Who is the United Quest℠ Card for?

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The United Quest℠ Card is ideally suited for certain types of travelers. You should consider this card if you:

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• Fly United Airlines several times per year: To maximize the $125 annual United purchase credit and award flight credits, you should be a regular United customer.
• Value premier travel benefits: If priority boarding, free checked bags, and potential upgrades are important to you, this card delivers.
• Want comprehensive travel protections: The card's robust suite of travel protections, including trip delay reimbursement and lost luggage reimbursement, provides peace of mind.
• Are a MileagePlus member seeking faster path to status: The ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) through spending can help accelerate your journey to MileagePlus Premier® status.
• Spend significantly on travel and dining: With bonus categories focused on these areas, frequent travelers and diners will maximize rewards.

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However, this card may not be the best fit if you rarely fly United, prefer cash back over travel rewards, or can't justify the annual fee based on your spending and travel patterns.

Comparing the United Quest℠ Card with Other Credit Cards

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When considering the United Quest℠ Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the mid-tier travel card category:

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:

• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
• Key rewards: 2X points on travel and dining, 1X on other purchases
• Standout feature: 25% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel^SM

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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card [rates & fees]:

• Annual fee: $95
• Sign-up bonus: Large miles bonus after meeting spending requirements
• Key rewards: 2X miles on all purchases, 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Standout feature: Miles transferable to travel partners

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American Express® Gold Card [rates & fees]:

• Annual fee: $325
• Welcome offer: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
• Key rewards: 4X points at restaurants (up to $50,000 per year, then 1X) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1X) and 3X on booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
• Standout feature: Up to $120 dining credit and up to $120 Uber Cash annually. An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

_{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.}

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Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.

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Key Takeaways:

• United Quest℠ Card excels in offers a compelling combination of rewards on United purchases, everyday spending categories, and substantial travel perks
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers versatile travel rewards
• Capital One Venture provides simple, flat-rate miles earning
• American Express® Gold Card features strong dining and groceries rewards

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Key Features and Benefits of the United Quest℠ Card

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Earning MileagePlus Miles

The United Quest℠ Card offers a tiered rewards structure:

• 3x miles on United purchases including tickets, Economy Plus upgrades, in-flight purchases
• 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services
• 1x miles on all other purchases

For MileagePlus members, this accelerated earning can significantly boost your mileage earning power, especially when combined with miles earned from actual flights.

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$125 Annual United Purchase Credit

One of the most valuable recurring benefits is the $125 annual United purchase credit. This automatically applies to United purchases charged to your card, effectively reducing the net annual fee for regular United customers. This credit applies to United flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and other United purchases.

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Award Flight Credits

A unique feature of the Quest card is the two 5,000-mile award flight credits per account anniversary year. After you redeem United miles for an award flight, 5,000 miles are automatically deposited back into your MileagePlus account (up to twice annually). This effectively reduces the cost of your award tickets and helps stretch your miles further.

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Baggage Benefits and Premier Access®

The Quest card provides free first and second checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation on United-operated flights. This can save up to $320 per roundtrip for two travelers. Cardmembers also enjoy priority boarding, which helps secure overhead bin space and makes the airport experience more pleasant.

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Trusted Traveler Program Credits

The card provides a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, or NEXUS. These trusted traveler programs can significantly improve your airport experience by allowing expedited security screening or customs processing.

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Travel and Purchase Protections

The United Quest℠ Card comes with an impressive suite of travel protections:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
• Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket for delays over 12 hours)
• Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for 3 days)
• Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
• Auto rental coverage (primary when renting for business or travel purposes)
• Purchase protection and extended warranty protection

These protections provide valuable peace of mind when traveling and can save you significant money when things go wrong.

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Additional Benefits

Other notable benefits include:

• Complimentary Premier upgrades on award tickets for MileagePlus Premier members
• 25% back as statement credits on United in-flight purchases
• Access to United Card Events and exclusive cardholder experiences
• Ability to earn PQP toward MileagePlus Premier status through spending
• Concierge service for dining, entertainment, and travel assistance
• No foreign transaction fees for international purchases

Consider Using Kudos to Maximize Your Credit Card Benefits

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While the United Quest℠ Card offers substantial rewards for United flyers, savvy cardholders know that maximizing credit card benefits often requires using different cards for different purchases. This is where Kudos can become an invaluable tool in your financial arsenal.

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Kudos is a free AI-powered browser extension that helps you optimize your credit card usage when shopping online. Instead of manually tracking which card offers the best rewards for each purchase, Kudos automatically suggests the optimal card to use based on your spending patterns and available rewards.

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For United Quest℠ cardholders, Kudos can help you:

• Identify when using your United card maximizes your miles earning
• Suggest alternative cards when another might offer better rewards for specific purchases
• Keep track of your progress toward maximizing your United purchase credit
• Alert you to Flash Boost events where you can multiply your rewards up to 5X
• Help discover complementary credit cards that might pair well with your United Quest℠ Card

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If you're looking to get more out of your credit cards, Kudos is the best free shopping app to use when you shop online. And, they're currently offering $20 back after your first eligible purchase — just sign-up for free with code "GET20" and make a purchase at a Boost merchant.

Our Expert Takeaway

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The United Quest℠ Card offers substantial value for frequent United flyers who can take advantage of its unique benefits. The combination of the $125 annual United purchase credit and two 5,000-mile award flight credits can more than offset the annual fee for those who fly United regularly.

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The card truly shines for those who check bags when flying United, take at least 2-3 United flights per year, and redeem miles for award travel on United or Star Alliance partners. The comprehensive travel protections also add significant value for international travelers.

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However, casual United flyers or those seeking maximum flexibility in their rewards program might be better served by a general travel card. The value proposition of the Quest card is intrinsically tied to your United Airlines loyalty and usage.

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For the right traveler, the United Quest℠ Card offers a compelling mix of benefits, protections, and earning potential that can significantly enhance your travel experience while helping you accumulate valuable MileagePlus miles faster.

United Quest℠ Card FAQ

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What is the annual fee for the United Quest℠ Card?

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The United Quest℠ Card has an annual fee that represents its mid-premium status in the United credit card lineup. This fee is typically offset by benefits like the $125 annual United purchase credit for those who regularly fly United.

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How does the $125 annual United purchase credit work?

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The $125 annual United purchase credit automatically applies to the first $125 in United purchases made directly with United each account anniversary year. This includes flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases.

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What are award flight credits and how do they work?

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Starting with your first card anniversary, you'll automatically receive 5,000 miles back into your MileagePlus account after you redeem miles for an award flight on United (up to twice per anniversary year). This effectively reduces the cost of your award tickets.

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Do I get free checked bags with the United Quest℠ Card?

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Yes, the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation receive their first and second checked bags free on United-operated flights when you use the card to purchase tickets.

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Can I get upgraded on flights with the United Quest℠ Card?

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MileagePlus Premier members who hold the United Quest℠ Card can receive complimentary premier upgrades on award tickets when available, a benefit not typically available on standard award bookings.

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How do I earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) with the card?

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You can earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with your United Quest℠ Card, up to 3,000 PQP per calendar year. These PQP can help you achieve or maintain MileagePlus Premier status.

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Does the United Quest℠ Card have foreign transaction fees?

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No, the United Quest℠ Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for international travel.

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Can authorized users get the same benefits?

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Authorized users share some benefits like free checked bags when traveling with the primary cardholder, but benefits like the annual United purchase credit and award flight credits only apply to the primary account.

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How does the TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit work?

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The card provides a statement credit of up to $100 once every four years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, or NEXUS when charged to your United Quest℠ Card.

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Does the United Quest℠ Card offer access to United Club lounges?

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No, the United Quest℠ Card does not include complimentary United Club membership. For regular United Club access, you would need to upgrade to the United Club℠ Infinite Card.