United Quest vs. United Club: How Premium Are You?

Overview of the United Airlines Credit Cards

For frequent travelers who are loyal to United Airlines, choosing the right credit card can significantly enhance their travel experience. Two prominent options are the United Quest℠ Card and the United Club℠ Card. These cards offer different benefits tailored to varying levels of loyalty and spending habits. With recent changes in March, it's an ideal time to evaluate which card best suits your needs as a United flyer.

Key Differences Between the Cards

Annual Fees and Welcome Bonuses

The United Quest Card comes with an annual fee of $350, while the United Club Card has a higher annual fee of $695. However, the welcome bonuses differ significantly. The United Quest Card offers 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) after spending $4,000 within the first three months. This bonus is valued at approximately $1,300 based on TPG’s July 2025 valuations. On the other hand, the United Club Card provides 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the same timeframe, worth around $1,040.

Winner: United Quest Card. The higher welcome offer and additional PQPs make this card more appealing for those looking for immediate value.

Benefits and Features

Shared Benefits

Both cards offer several shared benefits, including: - Free first and second checked bags - Priority boarding - 25% off inflight United purchases and United Club premium drinks - Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus - Expanded award availability - Travel protections - No foreign transaction fees

Status and Elite Qualifications

If you're aiming for elite status, the United Club Card is the better choice. It allows you to earn 1 Premier qualifying point per $15 spent, with a cap of 28,000 PQPs annually. The Quest Card offers a lower rate of 1 PQP per $20, with a cap of 18,000 PQPs each year. Additionally, from February 2026, the United Club will provide a boost of 1,500 PQPs annually, compared to 1,000 PQPs for the Quest.

Unique Benefits of the Quest Card

As a mid-tier option, the United Quest Card provides decent benefits for frequent flyers. It includes $200 in United TravelBank cash annually, which helps reduce the annual fee by more than half. The card also offers statement credits with merchants like Avis, JSX, and ride-hailing services. You receive a 10,000-mile discount on an award flight each year and can earn a second after spending $20,000 in a calendar year. However, it lacks lounge access, which is a significant drawback for some travelers.

Unique Benefits of the Club Card

Conversely, the United Club Card is designed for loyal United flyers who seek lounge access and enhanced travel perks. Its $695 annual fee includes a complimentary United Club membership, which typically costs $750 separately. You can unlock United Club All Access membership by spending $50,000 on your card in a calendar year or holding MileagePlus Premier Gold status. The card also offers higher statement credits, which help offset its hefty annual fee.

Winner: United Club Card. Lounge access and increased statement credits make this card highly valuable for frequent travelers.

Earning Miles

Both cards have similar earning structures, with a few key differences. The United Club Card earns 1 additional mile per dollar spent on United flights and other United purchases. The United Quest Card earns 1 additional mile per dollar spent on select streaming services and dining. Both cards also earn 5 miles per dollar spent on prepaid hotel reservations through Renowned Hotels and Resorts and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Winner: United Club Card. The slightly higher earning rate on United purchases gives this card an edge.

Redeeming Miles

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, the best value is achieved when booking saver-level tickets because they are priced the lowest. For instance, TPG credit card writer Chris Nelson recently redeemed miles for a flight from Barcelona to Munich for only 8,000 miles.

Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the ability to redeem miles through the MileagePlus program.

Choosing the Right Card

If you're a semifrequent United flyer, the United Quest Card is the ideal choice. It provides priority boarding, free checked bags, and useful statement credits. However, if you're a die-hard United loyalist seeking lounge access and larger statement credits, the United Club Card is the better option. It comes with a higher annual fee but offers enhanced benefits that justify the cost.

Switching Cards

To switch from the United Quest Card to the United Club Card, call the phone number on the back of your credit card and request the product change. Note that you won't be eligible to earn the United Club card's welcome bonus upon switching.

Final Thoughts

Both the United Quest Card and the United Club Card are premium options for frequent United flyers. If you're a loyal United traveler who values lounge access and is willing to pay a higher annual fee, the United Club Card is the way to go. Otherwise, the United Quest Card still offers valuable United perks and a generous set of statement credits.