Is the United Club Card worth the higher annual fee?

The United Club Card costs $695/yr vs $350/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $345 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Club Card also lists lounge access, travel credits).

Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or United Club 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 Platinum American Express Card have that the United Club Card doesn't?

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.

Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or the United Club Card?

Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a lower $350/yr fee; the United Club Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $695/yr.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card vs United Club Card

Annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Club Card $695/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card on hotels, United Club Card on hotels.

Card data as of October 12, 2026.

Credit card comparison
Overview
	Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card American Express · $350/yr	United Club Card Chase · $695/yr
Annual fee	$350 Lowest	$695
Welcome offerCurrent public offer	As high as 90,000 miles — offers vary	Up to 100,000 miles
Rewards	Delta SkyMiles	United MileagePlus
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Network	American Express	Visa Infinite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
Hotels	3x Highest	2x
Dining	2x	2x
Grocery Stores	2x Highest	1x
Ridesharing	1x	2x Highest
Transit	1x	2x Highest
Travel	1x	2x Highest
Everything else	1x	1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
Travel	$150 Delta stays credit $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck 20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction	$200 Renowned Hotels $100 Avis/Budget travel $200/yr JSX flights $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck 25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
Rideshare & transit	$10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly	$150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
Dining & delivery	$10/mo Resy · $10 monthly	$20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly
Perks & access— means none on record
Lounges	—	United Club membership with guest access
Hotel status & programs	—	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Airline perks	Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions Complimentary Upgrade List	Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion Premier upgrades on award tickets
Car rental	—	Avis President's Club®
Other perks	Amex Offers MQD Headstart and MQD Boost Early access to concerts and events 24/7 global travel assistance TakeOff 15 No foreign transaction fees	10% or more off United awards MileagePlus miles don't expire United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP) No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
Trip insurance	Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours	Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
Baggage	Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items	Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
Rental car	Car rental insurance up to $50,000	Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
Purchase & returns	Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence	Return Protection · up to $500 Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
Extended warranty	Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty	Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
Cell phone	Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim	—
Other protections	Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges	—
Pros & cons
Pros	Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America) MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One	Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion 5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards) Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
Cons	$350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve) Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard	$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards United Club access only useful at airports with United presence Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18) Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers
	Card details	Card details

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
American Express · $350/yr
United Club Card
Chase · $695/yr

Overview

Annual fee: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
$350
Lowest
United Club Card
$695
Welcome offerCurrent public offer: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
As high as 90,000 miles — offers vary
United Club Card
Up to 100,000 miles
Rewards: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles
United Club Card
United MileagePlus
Foreign transaction fee: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
None
United Club Card
None
Network: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
American Express
United Club Card
Visa Infinite

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Hotels: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
3x
Highest
United Club Card
2x
Dining: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
2x
United Club Card
2x
Grocery Stores: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
2x
Highest
United Club Card
1x
Ridesharing: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Transit: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Travel: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Everything else: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
1x
United Club Card
1x

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Travel: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
$150 Delta stays credit
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
20% back Delta in-flight · $20 per transaction
United Club Card
$200 Renowned Hotels
$100 Avis/Budget travel
$200/yr JSX flights
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
Rideshare & transit: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
$10/mo rideshare · $10 monthly
United Club Card
$150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
Dining & delivery: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
$10/mo Resy · $10 monthly
United Club Card
$20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly

Perks & access— means none on record

Lounges: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
—
United Club Card
United Club membership with guest access
Hotel status & programs: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
—
United Club Card
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Airline perks: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Annual companion certificate for domestic Main Cabin flights
First checked bag free for cardholder plus 8 companions
Zone 5 Priority Boarding for you and 8 companions
Complimentary Upgrade List
United Club Card
Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year
Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes
Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
Premier upgrades on award tickets
Car rental: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
—
United Club Card
Avis President's Club®
Other perks: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Amex Offers
MQD Headstart and MQD Boost
Early access to concerts and events
24/7 global travel assistance
TakeOff 15
No foreign transaction fees
United Club Card
10% or more off United awards
MileagePlus miles don't expire
United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP)
No foreign transaction fees

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Trip insurance: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Trip delay coverage up to $300 after 12 hours
United Club Card
Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler
Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
Baggage: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Baggage insurance up to $1,250 for carry-on items
United Club Card
Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days
Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
Rental car: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Car rental insurance up to $50,000
United Club Card
Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
Purchase & returns: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Purchase protection up to $1,000 per occurrence
United Club Card
Return Protection · up to $500
Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
Extended warranty: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
United Club Card
Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
Cell phone: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Cell phone protection up to $800 per claim
United Club Card
—
Other protections: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
United Club Card
—

Pros & cons

Pros: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
Annual Companion Certificate after card renewal (companion pays only taxes/fees on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean or Central America)
MQD Headstart ($2,500 a year) plus $1 MQD per $20 spent
Free first checked bag for cardholder plus up to 8 companions on same reservation; second bag free on domestic flights
Strong 2x earning on restaurants, hotels, and U.S. supermarkets
Boosted upgrade priority to First Class and Delta One
United Club Card
Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
Cons: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
$350 annual fee is substantial if not utilizing premium benefits
Companion Certificate arrives only after the first card renewal
No lounge access included (must upgrade to Reserve)
Miles are locked to Delta SkyMiles program with limited transfer options
Amex cards are accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa or Mastercard
United Club Card
$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers

Card details

Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Category-by-Category Winner

The United Club Card wins in 3 of 4 categories. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card leads in 1. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.

Hotels

Depends: via issuer travel portal

United Club Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)

Grocery Stores

Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X

Travel

United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X

Ridesharing

United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X

Transit

United Club 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	Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card	United Club Card	Ongoing winner	Year-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month	Rewards: $187 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $9 Year one: $9	Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: -$75 Year one: $1,005	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use	United Club Card
Heavy spender: $4,000/month	Rewards: $749 Credits (our usable estimate): $172 − Annual fee ($350) Ongoing: $571 Year one: $571	Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: $465 Year one: $1,545	Close — depends on how much of the credits you use	United Club Card

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The United Club Card costs $695/yr — that's $345 more than the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card ($350/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $345 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The United Club Card includes travel credits, lounge access, 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 $345 fee gap for your own usage.

Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $345 fee gap means the United Club Card needs roughly $345 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on hotels and travel and everyday spend.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card means losing:

-Airport lounge access

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card if you:

+Do most of your spending at grocery stores

Get the United Club Card if you:

+Fly frequently and value airport lounge access

The Bottom Line

Close — depends on how much of the credits you use

Published annual fees: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card $350/yr, United Club Card $695/yr — a $345 difference before welcome offers and credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the United Club Card worth the higher annual fee?: The United Club Card costs $695/yr vs $350/yr for the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $345 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the United Club Card also lists lounge access, travel credits).
Which card earns more rewards, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or United Club 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 Platinum American Express Card have that the United Club Card doesn't?: The Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card offers travel credits, dining credits, cell phone protection. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
Should I get the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card or the United Club Card?: Use the spend scenarios on this page: the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card has a lower $350/yr fee; the United Club Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $695/yr.

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Official issuer pages: American Express cards · Chase cards

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.