United Gateway 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 breakdown of why the American Express Platinum Card®(See Rates & Fees) is a perennial favorite for those seeking luxury travel perks and premium benefits.

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• It offers some of the most comprehensive airport lounge access available, plus automatic elite status with major hotel partners.
• Cardmembers gain access to exclusive dining reservations and a collection of benefits at luxury hotels and resorts.
• A suite of annual statement credits for travel, entertainment, and retail helps deliver consistent value throughout the year.

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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, including the exclusive Centurion Lounges, and complimentary elite status with both the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs.
• A suite of annual statement credits for airline incidentals, hotel stays, digital entertainment, and retail purchases.
• Access to premium travel and lifestyle perks, such as exclusive dining reservations through Resy and VIP benefits at luxury properties in the Fine Hotels + Resorts collection.

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Cons

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• A significant annual fee requires cardholders to actively use the card’s benefits to justify the cost.
• Many of the card’s statement credits and perks require manual enrollment and can be complex to redeem.
• Bonus rewards are narrowly focused on travel, with limited earning potential on most everyday spending.

American Express Platinum Card® vs United Gateway

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Gateway or Amex Platinum, comes down to your travel habits and budget. Each card caters to a distinctly different type of consumer, from the occasional flyer to the luxury globetrotter.

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• United Gateway℠ Card is designed for occasional United flyers and budget-conscious travelers who want to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. It's also a great entry-level option for those new to travel rewards cards.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is best suited for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of premium perks like extensive airport lounge access and luxury hotel benefits. It's built for consumers who value high-end experiences and can maximize numerous statement credits.

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Redemption

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United Gateway℠ Card: Rewards are earned as MileagePlus miles, which are primarily redeemed for flights with United and its airline partners, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel-related purchases through the United portal.

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The Platinum Card® from American Express: Points are part of the flexible Membership Rewards program, giving you the option to transfer them to a wide array of airline and hotel partners or use them to book travel directly through American Express Travel.

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Travel Perks

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• United Gateway℠ Card:
  • Offers no foreign transaction fees.
  • Provides a percentage back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases with United.
  • Travel is booked through the United portal, with miles redeemable primarily for flights and upgrades within the United and Star Alliance network.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express:
  • Charges no foreign transaction fees.
  • Includes complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which provides entry to Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, and more.
  • Provides access to elite-style benefits like room upgrades and property credits at eligible hotels through the Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection programs.
  • Offers various annual statement credits that can offset costs for airline fees, select hotel bookings, and ride-sharing services. Terms apply.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the right choice, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 cards based on your actual spending.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, this feature uses your real transaction history to project your potential earnings, showing you the net value after annual fees and how it stacks up against your current cards.
• Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed analysis of your approval chances for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card points when you shop at participating stores through the platform.

Who Should Choose the United Gateway?

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The United Gateway℠ Card is an excellent choice for occasional United flyers and those new to travel rewards who want to earn miles without a hefty commitment. Its straightforward earning structure and lack of an annual fee make it an accessible way to accumulate MileagePlus miles on everyday spending. Additionally, budget-conscious travelers will appreciate the absence of foreign transaction fees, making it a practical option for international trips.

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 experiences and can maximize a suite of premium benefits. This individual regularly takes advantage of perks like extensive airport lounge access, complimentary hotel elite status, and exclusive dining reservations. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is someone whose high spending on travel and lifestyle allows them to easily offset the card's annual fee through its various statement credits and rewards.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, you've seen our United Gateway℠ Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express comparison and neither option feels quite right. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and there are several other excellent alternatives to consider.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score to see if you meet the card’s approval standards.
• Plan your spending to meet the welcome offer requirement without overspending.
• Understand the card’s benefits and any issuer application rules before you apply.

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Application Strategy

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• Align your profile with the card - Premium travel cards may have stricter approval criteria than no-annual-fee options.
• Know the issuer's rules - Issuers like Chase and American Express have unique application guidelines that could impact your approval.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.

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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Is the Amex Platinum worth its high annual fee?

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The value of the American Express® Platinum Card depends on whether you can take full advantage of its extensive travel and lifestyle credits. If you utilize benefits like the annual airline fee credit and Uber cash, you can often offset a significant portion of the fee.

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Can I transfer points from the Amex Platinum to United Airlines?

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You cannot directly transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to United's MileagePlus program. However, you can transfer points to other Star Alliance partners, like Air Canada Aeroplan, and then book United flights through them.

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Which card is better for beginners in travel rewards?

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The United Gateway Card is generally more straightforward for beginners due to its lack of an annual fee and simple rewards structure. The Amex Platinum is a more complex card with a high fee, best suited for experienced travelers who can maximize its premium benefits.

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