point).

Benefits

As is often the case, with higher annual fee credit cards, the benefits on these cards are generally much stronger than the free/low annual fee cards. 

The American Executive Card offers an Admirals Club membership, 25% savings on inflight food/beverages. The card also offers priority check-in/boarding/security and a first checked bag free (for you + 8 others).  The big benefit here is that adding authorized users is free, and they get a club membership.

The Delta Reserve card offers a Delta SkyClub membership and access to Amex Centurion lounges (when flying Delta), an annual companion certificate automatically with renewal (incl a domestic first class ticket), a first checked bag free, a Global Entry Credit, 20% back on in-flight purchases, (the lowest level of) complimentary upgrades on flights.  Authorized users cost $175 each and also get a club membership.

The United Club Infinite card offers a United Club membership, free first and second checked bags, Premier Access, a Global Entry Credit, 25% back on United inflight food/beverages and on ‘premium’ (alcoholic) drinks in the United Club, and premier upgrades on award tickets.  The card also recently has added IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status and Avis President’s Club.  Authorized users are free but do not get club access.

The ability to give numerous people Admirals Club membership for only $450 is a huge benefit (3 points).  The Delta Reserve card’s automatic companion certificate is probably the best non-lounge benefit (2 points).  The United Club Infinite card offers several solid perks beyond the club membership, but it’s also the only card where authorized users don’t get a club membership (1 point).

How to use the points

The main use for earning airlines points is to redeem them for flights on the respective airline.  In general, American has the best redemption opportunities because they still use an award chart, rather than dynamic pricing, for redemptions on partners.  United is generally the next best because of its Star Alliance partners and generally better redemption prices.  Delta’s miles are generally worth the least. 

In terms of redeeming the miles, American comes first (3 points), United comes second (2 points), and Delta is the weakest (1 point).

Which of these cards is/are right for you?

If you would otherwise purchase a membership to an airline’s club network, these credit cards are absolutely worth it without a doubt.  If you’re not interested in club access, I don’t think these cards make sense.  You could get equivalent perks with one of the entry-level or mid-tier cards and then earn transferrable points on a different card and have a lower total annual fee. 

Given the generous club membership policy of American’s Executive card, you can give lounge access to your entire family with it, which might change the value proposition of having a lounge membership.  Delta’s companion pass might be able to make the annual fee make sense.  I’m not entirely convinced on the United card’s value outside the club membership.

Overall, American’s Executive card gets 12 points, compared to the United Club Infinite’s 10 points and the Delta Reserve card’s 8 points.