Card guide · United MileagePlus
Chase United Quest
Card guide overview
A premium United card with annual credits, PQP earning, and strong MileagePlus earnings for frequent United flyers.
Key card attributes
| Issuing bank | Reward currency | Currency type | Network | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | United MileagePlus | Airline Miles | Visa | $350 |
Closest alternatives
At a glance
The card in three decisions.
The Chase United Quest is the upper-middle tier United card at $350. It earns 4X on United purchases, 2X on dining, travel and select streaming, and 1X everywhere else. The standout benefits include a $200 annual United TravelBank cash deposit, two free checked bags, priority boarding, and the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) through card spending—rare among co-branded cards.
The Quest also provides 25% back on United inflight purchases, primary rental car coverage, and trip protections. The $350 fee is partially offset by credits, but the real value is in PQP earning toward elite status and the bag benefits for frequent United travelers. For someone chasing United elite status, PQP earning through card spend can be a deciding factor.
Compared with the $150 Explorer, the $350 Quest costs $200 more per year. It adds a $200 annual United travel credit that does not require the Explorer's $10,000 spending threshold, an annual 10,000-mile award-flight discount, a second free checked bag, 4X instead of 3X on United purchases, broader 2X travel earning, and PQP from card spend toward Premier status. The Explorer still has two United Club one-time passes and its own rideshare and Instacart credits, so the Quest premium makes the most sense for frequent United travelers who can use these higher-value benefits.
Best fit
Frequent United flyers pursuing elite status who want PQP earning
If you fly United regularly and are within striking distance of Premier status, the Quest PQP earning from card spend can push you over the line.
Current timing
70K + 500 PQP is the standard offer; 100K + 3,000 PQP has been tracked
The maximum tracked offer is significantly higher. Consider timing for an elevated bonus if you can wait.
Main watchout
Credits require United purchases—the fee is not fully offset without consistent United spend
Without regular United travel, the $350 fee is steep. The Explorer at $150 delivers most of the same bag benefits for less.
Current and historical offer
70K + 500 PQP is standard; 100K + 3,000 PQP is the maximum.
We compare public points offers with public points offers. Referral, branch, targeted and mixed cash-plus-points offers are outside this ladder.
Timing assessment
70K is below the 100K maximum—a significant gap for a premium card.
The maximum offer of 100K + 3,000 PQP is substantially higher. The 3,000 PQP in particular is valuable for elite qualification. Waiting for an elevated offer could yield considerably more value.
Why someone may still apply
PQP earning through card spend and bag benefits provide ongoing value.
If you need free checked bags and PQP earning immediately for upcoming travel, the card ongoing benefits may justify applying at the standard offer.
Card benefits
Free checked bags, credits, and PQP earning for elite status chasers.
The tiers are a Points Brief editorial assessment of decision importance and rarity among mid-tier airline cards—not labels supplied by Chase.
Tier 1 · Rare differentiators
Benefits that set this card apart from other airline cards.
Earn Premier Qualifying Points through card spend
Earn PQP toward United Premier elite status through eligible card purchases: 1 PQP per $20 spent, up to 18,000 PQP per year, plus 1,000 Card Bonus PQP annually. This is uncommon among co-branded airline cards and can be the deciding factor for status chasers.
- Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent on eligible purchases, up to 18,000 PQP per year.
- Plus 1,000 Card Bonus PQP annually.
- Combined with flight PQP for elite status calculation.
Know the limits: PQP earning from card spend is capped at 18,000 PQP per year plus the 1,000 Card Bonus PQP. Confirm current PQP earning rates and caps on the United site.
Annual United TravelBank cash deposit
A $200 annual United TravelBank cash deposit each account anniversary year, usable toward United purchases.
- Deposit posted as TravelBank cash, not a statement credit.
- Helps offset the $350 annual fee by more than half.
- TravelBank cash can be used toward United flights and other United purchases.
Know the limits: We rate Coupon Book 1/5 because the annual United travel credit is straightforward to use for travelers who fly United, although it is restricted to United purchases.
Tier 2 · Strong, with strings attached
Benefits that add value but come with conditions.
Free x2 First and second checked bags free
Free first and second checked bags on United-operated flights for the cardmember and one companion on the same reservation.
Savings: $35 for first bag + $45 for second bag, each way. Two round-trips with two checked bags saves $320 annually.
Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit
One statement credit every four years for an eligible application fee.
Up to $120 every 4 years. Useful for application or renewal—not recurring annual cash.
Tier 3 · Expected card basics
Standard United card and Chase protections.
Priority boarding United perk
Board in a priority group on United-operated flights.
25% back on inflight purchases United perk
25% statement credit on United inflight food and beverage purchases.
No foreign transaction fees Travel baseline
No issuer foreign-transaction fee on purchases abroad.
Primary auto rental collision damage waiver Primary
Primary coverage for eligible rental car theft and collision damage.
Trip cancellation and interruption Travel baseline
Coverage for eligible prepaid travel canceled or interrupted for covered reasons.
Trip delay and baggage protections Travel baseline
Trip delay reimbursement and baggage delay/loss insurance; terms apply.
Comparison method: Mid-tier airline co-branded cards including Amex Delta Platinum ($350), Citi AA Platinum Select, and Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95); official public pages reviewed in July 2026.
Earning rates
4X on United, 2X on dining, travel and streaming—1X elsewhere.
Rates shown are total United MileagePlus miles per dollar on eligible purchases. Merchant coding and Chase terms control.
United Airlines purchases
Flights, seat upgrades, and inflight purchases. Combined with member miles for total earning.
Dining including eligible delivery services
Restaurants worldwide, takeout and eligible delivery services.
Travel purchases
Other travel including hotels, car rentals, transit, and rideshare.
Select streaming services
Eligible streaming subscriptions charged to the card.
All other purchases
One mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Credit interaction: MileagePlus miles are United-specific. Redeem for United and Star Alliance partner flights. PQP earned through card spend counts toward Premier elite status qualification.
United MileagePlus program
One of the largest U.S. airlines with Star Alliance global reach.
United MileagePlus is the loyalty program of United Airlines. Miles can be redeemed for United-operated flights and Star Alliance partner awards across 26 member airlines. MileagePlus uses dynamic award pricing with no published award chart. MileagePlus miles do not expire.
Key benefit
PQPelite earning
Card spend earns PQP toward United Premier elite status.
This is the Quest most distinctive feature. Unlike most co-branded cards, the Quest earns Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) from eligible card purchases—not just from flying. If you are close to Silver, Gold, Platinum or 1K status, card PQP can close the gap. Combined with free checked bags and annual credits, the Quest is designed for flyers who value elite status benefits.
United hubs
Where United operates the most flights.
- Chicago (ORD)
- Denver (DEN)
- Houston (IAH)
- Newark (EWR)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
Star Alliance partners
Key airline partners accessible with MileagePlus miles.
- Air Canada
- ANA
- Lufthansa
- Singapore Airlines
- Swiss
- Turkish Airlines
United Quest at a glance
What this card gets you on every United flight.
- First and second checked bags free
- Priority boarding
- $200 annual United TravelBank cash
- PQP from card spend
- 4X on United purchases
- No United Club membership
United card family
How this card compares to other United cards.
- Gateway: $0 fee, no bags
- Explorer: $150, 1 free bag, 2 Club passes
- Quest: $350, 2 free bags, credits, PQP
- Club: $695, full United Club, 2 free bags
Sources and methodology
Sources for this page
- Last checked: August 1, 2026
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