MileagePlus vs SkyMiles
Both United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles are airline loyalty programs. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | MileagePlus | SkyMiles |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Airline miles | Airline miles |
| Alliance / network | Star Alliance | SkyTeam |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | No (dynamic) |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | No | No |
| Expiration | Never expire (eliminated 18-month policy) | Never expire |
| Transfers in from | Chase UR, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy | Amex MR |
| Signature sweet spots | Excursionist Perk: free segment on round-trip awards, Polaris business class US to Europe at 60-77K saver, Star Alliance partner sweet spots (ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore) | Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales, SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air |
| Flagship benefit | Largest transferable points partner ecosystem (Chase, Bilt) + Excursionist Perk | Easy to earn via Amex transfers + flash sales for low-cost domestic |
Where MileagePlus wins
- MileagePlus accepts transfers from more bank programs — easier to top up.
- MileagePlus has more documented sweet spots in our database.
- Easiest US-based Star Alliance program with deep Chase integration.
Where SkyMiles wins
- Easiest to earn but worst-value program of the US Big Three for premium cabins.
Pick MileagePlus if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Excursionist Perk: free segment on round-trip awards or Polaris business class US to Europe at 60-77K saver. MileagePlus is the program built for them.
Pick SkyMiles if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales or SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air. SkyMiles is the program built for them.
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. Most serious award travelers maintain status (or at least active accounts) across multiple programs because the best partner award for a given route is rarely the same program twice in a row. Find the saver seat first; then book through whichever program prices it cheapest.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
Check availability →