I am an enormous fan of amassing transferable factors and miles, corresponding to Chase Final Rewards factors, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors. I like the pliability of selecting when and the place to switch my rewards, particularly when issuers provide juicy switch bonuses.
Although I maintain some airline-branded bank cards, just like the underrated Aeroplan® Credit score Card (see charges and costs), I have not been as focused on locking myself to 1 airline loyalty program.
I am not a daily United Airways flyer, and the United MileagePlus program is not my default Star Alliance program, partially as a result of I do not reside close to a United hub. Subsequently, making use of for a United bank card and investing within the MileagePlus program has by no means been on the high of my listing … till now.
Along with this card’s advantages, the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) at present gives a incredible welcome bonus. For the primary time, I now need a United-branded bank card.
Here is why.
United Quest Card welcome provide
New candidates of the United Quest Card can earn 80,000 bonus miles and three,000 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Based mostly on TPG’s February 2026 valuations, the bonus miles are price $1,200.
This beneficiant welcome bonus of 80,000 United miles is one which I may simply use for excellent worth (extra on that in a bit).
I haven’t got United Premier (or any Star Alliance) elite standing, so 3,000 PQPs in my account could be an awesome head begin towards the necessities for Premier Silver standing (a complete of 6,000 PQPs or 5,000 PQPs plus 15 Premier qualifying flights is required to safe Silver standing).
Observe that to qualify for United standing, you need to take 4 United or United Categorical flights, even in case you hit the PQP threshold.
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This card additionally earns as much as 18,000 PQPs per calendar 12 months (1 PQP for each $20 spent on purchases could be utilized towards your Premier standing qualification, as much as the Premier 1K degree).
Premier Silver has a handful of perks, like bonus miles and entry to Economic system Plus seating at check-in.
The perks actually degree up if you attain Premier Gold standing, as members additionally qualify for Star Alliance Gold membership. For instance, since I often fly on Star Alliance airways, I may get pleasure from lounge entry at over 1,000 lounges worldwide earlier than a Star Alliance flight.
Since Premier Gold standing requires 12,000 PQPs or 10,000 PQPs plus 30 PQFs, I would be a fraction of the best way there.
Associated: 22 playing cards at present providing welcome bonuses of 100,000 factors or extra
Bonus miles for including a United card approved consumer
My husband is not almost as obsessive about incomes factors and miles as I’m, so he is not focused on making use of for his personal card, navigating his personal accounts and redemption technique.
As an alternative, he would a lot slightly be a licensed consumer on my playing cards. I can handle the earning-and-redemption technique, and we are able to each get pleasure from the advantages, like luxurious holidays.
The United Quest Card card gives 10,000 bonus miles in case you add a licensed consumer to your account within the first three months after the account is open.
Not solely is that this a straightforward solution to maximize earnings on the cardboard by means of on a regular basis spending, but it surely additionally provides 10,000 miles to my account.
Credit to offset the annual charge
I anticipated a card with an 80,000-mile welcome bonus to come back with a excessive annual charge. The United Quest Card as an alternative encompasses a midrange $350 annual charge, just like the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, with which new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Nonetheless, if I am paying a $350 annual charge, I am on the lookout for actual worth from the cardboard past the one-off welcome bonus. I am impressed to see that even with out bearing in mind the worth of the miles earned, this card nonetheless has loads of methods to offset the charge annually:
$200 credit score: After account opening and every anniversary 12 months, cardholders will obtain $200 in United TravelBank money.As much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions: Robotically get a ten,000-mile low cost every cardholder anniversary (starting along with your first anniversary). You’ll be able to then earn one other 10,000-mile low cost after spending $20,000 in a calendar 12 months.Lodge credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in credit for Famend Motels and Resorts.Airline credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in JSX credit.Rental automotive credit score: Obtain as much as $40 every in United TravelBank money for the primary two Avis or Finances automotive leases booked by means of United Vehicles every account anniversary 12 months.Journey-hailing credit score: Obtain as much as $8 in month-to-month assertion credit for ride-hailing companies, plus a bonus of $4 (for a complete of $12) in December (yearly opt-in required).Seat upgrades: Earn two international Economic system Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases along with your card every calendar 12 months.Instacart credit score: Obtain one $10 and one $5 month-to-month Instacart credit score, plus a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (ends Dec. 31, 2027).International Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score: Obtain as much as $120 in credit score for International Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.Inflight purchases: Obtain 25% again on United inflight purchases (consists of Wi-Fi, meals and drinks).
Even with one weekend away, I may see myself simply recouping the price of the annual charge by:
Reserving a $200 round-trip flight on United or United Categorical to make use of the United TravelBank money creditReceiving 25% again on United inflight purchases by paying with the cardStaying at a Famend Motels and Resorts property at my vacation spot and paying with the cardboard to make use of the (as much as) $150 lodge creditBooking an Avis or Finances automotive rental at my vacation spot to obtain (as much as) $40 in United TravelBank money
Free checked baggage on United
I do not fly United fairly often, but when I ebook a United or United Categorical flight on this card, my journey companion and I obtain our first and second checked baggage at no cost.
On condition that United elevated its checked bag charges of as much as $40 for the primary bag and $50 for the second, this card perk can save me cash.
MileagePlus miles are extra worthwhile and simpler to make use of than you may assume
Since United retired its award charts and switched to dynamic pricing, I have been cautious of transferring my Chase Final Rewards factors to MileagePlus, fearing there would not be good redemption alternatives.
Nevertheless, since I spend hours per week looking for good factors and miles offers, I’ve seen MileagePlus continues to supply wonderful award charges and availability. I’ve discovered loads of U.S. flights beginning at simply 5,000 miles plus $5.60 in charges and taxes.
I have been particularly happy about this summer time’s Polaris business-class award availability to Europe for simply 88,000 miles. There are a whole lot of flights you may ebook for this value from varied United hubs to Switzerland, Italy, Eire, Germany, the U.Ok. and the Netherlands, amongst different locations. I count on I might haven’t any hassle discovering an 88,000-mile flight to Europe this summer time.
This card is not good
Whereas this card has many enticing options, I would not say it is good. Given the midrange annual charge, I might like to see a few single-use United Membership lounge passes thrown in annually, which might make that weekend away to recoup the price of the annual charge I discussed above even sweeter.
I take into account the ten,000-mile award flight low cost for spending $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months to be like incomes an extra 0.5 miles per greenback spent on the primary $20,000. On condition that I can earn significantly better multipliers on most classes on my transferable bank cards, this isn’t a characteristic I am going to doubtless use.
There are additionally two improve certificates for Economic system Plus after spending $40,000 or extra with the cardboard in a calendar 12 months. On condition that Economic system Plus is simply an ordinary economic system seat with additional legroom, that is an exceptionally weak perk for spending a lot on the cardboard over a complete 12 months. If the perk have been an improve to Premium Plus, United’s premium economic system providing, I would take into account it. Nevertheless, I am not going to spend $40,000 on a card simply to get an extra-legroom seat.
As this card is issued by Chase, you also needs to preserve the 5/24 rule in thoughts.
Backside line
I by no means thought I might be contemplating a United-branded bank card, because it’s by no means been a program on my radar. I have been very pleased with Star Alliance associate Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, even redeeming Aeroplan factors to fly on United up to now.
With the United Quest Card providing a profitable welcome bonus, I’m tempted to use for it.
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