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United Quest vs Bank of America Premium Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United Quest℠ Card is best for earning rewards on United Airlines purchases and other travel expenses.
- The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card is a great all-around card for earning points on travel and dining.
United Quest Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think the United Quest℠ Card is a strong contender for United flyers.
- The card comes packed with valuable travel benefits, including an annual United purchase credit, free checked bags, and no foreign transaction fees, which help offset its annual fee.
- You can earn accelerated miles on United purchases and on broader categories like all other travel, dining, and select streaming services.
- For regular United flyers, the annual United purchase credit combined with the potential for an award flight discount can easily offset the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Offers valuable annual credits for United purchases and award flights, which can help offset the card's cost.
- Includes premium travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding that enhance the travel experience on United.
- Provides a path to earn elite status qualification points through card spending, a key benefit for frequent flyers.
Cons
- The card’s benefits are heavily centered on United, making it less valuable for those who aren't loyal to the airline.
- It lacks complimentary United Club lounge access, a common feature on other premium travel cards.
- Maximizing all the card’s benefits requires meeting a high spending threshold.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we’re fans of the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card.
- The card features a straightforward rewards program, offering bonus points on travel and dining and a solid rate on all other purchases.
- While it comes with an annual fee, it also provides valuable statement credits, like one for up to $100 in airline incidentals each year.
- You can effectively offset the annual fee just by using the full annual airline incidental credit. (publisher-formulated estimate)
Pros
- The card’s rewards program is refreshingly straightforward, with a simple redemption process and broad bonus categories for travel and dining.
- It’s loaded with valuable travel perks, including annual credits for airline incidentals, a fee credit for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry, and no foreign transaction fees.
- Existing Bank of America customers can significantly boost their earnings through the Preferred Rewards program.
Cons
- The card’s redemption options are limited, as points can’t be transferred to airline or hotel partners.
- It lacks premium travel perks commonly found on other travel cards, such as airport lounge access.
- To maximize your earnings, you’ll need to be an existing Bank of America customer enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® vs United Quest
Categories
The question of which is better, United Quest or Bank of America Premium Rewards, ultimately depends on your travel habits and brand loyalty.
- United Quest℠ Card is a premium travel card designed for regular United Airlines flyers. It's an ideal mid-tier choice for travelers looking to maximize airline-specific benefits and earn elite status faster.
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card is a versatile mid-tier travel rewards card for people who travel and dine out regularly. It offers the most value to Bank of America banking or investment customers who can earn enhanced rewards.
Redemption
United Quest℠ Card: Points are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for flights with United and its airline partners, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel purchases.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: This card offers more flexible redemption options, including cash back, statement credits, gift cards, or booking travel through the Bank of America Travel Center.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portal: The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card holders can book travel through the Bank of America Travel Center, while United Quest℠ Card members redeem miles for flights and upgrades directly through the United MileagePlus program.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are ideal for international travel as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
- Lounge Access: Neither card offers a complimentary lounge membership. However, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card includes an annual airline incidental statement credit which could be used for lounge day passes.
- Checked Bags: A significant perk of the United Quest℠ Card is the first and second checked bags free for the cardholder and one companion on United-operated flights. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card does not include a free checked bag benefit.
- Travel Credits: The United Quest℠ Card offers an annual credit on United purchases and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year after the first anniversary. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card provides an annual airline incidental statement credit.
- Trusted Traveler Programs: Both cards offer a statement credit for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. The United Quest℠ Card also extends this credit to NEXUS applications.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial technology platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.
- Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can simulate potential earnings from different cards using your actual transaction history. This feature provides annual rewards projections and a category-by-category breakdown.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
- $100 Kudos Kickstart+: You can unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.
Who Should Choose the United Quest?
The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize its travel-centric benefits. It's also an excellent choice for MileagePlus members aiming to accelerate their path to Premier status and travelers who value perks like free checked bags and annual statement credits. Ultimately, those who spend heavily on travel and dining will find the United Quest℠ Card a rewarding addition to their wallet.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards®?
The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® card is an excellent choice for moderate travelers and everyday spenders seeking strong, straightforward rewards without a high annual fee. It's particularly powerful for existing Bank of America clients, as the Preferred Rewards program can boost point earnings by up to 75%. Unlike competitors such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card that focus on travel transfer partners, this card is ideal for users who value flexible, cash-back-style redemptions.
Alternatives to Consider
If our United Quest℠ Card vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card comparison has you feeling like neither is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Review your credit profile.-Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit score for approval.
- Plan your spending strategy.-Make sure you can comfortably meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer without overspending.
- Assess the card’s ecosystem.-Consider if the rewards align with your spending and if you can leverage existing banking relationships for extra value.
Application Strategy
- Time your application strategically.-Applying before a large planned purchase can help you meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
- Focus on co-branded cards for airlines you frequent.-Cards like the United Quest℠ Card offer the most value to loyal customers of that airline.
- Leverage your existing banking relationships.-Some cards, like the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, offer enhanced rewards for existing customers.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Which card has a higher annual fee?
The United Quest℠ Card typically has a higher annual fee compared to the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card. However, annual fees can change, so it's always best to check the issuer's official terms before applying.
Can I transfer my Bank of America points to United Airlines?
No, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® program does not allow direct point transfers to the United MileagePlus program. To earn United miles directly, you would need a co-branded United credit card like the United Quest℠ Card.
Do both cards offer a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Yes, both the United Quest℠ Card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card typically offer a statement credit to cover the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. This credit is usually available once every four to five years.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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