Link: Apply now for the United Quest℠ Card
Chase and United Airlines have a co-brand credit card agreement for both personal and small business cards. The United Quest℠ Card was launched in 2021 and is the newest credit card that’s part of this arrangement. I’d argue that this is also the all-around most lucrative.
In this post:
United Quest Card Basics For March 2023
The United Quest Card is extremely well-rounded, and while the card has an annual fee, it should be easy to justify based on the incredible perks.
United Quest Card Bonus Of 60,000 Miles
The United Quest Card is offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 MileagePlus bonus miles + 500 PQP after spending $4,000 within the first three months of card membership. This is a solid welcome bonus — I value MileagePlus miles at ~1.3 cents each, so to me, those miles are worth ~$780.
Note that you’re eligible for this offer even if you have other United co-brand credit cards. The only people who aren’t eligible for the United Quest Card are those who currently have the card, or those who have received a new cardmember bonus on the card in the past 24 months. The typical Chase application rules apply, including the 5/24 rule.
United Quest Card $250 Annual Fee
The United Quest Card has a $250 annual fee, and there’s no cost to add additional authorized users. For some context as to how that fits into United’s co-brand personal card portfolio:
- The United Gateway℠ Card (review) has no annual fee
- The United℠ Explorer Card (review) has a $95 annual fee, waived the first year
- The United Club℠ Infinite Card (review) has a $525 annual fee
As you can see, the United Quest Card has the second-highest annual fee, though I’d argue it also has the annual fee that’s easiest to consistently recuperate, thanks to the easy-to-use perks, which I’ll cover below.
United Quest Card Rewards Structure
The United Quest Card has no foreign transaction fees, and offers the following return on spending:
- Earn 3x miles on United purchases
- Earn 2x miles on all travel and dining purchases
- Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
While other cards are compelling in the travel and dining categories, those are some of the broadest bonus categories I’ve seen on a co-branded airline credit card.
One reason people may wish to spend money on the card is that spending can help you earn MileagePlus elite status. The card offers 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $12,000 spent on purchases, up to a maximum of 6,000 PQPs in a calendar year. As a reminder, below are the MileagePlus elite requirements for 2023.
Valuable Purchase & Travel Protection
One of the perks many people look for in credit cards is good protection for purchases. The United Quest Card has some great coverage in that regard. While you’ll want to consult the card benefits guide, the United Quest Card offers perks like:
- Trip cancelation & interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty protection
United Quest Card Benefits & Perks
Airline co-branded credit cards are primarily about the perks, which is an area where the United Quest Card most definitely doesn’t disappoint. Let’s go over the card’s perks, starting with the two unique benefits that I find to be most compelling and which will most quickly justify the $250 annual fee.
$125 Annual United Airlines Credit
The United Quest Card offers a $125 annual United credit, which should be worth close to face value to anyone who considers this card:
- Receive a statement credit when you use your card for United purchases, up to a maximum of $125 per anniversary year
- Qualifying purchases include airline tickets purchased from United and purchases through United of seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food and beverages, Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, and other United fees
- The statement credit will post to your account the same day as your United purchase
Anniversary Award Flight Credits (Up To 10,000 Miles)
The United Quest Card offers an anniversary award flight credit of up to 10,000 MileagePlus miles:
- Automatically receive 5,000 miles back in your MileagePlus account after taking an award flight booked with your miles, up to twice annually
- The award itinerary must include at least one United-operated flight, and must include the primary cardmember on the reservation
- These miles will be deposited in your account within four weeks of each cardmember anniversary
If you redeem miles on United with any frequency, that should get you 10,000 miles yearly. Between that and the $125 annual United credit, I’d argue the annual fee is already more than offset.
Free First & Second Checked Bags
If you ever check bags, having the United Quest Card can get you a free first and second checked bag for you and one companion on the same reservation. The primary cardmember just needs to pay for the ticket with their card and be one of the travelers. This is a value of up to $320 per roundtrip ticket (assuming two people are checking two bags roundtrip).
Priority Boarding
As the primary cardmember on the United Quest Card, you can receive priority boarding for you and your companions on the same reservation for United Airlines operated flights. Many people want to board early to be able to secure overhead bin space, so this is a perk that I know many cardmembers value.
25% Savings On Inflight Purchases
You can save 25% on inflight purchases on United Airlines if you have the United Quest Card. This will come in the form of an account statement credit, and applies for purchases of beverages, food, and Wi-Fi.
Complimentary Upgrades On Award Tickets
If you have elite status with United Airlines, you’re eligible to receive space-available upgrades in most short-haul markets when booking a revenue ticket. However, if you have the United Quest Card, you’re also eligible to receive elite upgrades when traveling on award tickets, which is a nice additional perk.
TSA PreCheck Global Entry, Or NEXUS Fee Credit
The United Quest Card offers a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years. Simply charge the enrollment fee to your card, and it will automatically be reimbursed.
Nowadays, quite a few credit cards offer these fee credits, so you can always use this benefit for a friend or family member. They just have to use your credit card to pay, and you’ll automatically receive the statement credit.
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass
The United Quest Card offers a year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass. This offers unlimited delivery from all kinds of restaurants with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on orders of $12 or more. You have to activate your subscription by December 31, 2024, and it’s then valid for 12 months. After that period, you’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate, though you can always cancel.
Is The United Quest Card Worth It?
I think the United Quest Card is United’s best value credit card for someone who flies United at least a few times per year and redeems miles sometimes as well.
While the card has a $250 annual fee, the $125 annual United credit should lower the “real” annual cost to $125. Then if you redeem miles for United-operated flights at least twice per year, you’re getting 10,000 additional miles. Based on my valuation of United miles, I consider that to be a $130 value.
At that point, you’ve already gotten more value from the card than the annual fee, and that doesn’t account for perks like free checked bags, upgrades on award tickets, savings on inflight purchases, and much more. On top of that, there’s the card’s excellent welcome bonus, which gets you a lot of value shortly after getting the card.
So yeah, I think this card is worth it, but how does the value proposition compare to United’s most popular credit card?
United Quest Card Vs. United Explorer Card
Many people may be trying to decide between the United Quest Card and the United Explorer Card. I think the United Quest Card is the better choice, but let me provide a quick comparison.
The advantages of the United Explorer Card are the following:
- The United Explorer Card has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year), compared to a $250 annual fee on the United Quest Card
- The United Explorer Card offers two United Club passes annually
However, virtually everything else about the United Quest Card is either equal or significantly better:
- The United Quest Card offers an annual $125 United credit, which the United Explorer Card doesn’t offer, and that should be worth face value to most
- The United Quest Card offers up to 10,000 MileagePlus miles back each year on award redemptions, which the United Explorer Card doesn’t offer
- The United Quest Card offers two checked bags free, while the United Explorer Card offers only one checked bag free
In the long run, the United Quest Card is more compelling because of the additional perks that should help offset the annual fee for a vast majority of savvy consumers.
The only consumer who should consider the United Explorer Card is someone who values the United Club passes but doesn’t redeem miles at least twice per year for United-operated flights.
Bottom Line
The United Quest Card is the most compelling card the Chase & United lineup. While the $250 annual fee sounds high on the surface, the $125 annual United credit should get you half of that value back right there. Then there’s the up to 10,000 miles you can earn per year when redeeming miles, along with other ongoing benefits.
What do you make of the United Quest Card?
If you have a UNITED Explorer card can you also apply for the UNITED QUEST card?
@ PAL -- Yep, you sure can!
Can the $125 credit be used for award tax and fees? For the 10,000 miles, is it on calendar year basis or rolling 12 months starting from the card open date?
Related question -- does the flight for which one wants the 5k miles rebate, does it have to be flown AND BOOKED after anniversary date, or merely flown after anniversary date?
I always scratch my head about the value of these cards. Basically, you need to travel enough on United to make the credits and stuff pay back the annual fee, but not so much to get even Silver status, which would get you the priority boarding, first bag checked, etc. IOW, if you travel enough to get the lowest level status, then basically this card is a wash and you can get similar or better...
I always scratch my head about the value of these cards. Basically, you need to travel enough on United to make the credits and stuff pay back the annual fee, but not so much to get even Silver status, which would get you the priority boarding, first bag checked, etc. IOW, if you travel enough to get the lowest level status, then basically this card is a wash and you can get similar or better rewards categories with other cards.
I guess at that point, it becomes a no-annual-fee card with reasonable bonus categories, assuming you have no other cards that give you similar bonuses?