United Quest Card Review: Is It Worth The Annual Fee?

One of the most important credit card launches of 2021 is the new United Quest Card. The Quest Card is a middle-tier alternative, bringing the total number of United co-branded credit cards to four with the latest addition. The card includes a $250 annual charge, which may not be suitable for everyone, but it also offers some benefits to help offset the expense.

The advantages and disadvantages of the United Quest Card are discussed in this study to assist you in determining whether it is the ideal airline credit card for you.

United Quest Card: Who should get one?

For frequent flyers who intend to use United Airlines or its partner airlines a few times annually, the United Quest Card may be the best option. Most of the card’s perks, including free checked bags, airline credit fees, in-flight shopping discounts, priority boarding, and more, are connected to United Airlines.

The United Quest Card is one of the numerous credit cards with a United Airlines co-brand. If you fly United exclusively and want access to United Club airport lounges, it’s not the ideal card for you. It’s also probably not the greatest option for casual United travelers.

Pros

• After making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months, cardholders can receive 80,000 additional miles.
• In addition to earning their $125 yearly United credit, cardholders receive 2X miles on all other travel, eating (including qualified delivery services), and select streaming service purchases, as well as 3X miles for United expenditures. They also receive 1X mile on all other purchases.
• Each year of the card member’s anniversary, you can receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases for charges made with your United Quest card.
• For qualified in-flight expenditures on United and United Express, including Wi-Fi, food, and beverages, card members receive 25% back as a statement credit.
• After your first year, you can earn up to 5,000 miles each anniversary year by taking up to two United award flights.

Cons to the United Quest Card

• Unlike the United Club Infinite Card, the Quest card does not include membership to the United Club airport lounge.
• The card has a hefty $250 annual charge, which might not be worthwhile if you don’t use all of the features it offers.

Earning Tips

Make sure to meet the Quest card’s spending restrictions to be eligible for the welcome bonus to swiftly get your United bonus miles. After making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months, cardholders can receive 80,000 additional miles.

Booking United flights on your Quest card will earn you the most points, excluding the welcome bonus. After using up your $125 annual United credit, you’ll earn 3X miles for every dollar spent on United purchases. Additionally, cardholders can earn bonus miles for additional travel expenses. For all other trips, dining (including qualified delivery services), and select streaming services, you earn 2X points per dollar spent and 1X miles for all other transactions.

Increase Your Redemptions

United’s loyalty rewards program is called MileagePlus. Owners of Quest cards can use their miles for various redemption options through their MileagePlus accounts. Booking award tickets directly from United is one of the finest uses for your United miles. Additionally, you can upgrade your seat on United flights using your miles.

There are other travel redemptions besides United flights. Your miles can be applied to cruises, hotel stays, and vehicle rentals. They can be used for various things, including online shopping, purchasing Apple products, gift cards, and tickets for special events like sporting events and Broadway productions. You can also give your miles to a good cause or another MileagePlus member, such as your partner or family member.

Partner Airlines

Because United Airlines is a part of the Star Alliance, you can accrue and use United Quest Card points to purchase flights on participating airlines. The following airlines are a part of Star Alliance:

• 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

United has alliances with additional airlines outside those in the Star Alliance. Additionally, the following partner airlines allow you to accrue and use miles:

• Aer Lingus
• Aeromar
• Air Dolomiti
• Azul Airlines
• Boutique Air
• Cape Air
• Edelweiss Air
• Eurowings
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Olympic Airlines
• Silver Airways
• Vistara

Hotels and automobile rental agencies are additional partners of United. Programs offering loyalty rewards to hotel and transportation partners 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

FAQs

Is This Card Worth The Annual Fee

For frequent travelers who love flying United Airlines, the United Quest card may be worthwhile. For supporters of United, this travel rewards card has a ton to offer, including various credits, cost-free checked bags, priority boarding, and more. A more adaptable travel rewards card can be a better option if you don’t like being confined to one carrier.

Is There Any Minimum Credit Score Required?

Chase doesn’t disclose its card’s exact credit score requirements as most card issuers do. To be eligible for the Quest card, your FICO credit score must be 670 or higher, which is considered good to exceptional.

United offers what kind of credit cards?

There are presently six United co-branded credit cards for both individuals and businesses:

• United Gateway℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Quest℠ Card
• United Club℠ Infinite Card
• United℠ Business Card
• United Club℠ Business Card

What is the value of 100,000 United miles?

Considering that United MileagePlus miles normally cost between one and five cents each, 100,000 miles would be worth between $1,000 and $1,500, depending on how they are used.

Do you have access to airport lounges with a United Quest Card?

The United Quest Card does not grant access to any other airport lounges or membership in the United Club.

Card Alternatives

The United Gateway Card can be a better choice if you don’t anticipate flying as frequently or choose United Airlines as your primary carrier, even though the United Quest Card is a solid choice for frequent United passengers. Even with no annual charge, this credit card earns a respectable welcome bonus that may be applied to United reward travel or other redemptions. The card doesn’t come with the extensive airline advantages of the other United credit cards. However, you still get DoorDash partner bonuses, credits for in-flight purchases, and some travel insurance covers.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the greatest credit cards if you want access to more flexible travel rewards. This card gives you access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, one of the greatest loyalty programs, and a sizable introductory bonus. Your points can be redeemed directly through Chase for travel-related purchases, including hotels, cars, and vacation packages. You can transfer them to one of its numerous hotel and airline transfer partners. The card offers travel bonuses and benefits from partners like DoorDash, Peloton, and Lyft.