United Quest Card review 2024: Luxe benefits at a mid-tier price

United fanatics rejoice — get rewarded for redeeming miles and stay protected while you travel. 

United Quest℠ Card * The information for the United Quest℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. basics

• Annual fee: $250.
• Welcome bonus: 60,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Rewards: 3 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on dining, select streaming services and all other travel and 1 mile on all other purchases.
• APR: 21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
• Other perks and benefits: A $125 annual United purchase credit, two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits (terms apply) and two free checked bags each for you and a companion. 
• Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
• Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.

About the United Quest Card

The United Quest Card is a fantastic airline credit card that offers comprehensive protections and perks that set it apart from the competition. For a $250 annual fee, you receive an up to $125 annual United purchase credit, two 5,000-mile anniversary award credits, free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, the ability to earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 you spend on your card (up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points in a calendar year) and more. Earning up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year means you could qualify for Premier Silver status just from card spending alone, which requires at least 5,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year to attain. This status means eligibility for complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets and a rewards earning boost to 7 miles per $1 on every flight. Your United miles never expire and there are no blackout dates. 

Many competitor cards at this price point offer a companion certificate. However, the annual United purchase credit with this card is much more useful for solo travelers. This card also shines with its travel protections which include primary auto rental collision damage waiver, reimbursements and insurance protections for trip cancellation, delays and lost baggage.

This card is best for United loyalists who want more perks than the United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , but aren’t willing to spend $525 for the premium United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . The United Quest Card stacks up well against its rivals, but you need to fly United regularly to fully realize the card’s benefits. 

Pros

• Annual United purchase credit: Cardholders receive up to $125 in statement credits each account anniversary year as reimbursement for United purchases charged to the card, which could virtually cut the annual fee in half.
• Two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits: Starting with your first account anniversary, you will receive 5,000 miles back in your account when you book a United award flight with your miles, up to two times per anniversary year. 
• First and second checked bags free: Save up to $320 round trip if you check two bags each for you and a companion.

Cons

• No lounge access: The United Quest Card would be more enticing if it offered access at a pay-per-visit rate.
• Everyday purchases earn minimal rewards: Purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and all other everyday purchases earn the lowest rewards rate, so you will likely want to use a different card for these.
• Checked bag benefit extends to only one companion: If you’re flying in a party of two or more, your checked bag benefit only applies to you and one companion, so you’ll have to pay for bags for the rest of your party.

United Quest Card rewards

The current welcome bonus allows you to earn 60,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. The welcome bonus alone can redeem a number of flights depending on the route. 

According to government and other publicly available figures, we estimate that a household that would be in the market for this card has an income of $84,352 and $25,087 in purchases they could charge to a credit card.

SPENDING CATEGORY	SPENDING AMOUNT	MILES PER DOLLAR	MILES EARNED
United purchases	$1,188	3 miles	3,564 miles
All other travel	$1,753	2 miles	3,506 miles
Dining	$3,526	2 miles	7,052 miles
Streaming services	$564	2 miles	1,128 miles
All other purchases	$16,868	1 point	16,868 miles
TOTAL	$25,087		32,118 miles

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The cardholder in this example earns a grand total of 32,118 miles in rewards annually. Generally a United mile will be worth about 1.5 cents each. Assuming that value, your rewards could be worth $481.77 in flight value, but your value will vary depending on the rewards flight you’re looking to book.

For example, you could fly from Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Las Vegas (LAS) nonstop on select dates in August or September, 2023 for just 14,300 miles one-way, plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. 

Or, you could fly halfway around the world, going from San Francisco (SFO) to Bangalore, India (BLR), with just one layover for as little as 49,500 miles one way, plus $12.20 in taxes and fees. That is a fantastic value for a 22-hour journey. 

The more you spend on your card each year, the more you earn. You would want to use the United Quest Card for United purchases, but you could use a different card for purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, or other everyday purchases, as these categories earn the lowest rewards rate.

United Quest Card perks

The United Quest Card offers an up to $125 annual reimbursement statement credit for United purchases. If used, this could cut your annual fee in half and could even cover a flight, depending on the route. Note that these purchases will not earn rewards. 

Also, starting with your first card anniversary, you will receive up to two 5,000-mile reimbursements when you book a United award flight using your miles. For example, if you book a round trip flight for 20,000 miles, you’d receive 5,000 miles back, up to two times per anniversary year.

You’ll also get your first and second checked bags free for you and a companion, which can save substantial amounts of money depending on how often you fly. You also receive priority boarding and a statement credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee. Cardholders also get a complimentary one-year DashPass membership, which provides $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders. 

Not to be overlooked are the card’s comprehensive protections which include:

• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver. This level of coverage is uncommon among other cards at this price point. 
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. If your trip gets canceled or interrupted, you are covered up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for nonrefundable fares. 
• Baggage delay, damage and loss coverage. If your bag gets delayed for more than six hours, you can receive $100 per day for up to three days to cover the cost of clothing and toiletries. Plus, if your luggage gets lost or damaged, you’re covered up to $3,000 for you and an immediate family member. 
• Trip delay coverage. If your trip gets delayed for more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you are eligible to receive up to $500 per ticket as reimbursement for meals or lodging. 
• Damage and theft coverage. Eligible new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. 

No lounge access or companion certificate 

It is disappointing that this card does not offer lounge access, even for a pay-per-visit fee.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (terms apply, rates & fees) provides an annual companion certificate upon renewal of the card and extends the first checked bag free to up to eight companions per reservation, while the United Quest Card only allows one companion. These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, as the United Quest Card offers plenty of benefits that its competitors don’t, but it is something to consider.

How the United Quest Card compares to other travel cards 

United Quest Card vs. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

The most comparable competitor for the United Quest Card is the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card from American Express. However, it has a $350 annual fee and a slightly different rewards structure. You can earn 3 miles per $1 on Delta and purchases made directly with hotels, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases. So, you get higher rewards on groceries at U.S. supermarkets but fewer rewards on other travel purchases like car rentals. The first checked bag free extends to up to eight companions per reservation, offering significant potential savings. Another notable difference includes an annual round-trip Main Cabin companion certificate upon renewal of the card. Where the United Quest Card offers two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight reimbursements when booking award travel, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card gives a 15% discount on Award Travel redemptions on Delta flights throughout the year.

The insurance coverage also varies with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card – car rental loss and damage insurance¹ is secondary. You can earn a welcome offer of 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. 

These two airline cards each come with different benefits and drawbacks, so the best one between the two will come down to which airline you prefer to fly and what perks you value the most. 

United Quest Card vs. American Express® Green Card * The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The American Express Green Card (terms apply) comes with a lower annual fee than the United Quest Card at $150 per year but packs a lot of perks. For starters, you get up to $189 back per calendar year as a statement credit for enrolling in a CLEAR® Plus membership and up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year for booking airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy. If used, those two benefits are worth more than the annual fee. 

The Amex Green Card earns 3 points per $1 at restaurants, 3 points per $1 on travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours, and ridesharing services and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Currently, you can earn a welcome offer of 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.

The United Quest Card has much more comprehensive protections and United-specific perks that make sense if you frequently fly that airline. But if you’re airline agnostic, the American Express® Green Card * The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a worthy competitor, as it earns higher rewards on other travel and dining purchases and comes with valuable statement credits. There could be space for both cards in your wallet.

United Quest Card vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you want a United Club℠ membership and don’t mind the $525 annual fee, look no further than the United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . You get many of the same perks the United Quest Card offers, like two free checked bags for both you and a companion, a reimbursement statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees and 25% back as a statement credit on United in-flight purchases. However, the earning potential is slightly elevated with the United Club Infinite Card — earn 4 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on all other travel, dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile on all other purchases. 

The primary benefit to choosing the United Club Infinite Card over the United Quest Card is lounge access, which can often make or break your travel experience. However, if you already have a card that gives you a Priority Pass membership upon enrollment, it might not be a dealbreaker.

Should you get the United Quest Card?

If you are a frequent flyer on United, this card makes a lot of sense. The travel and purchase protections provide a leg up to many of its competitors. However, if you only fly United once or twice a year, you might not get the full value out of this card and would be better off with a general travel rewards card or the entry-level United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . 

The United Quest Card is perfect for frequent flyers wanting to earn towards Premier status with the airline who don’t care about having United Club lounge access. Overall, this is one of the top mid-tier premium airline credit cards, but you need to love United Airlines to maximize its value. 

United Quest Card summary

UNITED QUEST CARD DETAILS
Annual fee	$250
Rewards	3 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on dining, select streaming services and all other travel and 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome bonus	60,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
APR	21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies
Foreign transaction fees	$0
Other perks and benefits	$125 annual United purchase credit; Two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits; Free first and second checked bags; Priority boarding; Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee statement credit; 25% back on United in-flight and Club premium drink purchases; Premier Upgrades on award tickets

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

^{For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card please visit this page.}

^{¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.}