The United Quest℠ Card delivers strong value through its combination of travel credits, checked bag benefits, and mile-earning potential on United flights. This card works best if you fly United several times per year and can take advantage of the annual United credit plus award flight rebates.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus
The United Quest Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Before applying, consider Chase’s standard eligibility rules for this bonus. You won’t qualify if you’ve received a bonus on this specific card within the past 24 months. Additionally, Chase typically requires you to have fewer than 5 new credit card accounts opened in the past 24 months across all banks.
Remember that eligibility for this card and bonus is independent of other United cards you may have. So you can earn this bonus even if you currently hold other United co-branded cards.
Earning Points
The United Quest Card offers nice bonus categories to earn extra miles, including:
This card falls short compared to flexible points cards for everyday spending, which offer similar or better earning rates in travel and dining categories such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. However, the 3x earning rate on United purchases makes it competitive for frequent United flyers, though some premium transferable points cards match this return.
Spending on this card will also help you earn United Airlines elite status. You can earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for ever $20 you spend in purchases, up to 9,000 PQPs per calendar year.
Annual Fee
The United Quest Card has a $250 annual fee, which can be significantly offset by valuable benefits including a $125 annual United Airlines credit and up to 10,000 anniversary award miles when redeeming for United flights.
Card Benefits
The United Quest card offers the following benefits: $125 United Credit: Card members receive a $125 credit for United Airlines purchases each account year. This credit can be used for purchases like flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services, and more. Two Free Checked Bags: The primary cardholder and one traveling companion on the same reservation can receive their first and second bag for free when you use the Quest card to purchase your United-operated flight. Priority Boarding: You and your companions on the same reservation enjoy priority boarding in Group 2. This also allows you to bypass the Basic Economy restriction on bringing a carry-on bag. Award Rebate: After your first card anniversary, you’ll receive 5,000 miles back into your account after taking United award flights, up to twice per year. You just need to include at least one United-operated flight in your itinerary to qualify. 25% In-Flight Savings: The United Quest offers 25% back in the form of an account statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, onboard United when you pay using your card. Award Upgrades: Normally, United Premier members only receive complimentary upgrades on cash tickets. But holding this card also makes Premier members eligible for upgrades when using their miles on award tickets. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Travel Benefits
Purchase Benefits
Redeeming United Miles
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.
Pros and Cons
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of this card:
Pros
Annual Credits: The $125 United credit and the potential for 10,000 bonus miles through award flight credits effectively offset the annual fee.
Enhanced Baggage Benefits: Free first and second checked bags for both the cardholder and a companion on the same reservation—a significant upgrade over lower-tier United cards.
Versatile Earning Structure: Earn triple miles on United purchases plus double miles on broad categories, including all travel and dining, making it useful for everyday spending.
Comprehensive Travel Protection: The United Quest offers nice travel insurance protections, including trip delay, baggage delay, and rental car coverage, which provides peace of mind when traveling.
Cons
Higher Annual Fee: The $250 annual fee may be tough to justify for occasional United flyers who can’t maximize the card’s benefits.
Limited Lounge Access: No United Club access is included, which may disappoint frequent travelers looking for airport lounge privileges such as the United℠ Explorer Card or United Club℠ Infinite Card cards.
Complex Award Credit System: The 5,000-mile award flight credits require specific booking conditions and timing to maximize value.
Card Alternatives to the United Quest Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card (review) 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. Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Earning Miles: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel; 1x miles on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for you and one companion, 2 United Club one-time passes each year, $120 Instacart credit, $100 JSX credit, $60 ridesharing credit, $100 United Hotels credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, and extended warranty.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club℠ Infinite Card (review) stands out as United’s most premium personal credit card offering extensive United Club lounge access and elite-style benefits. The card provides excellent value for loyal United travelers through its lounge access, free checked bags, and bonus miles on United purchases. Welcome Bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months; plus 5,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months. Earning Miles: 4x miles on United Airlines purchases; 2x miles on all other travel purchases (hotels, rental cars, cruises, transit, rideshare, etc.) and dining (including eligible delivery services); 1x miles on all other purchases. Card Benefits: United Club membership, free first and second checked bags for you and companion, Premier Access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, Avis President’s Club, No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, lost luggage, and primary rental car), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (review) offers premium travel benefits including lounge access, hotel elite status, and multiple statement credits that can offset its $795 annual fee. With bonus earnings on travel and dining purchases plus the ability to transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners, this card delivers strong value for frequent travelers who can maximize its benefits. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 10x points on Hotels (excluding The Edit) and car rentals and 5x points on flights through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 10x points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards; 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out; 3x points on other travel after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 1x points on other eligible spending. Card Benefits: $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership with unlimited visits, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, travel accident, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is the United Quest Card Worth It?
The United Quest℠ Card is a good choice for regular United flyers who want premium travel benefits without paying for the more expensive United Club card.
You’ll quickly offset the $250 annual fee through the $125 United credit and the opportunity to earn back up to 10,000 miles annually when redeeming award flights. The card’s travel perks are particularly valuable, giving you free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, priority boarding, and a 25% discount on inflight purchases.
If you’re looking for a lower-cost option, the United℠ Explorer Card offers similar benefits with two United Club passes annually and lower annual fee, but you’ll miss out on the Quest’s valuable travel credits.
For United travelers who check bags a few times per year and redeem miles for United flights, the Quest can provide significant value that easily justifies its higher annual fee.
Learn How to Apply: United Quest℠ Card.
