Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card vs United Quest Card
Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr, United Quest Card $350/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card on dining, United Quest Card on hotels.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
American Express · $150/yr
United Quest CardChase · $350/yr
Overview
- Annual fee
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card$150LowestWaived first yearUnited Quest Card$350
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAs high as 80,000 miles — offers varyUnited Quest CardUp to 90,000 miles
- Rewards
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMilesUnited Quest CardUnited MileagePlus
- Foreign transaction fee
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardNoneUnited Quest CardNone
- Network
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardAmerican ExpressUnited Quest CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2xUnited Quest Card2x
- Grocery Stores
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card2xHighestUnited Quest Card1x
- Streaming
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1xUnited Quest Card2xHighest
- Everything else
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card1xUnited Quest Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $200 Delta flight credit
- $100 Delta Stays
- 20% inflight purchases · $20 per transaction
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
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
United Quest Card- $100/yr rideshare · $8 monthly
- Dining & delivery
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card—United Quest Card
- $15/mo Instacart+ · $15 monthly
- 3 months Instacart+
Perks & access— means none on record
- Airline perks
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
- Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
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
- Other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
- TakeOff 15
- No foreign transaction fees
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
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card—United Quest Card
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $6,000 per trip
- Trip delay coverage up to $500 per person after 12 hours
- Baggage
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
United Quest Card- Baggage delay coverage up to $100/day for 3 days
- Lost luggage coverage up to $3,000 per person
- Rental car
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Secondary car rental insurance coverage
United Quest Card- Primary rental car insurance up to $60,000
- Purchase & returns
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Purchase protection for new items
United Quest Card- Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
- Extended warranty
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
United Quest Card- Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
- Other protections
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
United Quest Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- First checked bag free for you + 8 companions; second checked bag free on domestic Delta flights
- Priority boarding in Main Cabin 1
- $120 rideshare credit ($10/month after first renewal; enrollment required)
- 2X miles on Delta, restaurants, and supermarkets
- No foreign transaction fees
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
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
- $150 annual fee after first year ($0 intro year)
- No companion certificate included
- No Delta Sky Club access
- Only 1X on most purchases
- SkyMiles have variable redemption value
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
Expert Analysis
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card and United Quest Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card's strongest category is Delta Purchases at 2X, while the United Quest Card leads with 3X on United Purchases. Overall, the United Quest Card wins in more bonus categories (4 vs 3) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
At $150/yr vs $300/yr, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is the more accessible option. The United Quest Card needs to deliver at least $150 in annual value through its premium benefits to justify the gap. It offers free checked bags, which can cover that gap for active users.
Key Differences
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Delta Purchases vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Delta Airlines vs 1X for the other
- Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X on Grocery Stores vs 1X for the other
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card costs $150/yr vs $300/yr — a $150 annual gap
- Different networks: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is AMEX, United Quest Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$200/month on delta purchases
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on delta airlines
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 4,800 vs 2,400 points — a 2,400-point advantage.
$200/month on united purchases
United Quest CardUnited Quest Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
$200/month on united airlines
United Quest CardUnited Quest Card earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 2,400 points — a 4,800-point advantage.
Mixed everyday spending, 2 trips/year
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardWithout heavy spending in the United Quest Card's premium categories, the $150 fee difference is hard to recover. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card delivers better overall value for moderate spenders.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if:
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on delta purchases and delta airlines and keeping annual costs low. At $150/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Get the United Quest Card if:
The United Quest Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on united purchases and united airlines. At $300/yr, it delivers solid return on the annual fee investment for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Cash back simplicity has its own appeal if you prefer straightforward rewards.
Category-by-Category Winner
The United Quest Card wins in 2 of 3 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card leads in 1. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Grocery Stores
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Streaming
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Travel
United Quest Card earns 2X vs 1X
Hotels
Depends: via Chase Travel
United Quest Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
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 | Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | United Quest Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $219 Year one: $369 | 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 | United Quest Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $182 − Annual fee ($150) Ongoing: $781 Year one: $931 | 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 | United Quest Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The United Quest Card costs $350/yr — that's $200 more than the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card ($150/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $200 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The United Quest Card includes travel credits, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, free checked bags. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $200 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $200 fee gap means the United Quest Card needs roughly $200 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and dining and everyday spend.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card means losing:
- -Global Entry credit
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
The Bottom Line
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card $150/yr, United Quest Card $350/yr — a $200 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the United Quest Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The United Quest Card costs $350/yr vs $150/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $200 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Quest Card also lists travel credits).
- Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card 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 Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card have that the United Quest Card doesn't?
- The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card offers travel credits. The United Quest Card offers travel credits.
- Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card or the United Quest Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has a lower $150/yr fee; the United Quest Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $350/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.