United Quest℠ Card
vs. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

The United Quest and Rapid Rewards Priority are both excellent choices for frequent flyers, offering high rewards and travel perks. The United Quest is the better option for United Airlines loyalists due to its higher rewards rate and valuable travel benefits. It provides three miles per dollar on United purchases and includes perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

But the Rapid Rewards Priority remains a strong contender for Southwest enthusiasts, offering a generous sign-up bonus and annual travel credits. Both cards cater to travelers seeking to maximize their airline loyalty benefits.

The United Quest is likely to be better for frequent United Airlines travelers who can maximize the card's travel perks. It offers high rewards on United purchases, travel, and dining, along with valuable benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding.

The $125 annual United purchase credit helps offset the $250 annual fee. However, it may not be ideal for those who don't frequently fly with United or can't fully utilize the travel benefits.

The Rapid Rewards Priority is likely to be better for frequent Southwest flyers who value earning Rapid Rewards points and enjoy benefits like upgraded boardings and annual travel credits.

It suits those who travel regularly with Southwest and aim for A-list status or a Companion Pass. However, if you rarely fly Southwest or prefer more flexible redemption options, this card might not be the best fit.

A point-by-point comparison helps you see how each card's features align with your needs. For instance, if you frequently fly with United, the United Quest card offers thjree miles per $1 on United purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Priority card provides 3X points on Southwest purchases.

When comparing the rewards value of the United Quest and Rapid Rewards Priority cards, both offer competitive earning rates for their respective airline purchases. The United Quest card provides 3X miles on United purchases, while the Rapid Rewards Priority card offers 3X points on Southwest purchases. Both cards have similar point values, with United miles and Southwest points each valued at approximately 1.4 cents.

For those indifferent to airline loyalty, the choice may come down to the additional categories where each card earns 2X rewards. The United Quest covers dining, select streaming services and all other travel, while the Rapid Rewards Priority includes local transit, internet, cable, phone services and select streaming services.

Following this overview, a table will detail the specific rewards categories and rates for each card, allowing for a quick visual comparison.

United miles can be redeemed for United flights, hotel stays, rental cars and gift cards, offering flexibility. With no expiration, miles provide long-term value. Southwest points are redeemable for flights, gift cards and more, also without expiration. Both programs offer similar redemption value, but United's options are more travel-focused.

The Rapid Rewards Priority card offers better perks for most travelers, with 7,500 anniversary points and a $75 travel credit. The United Quest provides two free checked bags per trip, saving up to $360, and a $125 United purchase credit. Both cards offer trip insurance, but United Quest's coverage is more comprehensive.

The United Quest card offers a variety of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to enhance their travel experience:

Travel perks

• Free checked first and second bags for you and a companion, saving up to $360 per roundtrip
• Priority boarding for a smoother travel experience

Status

• Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year, helping you achieve higher loyalty status
• In addition to the 60,000 bonus miles, you also receive 500 Premier Qualifying Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months

Insurance & protections

• Trip insurance covering cancellations, interruptions and baggage delays
• Auto rental collision damage waiver providing primary coverage

Credits & discounts

• Up to $125 United purchase credit annually
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit every four years
• 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases

All other perks

• Up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year
• Complimentary DashPass membership for DoorDash and Caviar

The Rapid Rewards Priority offers a variety of perks that cater to frequent travelers and those seeking to maximize their travel rewards.

Travel perks

• Four Upgraded Boardings per year when available
• 25% back on inflight purchases

Status

• Unlimited tier qualifying points (TQPs)
• Companion Pass Intro Offer Value
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year

Insurance & protections

• Trip Insurance

Credits & discounts

• Receive a $75 annual Southwest travel credit
• DoorDash membership

All other perks

• 7,500 points every year on your Cardmember anniversary

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.