United Quest℠ Card
vs. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

The United Quest℠ Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card are both excellent choices for frequent flyers, offering substantial travel rewards and perks. The United Quest is the better option for United Airlines enthusiasts, thanks to its high rewards on United purchases and valuable travel benefits. With a $250 annual fee, offset by a $125 United credit, it provides significant value.

But the Delta SkyMiles Reserve shines for Delta loyalists with its premium perks like lounge access and a companion certificate, despite its higher $650 annual fee. Both cards cater to elite travelers, but your preferred airline may be the deciding factor.

The United Quest is likely to be better for frequent United Airlines travelers who value earning miles on United purchases, travel and dining. With a $250 annual fee, it offers a $125 United purchase credit, effectively reducing the cost.

However, it may not be ideal for those seeking lounge access or broader airline benefits. The card is well-suited for individuals aiming to accumulate United miles and enjoy perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve is likely to be better for frequent Delta flyers who value premium travel perks. It offers complimentary lounge access and a companion certificate, which can offset its $650 annual fee.

This card suits travelers focused on seat upgrades and partner benefits. However, it may not be ideal for those who don't frequently fly with Delta or can't leverage the lounge access and companion certificate benefits.

Point by point comparisons help you evaluate specific features like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you're focused on rewards, United Quest offers three miles per $1 on United purchases, while Delta SkyMiles Reserve offers 3X Miles on Delta purchases. This detailed view aids in choosing the card that best fits your travel habits.

Both the United Quest and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards offer valuable rewards for frequent travelers. The United Quest card provides a slightly better overall rewards value due to its higher earning rates on dining and travel categories. United MileagePlus miles are valued at approximately 1.4 cents, similar to Delta SkyMiles.

For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the choice may come down to which airline you fly more frequently or which offers better routes for your travel needs. The following table will detail the rewards categories for each card, allowing you to compare them side by side.

Both cards offer miles that don't expire, providing flexibility in how you use your rewards. United Quest miles can be redeemed for United flights, hotels and gift cards, but options are limited outside United. Delta SkyMiles Reserve offers broader redemption choices, including upgrades and experiences, making it more versatile for frequent travelers.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers superior benefits for travelers, with lounge access and a valuable companion certificate. United Quest provides two free checked bags, which can save up to $360 per roundtrip. Delta's lounge access includes 15 visits per year, while United offers none.

Delta's Companion Certificate is valued at $368, a perk not available with United. Both cards offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit, but Delta's lounge access and companion certificate make it more appealing for frequent travelers.

The United Quest card offers a range of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to maximize their travel experience.

Travel perks

• Free checked first and second bags for you and a companion, saving up to $360 per roundtrip
• Priority boarding for a smoother travel experience

Status - Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year, enhancing your status with United

• In addition to the 70,000 bonus miles, earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months

Insurance & protections

• Comprehensive trip insurance covering cancellations, interruptions and delays
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver for rental cars

Credits & discounts

• Up to $125 United purchase credit annually
• Up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit every four years
• 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases

All other perks

• One-year complimentary DashPass for DoorDash and Caviar

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card offers a range of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to elevate their travel experience.

Travel perks

• Annual certificate for a companion on First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American flights
• First checked bag free on Delta flights
• Delta Sky Club: 15 visits per year to Delta Sky Club, additional visits at $50 each; unlimited access with $75,000 annual spend
• Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list

Status

• $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Insurance & protections

• Travel Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip

Credits & discounts

• Up to $20 per month in statement credits for eligible U.S. Resy restaurant purchases
• Up to $10 back in statement credits each month for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers
• Up to $200 as a statement credit each year after booking prepaid hotels or vacation rentals with your Card through Delta Stays
• Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta App
• Fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) application fees every 4 to 4.5 years All other perks
• Complimentary Hertz President's Circle Status
• With ShopRunner, you can get free two-day shipping and free return shipping on eligible items at 100+ online stores

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:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.