United Quest℠ Card Review

The United Quest℠ Card is worth it for travelers who fly United Airlines frequently, offering a robust sign-up bonus and points toward elite status. In addition to earning up to 3 miles per dollar spent, cardholders can also earn United Silver elite status (or credits toward higher levels) based on their spending each year. The card also includes benefits for flying United and travel protections to make the flights more enjoyable.

The downside is that its $250 annual fee is higher than most travel credit cards, which may be hard to justify for some travelers (though it does include a $125 annual United purchase credit and rebates up to 10,000 United miles on award tickets that help to offset its annual fee). In addition, it doesn’t include any United Club passes, which are included in other United credit cards.

• Generous sign-up bonus

  When you sign up for the United Quest℠ Card, you’ll earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. With an average value of 1.3 cents per mile, these miles are worth over $1,000 in travel — though your actual value may vary based on how you redeem your miles. Typically, you’ll get the most value when redeeming for premium cabin international flights or peak travel periods.

  Among United Airlines credit cards, this is one of the highest welcome bonuses available. Plus, this card’s bonus provides 500 PQPs toward elite status that frequent United travelers covet.

• Earn 3X on United purchases

  Frequent travelers on United Airlines can maximize their purchases with robust earnings and annual credits from the United Quest℠ Card. It earns 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits (terms apply) and earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points.

  This card is ideal for travelers who fly United on a regular basis. It earns 50% more miles on United purchases than the United℠ Explorer Card (3x miles versus the United℠ Explorer Card’s 2x) and includes a United purchase credit that helps to offset its annual fee. Still, while occasional United travelers may not benefit from the United Quest℠ Card‘s earning potential as much, its 2 miles per $1 on dining, travel and select streaming services could add up quickly.

• $125 annual statement credit

  Booking United flights using your United Quest℠ Card earns up to $125 in statement credits each anniversary year. These credits cover half of your annual fee, making its cost similar to the United℠ Explorer Card. These credits are automatically applied to your purchases.

  Eligible purchases include a wide variety of items:

  • Airline tickets
  • Seat upgrades
  • Economy Plus
  • In-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi
  • Baggage charges and other fees

  Buying tickets to United Card Events from Chase also qualify for this credit. However, other United-related purchases — like United Cruises, United MileagePlus X and DirecTV — are excluded. In addition, buying United tickets through a third-party travel website or travel package may not be eligible.

  Note that the 12-month period for these credits is not the calendar year; instead, it’s based on your anniversary month of when you opened your card. For example, let’s say you opened your card in June 2023, and the first statement was received on July 5. The 12 billing cycles run from your July statement through the June statement the following year, so the $125 United flight credit would reset with your July 2024 statement.

• Earn elite status through spending

  With the United Quest℠ Card, you can spend your way to elite status with United by earning PQPs based on your spending.

  For every $12,000 spent in a calendar year, you’ll receive 500 PQPs — and you can earn up to 6,000 PQPs each year based on your credit card purchases. Plus, when you first sign up for the United Quest℠ Card, you can earn 500 bonus PQPs when you meet the card’s minimum spending requirement.

  Elite status	Qualifications for 2023 Premier status
  Premier Silver	Fly 12 PQFs and earn 4,000 PQPs or earn 5,000 PQPs
  Premier Gold	Fly 24 PQFs and earn 8,000 PQPs or earn 10,000 PQPs
  Premier Platinum	Fly 36 PQFs and earn 12,000 PQPs or earn 15,000 PQPs
  Premier 1K®	Fly 54 PQFs and earn 18,000 PQPs or earn 24,000 PQPs

  Earning the maximum PQPs from your United Quest℠ Card would earn United Premier Silver elite status. To earn Premier Silver elite status solely based on spending, you’ll need to charge $120,000 in a calendar year. However, frequent United fliers would need to spend less, since you also earn PQPs based on the base fares of United flights, paid upgrades and seat purchases.

  After reaching this milestone, you’ll enjoy Premier Silver benefits for the rest of this year and all of the next through Jan. 31 of the following year. For example, if you earned elite status in October 2023, your status runs through January 2025.

  United MileagePlus members earn Premier status based on Premier qualifying points (PQPs) or a combination of PQPs and Premier qualifying flights (PQFs). They earn PQPs based on the amount paid for flights, upgrades and seat purchases.

• Free check bags and priority boarding

  While many airline credit cards include only your first checked bag free, the United Quest℠ Card offers two free checked bags for the cardholder and one companion on United Airlines flights. To receive this benefit, you must use your United Quest℠ Card to purchase your ticket (note that additional fees for overweight or oversized bags still apply.)

  You’ll also receive priority boarding for you as the primary cardholder, as well as your companions on the same itinerary. This means you’ll board in group 2 (out of five boarding groups) along with Premier Silver, Star Alliance Silver and passengers that bought Premier Access or Priority Boarding.

• Upgrade priority on United flights

  When you book an award flight on United Airlines as a holder of MileagePlus status, you’re eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express. This benefit is available for the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same itinerary. Cardholders receive priority for upgrades after other passengers traveling on the lowest paid fare class.

• Primary rental car insurance

  When you pay for your rental with the United Quest℠ Card and decline the collision damage waiver, you’re covered against theft or damage to the rental car. This coverage from the credit card is primary, which means that no claims are filed against your personal auto insurance. It provides reimbursement to the rental car company up to the actual cash value of most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

  This insurance coverage doesn’t cover injuries to the driver, passengers or people in other vehicles. Further, it also doesn’t cover damage to other vehicles or property that you get into an accident with.

  Other credit cards that include primary rental car coverage include the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and United℠ Explorer Card.

• Great travel insurance benefits

  Beyond primary rental car protection, you’re also covered against other issues that can pop up while traveling. These benefits are included at no extra charge, but you’ll need to pay with your United Quest℠ Card to pay for your trip to be covered.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $1,500 per person ($6,000 max per trip) for prepaid, nonrefundable fares if the trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather or other covered situations
  • Baggage delay: When your bags are delayed by more than six hours, you’re reimbursed up to $100 a day (maximum of three days) for essential purchases, like toiletries and clothing
  • Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger for checked bags and carry on luggage lost or damaged by a carrier
  • Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket for out-of-pocket expenses when your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. This benefit covers unreimbursed expenses, like meals, lodging and local transportation

• Purchase protection

  Whether you’re traveling or at home, using the United Quest℠ Card to make purchases provides additional benefits. These protections cover your purchases against unexpected events and are included at no extra charge.

  • Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per years for damage or theft of eligible purchases for up to 120 days
  • Extended warranty protection: Extend a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by a year for eligible warranties of three years or less

• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit

  The United Quest℠ Card reimburses application fees of up to $100 once every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS when charged to your card. Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are popular programs that make the travel process easier at participating airports. You can use this credit to pay for application fees for yourself, family members or friends, and speed up your next trip through the security line.

• $250 annual fee

  For many travelers, it can be challenging to justify paying a $250 annual fee for a credit card. But while the United Quest℠ Card‘s annual fee is higher than many other airline credit cards, its many benefits can reduce the net cost to cardholders.

  The $125 annual United purchase credit can offset half the annual fee, even if you only pay for one United flight per year. Plus, you’ll get back 5,000 United miles on the first two award flights booked on United each year (though this benefit starts with your first anniversary of the card, so it isn’t available during the first 12 months). Based on our average values, those 10,000 miles are worth around $130.

• Rewards are limited to United

  The rewards earned on your purchases are limited to United Airlines and its rewards program. You can book flights on partner airlines, but you’ll have to book them through United and they’re subject to availability.

  Many travelers may be better off with a general travel card that offers flexible rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. This card’s rewards can be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards and more. Plus, its points transfer on a 1:1 basis to more than 10 airline and hotel loyalty programs, including United MileagePlus.

• No United Club access

  Unfortunately, even though the United Quest℠ Card charges a premium annual fee, it doesn’t include access to the United Club lounges. So if airport lounge access is important to you, consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card, which includes a complimentary United Club lounge membership, or the United℠ Explorer Card, which offers two complimentary Club passes each year.

United℠ Explorer Card

The United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent option for travelers who fly United occasionally and don’t want to pay the high annual fee that comes with the United Quest℠ Card. It has a reasonable annual fee of $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95. It also includes the first checked bag free, priority boarding and reimbursement for up to $100 in application fees for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. Plus, it gives you valuable travel and purchase protections for card purchases at no extra charge.

The rewards rate is a bit lower. You’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United^® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. But you’ll get a very generous sign-up bonus of earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the premier choice for United frequent flyers — especially those who desire United Club access. It offers the highest rewards and biggest welcome bonus of any United credit card, and includes a complimentary United Club membership (up to $650 per year).

The card lets you Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, new cardholders can earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Your spending can also earn up to 8,000 PQPs each year, which is enough for Silver status on its own or Gold with qualifying flights. Cardholders receive premium benefits on United flights, travel and purchase protections and complimentary elite status with IHG Rewards and Avis President’s Club.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

If you don’t fly United frequently, or simply don’t want to be anchored to just one airline, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a more flexible and highly rewarding alternative.

You’ll receive Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. New cardholders can also get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.

Its Ultimate Rewards points can be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards and more. In addition, you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, including United. The card also includes numerous travel protections, no matter which airline you’re flying on, making it ideal for people that fly multiple airlines each year.

If you’re a regular United flyer (or have plans to be) and can afford to meet the minimum spending requirement for the card’s sign-up bonus, then the United Quest℠ Card could be a good deal.

When you factor in the annual credits and bonus miles, travel benefits and ability to earn PQPs, what you get for that $250 annual fee is a good value. In fact, your savings on free checked bags of just one trip for two (at up to $35 for the first checked bag and up to $45 for the second) could far exceed the annual fee.

If you’re not sure the United Quest℠ Card is a good fit, you may want to try out the less expensive United℠ Explorer Card, which offers a lot of value for travelers loyal to United at a much more affordable price point. Or you might opt for a more flexible travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.