The United Quest℠ Card was released in 2021, and it's one of United's six co-branded credit cards (which includes two business cards). The Quest Card is a mid-level option, and it comes with a $250 annual fee, so it’s not necessarily for everyone, but it also has several perks to lessen the blow of that yearly cost.
This United Quest Card review walks through the card’s benefits and drawbacks to help you decide whether this is the best airline credit card for you.
Who should get the United Quest Card?
The United Quest Card could be ideal for frequent travelers who plan to fly on United Airlines or its partner airlines a few times per year. Most of the card's benefits are tied to United Airlines, such as free checked bags, airline credit fees, in-flight purchase discounts, priority boarding, and more.
There are several United Airlines co-branded cards, and the Quest Card falls in the middle. It’s probably not the best option for the casual United traveler, but it’s also probably not the best card if you fly United exclusively and want access to United Club airport lounges.
Card basics
Card type | Travel |
Credit card issuer | Chase |
Credit card network | Visa |
Annual fee | $250 |
Intro bonus | Earn 70,000 bonus miles (plus 500 Premier qualifying points) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening |
Reward rate | 3X miles on United Airlines purchases (after earning your $125 annual United credit); 2X miles on all other travel, dining (including eligible delivery services), and select streaming services; and 1X miles on all other purchases |
Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
Foreign transaction fee | None |
United Quest Card benefits and perks
- Generous welcome offer: Cardholders can earn 70,000 bonus miles (plus 500 premier qualifying points) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- Decent rewards: In addition to offering 3X miles for United Airlines purchases (after earning your $125 annual United credit), cardmembers also get 2X miles on all other travel, dining (including eligible delivery services), and select streaming services purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases.
- Annual United purchase credit: Receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases each card member anniversary year for charges to your Quest card.
- Discount on in-flight purchases: Cardmembers receive 25% back as a statement credit for eligible in-flight purchases on United and United Express, including Wi-Fi, food, and beverages.
- Anniversary award flight credits: After your first year, you will receive a 5,000-mile credit after taking a United award flight, up to two times each anniversary year.
- Free checked bags: When you use your Quest card for United airfare, you and one traveling companion will receive your first and second checked bags free.
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit: Your Quest card comes with a statement credit of up to $100 every four years toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees.
- DoorDash benefit: Cardholders can activate a one-year complimentary DashPass subscription. With DashPass, you'll pay $0 delivery fees and benefit from reduced service fees on eligible orders. After the first year, your DashPass subscription will renew at the regular monthly rate.
- Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): This card can help you work toward a higher MileagePlus loyalty status, which gets you benefits on United flights. You’ll earn 500 PQP on every $12,000 spent on this credit card, with a limit of 6,000 PQP per calendar year. That’s a higher limit than some other United credit cards offer, and your PQP can count toward your Premier status qualification.
Drawbacks to the United Quest Card
- No lounge access: Unlike the United Club Infinite Card, the Quest card doesn’t include United Club airport lounge membership.
- Annual fee: The card carries a sizable $250 annual fee, which may not be worth the cost if you don’t take advantage of all of the card's benefits.
Earning and redeeming United miles
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look at how your miles can add up with the United Quest Card. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1 cent.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $1,368
Year two earnings: $621
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which looks at points earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee.
The earnings figures above don’t account for the annual $125 statement credit cardholders can receive for United purchases, anniversary credits for award flights, or the higher rewards rate for United spending. If you’re able to take advantage of those credits each year and you’re a frequent flyer on United, you’ll likely get much more value from this card.
Best ways to earn
To build up your United bonus miles quickly, be sure to hit the Quest card’s spending requirements to qualify for the welcome bonus. Cardmembers can earn 70,000 bonus miles (plus 500 premier qualifying points) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Besides the welcome bonus, you’ll earn the most points by booking United flights on your Quest card. You’ll earn 3X miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases (after earning your $125 annual United credit). Cardholders also earn bonus miles for other travel spending. You earn 2X miles per dollar spent on all other travel, dining (including eligible delivery services), and select streaming services and 1X miles on all other purchases.
Categories | Rewards rate |
United Airlines purchases (after earning your $125 annual United credit) | 3X |
All other travel, dining (including eligible delivery services), and select streaming services purchases | 2X |
All other purchases | 1X |
Maximizing your redemptions
MileagePlus is United’s loyalty rewards program. Quest cardholders can redeem their miles through their MileagePlus account for a variety of redemption options. One of the best ways to use your United miles is to book award tickets through United. You can also use your miles for seat upgrades on United flights.
United flights aren’t the only travel redemptions available. You can use your miles toward hotel stays, car rentals, and cruises. You can also use them to shop online, buy Apple products, purchase gift cards, toward special event tickets like sporting events and Broadway shows, and more. Another option is to donate your miles to charity or another MileagePlus member, such as a spouse or other family member.
Note that you can also redeem 15,625 miles to cover the $250 annual fee, which gives you a value of 1.6 cents per mile.
United MileagePlus Program transfer partners
United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, which allows you to earn and use your United miles to book flights on partner airlines. The airlines that make up the Star Alliance include:
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- EgyptAir
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa Airlines
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
Besides Star Alliance airlines, United has partnerships with other airlines. You can also earn and spend miles with the following partner airlines:
- Aer Lingus
- Aeromar
- Air Dolomiti
- Azul Airlines
- Boutique Air
- Cape Air
- Edelweiss Air
- Eurowings
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Olympic Airlines
- Silver Airways
- Vistara
United also partners with hotels and car rental companies. Hotel and transportation partner loyalty rewards programs include:
- Marriott Bonvoy
- ALL (Accor Live Limitless)
- Hilton Honors
- IHG Rewards Club
- Radisson Rewards
- World of Hyatt
- Choice Privileges
- Wyndham Rewards
- Golden Circle
- Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
United Quest Card FAQs
Is the United Quest Card worth it?
The United Quest card is likely worth it for frequent travelers who prefer to travel by United Airlines. This travel rewards card offers tons of value for United fans, including various credits, free checked bags, priority boarding, and more. If you don’t like the idea of being tied to one airline, though, a more versatile travel rewards card might be a better choice.
What credit score do you need for the United Quest Card?
As with most card issuers, Chase doesn’t publish specific credit score requirements for its cards. You will likely need a good to excellent FICO credit score to qualify for the Quest card, which is a score of 670 or higher.
What credit cards does United offer?
There are currently six United co-branded personal and business credit cards available:
- United Gateway℠ Card
- United℠ Explorer Card
- United Quest℠ Card
- United Club℠ Infinite Card
- United℠ Business Card
- United Club℠ Business Card
How much are 100,000 United miles worth?
United MileagePlus miles are typically worth 1-1.5 cents each, so 100,000 miles would be worth approximately $1,000 to $1,500 depending on how they are redeemed.
Does the United Quest Card give you airport lounge access?
No, the United Quest Card doesn’t come with United Club lounge membership or access to other airport lounges.
Other cards to consider
While the United Quest Card is good for United flyers, if you don’t plan to fly that often or make United Airlines your preferred airline, the United Gateway℠ Card could be a better option. This $0-annual-fee card still earns a decent welcome bonus you can use toward United award travel or another redemption. The card doesn’t offer the generous airline perks found with the other United credit cards, but you still get credits for in-flight purchases, some travel insurance protections, and DoorDash partner benefits.
For access to more versatile travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is among the best credit cards to have. Not only does this card offer a huge welcome bonus, but you also get access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, one of the best loyalty programs available. You can redeem your points for flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and more directly through Chase or transfer them to its many airline and hotel transfer partners. The card also comes with a host of travel benefits and partner benefits with DoorDash, Peloton, and Lyft.