United Quest℠ Card Review: Packed With Travel Perks and Rewards

The United Quest℠ Card is great for folks who fly United regularly and want to enjoy premium travel perks. The card offers free checked bags, priority boarding and the ability to earn points for United’s elite status. It also has a substantial intro bonus and high rewards on United purchases, travel and dining. While the $250 annual fee is steep, the benefits — including its yearly $125 United credit — can outweigh the cost if your flights are always through United.

The United Quest℠ Card is made for frequent United Airlines flyers looking to maximize travel rewards. It offers high rewards on United purchases, travel and dining, along with a hefty 70,000-mile intro bonus. Plus, all your purchases earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward United’s elite status, which lets you enjoy bonus miles, seat upgrades and other perks.

The card has a $250 annual fee, which is partially offset by its $125 in annual United credits. It also includes free checked bags, priority boarding and security screening credits.

While these perks help reduce the impact of the annual fee, you'd need to fly United regularly to make the card worth it. Keep in mind that it doesn't include lounge access — if that's a priority, consider the United℠ Explorer Card or the top-tier United Club℠ Infinite Card.

The United Quest lets you earn heightened rewards from your United purchases and various spending categories. It lets you rack up miles during and outside of your vacation. You can earn:

• 3x miles on United® purchases
• 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services
• 1x mile on all other purchases

The 3X miles on United purchases are in addition to the 5X to 11X miles you earn based on your membership status.

Redeeming United miles for award flights or seat upgrades offers the best value at about 1.25 cents per mile. However, you can also redeem miles for gift cards, hotels and more, though these options typically offer lower value.

United miles can be transferred to other loyalty programs within the Star Alliance network, which includes 26 airlines worldwide. As long as your account remains active, your miles won’t expire, allowing you to accumulate them without worry.

The United Quest℠ Card earns Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for United Premier Status. You earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent with the card, up to 6,000 PQPs per calendar year. This is enough PQPs to qualify you for a Premier Silver membership that requires 5,000 PQPs.

As a United Premier Silver member, you will enjoy complimentary access to Economy Plus seating at check-in, one free checked bag and priority boarding. Additionally, you’ll get a 40% boost on the initial miles you earn on flights, letting you earn 7X miles (compared to 5X for non-elite members).

The United Quest offers a range of valuable perks that can significantly enhance your travel experience, especially if you frequently fly with United Airlines. The highlights include:

High Rewards: This card earns 3X miles on United purchases, 2X miles on travel and dining and 1X miles on all other purchases. These rewards can quickly add up for frequent travelers, making it one of the best cards for earning miles on travel-related expenses. And because the card also covers dining purchases, you can earn points even when you’re not on a holiday.

Annual Travel Credit: Every year, you receive up to $125 in statement credits for your United purchases. This covers flights, upgrades and in-flight spending. It’s a great perk if you travel at least once per year and helps offset half of the card's annual fee.

Big Intro Bonus: You can earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs after spending $4,000 in the first three months. The bonus miles are worth around $840 if redeemed for travel. Meanwhile, having 500 PQPs is a good boost towards achieving elite status.

Free Checked Bags and Priority Boarding: You and your companion's first and second checked bags are free on United flights. The first checked bag usually costs $40, and the second costs $90. This perk alone can offset the card's $250 annual fee if you travel with someone and have two checked bags each. Additionally, you get to enjoy priority boarding, allowing you to secure overhead bin space and settle in earlier.

Access to MileagePlus Premier Status: For every $500 you spend with the card, you earn 25 PQPs, which go toward your eligibility for United’s elite status. The card lets you earn up to 6,000 PQPs per calendar year, which is enough for you to attain Premier Silver membership. This membership lets you enjoy seat upgrades and increased miles on United flights.

No Foreign Transaction Fees: Use your card abroad without incurring additional charges, making it a great option for international travelers.

The United Quest is packed with benefits but comes with a cost. Before deciding if it’s right for you, consider the following drawbacks:

High Annual Fee: The card comes with a $250 annual fee, which is on the higher side. If you don't travel frequently with United, you might find it hard to justify this cost. For example, the $125 United credit can offset half of the annual fee, but you only get to enjoy that benefit if you fly at least once per year.

Limited Rewards Redemption: While you can use your miles for various redemption options, the best value is limited to award flights and seat upgrades from United or Star Alliance members. If you want a more flexible way to redeem your miles, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be an alternative.

No Lounge Access: Generally, cards in this price range come with lounge access. The United Explorer Card even offers lounge access despite being on a lower tier. If you often travel internationally and lounge access is a priority for you, the United Club Infinite Card is likely your top choice.

Considering other United cards? We compare the United Quest Card with the airline’s other co-branded cards to help you pick the right one for you.

We also compare the United Quest Card with a regular travel card to help you make an informed decision.

To maximize the rewards you earn, it can be a smart idea to pair the United Quest Card with a no-annual-fee cash back card.

We evaluated the United Quest Card by reviewing 20 airline cards in total. Our assessment focused on several key features, weighted as follows:

• Expected Value for Travelers (40%): Measures the expected monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for a person who travels two to three times yearly.
• Airline Scope (20%): Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which is important for understanding the card's utility for frequent travelers.
• Offer ROI (15%): Measures the rate of return on the introductory bonus offers.
• Airline Rewards Rate for Travelers (10%): Measures rewards earned on airline expenditures for someone who vacations two to three times per year.
• Foreign Transaction Fee (5%): Rates the card's foreign transaction fees, where 5 indicates no fees.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Rates the overall satisfaction with the card issuer based on J.D. Power's issuer satisfaction study.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Evaluates the accessibility of the card based on credit score requirements, where 5 represents availability to almost all credit scores.