I am an enormous fan of gathering transferable factors and miles, reminiscent of Chase Final Rewards factors, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors. I really like the pliability of selecting when and the place to switch my rewards, particularly when issuers supply juicy switch bonuses.
Although I maintain some airline-branded bank cards, just like the underrated Aeroplan® Credit score Card, I have not been as concerned with being locked to 1 airline loyalty program.
I am not an everyday United Airways flyer, and the United MileagePlus program just isn’t my default Star Alliance program (that will be Air Canada’s terrific Aeroplan program), partly as a result of I do not reside near a United hub. Subsequently, making use of for a United bank card and investing within the MileagePlus program has by no means been on the prime of my listing … till now.
Along with this card’s advantages, the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) is at present providing its best-ever welcome bonus. For the primary time, I now need a United-branded bank card.
Here is why.
United Quest Card best-ever welcome supply
This beneficiant welcome bonus of 100,000 United miles is one which I might simply use for excellent worth (extra on that in a bit).
I haven’t got United Premier (or any Star Alliance) elite standing, so 3,000 PQPs in my account can be a fantastic head begin since that is 50% of the requirement for Premier Silver standing (a complete of 6,000 PQPs or 5,000 PQPs plus 15 Premier qualifying flights is required to safe Silver standing).
Be aware that to qualify for United standing, you could take 4 United or United Categorical flights, even in the event you hit the PQP threshold.
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This card additionally earns as much as 18,000 PQPs per calendar yr (1 PQP for each $20 spent on purchases may be utilized towards your Premier standing qualification, as much as the Premier 1K stage).
Premier Silver has a handful of perks, like bonus miles and entry to Economic system Plus seating at check-in.
The perks actually stage up if you attain Premier Gold standing, as members additionally qualify for Star Alliance Gold membership. For instance, since I frequently fly on Star Alliance airways, I might take pleasure in lounge entry at over 1,000 lounges worldwide earlier than a Star Alliance flight.
Since Premier Gold standing requires 12,000 PQPs or 10,000 PQPs plus 30 PQFs, I would be a fraction of the way in which there.
Associated: 22 playing cards at present providing welcome bonuses of 100,000 factors or extra
Bonus miles for including a United card licensed consumer
My husband is not practically as obsessive about incomes factors and miles as I’m, so he is not concerned with making use of for his personal card and having to navigate his personal accounts and earning-and-redemption technique.
As an alternative, he would a lot moderately be an licensed consumer on my playing cards. I can handle the earning-and-redemption technique, and we are able to each take pleasure in the advantages, like luxurious holidays.
The United Quest Card card gives 10,000 bonus miles in the event you add a licensed consumer to your account within the first three months after the account is open.
Not solely is that this a straightforward method to maximize earnings on the cardboard by means of on a regular basis spending, however it is usually a straightforward manner so as to add 10,000 miles to my account.
Credit to offset the annual charge
I anticipated a card with a 100,000-mile welcome bonus to return with a excessive annual charge. The United Quest Card as a substitute encompasses a midrange $350 annual charge, just like the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, which solely gives a 75,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Nonetheless, if I am paying a $350 annual charge annually, I am seeking to get actual worth from the cardboard past the one-off welcome bonus. I am impressed to see that even with out bearing in mind the worth of the miles earned, this card nonetheless has loads of methods to offset the charge annually:
- $200 credit score: After account opening and every anniversary yr, cardholders will obtain $200 in United TravelBank money.
- As much as 20,000 miles in award flight reductions: Robotically get a ten,000-mile low cost every cardholder anniversary (starting together with your first anniversary). You’ll be able to then earn one other 10,000-mile low cost after spending $20,000 in a calendar yr.
- Resort credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in credit for Famend Inns and Resorts.
- Airline credit score: Obtain as much as $150 in JSX credit.
- Rental automotive credit score: Obtain as much as $40 every in United TravelBank money for the primary two Avis or Price range automotive leases booked by means of United Vehicles every account anniversary yr.
- Journey-hailing credit score: Obtain as much as $8 in month-to-month assertion credit for ride-hailing companies, plus a bonus of $4 (for a complete of $12) in December (yearly opt-in required).
- Seat upgrades: Earn two international Economic system Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases together with your card every calendar yr.
- Instacart credit score: Obtain one $10 and one $5 month-to-month Instacart credit score, plus a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (ends Dec. 31, 2027).
- World Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score: Obtain as much as a $120 credit score for World Entry or TSA PreCheck each 4 years.
- Inflight purchases: Obtain 25% again on United inflight purchases (consists of Wi-Fi, meals and drinks).
Now, I doubt I’d use each credit score supplied by the cardboard. For instance, I’ve by no means flown JSX and possibly by no means will, and due to a press release credit score from one other card, I’ve already secured World Entry.
Nonetheless, even with one weekend away, I might see myself simply recouping the price of the annual charge by:
- Reserving a $200 round-trip flight on United or United Categorical to make use of the United TravelBank money credit score
- Receiving 25% again on United inflight purchases by paying with the cardboard
- Staying at a Famend Inns and Resorts property at my vacation spot and paying with the cardboard to make use of the (as much as) $150 lodge credit score
- Reserving an Avis or Price range automotive rental at my vacation spot to obtain (as much as) $40 in United TravelBank money
Free checked baggage on United
I do not fly United fairly often, but when I guide a United or United Categorical flight on this card, my touring companion and I’ll obtain our first and second checked baggage without cost.
Provided that United elevated its checked bag charges to $40 for the primary bag and $50 for the second bag, this card perk can save me cash.
MileagePlus miles are extra useful and simpler to make use of than you may assume
Since United retired its award charts and switched to dynamic pricing, I have been cautious of transferring my Chase Final Rewards factors to MileagePlus, fearing there would not be good redemption alternatives.
Nonetheless, since I spend hours every week looking for good factors and miles offers, I’ve seen MileagePlus continues to supply wonderful award charges and availability. I’ve discovered loads of U.S. flights beginning at simply 5,000 miles plus $5.60 in charges and taxes.
I have been particularly happy about this summer time’s Polaris business-class award availability to Europe for simply 80,000 miles. There are a whole bunch of flights you possibly can guide for this value from numerous United hubs to Switzerland, Italy, Eire, Germany, the U.Okay. and the Netherlands, amongst different locations. I anticipate I’d don’t have any bother discovering an 80,000-mile flight to Europe both later this yr and even subsequent summer time.
Associated: E book United Polaris enterprise class to Europe for simply 80,000 miles: Fly to Italy, London and eight different locations
This card is not good
Whereas this card has many engaging options, I would not say it is good. Given the midrange annual charge, I’d like to see a few single-use United Membership lounge passes thrown in annually, which might make that weekend away to recoup the price of the annual charge I discussed above even sweeter.
I take into account the ten,000-mile award flight low cost if I spend $20,000 on the cardboard in a calendar yr to be like incomes an extra 0.5 miles per greenback spent on the primary $20,000 per yr. Provided that I can earn a lot better multipliers on most classes on my transferable bank cards, this isn’t a function I will probably use.
There are additionally two improve certificates for Economic system Plus after spending $40,000 or extra with the cardboard in a calendar yr. Provided that Economic system Plus is only a regular economic system seat with further legroom, that is an exceptionally weak perk for placing a lot spend on the cardboard throughout a complete yr. If the perk was as a substitute an improve to Premium Plus, United’s premium economic system providing, I would take into account going for it. Nonetheless, I am not going to spend $40,000 on a card simply to get an extra-legroom seat.
As this card is issued by Chase, there’s additionally Chase’s 5/24 rule to remember.
Backside line
I by no means thought I’d be contemplating a United-branded bank card, because it’s by no means been a program on my radar. I have been very proud of Star Alliance companion Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, even redeeming Aeroplan factors to fly on United up to now.
Provided that I used to be not too long ago authorised for the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs), I am probably not out there for an additional card. However because the United Quest Card is providing a best-ever supply that I may gain advantage from, I could apply for it.
The welcome bonus is big, and there are such a lot of assertion credit that I might simply recoup the price of the annual charge in a protracted weekend.
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