United Quest℠ Card
vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Shield Insurance

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The United Quest℠ Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® are both excellent choices for frequent flyers, offering substantial rewards and perks. The United Quest℠ Card is the better option for United Airlines travelers, with higher rewards on United purchases and valuable travel benefits. It also has a more accessible credit requirement.

However, the AA Platinum Select World Elite Card is still worth considering for American Airlines loyalists, offering high rewards on American Airlines purchases and companion certificates.

MoneyGeek's card comparison breaks down the card details, rewards and perks to help you decide which is right for you.

Credit Card logo for United Quest℠ Card
United Quest℠ Card
Credit Card logo for Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
MoneyGeek Rating
4.9/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Who United Quest Is Best For

The United Quest Card is likely to be better for frequent United Airlines travelers who want to maximize their rewards on United purchases and enjoy travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. The card's $125 annual United purchase credit helps offset its $250 annual fee, making it a good choice for those who can take advantage of these benefits. However, it may not be suitable for those who prefer other airlines or do not travel frequently enough to justify the high annual fee.

Who AA Platinum Select World Elite Is Best For

The AA Platinum Select World Elite is likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who want to earn miles and enjoy standard airline perks. It offers 3X miles on American Airlines purchases and provides benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding. However, to earn the companion certificates, users must spend $20,000 annually, which may not suit those with lower spending habits. Additionally, the card lacks travel insurance, which might be a drawback for some users.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Point-by-point comparisons of APRs, fees, required credit, rewards, introductory offers and other features help you determine which card best meets your needs. For instance, if you frequently fly United, the United Quest Card's 3 miles per $1 on United purchases might be more rewarding than the AA Platinum Select World Elite's 3X miles on American Airlines purchases.

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    Regular APR: AA Platinum Select World Elite

    The AA Platinum Select World Elite Card is better for regular APR, offering a range of 20.74% – to 29.74% variable compared to United Quest's 21.49% to 28.49% variable.

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    Annual Fee: AA Platinum Select World Elite

    The AA Platinum Select World Elite Card is better for annual fees, offering a $99 fee waived for the first year, compared to the United Quest Card's $250 fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Neither United Quest nor AA Platinum Select World Elite offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers.

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    Rewards: United Quest

    The United Quest Card is better for rewards, offering 3 miles per $1 on United purchases and 2 miles per $1 on dining, travel, and streaming services. In contrast, the AA Platinum Select World Elite Card provides 2 miles per $1 on restaurants, gas stations, and American Airlines purchases.

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    Welcome Offers: AA Platinum Select World Elite

    The AA Platinum Select World Elite Card is better for welcome offers, providing 50,000 AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in three months. In comparison, the United Quest Card offers 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000.

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    Recommended Credit Score: United Quest

    United Quest is better for recommended credit scores, requiring 670 to 850, making it accessible to more consumers. AA Platinum Select World Elite requires 740 to 850, catering to those with excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: United Quest

    The United Quest Card is better for penalties and fees due to its slightly lower late fee of up to $40 compared to AA Platinum Select World Elite Card's up to $41. Both cards have similar penalty APRs and cash advance fees, and neither charges foreign transaction fees.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Tie

    Both cards have the same issuer satisfaction score of 4.1, indicating similar customer satisfaction levels.

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    Card Benefits: United Quest

    The United Quest Card is better for card benefits, offering a higher expected value of $944 compared to AA Platinum Select World Elite Card's $503. It includes two free checked bags, priority boarding and additional travel credits, enhancing its appeal for frequent travelers.

Rewards Comparison

The AA Platinum Select World Elite Card offers a slightly higher value per mile, at approximately 1.6 cents. This makes it a better option for those focused on maximizing rewards value.

However, the United Quest Card provides a broader range of bonus categories, which may appeal to travelers with diverse spending habits. Both cards are co-branded with major airlines, United and American Airlines, respectively. For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the choice may come down to the specific rewards structure and value per mile. Below is a table summarizing the bonus categories for each card.

Category
United Quest
Citi AA Platinum Select

United purchases

3X miles

1X miles

American Airlines purchases

1X miles

3X miles

Dining

2X miles

2X miles

Hotels

2X miles

2X miles

Car Rentals

2X miles

2X miles

Select Streaming Services

2X miles

1X miles

Gas

1X miles

2X miles

All Other Travel

2X miles

1X miles

All Other Purchases

1X miles

1X miles

Redeeming Rewards

The United Quest Card allows you to redeem miles for United flights, hotel stays, rental cars or gift cards. Notably, these miles do not expire, providing flexibility in when you choose to redeem them. In contrast, the AA Platinum Select World Elite Card's miles can be used for flights to over 1,000 destinations, but they expire if there's no earning or redemption activity within 18 months. While both cards offer valuable redemption options, the expiration policy of American miles may require more active management.

Card Benefits Comparison

The United Quest Card stands out for its benefits, offering two free checked bags and a $125 annual United purchase credit. It also includes comprehensive trip insurance, appealing to travelers who value peace of mind. The AA Platinum Select World Elite Card provides one free checked bag and preferred boarding, which are beneficial for those who frequently fly with American Airlines.

United Quest Perks

Travel Perks

  • Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardmember and one companion, saving up to $360 per roundtrip
  • Priority boarding for the primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation

Status

  • Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) per calendar year
  • Premier Points Intro Offer includes 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 in the first three months

Insurance & Protections

  • Trip Insurance covering trip cancellations and interruptions, baggage delays and lost luggage
  • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver providing primary coverage for rental cars

Credits & Discounts

  • $125 annual United purchase credit for statement credits on United purchases
  • Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit every four years
  • 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases

All Other Perks

  • Up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year
  • One-year complimentary DashPass for DoorDash and Caviar

AA Platinum Select World Elite Perks

Travel Perks

  • Free checked first bags for you and up to eight companions on domestic American Airlines flights
  • Priority check-in, screening, and boarding when flying with American Airlines

Status

  • Earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from purchases

Credits & Discounts

  • $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after spending $20,000 annually
  • Up to $25 back per day on inflight food and beverage purchases with your card on American Airlines flights

FAQ: AA Platinum Select World Elite vs. United Quest

What are the annual fees for each card?
Which card offers better rewards for airline purchases?
Do these cards have foreign transaction fees?
What are the introductory offers for each card?
Which card provides better travel perks?

Methodology

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:

  • Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
  • Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
  • Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
  • Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
  • Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
  • Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
  • Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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