The United Quest℠ card was unveiled in 2021, giving United loyalists another option in the airline’s lineup of cobranded cards. It’s a middle-of-the-road credit card option for those who can fly enough with an airline without paying $500+ in annual fees on a super-premium credit card.
If you’re wondering if the United Quest card is the right choice for you, here are five reasons why you should consider adding it to your wallet.
Valuable sign up bonus
It’s always fun to get a card that comes with a big welcome bonus, and United Quest has an excellent limited time bonus offer.
United is offering a welcome bonus of 70,000 bonus miles, plus 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
TPG’s July 2024 assessment pegs United miles at 1.35 cents each, with bonuses worth $945. It’s not the highest welcome offer we’ve seen on this card, but the bonus 500 PQPs may offset the lower bonus miles.
The welcome offer alone is enough to offset the cost of the annual fee in just your first year, but the benefits don’t stop there.
Related: United Airlines MileagePlus: A Guide to Earning and Redeeming
Statement credits offset the annual fee
To help offset that cost, you’ll get $125 a year in statement credits when you use the card to make United purchases. This benefit alone knocks the cost of the card to $125 – just $30 more than the United Explorer Card.
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In addition, you will receive up to $100 in statement credits for your TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee credit every four years. That reduces the cost of the annual fee to just $25 for your first year. This isn’t a make-or-break benefit (plenty of travel credit cards offer similar benefits), but it’s a nice addition to the card for those who don’t already have a card that covers their TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. Cost of application fee or who have multiple family members who need to cover this fee.
Earn miles on more than United flights
Airline cobranded credit cards traditionally aren’t very rewarding when it comes to bonus points on spending outside of the airline, but this isn’t the case. United Quest.
You’ll earn 3 miles per dollar spent on United purchases (after earning $125 in United credits annually), all other travel (including flights on other airlines and more), streaming services and select dining, and 2 miles per dollar spent on 1 mile. miles. per dollar spent on all other purchases.
There are certainly other cards that offer higher returns on travel, dining and streaming services. But if you’re looking to earn United miles, it’s great to see this card award bonus miles on more than just United flights.
Benefits for frequent United flyers
If you’re a semi-frequent United flyer, then The United Quest Card comes with some solid benefits to help you enhance your flying experience and pad your MileagePlus balance at the same time.
Each account anniversary year, you’ll get 5,000 miles back in your MileagePlus account after you take a United or United Express-operated award flight booked with your miles. You can avail this benefit up to twice per year. That’s an extra 10,000 miles per year — worth $135, according to TPG’s July 2024 valuation.
If you use this benefit and the $125 annual flight credit, it will essentially offset the cost of the annual fee every year.
In addition, you’ll receive elite benefits including priority boarding, 25% back on United flight purchases, a complimentary Premier seat upgrade when flying miles if you have elite status when available, and you and one other companion on the reservation. First two checked bags free on United flights.
Related: Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Get a United Quest Card?
Elite status boost
As a cardholder of The United Quest Card can help you level up faster by earning PQP after your purchases meet spending limits.
You’ll earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent on purchases toward Premier status qualification (up to 6,000 PQPs in a calendar year), up to the Premier 1K® level. This gives great incentive to those on the verge of achieving the next level of elite status but is short on PQPs.
Related: United Premier Status: What it is and how to earn it
Bottom line
There is so much to love about United Quest Card, starting with limited-time sign-up bonuses and continuing anniversary opportunities when you renew. If you’re a frequent United flyer, this card can be a great addition to your wallet.
Just keep in mind that this card follows the Chase 5/24 rule. If you have opened five or more new accounts in the past 24 months, your application for this card will most likely be rejected. However, having a different United credit card does not automatically disqualify you from getting this new card.
For more information, please read our full review of the United Quest card.
Apply at: United Quest Credit Card