United Quest Card Review

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If you fly United Airlines, even just a couple of times a year, the United Quest℠ Card should be on your radar. It comes with unique perks that can save you big time when you travel — such as two free checked bags when flying on United. You’ll also earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That’s worth an average of $780 in travel, per Insider’s valuations.

Review: Is the United Quest card the best credit card for you?

The United Quest℠ Card is offering a bonus of 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Because United miles never expire, it’s a good time to give your balance a big boost so you’ll have plenty of miles to work with when you’re ready to travel again. And the extra PQP (Premier Qualifying Points) from the welcome bonus can help you reach the next level of elite status.

The card does have an annual fee of $250, but don’t let the upfront cost put you off. If you can use the card’s benefits, you can make up for the annual fee and then some. For example, cardholders receive:

• Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases (like airfare and incidental fees)
• A 5,000-mile credit (up to twice a year) after you complete an eligible award flight on United, starting on your first card anniversary
• A free first and second checked bag for yourself and a companion when you use the card to pay for your ticket (worth $35 and $45 respectively)
• Up to $100 credit every four years toward the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee

You’ll also earn bonus miles in categories like travel, dining, and streaming services, and receive other valuable travel and purchase protections, including primary car rental insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, trip delay protection, lost luggage reimbursement, and extended warranty.

Before you decide on the United Quest℠ Card, be sure to have a look at other United cards like the United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95) and United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee) to see if their benefits and perks are a better fit for your wallet.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

How to earn miles with the Chase United Quest card

The United Quest℠ Card makes it easy to earn lots of United miles, even if you’re not a frequent traveler.

Cardholders earn:

• 3 miles per dollar on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) — including airline tickets purchased from United, United seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, other United fees, and United Card Events from Chase
• 2 miles per dollar on travel (including airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds, and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
• 2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services)
• 2 miles per dollar on select streaming services (Apple Music, Apple TV, Disney+, ESPN+, Fubo TV, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Paramount+, Peacock, Showtime, SiriusXM, Sling, Spotify, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Vudu)
• 1 mile per dollar on everything else

How to use United miles

You can redeem United miles for award flights on United Airlines or its partners, including Star Alliance airlines like Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Because United no longer has an award chart, the number of miles required for a flight varies based on demand, paid ticket price, and season.

One-way domestic economy award tickets start at 5,000 miles, but can range up to over 30,000 miles. You can find saver business or first-class awards within the US for as few as 25,000 miles, but also as high as over 60,000 miles. From the US to other regions, prices start at around 32,500 miles in economy and 63,000 miles in business class.

The United Quest℠ Card has a unique feature that can put miles back in your pocket. Cardholders receive a 5,000-mile credit when they complete a United award flight, up to twice per year (so a maximum of 10,000 miles per year) starting on the first card anniversary. Those 10,000 miles are worth around $130 based on Insider’s valuations, so that’s another perk that can effectively offset the card’s annual fee.

If you’re not ready to travel yet, there’s no rush to spend your miles because United miles don’t expire. However, you’ve got other redemption options, but you’ll typically get a much lower value:

• Seat upgrades
• United Club memberships
• Inflight Wi-Fi passes
• TSA PreCheck application fees
• Merchandise
• Gift cards
• Experiences
• Hotels and cruises 
• Charitable donations

United Quest card benefits and features

The United Quest℠ Card offers a substantial — and potentially quite valuable — list of benefits. Perks on United flights can save you money and make your travel more comfortable, and protections like trip delay insurance and primary car rental insurance can give you peace of mind (and keep cash in your wallet) when you’re on the road.

$125 United purchase credit

United Quest℠ Card cardholders receive up to $125 a year in statement credits toward eligible United purchases, so if you fly United even once a year, you should be able to maximize this perk. Purchases that qualify include:

• Airline tickets purchased from United
• Seat upgrades
• Economy Plus
• Inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi
• Baggage fees 
• Other United fees
• United Card Events from Chase purchases 

However, United tickets booked through some discount travel websites or as part of a third-party travel package won’t qualify, nor will United Cruises, United MileagePlus X, DIRECTV, and merchandise awards.

Free first and second checked bag

With the United Quest℠ Card, cardholders and one companion on the same reservation can get a free first and second checked bag on United flights when they use the card to pay for their ticket (or taxes and fees on an award ticket).

Considering United charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the next, you’re looking at a round-trip savings of $160 per person if you check two bags — and double that if you travel with a companion. If you know you’ll check bags on at least one or two United flights in the coming year, opening the United Quest℠ Card can save you a ton of cash, even factoring in the annual fee.

5,000-mile award ticket credit 

Starting on their first card anniversary, United Quest℠ Card cardholders can take advantage of a 5,000-mile credit up to two times a year when they redeem United miles for an award ticket. These credits will be credited (for future application) to your account approximately four weeks after your card anniversary.

You’ll actually receive the 5,000-mile rebate in your United account within two weeks of completing (not booking) an eligible award flight. Eligible award flights are those that include at least one United- or United Express-operated flight, and must include the primary cardholder on the reservation. Unused credits will expire 12 months after issue, and you can’t transfer, combine, or extend them.

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit

Cardholders can receive up to $100 credit for the NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years. This is a perk many cards offer nowadays, so if you’ve already enrolled in one of these programs, you can always use your card to pay a friend or family member’s fee and still get the credit.

Complimentary Premier Upgrades

United Premier members who have the United Quest℠ Card and are traveling on an award ticket are eligible for complimentary Premier Upgrades on eligible domestic United-operated flights. This perk is for the primary cardholder only; travel companions or authorized users don’t qualify.

Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)

Cardholders receive 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 spent on purchases with the card, up to 6,000 PQP per calendar year. This is handy if you’re working toward the next level of elite status and need a boost.

Expanded United award availability

As with other Chase United credit cards, United Quest℠ Card cardholders get expanded United award availability, which means you’ll have access to more available award seats — with no blackout dates — compared to non-cardholders. This benefit can be a lifesaver if you’re flying at short notice or on high-demand routes or dates. 

Priority boarding

Getting to board the airplane sooner has become even more important these days, especially if you want to sanitize your seat area and have time to get settled in. If you have the United Quest℠ Card, you’ll get priority boarding for yourself and your companions on the same reservation.

This means you’ll board before general boarding is called, but after MileagePlus Premier members, customers with Premier Access, and travelers requiring special assistance.

25% back on inflight purchases

When you use your card to pay for eligible inflight purchases, you’ll get 25% back in the form of a statement credit. Qualifying purchases include food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United- and United Express-operated flights, and the credit should appear on your statement within 24 hours of the purchase posting to your account. Authorized users get this benefit, too.

Primary car rental insurance

The United Quest℠ Card is one of only a handful of cards that offer primary car rental insurance, which means you’re covered for losses without having to bill your own insurance first.

When you use the card to pay for your rental and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver, you’re covered for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual value of the vehicle for most car rentals in the US and abroad. Be sure to read the terms and conditions that come with the card for any exclusions.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

If you use the card to pay for pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares and have to cancel or cut your trip short, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per trip. Covered situations include sickness and severe weather, but check the terms and conditions for limitations.

Trip delay reimbursement

If your flight or other travel on a common carrier is delayed by 12 hours or more, or requires an overnight stay, you and your family can be covered for up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed expenses, like meals and accommodations.

Baggage delay insurance

If your bag is delayed by a common carrier (like the airline) by six hours or more, you can get reimbursement for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day for up to three days.

Lost luggage reimbursement

Having the airline lose or damage your bag is the worst, but if you used the United Quest℠ Card to pay for your ticket, you and your immediate family members could be covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.

Travel accident insurance

Nobody wants to think about the worst happening on vacation, but when you pay for your air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your United Quest℠ Card, you’re eligible for accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000.

Purchase protection

If you use your United Quest℠ Card to pay for a new, eligible purchase, you’re covered for up to 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim, and $50,000 per year. 

Extended warranty protection

The United Quest℠ Card extends the US original manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items by a year, on warranties of three years or less. This can save you from having to pay for an expensive extended warranty on big-ticket items.

Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

United Quest℠ Card cardholders get access to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection — a selection of upscale hotels which offer elite-like perks when you book through the program.

You’ll get benefits like complimentary breakfast, unique benefits or credits (specific to each property, room upgrades, and other goodies like early check-in and late checkout (when available). It’s important to compare rates and perks through the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to booking with the hotel directly; sometimes, you’ll pay more through Chase and the benefits won’t outweigh the additional cost.

DoorDash DashPass benefit

Chase added a year of free DashPass membership to just about every one of its co-branded cards, including the United Quest℠ Card. Activation is required by December 31, 2024.

DashPass membership gets you free delivery and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more, so this perk can save you money if you order from DoorDash frequently. After 12 months of complimentary membership, you’ll be auto-enrolled for a monthly membership at full price (currently $9.99 a month) unless you cancel.

Fees and costs

With a $250 annual fee, the United Quest℠ Card isn’t for everyone, but again — if you can make the most of the card’s benefits — it can be well worth it for United flyers.

The United Quest℠ Card doesn’t add foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good card to use for international purchases. Like most other cards, you’ll pay interest if you don’t pay your balance in full each month, and there are fees for cash advances, balance transfers, and late or returned payments.

Comparison: United Quest card vs other United credit cards

United Quest card vs other airline credit cards

United Quest card frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Jasmin Baron, CEPF

Editor

Joseph Hostetler, CEPF

Credit cards reporter