Mid-tier bank cards strike a steadiness between affordability and strong perks, with annual charges sometimes starting from $100 to $350.
On the planet of airline bank cards, essentially the most head-to-head competitor to the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and charges) — with a $350 annual price — at this mid-tier degree is probably going the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Specific Card, which comes with a $350 annual price (see charges and charges).
These two playing cards are issued by completely different banks and supply miles and perks for various airways, however in addition they share many similarities.
Let’s examine how these two playing cards stack up in a head-to-head competitors.
United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum comparability
Card | United Quest | Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex |
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Welcome supply | Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This supply ends Might 7. | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. |
Annual price | $350 | $350 |
Incomes charges |
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Advantages |
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Credit |
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(Enrollment is required for choose advantages) |
Lounge advantages | None | None |
Elite standing advantages |
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United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum welcome bonus
TPG’s April 2025 valuations peg United miles at 1.35 cents a bit, making these bonus miles value $1,215.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is at the moment providing 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. TPG’s April 2025 valuations peg Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents a bit, making this bonus value $720.
Winner: United Quest. Its welcome supply is value virtually double the bonus out there with the Delta Platinum.
Associated: The final word information to bank card utility restrictions
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United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum advantages
Each playing cards supply elitelike advantages, equivalent to free checked baggage when flying that airline, precedence boarding, an inflight low cost and shortcuts to elite standing.
Moreover, each playing cards supply an as much as $120 International Entry or TSA PreCheck credit score, assertion credit, and rental automotive and journey safety protection.
Of notice is that the United Quest presents two free checked baggage for you and as much as one companion on the identical reservation. The Delta Platinum solely presents one free bag, however it’s for you and as much as eight companions on the identical reservation. So, you may get extra worth from the Delta card should you journey with a big group and verify baggage.
The Delta Platinum’s marquee profit is the anniversary companion ticket awarded every year you renew the cardboard. This ticket is legitimate in Most important Cabin (financial system) and can be utilized to fly you and a companion round-trip inside all 50 U.S. states, in addition to to and from Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. You pay for the primary ticket after which cowl simply the taxes and charges on the second.
Whereas the Delta Platinum’s assertion credit are arguably simpler to make use of, the United Quest presents extra worth in assertion credit. The Quest additionally requires extra spending to unlock some advantages, whereas not one of the Delta Platinum’s advantages require extra spending.
Winner: Delta Platinum. Each playing cards supply comparable airline-specific advantages and credit, however the Delta Platinum’s companion certificates offers it a slight edge.
Associated: United Airways MileagePlus: Information to incomes and redeeming miles, elite standing and extra
Incomes miles on the United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum
The one classes that the Delta Platinum wins in are accommodations, eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
Winner: United Quest. It has extra bonus-earning classes, and United miles are value greater than Delta’s.
Associated: United MileagePlus program: Methods to redeem miles for flights, accommodations and extra
Redeeming miles on the United Quest vs. Delta SkyMiles Platinum
Each playing cards can redeem the miles earned on their respective airways.
The place the United Quest one-ups the Delta Platinum is in providing expanded availability for discounted and saver awards. I are likely to reap the benefits of these discounted fares, particularly when happening round-trip itineraries to Europe and tacking on an primarily free (simply the price of taxes and charges) stopover in one other metropolis utilizing United’s Excursionist Perk.
Nonetheless, I additionally wish to redeem SkyMiles every time Delta runs award flash gross sales and stack this with the 15% award low cost perk on eligible Delta-operated award tickets. Lately, I booked a one-way ticket from Seattle to Cancun, Mexico, for simply 3,400 SkyMiles in financial system class.
Winner: United Quest. It edges out the Delta Platinum, as United miles are value barely extra. Plus, it presents expanded discounted award availability for cardholders.
Associated: Delta Medallion standing: What it’s and find out how to earn it
Must you get the United Quest or Delta SkyMiles Platinum?
Put merely: In the event you fly Delta extra incessantly, you need to go for the Delta Platinum; should you fly United extra, then the Quest Card is for you.
In the event you’re cut up between the 2, think about every card’s advantages and the way they’d greatest match into your life-style. For instance, the Delta Platinum presents a companion certificates (a serious perk), whereas the Quest gives extra useful assertion credit, however they’re tougher to maximise.
Associated: Greatest Delta bank cards
Methods to swap from the United Quest to the Delta SkyMiles Platinum
You possibly can’t product-change between these two playing cards, because the United Quest is issued by Chase and the Delta Platinum is issued by American Specific. You’ll have to use for whichever card you do not have.
Associated: Greatest United Airways bank cards
Backside line
These mid-tier playing cards each make compelling instances to hitch your bank card lineup. In the event you solely need to select one, the very best one for you’ll doubtless be the one which aligns with the airline you fly most incessantly.
Even should you solely fly every airline a few instances per 12 months, each playing cards are value contemplating. It is solely doable that each the United Quest and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum playing cards deserve a spot in your pockets.
Irrespective of which card you select, know that the correct mid-tier airline card can unlock actual worth and elevate your journey expertise.
To be taught extra, learn our full opinions of the United Quest and the Delta SkyMiles Platinum.
Apply right here: United Quest Card
Apply right here: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Specific Card
For charges and charges of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex Card, please click on right here.