United Quest Card vs. United Club Card: How premium do you want to go?
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. The United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) is United Airlines’ premium personal credit card for its most loyal flyers, whereas the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) is one of two mid-tier options. Since both cards underwent significant changes …
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) is United Airlines’ premium personal credit card for its most loyal flyers, whereas the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) is one of two mid-tier options.
Since both cards underwent significant changes in March, now is a great time to evaluate which option is most valuable for United loyalists.
If you’re a United frequent flyer and wondering whether to apply for one or the other, this guide should help you determine which is best for you.
United Quest Card vs. United Club Card comparison
| Card | United Quest Card | United Club Card |
| Annual fee | $350 | $695 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
| Earning rates | 8 miles per dollar spent on United flights
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays booked with Renowned Hotels and Resorts 3 miles per dollar spent on other United purchases 2 miles per dollar spent on select streaming services, dining and all other travel 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else |
9 miles per dollar spent on United flights
5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays booked with Renowned Hotels and Resorts 4 miles per dollar spent on other United purchases 2 miles per dollar spent on dining and all other travel 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else |
| United benefits |
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| Other benefits |
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United Quest Card vs. United Club Card welcome bonus
The United Quest Card is offering a welcome bonus of 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the bonus miles are worth $1,215.
The United Club Card currently offers a welcome bonus of 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, these bonus miles are worth $1,283.
The United Club Card requires $1,000 in additional spending to earn 5,000 more miles — a reasonable gap for many cardholders.
Winner: United Club Card. The slightly higher welcome offer gives this card an edge over the Quest.
United Quest Card vs. United Club Card benefits
Both cards offer benefits specifically for flying United, so let’s look at overlapping benefits first.
Shared benefits
- Free first and second checked bags
- Priority boarding
- 25% off inflight United purchases and United Club premium drinks
- An up-to-$120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus
- Expanded award availability
- Travel protections
- No foreign transaction fees
If you’re chasing status, the Club Card is the better choice. You’ll earn 1 Premier qualifying point per $15 spent on your card (up to 28,000 PQPs each year); the Quest offers a lower rate of 1 PQP per $20 (with a lower cap of 18,000 PQPs each year).
Then, from February 2026, you’ll get a boost of 1,500 PQPs each year with the Club — compared to only 1,000 PQPs with the Quest.
Unique benefits on the Quest Card
As a mid-tier United credit card, the United Quest Card offers decent benefits for frequent United flyers and a range of statement credits.
The card’s $350 annual fee is quite high. However, the $200 in United TravelBank cash you’ll receive each anniversary year is an easy way to effectively reduce it by more than half. And it’s further offset by statement credits with merchants like Avis, JSX and ride-hailing services.
You’ll receive a 10,000-mile discount on an award flight each year after your first cardmember anniversary — and can earn a second after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
A big downside of this card is that it doesn’t provide lounge access.
Unique benefits on the Club Card
Conversely, the Club Card is for United loyalists who want lounge access and enhanced travel perks.
One of the greatest benefits for its $695 annual fee is a complimentary United Club membership. It costs $750 to purchase the membership on its own, so the fact that the United Club Card offers it for less makes the card worthwhile. You can also unlock United Club All Access membership by spending $50,000 on your card in a calendar year or holding MileagePlus Premier Gold status.
This card offers many of the same statement credits as the Quest but at higher amounts. They help to offset its very high annual fee, which is almost double that of the Quest.
Winner: United Club Card. Lounge access and increased statement credits are hard to beat.
Earning miles with the United Quest Card vs. the United Club Card
The cards have a fairly similar earning structure apart from two differences:
- The Club Card earns 1 additional mile per dollar spent on United flights and other United purchases.
- The Quest Card earns 1 additional mile per dollar spent on select streaming services.
Winner: United Club Card. The slightly higher earning rate on United purchases gives this card the advantage.
Redeeming miles with the United Quest Card Vs. the United Club Card
Both cards allow you to earn United miles through credit card spending, which are automatically deposited into your MileagePlus account. You can redeem points for United flights, United Express flights, and flights on Star Alliance carriers and partner airlines.
Another option is using your United miles to pay your credit card’s annual fee — though this typically offers poor value compared to flight redemptions.
When redeeming United miles, you’ll get the best value when booking saver-level tickets because they are priced the lowest.
TPG credit card writer Chris Nelson enjoys redeeming his United miles for inter-Europe flights. He recently redeemed miles for a flight from Barcelona to Munich for only 8,000 miles.
Winner: Tie. These cards both earn United miles, which can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Should I get the United Quest Card or the United Club Card?
If you’re a semifrequent United flyer, the United Quest Card is the card for you. You’ll get priority boarding, free checked bags and some useful statement credits. However, the United Club Card unlocks enhanced benefits, larger statement credits and complimentary lounge access.
How to switch from the United Quest Card to the United Club Card
To switch from the Quest Card to the Club Card, call the phone number on the back of your credit card and request the product change. Just note you won’t be eligible to earn the Club Card’s welcome bonus.
Bottom line
Both cards are premium options for frequent United flyers.
If you’re a die-hard United loyalist who wants lounge access and is OK with such a high annual fee, the United Club Card will fit well in your wallet. Otherwise, the less expensive United Quest Card still offers valuable United perks and a generous set of statement credits.
In most situations, I’d recommend the United Club Card over the United Quest Card due to its higher welcome bonus, complimentary lounge access, slightly higher earnings and the ability to reach elite status more quickly.
For more details, see our full reviews of the United Quest Card and United Club Card.
Apply here: United Quest Card
Apply here: United Club Card
