United Quest vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: Which Is Better In 2025?

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we’re fans of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® card.

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• You'll get automatic Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night Credits each year, fast-tracking you to higher loyalty tiers within the Marriott Bonvoy program.
• Although it has an annual fee, the card waives foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective choice for your international trips.
• The Anniversary Free Night Award for a stay of up to 35,000 points can provide more value than the card's annual fee, making it easy to justify keeping the card year after year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• A generous welcome offer to kickstart your points balance.
• Strong earning rates on everyday purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
• A suite of travel protections, including coverage for trip delays and lost luggage.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee that is not waived for the first year.
• Points are most valuable when redeemed for Marriott stays, limiting redemption flexibility compared to general travel rewards cards.
• The Anniversary Free Night Award is limited to properties under a certain point value, excluding many high-end and luxury hotels.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® vs United Quest

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Quest or Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®, depends entirely on your travel style and loyalty. One card is built for dedicated airline passengers, while the other caters to hotel enthusiasts.

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• United Quest℠ Card: This card is designed for frequent travelers who primarily fly with United Airlines. It's best for those looking to maximize travel rewards and enjoy premium benefits and protections with the airline.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card is ideal for travelers who regularly stay at Marriott properties and want to earn hotel points on everyday spending. It's a strong choice for those seeking elite status benefits within the Marriott Bonvoy program.

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Redemption

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United Quest℠ Card: With this card, you redeem miles primarily for flights on United and its extensive network of partner airlines. Your rewards can also cover seat upgrades, in-flight amenities, and other travel experiences.

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Cardholders redeem points for free nights at Marriott's vast portfolio of hotels and resorts. Points can also be used for room upgrades or transferred to various airline partners.

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Travel Perks

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• United Quest℠ Card: This card is built around the United Airlines flight network and its Star Alliance partners. Cardholders enjoy no foreign transaction fees, making international travel more affordable. Key perks are airline-centric, including an annual statement credit for United purchases, two free checked bags for the cardholder and one companion on the same reservation, and priority boarding. It also offers a statement credit to cover the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, and provides a percentage back on in-flight purchases.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This card focuses on hotel stays within the vast Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. It also comes with no foreign transaction fees. Instead of airline perks, it offers an annual Free Night Award valid at participating properties after your account anniversary. Cardholders automatically receive Silver Elite status, unlocking benefits like bonus points and potential late check-outs. You also get a yearly deposit of Elite Night Credits, giving you a head start on earning higher levels of status within the Marriott program.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare nearly 3,000 credit cards and find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Feature: Before you apply, you can test drive cards using your real spending data to see projected annual rewards and net value without a hard credit pull.
• Personalized Recommendations: The platform analyzes your transaction history to provide data-driven recommendations, moving beyond generic “best card” lists.
• Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis based on your credit report to understand your chances of being approved for different cards.
• Incentives and Guarantees: New members can access rewards like the $100 Kudos Kickstart+ and a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer found within three months.
• Kudos Boost: Earn extra rewards on top of your regular card rewards when you shop at participating stores through the platform.
• Financial Management: Track all your spending, monitor your credit score, and manage multiple cards from a single dashboard.

Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is best suited for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize its travel-centric benefits, such as free checked bags and priority boarding. Those looking to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward MileagePlus status through spending or who want comprehensive travel protections will also find significant value. Ultimately, this card excels for travelers loyal to United who spend enough on travel and dining to offset the annual fee, as detailed in this United Quest℠ Card review.

Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®?

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is an excellent choice for frequent Marriott guests who want to accelerate their point earnings and enhance their stays. It also appeals to value-conscious travelers and status seekers, as the annual free night award can easily offset the annual fee while the automatic Silver Elite status provides a shortcut to hotel perks. Finally, with bonus rewards on everyday spending categories like groceries, gas, and dining, this card is a solid option for those looking to earn travel rewards on their daily purchases.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the United Quest vs Marriott Bonvoy Boundless comparison has you concluding that neither card is the right fit, don't fret. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards 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

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet the welcome offer spending requirement without overspending.
• Review your travel habits - Consider if your loyalty aligns with a specific airline or hotel brand.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of any application restrictions, such as limits on recently opened accounts.
• Time your application - Align your application with planned large purchases to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Leverage co-brand perks - Prioritize cards that offer valuable benefits like elite status with airlines or hotels you already use.

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 transfer points between my United and Marriott accounts?

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While you can't directly transfer United miles to Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer Marriott points to United miles. The transfer ratio is generally not favorable, so it's best to use points within their respective programs.

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Is it worth getting both the United Quest Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card?

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Holding both cards can be a powerful strategy if you frequently fly with United and stay at Marriott properties. This combination allows you to maximize rewards and benefits across both your air travel and hotel stays.

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What happens to my points if I cancel one of these cards?

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Your points are generally safe if you cancel your card, as they are held in your United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy loyalty accounts, not with the bank. As long as your loyalty accounts remain active, you will retain your points.

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