United Quest vs Amex Green: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Green Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at the features that make the American Express® Green Card (See Rates & Fees) a strong contender for your wallet.

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• You'll earn bonus points on a wide range of travel purchases and at restaurants worldwide (Terms apply).
• The card includes valuable travel perks like a statement credit for a CLEAR+® membership to speed through airport security and trip delay insurance (Terms apply).
• Cardholders get flexible payment options and can transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners for high-value redemptions (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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• Generous rewards on a wide range of travel and transit purchases, plus dining worldwide (Terms apply).
• Valuable statement credits for travel services like airport security screening and lounge access (Terms apply).
• Flexible rewards program with the ability to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners (Terms apply).

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Cons

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• The annual fee is relatively high for a mid-tier travel card and may not be justified if you don’t take full advantage of the travel credits (Terms apply).
• Maximizing the value of your points can be complex, as it often requires transferring them to travel partners, and some redemption options offer poor value (Terms apply).
• The card’s travel credits are quite specific and may not be as universally useful as those offered by some competing cards (Terms apply).

American Express® Green Card vs United Quest

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Quest or Amex Green, depends entirely on your travel habits and spending patterns. Each card caters to a different type of traveler, offering distinct benefits and reward structures.

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• United Quest℠ Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers who regularly fly with United Airlines. It's a strong choice for those looking to enhance their travel experience with premier benefits and earn rewards within the United MileagePlus program.
• American Express® Green Card: This card is best for general travel and dining, offering flexibility through its rewards program. It suits travelers who aren't loyal to a single airline and want to earn points on a wide range of travel, transit, and restaurant purchases.

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Redemption

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United Quest℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its Star Alliance partners. Points can also be used for other travel-related purchases like hotel stays and car rentals through the United portal.

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American Express® Green Card: Points are earned in the flexible American Express Membership Rewards program. These points can be transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel partners or used to book travel directly through Amex Travel.

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Travel Perks

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• United Quest℠ Card: This card’s ecosystem is built around the United Airlines experience. It offers perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and an annual United purchase credit. It has no foreign transaction fees. While it doesn't provide broad lounge access, it may offer a limited number of passes to United Club lounges annually. All travel bookings are managed through the United portal.
• American Express® Green Card: The travel perks for this card are more general. It features an annual credit for CLEAR Plus membership to speed up airport security and a credit for LoungeBuddy to purchase lounge access on a per-visit basis. It also has no foreign transaction fees. Travel can be booked through the flexible Amex Travel portal.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make a data-driven decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see personalized reward projections before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Get a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
• Earn additional rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores, on top of your regular card rewards.

Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who want to elevate their travel experience without committing to a top-tier annual fee. This user typically takes several United flights per year, allowing them to easily maximize benefits like the annual United purchase credit, free checked bags, and the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward elite status. Ultimately, it's the perfect middle-ground option for loyal United travelers who value substantial perks and protections but don't necessarily need the United Club access that comes with the most premium card.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Green Card?

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The American Express® Green Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who spend heavily on transit and at restaurants worldwide. It's particularly suited for cardholders willing to put in the effort to learn the ins and outs of transferring Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners to get the most value from their spending. Those who can take full advantage of the card's travel perks, like the up to $209 annual statement credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership, will find it easiest to offset the card's $150 annual fee (Terms apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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After comparing the United Quest℠ Card vs. the American Express® Green Card, you might find that neither option quite fits your spending habits or travel goals. Fortunately, the world of travel rewards cards is vast, and other contenders 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 to ensure you meet the good-to-excellent credit typically required for this type of card.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer requirements without overspending.
• Review the card’s benefits to confirm they align with your travel habits, such as specific airline partners or statement credits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer’s rules, as some have policies that can affect your eligibility for a new card or welcome offer.
• Time your application strategically around a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements.
• Don’t settle for a lesser offer; you can often decline a card during the application process with no credit impact.

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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What kind of traveler is the United Quest℠ Card best for?

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The United Quest℠ Card is ideal for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize benefits like the annual United purchase credit and Premier qualifying points. It's tailored for those loyal to United and its Star Alliance partners.

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Is the American Express® Green Card good for beginners?

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Yes, the American Express® Green Card can be a great starting point for travelers who want flexible rewards. Its points can be used for various travel expenses or transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners, offering broad utility.

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Do these cards offer airport lounge access?

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Neither card offers complimentary, unlimited airport lounge access as a primary benefit. However, the Amex Green card provides an annual credit for CLEAR Plus and for LoungeBuddy, which can be used to purchase day passes.

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