The New United Quest℠ Card Review

The New United Quest℠ Card is worth it for travelers who fly United Airlines frequently, offering a robust sign-up bonus and points toward elite status. In addition to earning up to 3 miles per dollar spent, cardholders can also earn United Silver elite status (or credits toward higher levels) based on their spending each year. The card also includes benefits for flying United and travel protections to make the flights more enjoyable.

The downside is that its $350 annual fee is higher than most travel credit cards, which may be hard to justify for some travelers (though it does include an annual $200 United travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount that help offset this fee). In addition, it doesn’t include any United Club passes, which are included with other United credit cards.

• Generous sign-up bonus

  The New United Quest℠ Card comes with a Debut Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. With an average value of 1.3 cents per mile, these miles are worth around $1,170 in travel — though your actual value may vary based on how you redeem your miles. Typically, you’ll get the most value when redeeming for premium cabin international flights or peak travel periods.

  Among United Airlines credit cards, this is one of the highest welcome bonuses available. Plus, this card’s bonus provides 500 PQPs toward elite status that frequent United travelers covet.

• Earn 3X on United purchases

  Frequent travelers on United Airlines can maximize their purchases with robust earnings and annual credits from The New United Quest℠ Card. It earns 3x miles on United® purchases. 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary (terms apply), as well as earn up to 18,000 Premier qualifying points.

  This card is ideal for travelers who fly United on a regular basis. It earns 50% more miles on United purchases than The New United℠ Explorer Card (3x miles versus The New United℠ Explorer Card’s 2x) and includes a United travel credit that helps to offset its annual fee. Still, while occasional United travelers may not benefit from The New United Quest℠ Card‘s earning potential as much, its 2 miles per $1 on dining, travel and select streaming services could add up quickly.

• $200 annual travel credit

  With The New United Quest℠ Card, you’ll get a $200 United travel credit after account opening and on each account anniversary, which you can use to book a future United- or United Express-operated flight (terms apply).

• Earn elite status through spending

  With The New United Quest℠ Card, you can spend your way to elite status with United by earning Premier qualifying points (PQPs) based on your spending.

  For every $20 spent in a calendar year, you’ll receive 1 PQP — and you can earn up to 18,000 PQPs each year based on your credit card purchases. Plus, when you first sign up for The New United Quest℠ Card, you can earn 500 bonus PQPs when you meet the card’s minimum spending requirement. You’ll also get a bonus of 1,000 PQPs within six to eight weeks after February 1 of each year (starting in 2026).

  Elite status	Qualifications for Premier status
  Premier Silver	15 PQFs and 5,000 PQPs or 6,000 PQPs
  Premier Gold	30 PQFs and 10,000 PQPs or 12,000 PQPs
  Premier Platinum	45 PQFs and 15,000 PQPs or 18,000 PQPs
  Premier 1K®	60 PQFs and 22,000 PQPs or 28,000 PQPs

  Earning the maximum PQPs from The New United Quest℠ Card would earn United Premier Platinum elite status. To earn Premier Platinum elite status solely based on spending, you’d need to charge $360,000 in a calendar year. However, frequent United fliers would need to spend less, since you also earn PQPs based on the base fares of United flights, paid upgrades and seat purchases.

  After reaching this milestone, you’ll enjoy Premier Platinum benefits for the rest of this year and all of the next through Jan. 31 of the following year. For example, if you earned elite status in October 2024, your status runs through January 2026.

  United MileagePlus members earn Premier status based on Premier qualifying points (PQPs) or a combination of PQPs and Premier qualifying flights (PQFs). They earn PQPs based on the amount paid for flights, upgrades and seat purchases.

• Free checked bags and priority boarding

  While many airline credit cards include only your first checked bag free, The New United Quest℠ Card offers two free checked bags for the cardholder and one companion on United Airlines flights. To receive this benefit, you must use The New United Quest℠ Card to purchase your ticket (note that additional fees for overweight or oversized bags still apply.)

  You’ll also receive priority boarding for you as the primary cardholder, as well as your companions on the same itinerary. This means you’ll board in group 2 (out of five boarding groups) along with Premier Silver, Star Alliance Silver and passengers that bought Premier Access or Priority Boarding.

• Upgrade priority on United flights

  When you book an award flight on United Airlines as a holder of MileagePlus status, you’re eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express. This benefit is available for the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same itinerary. Cardholders receive priority for upgrades after other passengers traveling on the lowest paid fare class.

• Primary rental car insurance

  When you pay for your rental with The New United Quest℠ Card and decline the collision damage waiver, you’re covered against theft or damage to the rental car. This coverage from the credit card is primary, which means that no claims are filed against your personal auto insurance. It provides reimbursement to the rental car company up to the actual cash value of most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

  This insurance coverage doesn’t cover injuries to the driver, passengers or people in other vehicles. Further, it also doesn’t cover damage to other vehicles or property that you get into an accident with.

  Other credit cards that include primary rental car coverage include the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® (see rates & fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card (see rates & fees) and The New United℠ Explorer Card.

• Great travel insurance benefits

  Beyond primary rental car protection, you’re also covered against other issues that can pop up while traveling. These benefits are included at no extra charge, but you’ll need to pay with The New United Quest℠ Card to pay for your trip to be covered.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption: Up to $1,500 per person ($6,000 max per trip) for prepaid, nonrefundable fares if the trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather or other covered situations
  • Baggage delay: When your bags are delayed by more than six hours, you’re reimbursed up to $100 a day (maximum of three days) for essential purchases, like toiletries and clothing
  • Lost luggage reimbursement: Up to $3,000 per passenger for checked bags and carry on luggage lost or damaged by a carrier
  • Trip delay reimbursement: Up to $500 per ticket for out-of-pocket expenses when your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. This benefit covers unreimbursed expenses, like meals, lodging and local transportation

• Purchase protection

  Whether you’re traveling or at home, using The New United Quest℠ Card to make purchases provides additional benefits. These protections cover your purchases against unexpected events and are included at no extra charge.

  • Purchase protection: Up to $10,000 per item for damage or theft of eligible purchases for up to 120 days
  • Extended warranty protection: Extend a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by a year for eligible warranties of three years or less

• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit

  The New United Quest℠ Card reimburses application fees of up to $120 once every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS when charged to your card. Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are popular programs that make the travel process easier at participating airports. You can use this credit to pay for application fees for yourself, family members or friends, and speed up your next trip through the security line.

• $350 annual fee

  For many travelers, it can be challenging to justify paying a $350 annual fee for a credit card. But while The New United Quest℠ Card‘s annual fee is higher than many other airline credit cards, its many benefits can reduce the net cost to cardholders.

  The $200 annual United travel credit can offset more than half the annual fee, even if you only pay for one United flight per year. Plus, you’ll get back 5,000 United miles on the first two award flights booked on United each year (though this benefit starts with your first anniversary of the card, so it isn’t available during the first 12 months). Based on our average values, those 10,000 miles are worth around $130.

• Rewards are limited to United

  The rewards earned on your purchases are limited to United Airlines and its rewards program. You can book flights on partner airlines, but you’ll have to book them through United and they’re subject to availability.

  Many travelers may be better off with a general travel card that offers flexible rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card. This card’s rewards can be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards and more. Plus, its points transfer on a 1:1 basis to more than 10 airline and hotel loyalty programs, including United MileagePlus.

• No United Club access

  Unfortunately, even though The New United Quest℠ Card charges a premium annual fee, it doesn’t include access to the United Club lounges. So if airport lounge access is important to you, consider The New United Club℠ Card, which includes a complimentary United Club lounge membership, or The New United℠ Explorer Card, which offers two complimentary Club passes each year.

The New United℠ Explorer Card

The New United℠ Explorer Card is an excellent option for travelers who fly United occasionally and don’t want to pay the high annual fee that comes with The New United Quest℠ Card. It has a reasonable annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150. It also includes the first checked bag free, priority boarding and reimbursement for up to $120 in application fees for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. Plus, it gives you valuable travel and purchase protections for card purchases at no extra charge.

The rewards rate is a bit lower. You’ll earn 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases. But it also comes with a generous sign-up bonus: Debut Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

The New United Club℠ Card

The New United Club℠ Card is the premier choice for United frequent flyers — especially those who desire United Club access. It offers the highest rewards and biggest welcome bonus of any United credit card, as well as a complimentary United Club membership (worth at least $750 per year).

The card lets you earn 4x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining and all other travel and 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, new cardholders get a Debut Offer: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Cardholders receive premium benefits on United flights, travel and purchase protections and complimentary elite status with IHG Rewards and Avis President’s Club.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

If you don’t fly United frequently, or you simply don’t want to be anchored to just one airline, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a more flexible and highly rewarding alternative.

You’ll enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. New cardholders can also earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Its Ultimate Rewards^® points can be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards and more. In addition, you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, including United. The card also includes numerous travel protections, no matter which airline you’re flying on, making it ideal for people that fly multiple airlines each year.

If you’re a regular United flyer (or have plans to be) and can afford to meet the minimum spending requirement for the card’s sign-up bonus, then The New United Quest℠ Card could be a good deal.

When you factor in the annual credits and bonus miles, travel benefits and ability to earn PQPs, what you get for that $350 annual fee is a good value. In fact, your savings on free checked bags of just one trip for two could far exceed the annual fee.

If you’re not sure The New United Quest℠ Card is a good fit, you may want to try out the less expensive The New United℠ Explorer Card, which offers a lot of value for travelers loyal to United at a much more affordable price point. Or you might opt for a more flexible travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.