We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that
appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and services -
like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of
mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner
compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we
highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your
credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
Is the United Quest Card Worth Its Annual Fee?
This United card can be worth it if you fly with United at least once a year.
After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure. She previously worked as a reporter for The Points Guy. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When she's not flying, you'll usually find her in a Priority Pass lounge somewhere, sipping tea and cursing slow Wi-Fi.
June is a freelance writer and the author of “The Joy of Syntax" and “The Best Punctuation Book, Period.” A former staff writer, reporter and editor for the community news division of the Los Angeles Times, she also writes the weekly syndicated “A Word, Please” column that runs in newspapers in five states.
Updated
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and
relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving
writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and
complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
If you fly United Airlines, a new credit card could make your travels more rewarding.
United Quest℠ Card has a unique roster of benefits that make it a compelling new option among United credit cards. But is it worth the $350 annual fee? A look at the card’s benefits reveals who should get United Quest℠ Card and will help you decide whether it’s a good choice for you.
United Quest℠ Card is part of Chase and United’s co-branded card lineup, which now offers four consumer card options. Those range from the ultra-high-end United Club℠ Card, whose $695 annual fee includes a United Club membership, to the $0-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card.
United Quest℠ Card lands in the middle of United’s card offerings. Among the reasons to get United Quest℠ Card: It comes with a hefty welcome bonus. Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Cardholders earn:
3 miles per dollar spent on United purchases.
2 miles on travel, dining and select streaming service purchases.
Subscribe to our free TravelNerd newsletter for inspiration, tips and money-saving strategies, delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional
content and agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
United Quest℠ Card annual fee is worth it if you …
Fly with United at least once a year
United Quest℠ Card comes with $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.
Cardholders also get two free checked bags for themselves and two free bags for one companion on each trip, which can equal a huge savings if you — like many of us — can’t decide which shoes go with which outfit each day of your trip.
These two perks together could make the card worthwhile by offsetting part or all of the annual fee.
Use TSA Precheck or Global Entry
The card also offers a credit worth up to $120 once every four years to cover the fee for either Global Entry or TSA Precheck. TSA Precheck is a trusted traveler program that lets you speed through security. It also allows you to keep your belt on and your liquids in your bags. Global Entry gives you expedited reentry to the U.S. after traveling abroad. Global Entry generally includes TSA Precheck, so if you’re going to go for just one, go for Global Entry.
Because award flights with United start at just 5,000 miles, it’s possible to get two near-free flights each year by taking advantage of this perk.
Want United elite status
If you’re hoping to earn elite status in the MileagePlus program for a chance at cabin upgrades on international flights, this card can help you get there. For every $20 you charge, you’ll earn 1 Premier Qualifying Points toward United elite status. This is good all the way to United’s Premier 1K status — and you can earn up to 18,000 PQPs each calendar year using this method.
Use Instacart
United Quest℠ Card now offers one $10 Instacart credit and one $5 Instacart credit monthly for purchases made directly through Instacart with your card. That's up to $180 in total value each calendar year if you max it out each month. The Instacart benefits are valid through Dec. 31, 2027.
United Quest℠ Card annual fee isn't worth it if you …
Never fly with United. If you’re located near an airport that is predominantly served by Delta or American Airlines, you may find yourself struggling to find a use for the United TravelBank cash.
Use your miles for upgrades. If you’re more prone to redeeming miles for mileage upgrades rather than flights, you’ll miss out on the 10,000-mile rebate you’d receive after booking two award flights.
United Quest℠ Card is an excellent mid-tier option for travelers who will fly with United at least once a year. The $200 annual United travel credit in particular goes a long way in making this a reasonable card to hold.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.