Who ought to (and should not) get the United Quest card?

United Airways has a strong bank card lineup consisting of 4 private playing cards, with the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) discovering itself in a little bit of a candy spot.
This mid-tier product sits between the United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs), with an $0 introductory annual price for the primary yr after which a $150 annual price, and the United Membership℠ Card, with a $695 annual price (see charges and costs).
The Quest Card encompasses a $350 annual price and plenty of perks for semifrequent United flyers.
Past the preliminary welcome bonus, let’s dig a bit deeper to see who ought to — and who should not — get the United Quest Card.
Key advantages
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. Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the bonus factors are price $1,215.
Whereas the welcome supply could also be sufficient purpose to get you on board, the United Quest Card additionally has different perks that may probably 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 may assist offset the $350 annual price.
- As much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions: Mechanically get a ten,00-mile low cost every cardholder anniversary (starting along 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 baggage 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 have United elite standing.
- Resort credit score: As much as $150 in credit for Famend Lodges and Resorts.
- Airline credit score: as much as $150 in JSX credit.
- Rental automotive credit score: As much as $40 every in United TravelBank money for the primary two Avis or Finances automotive leases booked via United Automobiles every account anniversary yr.
- Journey-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 World 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 a lot of the Quest’s $350 annual price. In the meantime, the cardboard affords the primary and second checked baggage free, a profit that can also be discovered on the costlier $695-per-year United Membership Card.
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The opposite perks — reminiscent of 25% again on United inflight purchases, no international transaction charges, a World Entry or TSA PreCheck credit score, and journey safety — are additionally discovered on each the United Membership Card and United Explorer Card.
Bonus class incomes charges
The United Quest Card has a reasonably broad array of bonus classes. You may earn:
- 8 miles per greenback spent on United flights
- 5 miles per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked via Famend Lodges and Resorts
- 3 miles per greenback spent on United purchases
- 2 miles per greenback spent on all journey
- 2 miles per greenback spent on eating
- 2 miles per greenback spent on choose streaming
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
Who ought to get the United Quest Card?
In case you’ve determined you need a United card, let’s slender down why the United Quest Card could be the perfect match for you.
You fly United semifrequently
There are key variations among the many United Explorer, United Quest and United Membership playing cards.
In easier phrases, the Explorer card matches the “occasional United flyer” a few 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, nevertheless, reveals that the Quest Card is (principally) a superior card to the Explorer Card — although you’ll need to fly United a handful of instances per yr to essentially make the cardboard price it.
The one tangible benefit that the Explorer Card affords is 2 one-time United Membership passes (that the first or licensed cardholder should be current to redeem) yearly and, in fact, a decrease $150 annual price (that does not apply throughout your first cardholder yr).
However for semifrequent United flyers, you’ll be able to simply offset the Quest Card’s $350 annual price. First, the $200 in TravelBank money needs to be simple to make use of and canopy a big portion of the annual price.
Lastly, if you’re a heavy packer — and ever plan to examine two baggage — the Quest Card needs to be in your checklist.
Who should not get the United Quest Card?
You need United Membership lounge entry
The United Quest Card doesn’t include any lounge privileges, and you do not get any visitor passes.
If you’d like entry to United Membership lounges, the Quest is probably going not an excellent match for you.
As an alternative, think about the United Membership Card. The perennial perk of the Membership Card is a United Membership membership, which usually prices $750 per yr for a basic United MileagePlus member. As an alternative, you’ll be able to pay $695 per yr and get entry to United Golf equipment for the first cardholder and one grownup companion and any kids below the age of 18 for so long as you maintain the cardboard.
You are over 5/24
To be able to be authorized 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. In case you’re over 5/24, think about a card from one other issuer.
Associated: What to do after you attain 5/24
You do not worth United miles
In case you do not personally think about United miles a helpful forex, then the United Quest Card in all probability does not make sense for you. As an alternative, you’ll be able to look right into a transferable factors card, such because the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs), that provides extra redemption flexibility.
Backside line
For many who plan to fly United, the United Quest Card is a terrific, mid-tier possibility. The $200 United journey credit score per yr makes the $350 annual price price it, particularly since it is a distinctive perk that is not duplicated on the opposite United bank cards.
To be taught extra, learn our full assessment of the United Quest Card.
Apply right here: United Quest Card
Associated: The perfect bank cards for flying United
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