Chase United Quest Card review: A great choice for United flyers with a big welcome bonus and money-saving perks like 2 free checked bags

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Table of Contents: Masthead StickyNew United Quest℠ Card

Review: Is the United Quest card the best credit card for you?

If you fly United Airlines, even just a couple of times a year, the New United Quest℠ Card should be on your radar. This brand-new card is the latest addition to Chase’s United credit card lineup, and along with a very hefty welcome bonus, it comes with perks that can save you money when you travel.

The New United Quest℠ Card is offering New United Quest℠ Card – one of the best bonuses we’ve ever seen on a United card. Because United miles never expire, it’s a good time to give your balance a big boost so you’ll have plenty of miles to work with when you’re ready to travel again.

Read more: The best airline credit cards

The card does have an annual fee of New United Quest℠ Card, but don’t let the upfront cost put you off. If you can use the card’s benefits, you can make up for the annual fee and then some. For example, cardholders receive:

  • Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases (like airfare and incidental fees)
  • A 5,000-mile credit (up to twice a year) after you complete an eligible award flight on United, starting on your first card anniversary
  • A free first and second checked bag for yourself and a companion when you use the card to pay for your ticket (worth $35 and $45 respectively)
  • Up to $100 credit every four years toward the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee

You’ll also earn bonus miles in categories like travel, dining, and streaming services, and receive other valuable travel and purchase protections, including primary car rental insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, trip delay protection, lost luggage reimbursement, and extended warranty.

Before you decide on the New United Quest℠ Card, be sure to have a look at other United cards like the United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee of United℠ Explorer Card) and United Club℠ Infinite Card (United Club℠ Infinite Card annual fee) to see if their benefits and perks are a better fit for your wallet.

Read more: United Quest versus United Explorer: How to decide which Chase United credit card is best for you

Comparison: United Quest card vs other United credit cards

United Quest Credit Card

United℠ Explorer Card

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Annual fee

United Quest Credit Card

$95, waived first year

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Rewards rate

3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit)

2x miles on travel

2x miles on dining

2x miles on select streaming services

1 mile per dollar on everything else

2x miles on eligible United purchases

2x miles on dining

2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel

1 mile per dollar on everything else

4x miles on eligible United purchases

2x miles on travel

2x miles on dining

1 mile per dollar on everything else

Welcome bonus

United Quest Credit Card

60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open (plus, an additional 10k bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

United benefits

Free first and second checked bags

Priority boarding

25% back on inflight purchases

5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary

Free first checked bag

Priority boarding

25% back on inflight purchases

Two one-time United Club passes per anniversary year

Free first and second checked bags

Priority boarding

Premier Access travel services

25% back on inflight purchases

United Club membership

Foreign transaction fee

No

No

No

Review

United Explorer Card review

United Club Infinite review

United Quest card vs other airline credit cards

United Quest Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®

Annual fee

United Quest Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card – Rates & Fees

Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®

Rewards rate

3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit)

2x miles on travel

2x miles on dining

2x miles on select streaming services

1 mile per dollar on everything else

3x miles on eligible Delta purchases

3x miles on purchases made directly with hotels

2x miles at US supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide

1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases

2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases

2x miles at gas stations and restaurants

1 mile per dollar on everything else

Welcome bonus

United Quest Credit Card

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

Travel benefits

Free first and second checked bags

Priority boarding

25% back on inflight purchases

5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary

Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases

Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights

Annual Delta companion certificate

10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to two times (offer ends 12/31/21)

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Discounted access to Sky Club lounges

20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit

Free first checked bag on American Airlines domestic itineraries

25% back on inflight purchases

$125 American Airlines flight discount when you spend $20K or more in an account anniversary year and renew your card

Foreign transaction fee

No

No

No

Review

American Express Delta Platinum card review

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card review

How to earn miles with the Chase United Quest card

The New United Quest℠ Card makes it easy to earn lots of United miles, even if you’re not a frequent traveler.

Cardholders earn:

  • 3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) – including airline tickets purchased from United, United seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, other United fees, and United Card Events from Chase
  • 2x miles on travel (including airlines, hotels, motels, timeshares, car rental agencies, cruise lines, travel agencies, discount travel sites, campgrounds and operators of passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages)
  • 2x miles on dining (including eligible delivery services)
  • 2x miles on select streaming services (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, and YouTube TV)
  • 1 mile per dollar on everything else

Read more: United Quest vs United Club Infinite: How to decide which premium Chase United credit card is best for you

How to use United miles

You can redeem United miles for award flights on United Airlines or its partners, including Star Alliance airlines like Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Because United no longer has an award chart, the number of miles required for a flight varies based on demand, paid ticket price, and season.

Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize United miles

One-way domestic economy award tickets start at 5,000 miles, but can range up to over 30,000 miles. You can find saver business or first-class awards within the US for as few as 25,000 miles, but also as high as over 60,000 miles. From the US to other regions, prices start at around 32,500 miles in economy and 63,000 miles in business class.

The New United Quest℠ Card has a unique feature that can put miles back in your pocket. Cardholders receive a 5,000-mile credit when they complete a United award flight, up to twice per year (so a maximum of 10,000 miles per year) starting on the first card anniversary. Those 10,000 miles are worth around $130 based on Insider’s valuations, so that’s another perk that can effectively offset the card’s annual fee.

If you’re not ready to travel yet, there’s no rush to spend your miles because United miles don’t expire. However, you’ve got other redemption options, but you’ll typically get a much lower value:

Benefits and features

The New United Quest℠ Card offers a substantial – and potentially quite valuable – list of benefits. Perks on United flights can save you money and make your travel more comfortable, and protections like trip delay insurance and primary car rental insurance can give you peace of mind (and keep cash in your wallet) when you’re on the road.

$125 United purchase credit

New United Quest℠ Card cardholders receive up to $125 a year in statement credits toward eligible United purchases, so if you fly United even once a year, you should be able to maximize this perk. Purchases that qualify include:

  • Airline tickets purchased from United
  • Seat upgrades
  • Economy Plus
  • Inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi
  • Baggage fees
  • Other United fees
  • United Card Events from Chase purchases

However, United tickets booked through some discount travel websites or as part of a third-party travel package won’t qualify, nor will United Cruises, United MileagePlus X, DIRECTV, and merchandise awards.

Free first and second checked bag

With the New United Quest℠ Card, cardholders and one companion on the same reservation can get a free first and second checked bag on United flights when they use the card to pay for their ticket (or taxes and fees on an award ticket).

Read more: Airline checked bag fees can eat into your travel budget – here’s how to avoid them with the right credit cards

Considering United charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the next, you’re looking at a round-trip savings of $160 per person if you check two bags – and double that if you travel with a companion. If you know you’ll check bags on at least one or two United flights in the coming year, opening the New United Quest℠ Card can save you a ton of cash, even factoring in the annual fee.

5,000-mile award ticket credit

Starting on their first card anniversary, New United Quest℠ Card cardholders can take advantage of a 5,000-mile credit up to two times a year when they redeem United miles for an award ticket. These credits will be credited (for future application) to your account approximately four weeks after your card anniversary.

Read more: A hidden United benefit will extend your trip for next to nothing

You’ll actually receive the 5,000-mile rebate in your United account within two weeks of completing (not booking) an eligible award flight. Eligible award flights are those that include at least one United- or United Express-operated flight, and must include the primary cardholder on the reservation. Unused credits will expire 12 months after issue, and you can’t transfer, combine, or extend them.

Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit

Cardholders can receive up to $100 credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years. This is a perk many cards offer nowadays, so if you’ve already enrolled in one of these programs, you can always use your card to pay a friend or family member’s fee and still get the credit.

Complimentary Premier Upgrades

United Premier members who have the New United Quest℠ Card and are traveling on an award ticket are eligible for complimentary Premier Upgrades on eligible domestic United-operated flights. This perk is for the primary cardholder only; travel companions or authorized users don’t qualify.

Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)

Cardholders receive 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 spent on purchases with the card, up to 3,000 PQP per calendar year. This is handy if you’re working toward the next level of elite status and need a boost.

Expanded United award availability

As with other Chase United credit cards, New United Quest℠ Card cardholders get expanded United award availability, which means you’ll have access to more available award seats – with no blackout dates – compared to non-cardholders. This benefit can be a lifesaver if you’re flying at short notice or on high-demand routes or dates.

Priority boarding

Getting to board the airplane sooner has become even more important these days, especially if you want to sanitize your seat area and have time to get settled in. If you have the New United Quest℠ Card, you’ll get priority boarding for yourself and your companions on the same reservation.

This means you’ll board before general boarding is called, but after MileagePlus Premier members, customers with Premier Access, and travelers requiring special assistance.

25% back on inflight purchases

When you use your card to pay for eligible inflight purchases, you’ll get 25% back in the form of a statement credit. Qualifying purchases include food, beverages and Wi-Fi onboard United- and United Express-operated flights, and the credit should appear on your statement within 24 hours of the purchase posting to your account. Authorized users get this benefit, too.

Primary car rental insurance

The New United Quest℠ Card is one of only a handful of cards that offer primary car rental insurance, which means you’re covered for losses without having to bill your own insurance first.

Read more: The best credit cards with primary car rental insurance

When you use the card to pay for your rental and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver, you’re covered for damage due to collision or theft up to the actual value of the vehicle for most car rentals in the US and abroad. Be sure to read the terms and conditions that come with the card for any exclusions.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

If you use the card to pay for pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares and have to cancel or cut your trip short, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per trip. Covered situations include sickness and severe weather, but check the terms and conditions for limitations.

Read more: The best credit cards with travel insurance

Trip delay reimbursement

If your flight or other travel on a common carrier is delayed by 12 hours or more, or requires an overnight stay, you and your family can be covered for up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed expenses, like meals and accommodations.

Baggage delay insurance

If your bag is delayed by a common carrier (like the airline) by six hours or more, you can get reimbursement for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing, up to $100 a day for up to three days.

Lost luggage reimbursement

Having the airline lose or damage your bag is the worst, but if you used the New United Quest℠ Card to pay for your ticket, you and your immediate family members could be covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.

Travel accident insurance

Nobody wants to think about the worst happening on vacation, but when you pay for your air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your New United Quest℠ Card, you’re eligible for accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000.

Purchase protection

If you use your New United Quest℠ Card to pay for a new, eligible purchase, you’re covered for up to 120 days against damage or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

Extended warranty protection

The New United Quest℠ Card extends the US original manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items by a year, on warranties of three years or less. This can save you from having to pay for an expensive extended warranty on big-ticket items.

Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection

New United Quest℠ Card cardholders get access to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection – a selection of upscale hotels which offer elite-like perks when you book through the program.

Read more: Hotel programs from Amex, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits – here’s how

You’ll get benefits like complimentary breakfast, unique benefits or credits (specific to each property, room upgrades, and other goodies like early check-in and late checkout (when available). It’s important to compare rates and perks through the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to booking with the hotel directly; sometimes, you’ll pay more through Chase and the benefits won’t outweigh the additional cost.

New United Quest℠ Card

Fees and costs

With a United Quest Credit Card annual fee, the New United Quest℠ Card isn’t for everyone, but again – if you can make the most of the card’s benefits – it can be well worth it for United flyers.

The New United Quest℠ Card doesn’t add foreign transaction fees, so it’s a good card to use for international purchases. Like most other cards, you’ll pay interest if you don’t pay your balance in full each month, and there are fees for cash advances, balance transfers, and late or returned payments.

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Read the original article on Business Insider

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