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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
United Quest Card vs. United Club Card: How premium do you want to go?
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
July 21, 2025 • 8 min read
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Quick summary
Two premium travel cards for United Airlines loyalists are compared, focusing on their recent benefit changes.
One card offers complimentary lounge access, higher statement credits and enhanced travel perks, appealing to frequent flyers seeking luxury.
The other card provides valuable United-specific benefits, including annual travel credits and award flight discounts, at a lower yearly cost.
Both cards allow earning and redeeming United miles through the MileagePlus program, with similar redemption options.
What to consider
The premium card provides a higher rate for earning elite status and includes a lounge membership, which can offset its higher yearly cost for frequent travelers.
The mid-tier card offers annual travel credits and award flight discounts but does not include lounge access.
Switching between these cards may affect eligibility for introductory bonuses.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, earning structures and which card best fits different types of United travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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
Annual fee
$350
$695
Welcome bonus
Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP: Earn 500 PQP after your first purchase and 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Earning rates
Earn 10 miles total per dollar spent on United flights
Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays booked with Renowned Hotels and Resorts
Earn 4 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on select streaming services, dining and all other travel
Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
Earn up to 11 miles total per dollar spent on United flights
Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays booked with Renowned Hotels and Resorts
Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on dining and all other travel
Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
United benefits
$200 in United TravelBank cash each year
Award flight discount
Spend to elite status
Elite status boost each year
Free checked bags
Priority boarding
Inflight discount
United Club membership, with the ability to earn a United Club All Access membership
Four United Club one-time guest passes after earning a United Club All Access membership
Award flight discount (with spending)
Spend to elite status
Elite status boost each year
Free checked bags
Premier Access travel services, including priority boarding and check-in
Inflight discount
Other benefits
A plethora of statement credits
Travel protections
Higher statement credits
Travel protections
IHG One Rewards Platinum and Avis President's Club elite status
United Quest Card vs. United Club Card welcome bonus
The United Quest card offers up to 90,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP: Earn 500 PQP after your first purchase and 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG's October 2026 valuations, these bonus miles are worth up to $1,080 (including the points from adding an authorized user; not including the value of the PQPs).
THE POINTS GUY
The United Club card currently offers up to 100,000 bonus miles: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG's valuations, these bonus miles are worth up to $1,200 (including the points from adding an authorized user).
Winner: United Club.
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
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, within 8 weeks of Feb. 1, 2026, you'll get a boost of 1,500 PQPs each year with the United Club — compared to 1,000 PQPs with the Quest.
Unique benefits of the Quest Card
As a mid-tier United credit card, the United Quest 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 reduce it by more than half. Statement credits with merchants like Avis, JSX and ride-hailing services further offset it.
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.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Unique benefits of the Club Card
Conversely, the United Club is for United loyalists who want lounge access and enhanced travel perks.
One of the greatest benefits of its $695 annual fee is a complimentary United Club membership. The membership costs $750 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. These credits help offset its hefty 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 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.
Both cards also earn 5 miles per dollar spent on prepaid hotel reservations through Renowned Hotels and Resorts and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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.
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 is the card for you. You'll get priority boarding, free checked bags and some useful statement credits. However, the United Club 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 United 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 a big 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.
