If you’re a loyal United flyer looking for a credit card that offers a balance between perks and a moderate annual fee, the United Quest℠ Card might be the card for you. With an annual fee of $350, this mid-tier card slots comfortably between the entry-level United℠ Explorer Card and the premium New United Club℠ Card. It’s designed for travelers who want valuable United benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and statement credits without going all-in on luxury lounge access.
The United Quest℠ Card recently received a refresh, adding new statement credits and boosting some of its value propositions. For frequent United flyers who can stay organized and use the various perks, these updates could make the annual fee well worth it. Whether you’re chasing Premier status or simply looking to cut costs on your next United trip, today, we’ll explore if the Quest Card is right for you.
If your goal is to earn flexible rewards transferable to multiple travel partners, a non-cobranded travel rewards credit card might be a better fit. But if you’re loyal to United and want to maximize your MileagePlus earnings, the United Quest℠ Card offers the following earning rates:
Admittedly, these earning rates aren’t the best, especially considering that cards like the American Express® Gold Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offer significantly better earning rates in some categories with comparable annual fees.
But given that you can use United miles for flights across the Star Alliance network and that your spend helps you earn toward United Premier status, the Quest Card is an option worth considering if you’re looking to boost your United mileage balance with everyday and travel-related spending.
With a generous welcome bonus, multiple travel-related credits and the ability to fast-track elite status, this mid-tier card packs in plenty of perks for loyal United travelers. In this section, we’ll break down the key benefits that make the Quest Card worth considering.
The latest refresh of the United Quest℠ Card introduced a slew of new travel credits. While it may take some planning to use them all, fully maximizing these perks can unlock over $700 in annual partner credits. That’s more than enough to offset the card’s annual fee and then some:
Terms and conditions apply for the credits.
In addition to the credits associated with the United Quest℠ Card, it comes with some great travel benefits. Here’s a look at some of our favorites:
If you’re chasing United Premier status, the United Quest℠ Card can give you a significant head start. Each year, cardholders receive a 1,000 PQP boost. This is automatically deposited into your MileagePlus account between February and April, starting in 2026.
You can also earn up to 18,000 PQPs per calendar year just by using your card. You’ll receive 1 PQP for every $20 spent on purchases, and these can be applied toward elite status qualification up to Premier 1K. This is a major upgrade from the card’s previous structure.
Lots of spending on the United Quest℠ Card can help you earn toward Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum or Premier 1K — just remember that you have to fly at least four eligible segments on United or United Express to earn any level of Premier status.
The miles you earn with the United Quest℠ Card are automatically deposited into your United MileagePlus account, where you can redeem them just like any other MileagePlus miles.
One of the most valuable ways to use your MileagePlus miles is for award flights, especially in premium cabins on United and its Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa, ANA and SWISS. These redemptions can unlock business or first-class experiences that often deliver outstanding value for your miles. While United has moved to dynamic award pricing and no longer publishes a fixed award chart, partner redemptions tend to offer more predictable pricing and consistently strong value, particularly on long-haul international routes.
Cardholders and MileagePlus elite members also benefit from added flexibility, including expanded award availability on United-operated flights. These perks make MileagePlus miles especially handy for spontaneous travel or if you book expensive last-minute trips.
If you’re looking to stretch your miles, United frequently runs discounted award sales, with economy redemptions on domestic or short-haul international routes dropping as low as 5,000 to 7,500 miles one-way. In fact, short-haul U.S. flights are often among the best low-mileage deals available.
The United Quest℠ Card sits in a competitive space for frequent United travelers, but we think it’s a standout with its blend of annual credits, checked bag benefits and award flight perks. Here’s how it compares to other top travel cards:
If you fly United even a few times a year, the United Quest℠ Card can be well worth its $350 annual fee. The $200 annual United TravelBank credit immediately offsets more than half the cost and is easy to redeem for United-operated flights. Add in two free checked bags for you and a companion (a benefit that can save up to $360 per round-trip), Group 2 boarding and a $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit every four years and the value adds up fast.
The card stands out with unique perks like up to 10,000 miles back per year when you redeem miles for award flights and complimentary Premier upgrades on award tickets for elite members. You’ll also earn 25% back on United inflight purchases, avoid foreign transaction fees and get solid protections for trips and purchases. Admittedly, the earning rates aren’t as high as we’d like, but bonus earning rates on travel, dining and select streaming services add to its appeal.
If you check bags, travel with companions or redeem miles regularly, you’ll likely come out ahead with the United Quest℠ Card. But if you rarely fly United or pack light, a lower-fee option like the United Explorer Card may be a better fit. On the flip side, frequent United flyers who value lounge access might prefer the premium United Club Card.
Overall, the United Quest℠ Card offers a respectable balance of valuable travel perks, credits and solid rewards for semi-frequent United travelers.
The United Quest℠ Card if worth considering if you’re looking for solid travel perks without the steep price tag of premium cards. With generous credits, two free checked bags and strong MileagePlus benefits, it can easily offset its $350 annual fee — especially if you fly United a few times a year. While the earning rates aren’t industry-leading, the value-adds like statement credits, award flight rebates and elite status boosts make it a compelling pick for semi-frequent United travelers who want more than basic perks but don’t need full-on luxury.
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