United Club Card vs. Amex Platinum: Which Is Better in 2026?

The Platinum Card® Breakdown

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How It Earns

The Platinum Card earns 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 per calendar year (then 1X). It also earns 5X on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1X on other purchases.

There are no foreign transaction fees. See the card details above for the current annual fee.

Key Benefits

• The Global Lounge Collection®, with Centurion® Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other partner lounges
• Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite and Hilton Honors™ Gold status
• Up to $600 a year in hotel credits (up to $300 semi-annually) on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel
• Up to $400 a year in Resy credits (up to $100 per quarter) and up to $300 a year in digital entertainment credits (up to $25 per month), with enrollment required
• Up to $200 in Uber Cash a year ($15 monthly plus a $20 bonus in December), up to $200 in airline fee credits, and up to $219 a year for CLEAR+

Drawbacks

• The Platinum Card's annual fee is one of the highest on the market (see the card details above for the current amount), so you need steady use of the credits and lounge benefits to come out ahead.
• Many credits require enrollment and are split into monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual amounts.
• Everyday purchases outside flights and prepaid hotels earn only 1X.

^{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.}

United Club Card vs. The Platinum Card®: Head to Head

Lounge Access

The United Club Card includes United Club membership, so it's strongest at airports where United has a club. The Platinum Card's Global Lounge Collection spans more than 1,550 lounges, including Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass locations, which helps if you fly a mix of airlines.

Rewards and Redemption

The United Club Card earns United MileagePlus® miles, which are most useful for award flights on United and its partners. The Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards® points, a flexible currency that isn't tied to a single airline.

Airport and Travel Perks

The United Club Card focuses on the United trip itself: two free checked bags for you and a companion, Premier Access lanes, and PQP toward Premier status. The Platinum Card spreads its value across hotel status, hotel credits, Uber, dining, and entertainment credits.

Annual Fee

The United Club Card costs $695 a year. The Platinum Card's annual fee is also among the highest on the market; see the card details above for the current amount. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

Compare Cards With Kudos

Before paying a premium fee, you can test drive either card on Kudos using your real spending to see a projected rewards breakdown. With Kudos Premium, you can also keep track of your card perks so monthly and quarterly credits are easier to remember.

Premium travel cards come with a long list of credits to keep up with. The Benefits Tracker in Kudos Premium shows the credits and perks across every card, how much you've used and what's left, with step-by-step redemption instructions and links. Its annual fee vs. value comparison makes it easier to tell whether a premium card is paying for itself.

^{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.}

Who Should Choose the United Club Card?

The United Club Card is built for travelers who fly United often enough to use lounge access and free checked bags on most trips. It's especially useful for people based at a United hub who want Premier Access lanes and a steady supply of PQP toward Premier status.

Read our United Club card review for a closer look at the benefits.

Who Should Choose The Platinum Card®?

The Platinum Card suits travelers who fly a mix of airlines and want lounge options in more airports, plus hotel status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. It makes the most sense if you will use several of its credits, such as the hotel, Resy, Uber, and digital entertainment credits, each year.

Our Platinum Card review covers each benefit in more detail.

^{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.}

Alternatives to Consider

If neither card fits, consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and carries a $795 annual fee. It earns 8x points on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x on flights and hotels booked directly, and 3x on dining, and it includes a $300 annual travel credit.

For United flyers who don't need lounge membership, the United℠ Explorer Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150, and includes a free first checked bag and two United Club℠ one-time passes per year.

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^{Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.}

Tips for Application Success

Before You Apply

• Check your credit. Premium travel cards generally go to applicants with strong credit.
• Count your trips. Estimate how many United flights, lounge visits, and checked bags you have in a typical year.
• List the credits you would use. Only count statement credits you would spend on anyway.

Application Strategy

• Know the issuer. Chase and American Express each set their own rules on welcome offer eligibility.
• Time your application. Apply ahead of a large planned purchase so you can meet any minimum spend naturally.
• Enroll in benefits. Several perks on both cards require enrollment after approval.

Our Methodology

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market, far more than the roughly 150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to give you a complete, unbiased view of the market so you can decide with confidence.

Our editorial team checks card details against issuer sources. You can also explore the full dataset yourself in our card explorer, which includes thousands of cards, more than 95% of which do not pay us commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card offers better airport lounge access?

It depends on how you fly. The United Club Card includes United Club membership, while The Platinum Card offers the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass membership (enrollment required), and Delta Sky Club visits on eligible Delta flights.

How do the rewards programs differ?

The United Club Card earns United MileagePlus miles, which are best used for United and partner flights. The Platinum Card earns Membership Rewards points, which aren't tied to one airline.

What does the United Club Card cost?

Chase lists the United Club℠ Card with a $695 annual fee. The Platinum Card's current annual fee is shown in the card details above.

Who is the ideal user for each card?

The United Club Card is built for loyal United flyers who will use the lounge membership and free bags. The Platinum Card is better for travelers who use several airlines and hotel brands and will use its credits.

^{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.}