Chase announced the addition of the new United Quest℠ Card to its lineup of United Airlines cards in April 2021 with a tempting sign-up bonus as well as a generous list of travel benefits.

The United Quest℠ Card is a mid-tier United card, as its $250 annual fee is less than that of the United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee), but more than the United℠ Explorer Card ($0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee).

However, the United Quest℠ Card does offer a $125 United purchase credit every year, which if used, effectively lowers the annual fee to $125. Plus, the card also comes with two 5,000-mile credits annually when you redeem miles for United or United Express award tickets.

Finally, the United Quest℠ Card would be ideal for frequent United flyers who are also seeking a way to work toward earning Silver status through spending on the card by awarding 500 PQPs (Premier Qualifying Points) for every $12,000 spent on the card up to 3,000 PQPs. To qualify for Silver Elite, United MileagePlus members have to earn 3,000 PQPs plus 8 PQFs (Premier Qualifying Flights) or 3,500 PQPs.

• Generous sign-up bonus

  The United Quest℠ Card lets cardholders earn 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

• Statement and points credits

  In addition to the $125 annual statement credit for a United purchase, the United Quest℠ Card also offers up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck applications and two 5,000-mile credits every year when you redeem award miles for a United or United Express flight.

• Extensive benefits

  The United Quest℠ Card offers a bevy of travel-related card benefits, including but not limited to two free checked bags, priority boarding, baggage and trip interruption insurance and rental car coverage.

• Ability to earn PQPs

  If you’re seeking to earn Silver status with United, but may not fly enough segments to earn that status, the United Quest℠ Card offers up the ability to earn up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) a year. For every $12,000 spent with the card, 500 PQPs will be earned, up to a maximum of 3,000 PQPs in a calendar year.

• Annual fee

  If you’re not a big United flyer, then you may want to opt for a cheaper travel rewards card, as the United Quest℠ Card comes with a $250 annual fee.

  For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card comes with a $95 annual fee and the following sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Rewards rate for non-United purchases

  The United Quest℠ Card offers a mediocre rewards rate for non-United purchases. Cardholders earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, on select streaming services & on all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive a $125 credit on United® purchases and two 5k-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply.

• No United Club passes

  Unlike the less expensive United℠ Explorer Card, which offers two United Club passes every year, the United Quest℠ Card does not offer that benefit.

Compare it to the United℠ Explorer Card

If you’re not sure whether you want a United card with a $250 annual fee, then you may want to take a closer look at the United℠ Explorer Card, which has a $0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee.

The United℠ Explorer Card comes with a lot of the same benefits, although it only covers one free checked bag instead of two, and its sign-up bonus is slightly less generous: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

If you’re new to airline cards and fly United from time to time, the United℠ Explorer Card is a good card to get started with as the annual fee doesn’t kick in until the second year.

While the rewards earning rate is not as generous (Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases), the United℠ Explorer Card does offer two United Club passes a year as well as up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck.

If you’re a regular United flyer (or have plans to be), and can afford to meet the minimum spending requirement to cash in on the generous amount of miles offered with the card’s sign-up bonus, then the United Quest℠ Card could be a good deal.

When you factor in the annual credits and bonus miles, travel benefits, and the ability to earn PQPs, what you get for that $250 annual fee is a good value.  In fact, what you could save on the free checked bags for a trip for two (at $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second) far exceeds the cost of that annual fee.

If you’re not sure the United Quest℠ Card is a good fit, you may want to try out the less expensive United℠ Explorer Card, which by its own right still offers a lot of value, but at a much more affordable price point.

The information related to the United Quest℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.