Updated: November 14, 2024
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The United Quest℠ Card is the better choice for frequent United flyers, offering high rewards on United purchases and valuable travel benefits. Its $250 annual fee is offset by a $125 United credit.
The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, while offering a generous companion certificate and high rewards on Delta purchases, has a higher $350 annual fee. However, Delta loyalists may still find its perks appealing.
The United Quest Card is likely to be better for frequent United Airlines travelers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy travel perks.
With high rewards on United purchases, dining and travel, it offers a substantial sign-up bonus and valuable travel benefits. However, it may not be suitable for those who do not frequently fly with United or cannot justify the $250 annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is likely to be better for frequent Delta travelers who can take advantage of the 90,000 Bonus SkyMiles and additional credits like the $120 Resy Credit and $120 Rideshare Credit.
It suits those who prioritize earning miles on Delta purchases and hotels. However, the $350 annual fee may not be justified for those who don't frequently fly with Delta or can't maximize the card's benefits.
A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card aligns with your needs. For instance, if you frequently fly with Delta, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 3X miles on Delta purchases, while the United Quest provides 3X miles on United purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is better for regular APR, offering a range of 20.49% to 29.49% variable, compared with United Quest's 21.99% to 28.99% variable.
The United Quest card is better for annual fees, with a $250 fee compared with Delta SkyMiles Platinum's $350.
Neither the Delta SkyMiles Platinum nor the United Quest card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is better for rewards, offering 3X miles on Delta purchases and hotels, and 2X miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. The United Quest offers 3X miles on United purchases and 2X miles on dining, streaming services and other travel.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in six months, and United Quest's 70,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
Both the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and United Quest cards require a recommended credit score of 670 to 850, making them equally accessible for individuals with good to excellent credit.
Both the United Quest and Delta SkyMiles Platinum have similar penalties and fees. They charge up to $40 for late payments, have a penalty APR around 29.99%, and a cash advance fee of $10 or 5%. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card is better for issuer satisfaction, with a higher rating of 5 compared to the United Quest Card's 4.1. This reflects American Express's strong customer service reputation compared with Chase.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is better for card benefits, offering a Companion Certificate and rideshare credits, valued higher than United Quest's perks like United purchase credits and free checked bags.
Both the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and United Quest cards offer competitive earning rates, particularly for airline purchases. The Delta SkyMiles program, with miles valued at approximately 1.4 cents, provides strong value for Delta loyalists. Similarly, the United Quest card offers MileagePlus miles, also valued at approximately 1.4 cents, making it appealing for United travelers.
For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card may offer slightly better value in dining and grocery categories, while the United Quest card provides broader travel rewards, including streaming services. Both cards cater to frequent travelers who prioritize airline-specific benefits.
The following table will detail the specific rewards categories for each card, allowing you to compare their offerings.
Category | United Quest | Delta SkyMiles Platinum |
|---|---|---|
United purchases | 3X miles | 1X miles |
Delta purchases | 1X miles | 3X miles |
Dining | 2X miles | 2X miles |
Streaming Services | 2X miles | 1X miles |
Hotels | 1X miles | 3X miles |
U.S. Supermarkets | 1X miles | 2X miles |
All Other Travel | 2X miles | 1X miles |
All Other Purchases | 1X miles | 1X miles |
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and United Quest cards offer flexible redemption options for their miles, including airfare, hotel stays and car rentals. Delta miles require account activity every 12 months to avoid expiration, while United miles do not expire. With a similar redemption value of approximately $0.014 per mile, both cards provide comparable value for frequent travelers.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers superior benefits for travelers, with perks like an annual companion certificate and a $120 rideshare credit. United Quest provides valuable perks such as a $125 annual United purchase credit and free first and second checked bags.
Both cards offer free checked bags, but United extends this to two bags per trip. Delta's rideshare credit is a standout feature, while United's award flight credits enhance mileage value. These differences cater to travelers who prioritize specific airline benefits and travel savings.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers a range of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience.
Travel perks
Status
Insurance & protections
Credits & discounts
All other perks
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card offers a range of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience.
Travel perks
Status
Insurance & protections
Credits & discounts
All other perks
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum has a $350 annual fee, while the United Quest has a $250 annual fee.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers 3X Miles on Delta purchases, while the United Quest offers 3X Miles on United purchases.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum offers a companion certificate and priority boarding. United Quest provides a $125 United purchase credit and free checked bags.
United Quest offers 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. And Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card offers 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first six months.
Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:
For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
