American Express Platinum Card® and United℠ Explorer Card are two top-tier travel cards that can offer the best rewards and benefits for frequent flyers.
The Amex Platinum offers the most comprehensive airport lounge network available, giving you access to premium Centurion Lounges plus thousands of other lounges worldwide. You can easily offset the card’s large annual fee through generous credits for Uber, hotels, digital entertainment, Resy dining, and lifestyle brands like lululemon.
The United Explorer delivers premium travel benefits without the premium price tag, making it ideal if you fly United just a few times yearly. You’ll enjoy practical perks like free checked bags and priority boarding alongside monthly credits for ride-sharing and grocery delivery that provide value throughout the year.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Full Reviews: American Express Platinum Card® and United℠ Explorer Card.
Overview: Amex Platinum vs United Explorer
Welcome Bonuses
Amex Platinum
The American Express Platinum currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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United Explorer
The United Explorer currently offers the following welcome bonus:
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning Rewards
Amex Platinum
- 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel®, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
United Explorer
The United Explorer allows cardholders to earn the following points:
- 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, including flights;
- 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, including eligible delivery services;
- 2 miles per dollar at hotels booked directly or through United Hotels;
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Winner
The Amex Platinum is a better choice for earning points because it offers higher rewards overall. Additionally, it allows you to earn rewards on flights without being restricted to a single airline.
Card Benefits and Perks
Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum offers the most benefits of any credit card, including the following:
Lounge Access: Eligible Card members get access to the extensive American Express Global Lounge Collection, including Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, SWISS, or Austrian) and Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta. Platinum members receive 10 Delta Sky Club visits annually per eligible card (unless you spend $75,000 in a calendar year) when traveling on same-day Delta flights.
Airline Fee Credit: You’ll receive up to $200 in statement credits annually for incidental fees charged by one qualifying airline of your choice.*
Hotel Credits: You’ll receive up to $600 in hotel credits annually with this card, split into two convenient semi-annual periods. The credit structure gives you up to $300 from January through June and another $300 from July through December.*
Uber Cash: Your card provides up to $200 annually in Uber Cash, distributed as up to $15 monthly credits, plus a bonus of up to $20 in December. These credits can be used for both Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the United States when you add your Platinum Card as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.*
Uber One Credit: You’ll receive up to $120 annually in statement credits after purchasing an auto-renewing Uber One membership with your card, which is separate from the existing $200 annual Uber Cash benefit.*
CLEAR Plus Credit: You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with this card.*
Digital Entertainment Credit: You’ll receive up to $25 monthly (up to $300 annually) in credits toward popular streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Paramount+, Peacock, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and digital subscriptions to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. *
Resy Dining Credit: You’ll receive up to $100 quarterly (up to $400 annually) in statement credits when you use your card for eligible dining purchases at over 10,000 U.S. Resy restaurants.*
Lululemon Shopping Credit: You’ll receive up to $75 quarterly (up to $300 annually) in statement credits when you use your card for eligible purchases with Lululemon in the U.S.*
Oura Ring Credit: You’ll receive up to $200 annually in credits when you use your card to purchase an Oura Ring through ouraring.com.*
Equinox Credit: Enjoy up to $300 in annual statement credits toward Equinox gym memberships or the Equinox+ fitness app (subject to auto-renewal).*
SoulCycle Benefit: You can receive up to $300 in statement credits toward the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike (up to 15 bikes per calendar year). To qualify, you must be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership when making your purchase.*
Walmart+ Credit: Receive up to $155 in statement credits annually (up to $12.95 monthly plus applicable taxes) covering a Walmart+ membership when paying with your Platinum Card.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: You’ll get a $120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or up to $85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years.
Saks Fifth Avenue Credit: Enjoy up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue statement credits annually, divided into two $50 credits (January-June and July-December).*
Hotel Elite Status: Enjoy complimentary Gold status with both Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Leaders Club hotel programs.*
Car Rental Status: Enjoy complimentary elite status with multiple car rental agencies: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus, and National Emerald Club Executive.
Premium Hotel Programs: You’ll have access to exclusive Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection booking programs. These provide valuable perks like room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed late checkout, and unique property amenities during your stays.
Travel Protections: Your Platinum Card covers trip delays over six hours (up to $500), cancellations/interruptions (up to $10,000), secondary rental car insurance when declining the rental company’s waiver, and baggage insurance for lost, damaged, or stolen items when purchasing tickets with your card.**
Shopping Protections: Your Platinum Card safeguards purchases with extended warranty coverage adding up to one year to eligible manufacturer’s warranties, protection against theft, damage, or loss for 90 days, potential reimbursement when merchants refuse returns within 90 days, and cell phone protection when you pay your monthly bill with your card.**
* Enrollment is required for select benefits.
** Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
United Explorer
The United Explorer offers several nice benefits, including:
Free Checked Bag: You and one companion on the same reservation receive your first checked bag free when purchasing United tickets with your card. This valuable benefit saves you from paying checked baggage fees on each trip, which can quickly add up when traveling frequently or with family.
United Club Passes: Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive two one-time United Club passes that provide access to premium airport lounges with complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating. These passes give you a taste of the premium lounge experience without committing to a more expensive card with full membership.
Priority Boarding: You’ll enjoy earlier access to the aircraft when flying United, allowing you to secure overhead bin space before general boarding begins. This benefit extends to companions on the same reservation, giving your entire travel party more time to get settled before departure.
Increased Award Space: Get access to additional award availability when using your United miles to book a flight potentially saving you a lot of miles when redeeming points.
In-Flight Savings: Receive 25% back as an account statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United when you pay using your card.
Ride-hailing Credits: You’ll receive up to $60 in annual ride-hailing credits, disbursed as $5 per month with required yearly enrollment.
Instacart Credits: You’ll enjoy up to $120 in annual Instacart credits ($10 monthly) through December 31, 2027.
JSX Credits: Your card provides up to $100 in statement credits annually for JSX flights booked directly with JSX.
United Hotels Credits: You’ll receive up to $100 in United Hotels credits, applied as $50 each on your first and second prepaid hotel stays booked through the United Hotels platform.
Car Rental Credits: You’ll earn up to $50 in United TravelBank cash ($25 each on your first and second Avis or Budget car rentals booked through cars.united.com).
Annual Spending Bonus: After spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year, you’ll earn $100 in United TravelBank cash.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / Nexus Credit: Receive an application fee credit of up to $120 every four years for either TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security), Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs), or NEXUS (expedited crossing between the US and Canada)for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®. These trusted traveler programs can save you time and hassle at the airport.
Travel Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.
Primary Rental Car Insurance: When you rent a car and pay with this card, you’ll receive comprehensive coverage including damage and theft protection. Simply decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and charge the entire rental to your card to activate coverage. This insurance covers damage, theft, and valid loss-of-use charges worldwide.
Purchase Benefits
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
Winner
The Amex Platinum still wins this round. The card offers several annual credits amounting to thousands of dollars in value. It also gives you access to the best lounge networks in the world including Priority Pass, Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, Escape Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounges.
Value of the Annual Fees
Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum comes with a hefty annual fee of $895 (rates & fees), which can be offset if you take advantage of the numerous credits and great airport lounge access.
There is also a $195 annual fee for each additional authorized user Platinum Card, who also receive airport lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and hotel and rental car elite status.
For example, if you had three authorized users with Amex Platinum cards, your additional fee would be $585.
Alternatively, you can add for free up to 99 Companion Cards for free, which allows you to earn points for spending on the Companion Card, but there are no perks like airport lounge access.
United Explorer
The United Explorer charges $0 for the first year, then $150 annually thereafter, with various credits and benefits that significantly offset this cost – including free checked bags, United Club passes, and monthly credits for ride-hailing services and Instacart.
The combined value of these annual credits totals over $400, making the card worthwhile if you can utilize most of the benefits.
Winner
This depends on what kind of traveler you are. If you want a luxurious experience when flying, then paying the hefty annual fees of the Amex Platinum is worth it. Those lounge benefits and travel credits can easily cover the cost of the card’s fee.
However, if you’re an occasional traveler, the United Explorer is a better choice. It has a lower annual fee and offers decent benefits that can still give you an upgraded travel experience.
Redeeming Rewards
Amex Platinum
American Express Membership Rewards points are a versatile and valuable currency for travelers. The program offers numerous redemption options, with transfers to airline partners being the most lucrative way to use your points.
Amex partners with 18 airlines and 3 hotel chains, allowing you to access a wide range of travel possibilities. Some of the best redemptions include booking business class flights to Europe through Air France-KLM Flying Blue for as low as 50,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club offers excellent value for Delta One flights to Europe at 50,000 points, significantly less than booking directly through Delta.
For those planning a trip to Asia, transferring to ANA Mileage Club can yield incredible value. Round-trip business class flights from the West Coast to Tokyo can be booked for just 90,000 miles. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another great option, especially for their renowned long-haul flights like New York to Singapore.
Domestic travelers can benefit from transferring to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul American and Alaska Airlines flights, with awards starting at just 8,250 Avios for distances up to 650 miles.
While transferring to airline partners typically offers the best value, Amex also allows direct redemptions for flights through their travel portal. However, this option generally provides lower value at 1 cent per point.
To maximize your Membership Rewards, focus on high-value airline transfers for premium cabin international flights. With strategic planning, you can unlock extraordinary travel experiences and significant savings on your next adventure.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
|
|
|---|---|
Aer Lingus Avios
|
AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
|
Air Canada Aeroplan
|
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
|
ANA
|
Avianca LifeMiles
|
British Airways Avios
|
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
|
Delta SkyMiles
|
El Al [1,000 to 20]
|
Emirates
|
Etihad Guest
|
Hawaiian Airlines
|
Iberia Avios
|
JetBlue [250 to 200]
|
Qantas
|
Qatar Airways
|
Singapore KrisFlyer
|
Virgin Atlantic
|
Choice
|
Marriott Bonvoy
|
Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
|
United Explorer
United MileagePlus offers numerous opportunities to redeem miles for flights on United and its extensive network of Star Alliance and other airline partners. Here are some of the best ways to use United miles:
For international travel, business and first class award tickets often provide excellent value. You can fly Lufthansa first class from the U.S. to Europe for 121,000 miles one-way, experiencing one of the most sought-after premium cabins. United’s own Polaris business class to Europe starts at 80,000 miles one-way, featuring lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.
United’s Excursionist Perk allows you to add a free one-way segment within a single region on round-trip international itineraries, effectively giving you a free stopover. This can be creatively used to visit multiple destinations on one award ticket.
Short-haul flights under 800 miles outside the U.S. can be booked for just 8,800 miles in economy, making United miles useful for intra-region travel in places like Europe or Africa. Within the U.S., domestic flights can sometimes be found for as low as 5,000 miles one-way with United’s dynamic pricing.
For long-haul travel, you can book business class to Africa on Star Alliance partners like Ethiopian Airlines or South African Airways for 88,000 miles one-way. ANA’s excellent business class to Japan, featuring “The Room” seats on some aircraft, starts at 110,000 miles.
United miles can also get you to hard-to-reach places like the Galápagos Islands, with economy flights from Ecuador starting at just 8,800 miles one-way on Avianca. Caribbean destinations can be reached from 13,200 miles round-trip in economy from the U.S.
Remember that United doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges for partner awards, keeping out-of-pocket costs low. While redemption rates may not always be the absolute lowest, the ease of booking online and access to extensive Star Alliance inventory make United MileagePlus a valuable program for award travelers.
Winner
The Amex Platinum is the clear winner. When it comes to redemptions, Amex points are more valuable than United miles.
Additionally, Amex has over 20 hotel and airline partners, which can potentially increase the value of your points.
The Verdict
Both the Amex Platinum and United Explorer cards are great options for flyers, but there can only be one winner in this head-to-head match-up.
And the winner is the Amex Platinum. It offers better rewards rates, travel benefits, and redemption options. What clearly sets it apart is the complimentary lounge access to several lounge networks, including the very exclusive Centurion lounges. You would be paying thousands of dollars in membership fees for these lounges if you were to pay them straight from your pocket.
The United Explorer is still a good option, but only if you’re a United loyalist or someone who lives close to a United Airlines hub.
Which card are you going to choose?
