Who should (and shouldn’t) get the United Qu...

United Airways has a strong bank card lineup consisting of 4 private playing cards, with the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) discovering itself in a little bit of a candy spot.

This mid-tier product sits between the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees), with an $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr after which a $150 annual charge, and the United Club℠ Card, with a $695 annual charge (see rates and fees).

The Quest Card incorporates a $350 annual charge and plenty of perks for semifrequent United flyers.

Past the preliminary welcome bonus, let’s dig just a little deeper to see who ought to — and who should not — get the United Quest Card.

New candidates can earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This supply ends Could 7. Based mostly on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the bonus factors are value $1,215.

Whereas the welcome supply could also be sufficient motive to get you on board, the United Quest Card additionally has different perks that can doubtless make you need to maintain on to it for the long term, together with:

• $200 credit score: After account opening and every anniversary yr, cardholders will obtain $200 in United TravelBank money that can assist offset the $350 annual charge.
• As much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions: Robotically get a ten,00-mile low cost every cardholder anniversary (starting together with your first anniversary). You may then earn one other 10,000-mile low cost after spending $20,000 in a calendar yr.
• Checked bag profit: Two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion on the reservation.
• Boarding and improve privileges: Precedence boarding and complimentary space-available upgrades when flying on award tickets, when you’ve got United elite status.

• Resort credit score: As much as $150 in credit for Famend Accommodations and Resorts.
• Airline credit score: as much as $150 in JSX credit.
• Rental automobile credit score: As much as $40 every in United TravelBank money for the primary two Avis or Finances automobile leases booked by United Vehicles every account anniversary yr.
• Experience-hailing credit score: As much as $8 in month-to-month assertion credit for ride-hailing companies, plus a bonus of $4 (for a complete of $12) in December.
• Seat upgrades: Earn two world Economic system Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases every calendar yr in your card.
• As much as a $120 credit score for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.
• 25% again on United inflight purchases (contains Wi-Fi, meals and drinks).
• No international transaction charges.
• Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage and journey delay reimbursement.
• Buy safety.

The $200 in TravelBank money is a good card profit that helps cowl many of the Quest’s $350 annual charge. In the meantime, the cardboard affords the primary and second checked baggage free, a profit that can be discovered on the costlier $695-per-year United Membership Card.

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The opposite perks — resembling 25% again on United inflight purchases, no foreign transaction fees, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and trip protection — are additionally discovered on each the United Membership Card and United Explorer Card.

• 8 miles per greenback spent on United flights
• 5 miles per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked by Famend Accommodations and Resorts
• 3 miles per greenback spent on United purchases
• 2 miles per greenback spent on all journey
• 2 miles per greenback spent on dining
• 2 miles per greenback spent on select streaming
• 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases

If you happen to’ve determined you need a United card, let’s slender down why the United Quest Card may be the perfect match for you.

You fly United semifrequently

There are key variations among the many United Explorer, United Quest and United Club playing cards.

In less complicated phrases, the Explorer card suits the “occasional United flyer” a couple of times per yr mildew, Quest cardholders match the “semifrequent United flyer” class and most Membership cardholders are “frequent United flyers” who take pleasure in lounge entry.

Taking a deeper dive into the advantages, nonetheless, reveals that the Quest Card is (largely) a superior card to the Explorer Card — although you’ll need to fly United a handful of occasions per yr to actually make the cardboard value it.

The one tangible benefit that the Explorer Card affords is 2 one-time United Membership passes (that the first or licensed cardholder have to be current to redeem) yearly and, in fact, a decrease $150 annual charge (that does not apply throughout your first cardholder yr).

However for semifrequent United flyers, you may simply offset the Quest Card’s $350 annual charge. First, the $200 in TravelBank money ought to be simple to make use of and canopy a big portion of the annual charge.

Lastly, in case you are a heavy packer — and ever plan to examine two baggage — the Quest Card ought to be in your checklist.

The United Quest Card doesn’t include any lounge privileges, and you do not get any visitor passes.

If you need entry to United Membership lounges, the Quest is probably going not a great match for you.

As a substitute, contemplate the United Club Card. The perennial perk of the Membership Card is a United Club membership, which generally prices $750 per yr for a common United MileagePlus member. As a substitute, you may pay $695 per yr and get entry to United Golf equipment for the first cardholder and one grownup companion and any youngsters underneath the age of 18 for so long as you maintain the cardboard.

You are over 5/24

With a purpose to be authorised for any Chase card topic to its 5/24 rule — together with the United Quest Card — you can not have opened 5 or extra private bank cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months. If you happen to’re over 5/24, contemplate a card from one other issuer.

Associated: What to do after you reach 5/24

You do not worth United miles

If you happen to do not personally contemplate United miles a precious forex, then the United Quest Card in all probability would not make sense for you. As a substitute, you may look right into a transferable points card, such because the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), that provides extra redemption flexibility.

To be taught extra, learn our full review of the United Quest Card.

Apply right here: United Quest Card

Associated: The best credit cards for flying United