Chase Freedom Flex vs United Quest: Which Is Better In 2025?

United Quest Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the United Quest℠ Card stands out in the crowded travel card market.

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• It offers accelerated rewards on United purchases, plus bonus miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services.
• Valuable perks like an annual United purchase credit and a fee credit for a trusted traveler program add immediate value.
• The free checked bag benefit for you and a companion can save up to $320 on a single round-trip flight, more than covering the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Substantial travel perks like free checked bags for two, priority boarding, and discounts on in-flight purchases.
• Annual credits for United purchases and trusted traveler programs that can significantly offset the card's annual fee.
• Earn bonus miles on a wide range of spending categories and get a boost toward earning MileagePlus Premier status.

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Cons

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• Benefits are heavily focused on United Airlines, offering less value for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline.
• Maximizing the card's benefits requires a significant annual spending commitment.
• Lacks complimentary United Club lounge access, a perk often found on premium airline cards.

United Quest vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Chase Freedom Flex® or United Quest℠ Card, depends entirely on your spending habits and financial goals.

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is an excellent choice for no-fee card seekers who want to maximize rewards through a combination of rotating and fixed bonus categories.
• United Quest℠ Card: This card is best suited for frequent travelers, particularly those who fly United Airlines often and want to enjoy premium travel benefits.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, travel, and gift cards through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. This provides a high degree of flexibility, catering to a wide range of redemption preferences.

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United Quest℠ Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus® program, primarily for flights with United and its partners. Miles can also be used for seat upgrades, hotel stays, and other travel experiences.

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Travel Perks

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• The Chase Freedom Flex® offers some baseline travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver. Cardholders can book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, but the card does charge a foreign transaction fee and lacks premium perks like airport lounge access or airline fee credits.
• The United Quest℠ Card is built for the frequent United flyer. It has no foreign transaction fees and comes loaded with valuable perks. These include an annual United purchase credit, two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion, anniversary award flight credits, and priority boarding. Additionally, it provides a statement credit for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, though it does not include airport lounge access.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To cut through the noise, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 cards and find the best fit for your spending.

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• “Test drive” a credit card using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
• Get personalized card recommendations based on your spending history.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards.
• Track your progress toward earning credit card sign-up bonuses.
• Earn extra rewards, called Kudos Boost, when you shop at your favorite stores.
• A welcome offer guarantee that matches any better public offer you find within three months of applying.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards by taking advantage of rotating 5% cash back categories each quarter. It's also a strong contender for those who frequently dine out or shop at drugstores, offering 3% back in those categories without an annual fee. Furthermore, it's a key component for cardholders looking to build a "Chase trifecta," pairing it with a premium card to pool and redeem valuable Ultimate Rewards® points.

Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who want to maximize their rewards and enjoy premium travel benefits. It’s an ideal fit for individuals who fly the airline several times per year, allowing them to fully leverage perks like the annual United purchase credit, free checked bags, and a faster path to elite status. Ultimately, it’s a strong choice for loyal United customers whose spending and travel habits can easily offset the annual fee through the card’s United-centric perks.

Alternatives to Consider

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If you've weighed the Chase Freedom Flex® vs. United Quest℠ Card and neither feels quite right, you're in the right place. Let's explore a few other top-tier rewards cards that could be a better match for your financial goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score, as a good to excellent score is typically required for approval.
• Review application rules, like the Chase 5/24 rule, to understand your eligibility before applying.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any welcome offer requirements.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application to coincide with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements.
• Be aware of issuer-specific rules, such as the Chase 5/24 rule, which may affect your approval.
• Activate your benefits promptly, as some cards require enrollment for bonus categories or perks.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the United Quest℠ Card?

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Yes, it is possible to hold both cards simultaneously as they are part of different card families within Chase's portfolio. Having both can be a strategic way to maximize both flexible rewards and airline-specific benefits.

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Can I transfer points from my Chase Freedom Flex℠ to my United MileagePlus account?

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You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned with your Freedom Flex℠ to United MileagePlus, but you must also hold a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Points are transferred through the premium card's account at a 1:1 ratio.

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Which card is better for someone who doesn't fly United often?

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For infrequent United flyers, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ generally offers more value due to its rotating bonus categories and flexible cash back rewards. The United Quest℠ Card's benefits are heavily weighted toward perks and savings on United Airlines flights.

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