The United Quest Card and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card are both premium airline miles credit cards, that offer a variety of benefits to frequent travelers. Let's compare them side by side.
General Comparison
The United Quest Card, issued by Chase in partnership with United Airlines, is tailored for frequent United travelers. With a strong focus on United perks, cardholders enjoy benefits such as up to $125 in annual United purchase credits, priority boarding, and free first and second checked bags.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
Delta SkyMiles Platinum | United Quest Card | |
Annual Fee | $350. See Rates and Fees. | $250 |
Rewards | 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. | 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus |
50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your first six months. | 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. |
0% Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 20.99%-29.99% Variable
| 21.99% – 28.99% variable |
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
Top Offers
Credit Card Points Battle: A Side-by-Side Analysis
|
| |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Delta SkyMiles Platinum | United Quest Card |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 30,000 miles | 15,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants | 10,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$6,000 – Hotels | 18,000 miles | 12,000 miles |
$8,000 – Airline
| 24,000 miles | 24,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles | 4,000 miles |
Total Points | 86,000 miles | 65,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 mile = ~1.3 cents
| 1 point = ~1.2 cents
|
Estimated Annual Value | $1,118 | $780 |
Delta Platinum cardholders can use miles on Delta flights, upgrades, and with partner airlines. You also get special access to Delta Sky Club lounges. Plus, you can use your miles for hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping on Delta's SkyMiles Marketplace.
United Airlines' MileagePlus program offers diverse redemption options, allowing members to use miles for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise.
Travel And Airline Benefits: Comparison
Delta SkyMiles Platinum
- Annual Companion Certificate: You’ll receive a round-trip companion certificate for Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your card.
- TakeOff 15: Save 15% on Award Travel when booking Delta flights (excluding partner-operated flights and taxes/fees).
- First Checked Bag Free: Receive complimentary first checked bag on Delta flights.
- Up to $100 Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Get reimbursed for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4 years.
- 20% Back on In–flight Purchases: Receive a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
- ShopRunner: Enjoy free 2-day shipping at 100+ online stores when you enroll in complimentary ShopRunner membership with your Delta Platinum card.
- $150 Delta Stays Credit: Receive a $150 Delta Stays Credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
- Hertz Five Star® Status: Enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program and enjoy Hertz Five Star Status.
- $120 Resy Credit: Enjoy a $120 Resy Credit, earning up to $10 in monthly statement credits on eligible Resy purchases.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Get a $120 Rideshare Credit, with up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers when you use your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. nrollment Required.
- Complimentary Upgrade list: Even if you're not a Medallion Member, you'll be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members if you have an eligible ticket.
- MQD Boost: Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
- MQD on Purchases: Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
United Quest Card
- $125 Annual United Purchase Credit: Cardholders receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases each account anniversary year.
- Up to 10,000 Miles in Award Flight Credits: Starting from the first anniversary, cardholders get 5,000 miles back in their MileagePlus account after taking up to 2 United or United Express-operated award flights annually.
- Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): Get 500 PQP for every $12,000 spent on purchases with your United Club Card (up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year) to advance your Premier status qualification, up to Premier 1K® level.
- Free First and Second Checked Bags: The primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation enjoy complimentary first and second standard checked bags on United-operated flights.
- Priority Boarding: The primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation receive priority boarding on United-operated flights.
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Fee Credit: Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.
- 25% Back on United Inflight and Club Premium Purchases: Cardholders get a 25% statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights, as well as Club premium drinks.
- Premier Upgrades on Award Tickets: The primary cardmember with MileagePlus Premier status, traveling on an award ticket, and one companion on the same reservation are eligible for complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United and United Express-operated flights.
- DoorDash: Cardholders receive a one-year complimentary DashPass membership, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
Travel Insurance And Protections: Comparison
Delta SkyMiles Platinum
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you reserve and pay for a rental vehicle with your Card, declining the rental counter's collision damage waiver, you can be protected against damage or theft in specific regions, subject to certain exclusions and limitations
- Baggage Insurance Plan: When you purchase a common carrier vehicle ticket with your Eligible Card, you can receive coverage for lost, damaged, or stolen baggage.
- Trip Delay Insurance: If your trip faces a delay of more than 6 hours due to a covered reason and you paid for the round-trip with your Eligible Card.
- Purchase Protection: Eligible purchases made with your card can be protected for up to 90 days from the purchase date, offering coverage for theft, accidental damage, or loss.
- Extended Warranty: When you use your card for eligible purchases, you can receive an extra year of warranty coverage for warranties lasting 5 years or less in the United States or its territories.
- Cell Phone Protection: This embedded benefit provides reimbursement for repair or replacement costs after cell phone damage or theft.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
United Quest Card
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: In the event of trip cancellation or interruption due to covered situations like sickness or severe weather.
Baggage Delay Insurance: If your baggage is delayed by a passenger carrier for over 6 hours, the card reimburses essential purchases like toiletries and clothing.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: For damaged or lost luggage by the carrier, the card provides coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger or an immediate family member who checked or carried on the luggage.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: If common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, the card covers unreimbursed expenses, including meals and lodging.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: By declining the rental company's collision insurance and charging the entire rental cost to the card, primary coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad, up to the actual cash value of the vehicle.
Purchase Protection: New purchases made with the card are covered against damage or theft for 120 days, offering reimbursement.
Extended Warranty Protection: The card extends the time period of the manufacturer's U.S warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
When You Might Want the Delta Platinum Card?
You might prefer the Delta Platinum if:
- You Want Higher Point Rewards Ratio: Based on our analysis, the Delta Platinum card offers a better point rewards ratio and higher value for the same spend.
You Want Complimentary Companion Certificate: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides a valuable companion certificate upon card renewal, allowing a companion to accompany you on a domestic main cabin round-trip flight for a reduced fee. If you frequently travel with a companion, this benefit can offset the card's annual fee.
You're Close To Delta Hub: If you live near a Delta Air Lines hub and frequently fly from or connect through Delta-dominated airports, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum may be more advantageous. Access to a primary airline hub can enhance flight options, convenience, and potential upgrades
Top Offers
Top Offers From Our Partners
Top Offers
When You Might Want the United Quest Card?
You might prefer the United Quest if:
United Airlines Loyalty: If you are a loyal United Airlines customer and frequently fly with them or their partner airlines, the United Quest is preferable. The card's benefits, such as free checked bags and priority boarding, cater specifically to United travelers, enhancing your overall flying experience.
Generous Baggage Allowance: The United Quest provides free first and second checked bags for the primary cardmember and a companion, potentially saving up to $320 per roundtrip. If you often check luggage, this feature can result in significant cost savings compared to the Delta SkyMiles Platinum.
You Value Star Alliance's Global Network: Star Alliance has an even more extensive global network than Delta, serving destinations across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. If you travel internationally frequently, Star Alliance's broad reach can be a significant advantage.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a premium travel credit card with airline rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Venture X | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $395 | $550 | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
Rewards |
1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases |
1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases. |
1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening |
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable) | 22.49%–29.49% variable | 21.24% – 29.99% (Variable) |
Compare United Quest Card
The Quest card has recently launched in order to provide a premium alternative to the old Explorer card. How they compared & is it worth it?
United℠ Explorer Card vs United Quest℠ Card: Which is Better?
The United Infinite card offers luxury benefits that the Quest card doesn't, but for most consumers, it is not worth the higher annual fee.
The United Quest card offers better airline benefits, but we don't think it worth the higher annual fee, unless you're a frequent flyer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs. United Quest Card: Which Card Is Best?
While having higher annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a clear winner with much higher total cashback and better premium travel perks.
Compare Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card
While the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card has a high annual fee, it offers better airline and travel benefits than the Platinum card.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is more expensive but offers more premium benefits than the Delta Gold. Here's our complete comparison.
If you need premium travel perks and versatility – the Amex Platinum wins. Need airline benefits and lower fees? Consider the Delta Platinum.
Amex Platinum Card vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
The Amex Gold Card focuses on everyday spending rewards, while the Delta SkyMiles Platinum is tailored for frequent Delta travelers.
Amex Gold Card vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
The Chase Reserve wins on cashback rates, travel perks, and insurance. Is it worth the annual fee difference? We think it does – here's why.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is the winner with higher cashback value and better travel and airline benefits. But, it has higher annual fee.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Side By Side Comparison
