United Quest℠ Card
vs. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

The United Quest℠ Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® are both excellent choices for frequent flyers, offering substantial airline-specific perks. The AA Executive World Elite Card is the better option for American Airlines loyalists due to its Admirals Club® membership and 4X miles on AA purchases.

However, the United Quest Card remains a strong contender with its high rewards on United purchases and a $125 annual United credit, making it a valuable choice for United Airlines travelers.

MoneyGeek's card comparison breaks down the card details, rewards and perks to help you decide which is right for you.

The United Quest Card is likely to be better for frequent United Airlines travelers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy travel perks. With high rewards on United purchases, travel and dining, it suits those who regularly fly with United and can benefit from the annual United purchase credit. However, it may not be the best choice for those who prioritize lounge access, as it does not offer this feature.

The AA Executive World Elite is likely to be better for frequent American Airlines travelers who value premium perks like Admirals Club® membership and priority boarding. This card is designed for those who can leverage its extensive airline-specific benefits, despite the high annual fee. However, if you don't frequently fly with American Airlines or can't justify the annual fee with the card's perks, it may not be the best fit.

IPoint-by-point comparisons of APRs, fees, required credit, rewards, introductory offers and other features help you determine which card best meets your needs. For instance, if you frequently fly United, the United Quest offers 3x miles on United purchases, while the AA Executive World Elite offers 4x miles on American Airlines purchases, making the latter more rewarding for American Airlines loyalists.

The AA Executive World Elite Card earns AA miles, valued at approximately 1.6 cents, compared to the United Quest Card's miles, valued at 1.4 cents. This makes the AA Executive World Elite card potentially more rewarding for those who frequently fly with American Airlines.

For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the United Quest Card provides a broader range of bonus categories, including dining and travel, which may offer more opportunities to earn miles on everyday spending. Below is a table summarizing the bonus categories for each card.

The AA Executive World Elite allows you to redeem miles primarily for American Airlines flights, with miles expiring if not used or earned every 18 months. In contrast, the United Quest offers more flexibility, allowing miles to be used for United flights, hotels, rental cars and gift cards, with no expiration. The broader redemption options and non-expiring miles make the United Quest more versatile for travelers seeking diverse reward uses.

The AA Executive World Elite offers superior benefits with its Admirals Club® membership, providing lounge access for frequent travelers. Both cards offer free checked bags, but the United Quest includes two bags for the primary cardholder and a companion. The United Quest also provides a $125 annual United purchase credit, adding straightforward value.

Travel Perks

• Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardmember and one companion, saving up to $360 per roundtrip
• Priority boarding for the cardmember and companions on the same reservation

Status

• Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) per year, contributing to higher loyalty status
• Premier Points Intro Offer includes 500 Premier qualifying points

Insurance & Protections

• Comprehensive trip insurance covering cancellations, interruptions and delays
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver for primary coverage on rental cars

Credits & Discounts

• Up to $125 annual United purchase credit
• Up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
• 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases

All Other Perks

• One-year complimentary DashPass for DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees

Travel Perks

• Admirals Club® membership offers significant savings on lounge access, including priority check-in, screening, and boarding

Status

• Earn more Loyalty Points with every eligible purchase, contributing to higher status in the AAdvantage® program
• Up to 20,000 additional Loyalty Points can be earned, though it requires significant spending

Insurance & Protections

• Travel Protection Benefits offer comprehensive coverage for trip cancellations, delays and lost baggage

Credits & Discounts

• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases

All Other Perks

• Dedicated Concierge service offers assistance with travel and lifestyle needs

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the 'Airline' category. Several factors determine this score:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.