United has a solid credit lineup consisting of four personal credit cards, with the United Quest℠ Card finding itself in a bit of a sweet spot.
This mid-tier product sits between the $95-per-year (waived the first year) United℠ Explorer Card and the $525-per-year United Club℠ Infinite Card.
The Quest card has a $250 annual fee and a plethora of perks for semi-frequent United flyers.
Beyond the initial sign-up bonus, let's dig a little deeper to see who should — and who shouldn't — get the United Quest card.
Key benefits
The current welcome bonus is 70,000 United miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after $4,000 in spending in the first three months. According to TPG's June 2024 valuations, the bonus points are worth $945.
The welcome offer may be enough reason to get you on board (pun intended). However, the card also has other perks that will likely make you want to hold onto it for the long run, including:
- $125 credit: Each anniversary year, cardholders will receive a $125 annual United purchase statement credit that will help offset the $250 annual fee.
- Up to 10,000 miles back: Automatically get 5,000 United miles back into your account after taking a United award flight — up to two times per anniversary year. That means if you take two award flights per year, you'll get 10,000 MileagePlus miles back. According to TPG valuations, those 10,000 miles are worth $130. Between those two perks, you've already more than covered the cost of the annual fee.
- Checked bag benefit: Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion on the reservation
- Boarding and upgrade privileges: Priority boarding and complimentary space-available upgrades when flying on award tickets if you have United elite status
- 25% back on United inflight purchases (includes Wi-Fi, food and beverages)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck every four years
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursem*nt
- Purchase protection
- Free DoorDash DashPash membership (must enroll by Dec. 31)
Both the $125 credit and the 10,000 MileagePlus miles (as a rebate) are unique card benefits that help offset the Quest's $250 annual fee. Meanwhile, the card offers the first and second checked bag free, a benefit that is only found on the more expensive $525-per-year United Club Infinite Card.
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The other perks — such as 25% back on United inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and trip protection — are also found on both the United Club Infinite and United Explorer.
Bonus category Earning Rates
The United Quest card has a fairly broad array of bonus categories. You'll earn:
- 3 miles per dollar spent on United purchases*
- 2 miles per dollar spent on all travel**
- 2 miles per dollar spent on dining
- 2 miles per dollar on select streaming
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
*In reality, cardholders earn a total of 8 miles per dollar spent on United flights — 5 miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member United fare plus 3 miles per dollar on the purchase with your Quest card.
**Cardholders earn 4 miles per dollar on hotels booked on United Hotels — 2 miles from United as a MileagePlus member plus 2 miles per dollar spent earned with your Quest card.
Related: The best credit cards for flying United
Who should get the United Quest card?
If you've decided you want a United card, let's narrow down why the United Quest might be the best fit for you.
You fly United semi-frequently
There are key differences between the United Explorer, United Quest and United Infinite cards.
In simpler terms, the Explorer card fits the "occasional United flyer" once or twice per year mold, Quest cardholders fit the "semi-frequent United flyer" category and most Infinite cardholders are "frequent United flyers" who enjoy lounge access.
Taking a deeper dive into the benefits, however, shows that the Quest card is (mostly) a superior card to the Explorer. However, you need to fly United at least several times per year to really make the card worth it.
The only tangible advantage that the Explorer card offers is two one-time United Club passes annually and, of course, a lower $95 annual fee, waived the first year.
But for semi-frequent United flyers, you can easily offset the Quest card's $250 annual fee. First, the $125 credit should be easy to use since it's applied as an automatic statement credit as you make United purchases on the card. To take full advantage of the Quest card's perks, you should plan to redeem United miles at least twice per year (to get up to 10,000 miles back).
Finally, if you are a heavy packer — and ever plan to check two bags — the Quest card should be on your list.
Who shouldn't get the United Quest card?
You want United Club lounge access
The United Quest card does not come with any lounge privileges, and you don't get any guest passes.
If you want access to United Club lounges, the Quest is likely not a good fit for you.
Instead, consider the United Infinite card. The perennial perk of the Infinite Card is a United Club membership, which typically costs $650 per year for a general United MileagePlus member. Instead, you can pay $525 per year and get access to United Clubs for the primary cardholder and two adult companions (or one adult and any children under the age of 21) for as long as you hold the card.
You're over 5/24
In order to be approved for any Chase card subject to its 5/24 rule — including the United Quest — you cannot have opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the last 24 months. If you're over 5/24, consider a card from another issuer.
Related: What to do after you reach 5/24
You don't value United miles
If you don't personally consider United miles a valuable currency, then the United Quest probably doesn't make sense for you. Instead, you can look into a transferable points card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, that offers more redemption flexibility.
Bottom line
For those who plan to fly United as travel reemerges again, the United Quest card is a terrific, mid-tier option. The $125 United credit and up to 10,000 points back per year make the $250 annual fee worth it, especially since these are unique perks that aren't duplicated on the other United credit cards.
To learn more, read our full review of the United Quest card.
Apply here: United Quest Credit Card
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
