Why I was pleasantly surprised with all the perks of the Chase United Quest card

Earlier this year, I was in the middle of a United Airlines status challenge, and I saw an offer for a new credit card with a nice welcome offer that I couldn’t resist. I hadn’t really played too deeply in the United ecosystem and didn’t have any of Chase’s United-branded credit cards.

Interestingly, I had a United Airlines debit card in the early 2000’s, but that was closed on me when the U.S. passed the Durbin Amendment as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

That locked many of us out of lucrative points earning on debit cards.

Anyway, I was excited when I was able to open the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees).

Of course, I quickly earned the generous 90,000-mile and 3,000 PQP welcome bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening and adding an authorized user (no longer available), but I was just as excited to learn I had many perks that came with the card, which I’ve continued to enjoy this year.

Currently, new United Quest cardholders can earn up to 90,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs: earn 500 PQPs after your first purchase and 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.

Here is what comes with the card, which pleasantly surprised me after I got it.

Travel credits, including the $200 United TravelBank credit

One thing I didn’t realize when I signed up for the card was that cardholders get a $200 United travel credit. That came in handy when I needed to book a recent flight to Montana to see my father.

I used the card’s $200 annual United TravelBank cash to offset the $488 round-trip ticket cost for my flight from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Bozeman International Airport (BZN). So that trip cost me just $288. Score.

But that’s not the only credit.

While I haven’t used it yet, this card includes up to $150 in hotel credits each year at Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers. I’m going to try to get a stay in this year to earn that valuable credit.

Here’s a potential option that Chase has listed in Bozeman. I stayed at the Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman by IHG when it first opened, and it would be a fun hotel to return to this year.

The Quest card also comes with an up to $150 JSX flight credit each anniversary year, up to $180 in Instacart credits each calendar year (through Dec. 31, 2027), and up to $80 ($40 each) in rental car credits each anniversary year for your first and second Avis or Budget rental when you book through cars.united.com. I haven’t used any of those perks yet.

I have used the ride-hailing statement credits a few times. You get up to $100 in ride-hailing statement credits with this card (up to $8 monthly from January through November and up to $12 in December; yearly activation required). So far this year, I’ve used it five times, saving $40.

Finally, there’s also a $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit every four years.

Bonus United miles on several categories of spending

The Quest card comes with some pretty good mileage multipliers. You get 10 total miles per dollar spent on eligible United flights and 4 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases (like onboard food). You also get 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and all other travel.

Note that your mileage earning on Basic Economy and base option tickets may differ from the Quest’s standard 10 total miles per dollar spent rate.

I found the miles really added up when I was going for the minimum spend to earn my welcome bonus.

Getting a head start on United elite status with bonus PQPs

The card also comes with 1,000 bonus Premier qualifying points (PQPs) each year that can give you a head start on earning United elite status. While I was completing my minimum spend, I ended up qualifying for United Silver status, which comes with things like extra-legroom seats starting 24 hours before your flight.

I earned 3,000 PQPs when I opened the card (The current welcome offer includes 500 PQPs after your first purchase). That gave me a huge push toward the 6,000 PQPs I needed for Silver status.

I was able to use my Silver status on that same trip to Montana when I picked Economy Plus seats at check-in.

My Silver status also gives me the possibility for complimentary upgrades, available 24 hours before departure (though they are very few and far between for Silver-level elite status holders).

I was surprised by how much I saved booking United flights with miles

One of the most incredible perks of holding the Quest card is that it gives you access to additional Saver-level award availability and a discount of at least 10% on award flights.

I was able to spend just 85,000 miles for a one-way flight from Tokyo to Chicago and then on to Newark. That flight could have cost someone without status and the Quest card as much as 450,000 United miles.

In fact, United says my card has saved me 165,000 miles this year alone already.

Priority boarding, free bags and other perks make flying United better

The Quest card also gets you priority boarding in Group 2, which can mean the difference between being able to bring your carry-on bags onboard or having to gate check them. It also comes with two free checked bags and an annual 10,000-mile award flight discount starting on your first card anniversary.

What’s not to love about the United Quest Card?

While I don’t love the $350 annual fee on the card, it’s partially offset by the generous $200 United travel credit I receive each year. The annual 10,000-mile discount to use toward an eligible award flight is also worth at least $200 to me with my award booking patterns. Together, these two perks alone offset the card’s annual fee.

Why I’m keeping the United Quest Card in my wallet

I was mostly interested in the generous welcome bonus when I opened the United Quest Card, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much additional value I’ve gotten from it. From the $200 United travel credit to the elite-status boost and the huge savings on award flights, the card has easily earned back the $350 annual fee for me in value.

The Quest card has turned out to be a real winner and will keep a place in my wallet going forward.

To learn more, check out our full review of the United Quest.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Source: thepointsguy.com