United Club Infinite vs Amex Platinum: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a detailed look at why the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees) is a perennial favorite for luxury travel.

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• It offers comprehensive access to airport lounges around the world, elevating the travel experience (Terms Apply).
• Cardholders receive automatic elite status with popular hotel loyalty programs and enjoy exclusive perks at luxury properties (Terms Apply).
• The card unlocks access to premium dining experiences and provides valuable credits for entertainment and lifestyle purchases (Terms Apply).

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Extensive airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, providing a premium pre-flight experience (Terms Apply).
• A generous array of annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and everyday purchases that help maximize the card’s value (Terms Apply).
• Complimentary elite status with leading hotel brands and access to exclusive dining reservations and experiences (Terms Apply).

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Cons

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• The high annual fee requires a commitment to using the card’s perks to make it worthwhile.
• Many benefits and statement credits require manual enrollment and active management, which can be complex (Terms Apply).
• Bonus rewards are concentrated on travel purchases, with limited earning potential on everyday spending.

American Express Platinum Card® vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the United Club Infinite or Amex Platinum, depends entirely on your travel habits and what you value in a premium card.

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• The United Club℠ Infinite Card is built for frequent United Airlines flyers and brand loyalists. It's best for those who want to maximize their benefits within the United ecosystem, including lounge access and elite status perks.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express caters to frequent travelers who prioritize luxury perks and flexibility. This card is ideal for those who value extensive airport lounge access across various airlines and elite status with multiple hotel chains.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Infinite Card: Rewards are redeemed primarily within the United Airlines ecosystem, making it straightforward to book award flights, get upgrades, and cover other travel expenses with the airline. This system is designed for those who want to consolidate their travel rewards with a single carrier.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express: This card earns flexible points that can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs. This versatility allows cardholders to shop for the best award redemptions across different brands, offering more options for booking travel.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Infinite Card provides a United Club membership, granting access to its lounges and those of participating Star Alliance partners. The Platinum Card® from American Express offers entry to the more extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion® Lounges, Priority Pass™ Select lounges, and Delta Sky Clubs® when flying Delta. Terms apply.
• Travel Portal & Booking: Cardholders of the United Club℠ Infinite Card primarily use the United Airlines platform to book travel and redeem rewards. The Platinum Card® from American Express provides access to the American Express Travel portal, a multi-airline and hotel booking engine that can offer its own perks.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are ideal for international travelers as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Status & On-the-Ground Perks: The United Club℠ Infinite Card focuses on the flight experience with United, offering benefits like free checked bags and priority services. The Platinum Card® from American Express provides value through complimentary elite status at hotel chains, including Marriott Bonvoy™ and Hilton Honors™. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To cut through the noise and find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated options based on your actual spending.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, you can simulate how much you’d earn with a new card using your real spending data to see personalized reward projections.
• Personalized recommendations: Receive card recommendations that match your unique spending habits to maximize your earnings.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report before you commit.
• Welcome offer guarantee: Take advantage of a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring you get the best deal available.
• Financial monitoring: Monitor your transactions, spending patterns, and credit score all in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is tailored for frequent United Airlines flyers looking to elevate their travel experience with premium perks like lounge access. It's particularly valuable for business and international travelers who can maximize benefits such as priority airport services and the lack of foreign transaction fees. The card also serves as a strategic tool for MileagePlus status chasers aiming to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) through their spending to help achieve or maintain elite status.

Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?

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The American Express® Platinum Card® is tailored for the frequent traveler who values luxury and can fully leverage its extensive suite of premium benefits. This individual regularly takes advantage of perks like comprehensive airport lounge access, elite status with hotel partners like Marriott and Hilton, and earns 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is someone whose spending habits naturally align with the card's various statement credits—covering everything from digital entertainment to Uber—ensuring the benefits far outweigh the significant annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither the airline-specific United Club℠ Infinite Card nor the general luxury travel-focused The Platinum Card® from American Express seems like the right fit, several other premium cards are worth considering.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - You will likely need good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can comfortably meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
• Review the benefits - Make sure the card’s perks align with your travel and lifestyle.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer - Application rules can vary between banks like Chase and American Express.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending threshold naturally.
• Prepare to activate benefits - Some card perks require manual enrollment after approval.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card offers better airport lounge access?

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The best card for lounge access depends on your travel patterns. The United Club℠ Infinite Card grants a United Club membership for access to United Club locations, while The Platinum Card® from American Express provides entry to the more extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges; Terms Apply.

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How do the rewards programs differ?

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The United Club Infinite Card earns United MileagePlus miles, which are best used for flights on United and its partners. In contrast, the Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards® points, a flexible currency transferable to many loyalty programs; Terms Apply.

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Who is the ideal user for each card?

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The United Club Infinite Card is built for loyal United Airlines flyers who will get significant value from the United Club membership. The Platinum Card is better suited for brand-agnostic travelers seeking a wider range of luxury benefits across various airlines and hotels; Terms Apply.

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