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The
United Quest Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
The
- 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
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.
United Quest Card Rewards
Welcome bonus offer
The
Because United miles never expire, you can give your balance a big boost with the welcome bonus 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.
How to earn miles with the United Quest credit card
The
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 redeem miles from the United Quest
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. United recently increased award flight prices to Europe, but other routes haven't been affected as yet.
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, expect to pay significantly more. For example, flights to Europe tend to start at 40,000 miles in economy and 80,000 miles in business class.
The
If you have no upcoming travel plans, 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
$125 United purchase credit
- 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
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
5,000-mile award ticket credit
Starting on their first 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
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,
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
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
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, trip delay insurance can cover you and your family 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
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
Purchase protection
If you use your
Extended warranty protection
The
Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
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
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.
United Quest Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
With a
Like most other cards, you'll pay interest (currently a
- Cash advance fees
- Balance transfer fees
- Late payment fees
- Returned payment fees
How the United Quest Card Compares
United Quest Card vs other United credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 2x miles on select streaming services 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 4x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus | |||
United benefits | Free first and second checked bags on United flights Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases
| Free first checked bag on United flights Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases Two one-time United Club passes per anniversary year
| Free first and second checked bags on United flights Priority boarding on United flights Premier Access travel services 25% back on United inflight purchases United Club membership
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Review |
United Quest card vs other airline credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 2x miles on select streaming services 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 3x miles on purchases made directly with hotels 2x miles at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases 2x miles at gas stations and restaurants 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus | |||
Travel benefits | Free first and second checked bags on United flights Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases
| Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Annual Delta companion certificate 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider Discounted access to Sky Club lounges 20% off Delta inflight purchases as a statement credit
| Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries 25% back on American Airlines inflight purchases $125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20K or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card
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Review |
United Quest Card Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do you need for the United Quest Card?
You need a credit score that is at least "good" to be approved for the
Does the United Quest Card have airport lounge access?
No, the
Is the United Quest Card worth it?
The
Be sure to read our comparison of the United Quest and United Explorer, and our United Quest versus United Infinite guide to help you choose the right United credit card for you.
Alternately, if you don't want to commit to earning miles in a single loyalty program, a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards® points is a better bet. When you have the
Is the United Quest Card metal?
No, the
Methodology: How We Reviewed the United Quest Card
The credit cards team at Insider takes a look at many features when rating each credit card product. We evaluated the
- Ease of use — Are the card's rewards easy to earn and use? Are there multiple options for redeeming miles?
- Earning potential — Is the card's rewards rate competitive compared to similar airline credit cards? If there are bonus categories, are they good for everyday purchases, and are any of them capped at a maximum amount of spending?
- Benefits — Airline credit cards usually offer perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, travel insurance, and various airport benefits such as lounge access or an expedited security checkpoint experience.
- Annual fee — Are the card's benefits worth its yearly fee?
Read more about Insider's methodology in our guide to how we rate credit cards.