The Platinum Card from American Express vs United Quest Card
Annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, United Quest Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: The Platinum Card from American Express on hotels, United Quest Card on hotels.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
- The Platinum Card from American Express
American Express · $895/yr
United Quest CardChase · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- The Platinum Card from American Express$895United Quest Card$350Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAs high as 175,000 points — offers varyUnited Quest CardUp to 90,000 miles
- Rewards
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican Express Membership RewardsUnited Quest CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressNoneUnited Quest CardNone
- Network
- The Platinum Card from American ExpressAmerican ExpressUnited Quest CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Flights
- The Platinum Card from American Express5xHighestUnited Quest Card1x
- Dining
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Streaming
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Travel
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Hotels
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xUnited Quest Card1x
- Everything else
- The Platinum Card from American Express1xUnited Quest Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $600 hotel credit
- $219 CLEAR Plus credit
- $200 airline credit
- $120 Global Entry or up to $85 TSA PreCheck / 4 years · $120 every 4 years
United Quest Card- $200 United travel
- $150 Renowned Hotels
- $80 Avis/Budget travel
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS
- 25% United inflight
- $150/yr JSX credit
- Rideshare & transit
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $200 Uber Cash
- $120 Uber One credit
United Quest Card- $100/yr rideshare · $8 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $400 Resy credit
United Quest Card- $15/mo Instacart+ · $15 monthly
- 3 months Instacart+
- Entertainment & streaming
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $300 streaming credit
United Quest Card— - Shopping & wellness
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $300 Equinox credit
- $300 Lululemon credit
- $200 Oura Ring credit
- $155 Walmart+ credit
United Quest Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Airspace Lounge access at US airports with 2 guests
- 26 Centurion Lounges worldwide with premium dining
- 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta
- Escape Lounge access at US airports with food and beverages
- International Amex Lounges at select global airports
- Global Lounge Collection with 1,550+ airport lounges
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- Lufthansa Business Lounge access on Lufthansa Group
- Plaza Premium Lounge access at airports with Global Lounge
- Priority Pass Select with 1,300+ lounges globally
United Quest Card— - Hotel status & programs
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Hilton Gold with 80% bonus points and breakfast
- Leaders Club Sterling Status at Leading Hotels
- Marriott Gold with 25% bonus points and upgrades
- Fine Hotels + Resorts: $100 credits and upgrades
- Hotel Collection access with room upgrades and credits
United Quest Card— - Airline perks
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- International Airline Program 5-40% off premium cabins
United Quest Card- Annual 10,000-mile award flight discount
- Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
- 2 Economy Plus upgrades after $40K annual spend
- Priority boarding on all United flights
- Car rental
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Elite status with Hertz, National, Avis for upgrades
United Quest Card— - Other perks
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Amex Offers
- 24/7 premium travel assistance with medical transport
- Premium Events Collection™
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 Platinum Concierge for travel and lifestyle help
- Free expedited card replacement in 24-48 hours worldwide
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- Entertainment access with exclusive presales and VIP events
- No foreign transaction fees on international purchases save
- Roadside assistance with up to 4 service calls per year
- Platinum Nights by Resy
- Platinum Travel Service
United Quest Card- No foreign transaction fees
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Earn 10,000-mile award discount after $20K annual spend
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $10,000 trip cancellation coverage per covered trip
- $500 trip delay Cover for delays exceeding 6 hours
United Quest Card- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- Baggage
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $3,000 baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags
United Quest Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $100,000 primary rental car coverage for $20-$25/rental
- $75,000 car rental loss and damage insurance
United Quest Card- Primary rental car insurance up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $10,000 purchase Cover against theft and damage for 90 days
- $300 return Cover when merchants won't accept returns within
United Quest Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to warranties under 5 years
United Quest Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Cell phone
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $800 cell phone protection with $50 deductible
United Quest Card— - Other protections
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
- Global Assist Hotline with 24/7 emergency help traveling
United Quest Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Access to 9 lounge networks including exclusive Centurion Lounges with 2 guests free
- $200/year Uber Cash plus a $120 Uber One membership credit
- $400/year Resy dining credit at select restaurants
- Automatic Marriott Gold and Hilton Gold status with room upgrades and breakfast
- 5X points on flights booked direct or via Amex Travel
United Quest Card- Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion (up to $440 per roundtrip)
- $200 annual TravelBank credit effectively reduces fee to $150
- $180/year in Instacart credits ($15/month through 2027)
- 10,000-mile award discount annually plus another 10K after $20K spend
- Earns 1 PQP per $20 spent (up to 18,000 PQP/year) plus 1,000 bonus PQPs
- Cons
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- $895 annual fee requires significant credit utilization to break even
- Many credits require specific merchants (Resy, Equinox, lululemon, Oura)
- Only 1X points on non-travel purchases limits everyday earning
- Secondary car rental coverage unless paying $24.95/rental for primary
- $195 authorized user fee after first 3 free cards
United Quest Card- $350 annual fee is substantial without lounge access
- TravelBank credits only work on United/United Express flights
- PQP earning cap of 18,000 limits status acceleration potential
- 2x on non-United travel is lower than some competitors
- Instacart credits expire December 2027
Category-by-Category Winner
The United Quest Card wins in 3 of 3 categories. The The Platinum Card from American Express leads in 0. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Flights
Depends: via AmexTravel; up to $500,000/yr
The Platinum Card from American Express earns 5X when conditions are met; United Quest Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Dining
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Streaming
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Travel
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | The Platinum Card from American Express | United Quest Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,356 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $641 Year one: $641 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $437 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $267 Year one: $1,227 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,356 − Annual fee ($895) Ongoing: $1,181 Year one: $1,181 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $437 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $807 Year one: $1,767 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr — that's $545 more than the United Quest Card ($350/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $545 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The The Platinum Card from American Express includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary hotel status. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $545 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $545 fee gap means the The Platinum Card from American Express needs roughly $545 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and flights and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing United Quest Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
Choosing The Platinum Card from American Express means losing:
- -Free checked bags
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the The Platinum Card from American Express if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
Get the United Quest Card if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: The Platinum Card from American Express $895/yr, United Quest Card $350/yr — a $545 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the The Platinum Card from American Express worth the higher annual fee?
- The The Platinum Card from American Express costs $895/yr vs $350/yr for the United Quest Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $545 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the The Platinum Card from American Express also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the The Platinum Card from American Express or United Quest Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the The Platinum Card from American Express have that the United Quest Card doesn't?
- The The Platinum Card from American Express offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The United Quest Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the The Platinum Card from American Express or the United Quest Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the United Quest Card has a lower $350/yr fee; the The Platinum Card from American Express must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $895/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.