There are lots of United Airways bank cards available on the market, and retaining observe of their variations could be difficult.
Possibly you have got an entry-level card however want your bank card supplied extra perks. That is very true should you fly extra with United than you probably did once you first opened the bank card. In that case, perks that weren’t of curiosity on the time might now be extra interesting.
Alternatively, possibly you have been a longtime holder of the United℠ Explorer Card, and you possibly can by no means fairly justify the upfront price of the United Membership℠ Infinite Card.
Nonetheless, you even have to contemplate the United Quest℠ Card, a higher-end choice that sits between the Explorer and Membership Infinite playing cards. Some cardholders could also be higher off leaping as much as that product.
If in case you have the United Explorer Card however are in search of elevated advantages, listed below are eight explanation why you need to improve to the United Quest Card.
Associated: United card welcome affords
United Explorer Card advantages
Let’s begin with a fast refresher on the United Explorer Card. Past the preliminary welcome bonus, the cardboard affords a pair of one-time United Membership passes deposited into your MileagePlus account annually of card membership. This profit alone is price $118 per 12 months, as day passes on the lounge price $59 every with a same-day boarding cross.
Moreover, the cardboard affords:
- One free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion on the identical reservation (once you pay to your ticket with the cardboard)
- As much as a $100 credit score for a TSA PreCheck, World Entry or Nexus software (each 4 years)
- 25% again on United inflight purchases (contains Wi-Fi, meals and drinks)
- Precedence boarding
- Journey and buy safety
- Complimentary space-available upgrades when flying on United award tickets (if the cardholder has United Premier elite standing)
- Extra award availability
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Simply notice that you should use the Explorer Card to pay to your ticket as a way to verify your luggage free of charge — although this contains award tickets booked with miles once you pay for the taxes and charges along with your card.
Associated: Find out how to keep away from checked baggage charges on main home airways
Why improve from United Explorer to United Quest
In case you’ve determined the United Explorer Card is not providing sufficient advantages for you, you have got a couple of choices. You’ll be able to improve to a card that gives extra premium advantages, such because the ultra-premium United Membership Infinite Card ($525 annual payment) or the United Quest Card ($250 annual payment). In case you do not journey sufficient to make the most of a membership to United Membership lounges and do not need to pay an annual payment of over $500, then the Quest Card is probably going your higher choice.
After all, it is price noting on the outset that you just will not be eligible for a welcome bonus on the Quest Card should you improve from one other United bank card. These affords are just for new functions — not cardholders altering from an present card to a different bank card.
In case you do need to earn the United Quest Card’s present bonus of 60,000 miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months the account is open, you will must submit a brand new software.
Nonetheless, there are situations the place it is sensible to forgo a welcome bonus — and this is why which may be the case for the Quest Card.
You are over 5/24 and may’t get the opposite card by a brand new software
If you wish to earn the utmost variety of factors and miles, it is usually greatest to acquire bank cards by making use of for them with a welcome bonus. Nonetheless, chances are you’ll be ineligible as a consequence of a financial institution’s software guidelines. That is particularly relevant right here since we’re speaking about two bank cards from Chase. This issuer imposes a rule often called 5/24 — should you’ve opened 5 (or extra) bank cards with any issuer over the earlier 24 months, you will nearly definitely be denied when attempting to open a brand new Chase card.
In case you’re at (or over) 5/24, the one strategy to acquire the Quest Card is by requesting a product change from one other United bank card.
You could have only a few bank cards and need to maximize the perks of every card
If you do not have quite a few bank cards, it is essential to get essentially the most bang to your buck on every card that you’ve got.
For these of us with many bank cards, we might imagine, “I do not want this sure profit on card A as a result of card B provides me that profit.” For these with fewer bank cards, guaranteeing that you’ve got entry to the widest vary of advantages potential might imply it is advisable to carry mid-tier and top-tier bank cards from airways and resorts.
If that is you, a number of of the factors under relate to the broad idea of getting as many perks as potential on one bank card.
You are wonderful with paying a better annual payment
New candidates for the Explorer Card have an introductory annual payment of $0 for the primary 12 months, then $95 each following 12 months. The Quest Card has an annual payment of $250. Thus, there is a distinction of $155 within the annual payment for the following years. In case you suppose the advantages will justify that improve, upgrading will make sense.
Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the United Quest Card?
You usually spend cash with United and need to earn extra miles and added perks
The Quest Card affords $125 in annual credit for spending with United. This perk alone can offset 50% of the Quest Card’s $250 annual payment. In case you’re spending greater than $125 with United annually on bought tickets or charges for award tickets, this profit might be very engaging.
Moreover, the Quest Card earns 3 miles per greenback spent with United, whereas the Explorer Card earns simply 2 miles per greenback spent on these purchases. To see what number of extra miles you possibly can earn in a 12 months, have a look at how a lot cash you spent with United previously 12 months. You’d earn a further mile per greenback spent on every buy by utilizing the Quest Card as a substitute of the Explorer Card.
Nonetheless, do not forget to contemplate that different playing cards is likely to be extra advantageous for these purchases. For instance, The Platinum Card® from American Categorical earns 5 factors per greenback spent on flights bought straight with airways and through American Categorical Journey (on as much as $500,000 in mixed purchases every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback). Nonetheless, you need to keep in mind that the American Categorical Membership Rewards factors earned on these purchases cannot be transferred to United MileagePlus.
In case you’re in search of a card that earns versatile factors that may be transferred to MileagePlus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 3 factors per greenback spent on all journey purchases, together with flights, and the Chase Final Rewards factors you earn could be transferred to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
Take into account which incomes path is the perfect for you. If spending on a United bank card to earn United miles and $125 in annual credit makes essentially the most sense, then the Quest Card might benefit a spot in your pockets.
Associated: When does it make sense to spend on a cobranded bank card?
You need to earn miles from the cash you spend on streaming companies
Streaming companies develop in reputation annually, and new ones debut ceaselessly. Whereas the Explorer Card earns simply 1 mile per greenback spent on streaming purchases, the Quest Card earns 2 miles per greenback right here.
Nonetheless, you need to keep in mind that you could possibly get your streaming companies free of charge or at a reduction when utilizing different bank cards. Moreover, the Quest Card does not have the highest incomes fee for streaming companies. Take into account these different playing cards with higher earnings:
The data for the U.S. Financial institution Money+ Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
That mentioned, none of these earnings could be transformed into United miles. By paying to your streaming companies with the Quest Card, United loyalists can get the miles they like.
Associated: Find out how to use the Amex Platinum digital leisure credit score
You verify 2 suitcases when flying with United a minimum of 4 occasions a 12 months
The Quest Card affords two free checked luggage for you and a companion booked on the identical reservation. By comparability, the Explorer Card affords only one free checked bag per particular person for you and that companion.
So, ask your self this query: How usually do you verify a second suitcase in your journeys with United Airways?
If the reply is greater than thrice per 12 months, getting a free second checked bag from the Quest Card could make sense.
When flying domestically with United or United Categorical, a second checked suitcase will price a minimum of $45 per particular person in every route (provided that you pay prematurely — including a second bag inside 24 hours of departure prices $50). Which means you’d incur a further $90 per round-trip flight.
The distinction in annual charges from the Explorer Card to the Quest Card is $155, and paying for this second checked bag (whether or not it is for you or your journey companion) in each instructions on a pair of round-trip flights would price you $180 out of pocket. Thus, you’ll lower your expenses by having the Quest Card should you’re checking a second bag 4 occasions annually.
Keep in mind that, no matter whether or not you have got the Explorer Card or the Quest Card, you should pay for the flight along with your United cobranded bank card to qualify for the free checked bag(s) profit.
You spend greater than $20,000 on a United card annually
United bank card holders can earn Premier qualifying factors towards standing by bank card spending. The incomes fee is 25 PQPs per $500 spent on a United bank card.
On the Quest Card, you’ll be able to earn as much as 6,000 PQPs by bank card spending annually. To maximise this profit, you would wish to spend $120,000 in your United bank card.
The Explorer Card additionally affords PQP-earning skill on the similar fee of 25 PQPs per $500 spent on the cardboard. Nonetheless, the utmost you’ll be able to earn on this card is 1,000 PQPs per 12 months — achieved with $20,000 in spending.
If you’re pursuing United MileagePlus elite standing and spend greater than $20,000 in your card in a 12 months, you are lacking out on many PQPs by spending on the Explorer Card. Premier Silver could be achieved with as little as 4,000 PQPs plus 12 qualifying flights, so incomes additional PQPs on the Quest Card might go a great distance towards incomes standing.
You redeem your United miles for United flights a minimum of twice a 12 months
The Quest Card affords a pair of 5,000-mile flight credit per 12 months as a reward for redeeming miles, beginning along with your first cardmember anniversary. The 5,000-mile credit will likely be put into your MileagePlus account after you’re taking a United- or United Categorical-operated award flight booked along with your miles (as much as twice per anniversary 12 months).
In layman’s phrases, utilizing your miles for a flight operated by United or United Categorical can result in 5,000 miles being deposited in your MileagePlus account — as much as twice annually. Based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations, United miles are price 1.3 cents apiece, so maximizing this profit means an efficient refund of 10,000 United miles, price $130.
Associated: Find out how to get most worth from the United MileagePlus program
Issues that will not change should you improve
We have seen that a number of advantages and perks will change should you improve from the United Explorer Card to the United Quest Card. Nonetheless, that is to not say that the whole lot will likely be totally different. A number of card advantages will stay the identical:
- No international transaction payment
- 2 miles per greenback spent on eating and supply companies
- Expanded entry to award redemptions when utilizing United miles
- As much as a $100 reimbursement on an software payment for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (legitimate each 4 years)
- Precedence boarding privileges on United flights
- 25% low cost on inflight purchases when paying along with your card on United- and United Categorical-operated flights
- Numerous journey and buy protections included along with your card
Moreover, a advantage of upgrading your card (moderately than making use of for a brand new card) is that you’ll protect your credit score historical past on that account. Credit score age is likely one of the components that make up your credit score rating.
Different issues when product-changing a credit score card
Apart from merely evaluating the advantages of your present card to the opposite card you are contemplating for a product change, there are some things you need to take into consideration earlier than taking any motion.
Keep in mind that you will not be eligible for a welcome supply on the United Quest Card when upgrading from one other bank card. These affords are just for new functions — not altering from an present card to a different bank card. In case you’d be eligible for a welcome bonus, take into account whether or not (or how a lot) it issues to you that you just forgo mentioned bonus when altering to the brand new card.
Additionally keep in mind that the welcome bonus you earned once you opened your card has circumstances. It is best to at all times plan to maintain a bank card for a minimum of a 12 months to keep away from having the bonus factors or miles confiscated by the financial institution.
You also needs to know that altering from one bank card to a different card should not lead to a “onerous pull” credit score inquiry. That is since you aren’t making use of for a brand new product. You also needs to preserve the identical credit score restrict and maintain the identical card quantity.
Lastly, product-changing is the one strategy to entry bank cards which are now not open to new candidates. Making use of for an accessible bank card after which later altering to a discontinued card might be a part of your rewards technique.
Associated: 4 main issues earlier than upgrading your bank card
Find out how to improve from the Explorer Card to the Quest Card
In case you’ve learn all the knowledge above and determined that altering from the United Explorer Card to the United Quest Card is the correct transfer for you, this is find out how to make the change.
You will must name the quantity on the again of your bank card. Clarify to the telephone consultant that you just need to improve your card to the Quest Card. Be clear with the agent on the telephone that you just need to change to the brand new card. Make sure that Chase does not course of a brand new card software or shut your present card by mistake.
The telephone consultant will sometimes must learn you a compulsory disclosure. It will embrace issues like adjustments in advantages, when your new card ought to arrive within the mail and essential details about when you’ll begin paying the upper annual payment.
Take note of the disclosure, and ask questions on something that appears unclear. When you comply with the phrases, the telephone agent will course of the change. It is best to be capable of proceed utilizing your present card till the brand new one arrives within the mail.
Associated: The final word information to bank card upgrades
Backside line
There aren’t any one-size-fits-all options within the factors and miles interest. For some individuals, the United Explorer Card could also be a favourite bank card. For others, the perks aren’t fairly sufficient, so the United Quest Card might be a super match.
Earlier than taking motion, have a look at the variations in advantages and ensure you perceive what perks you will achieve should you improve your Explorer Card, whether or not they justify the upper annual payment you will pay and when the brand new charges and perks will take impact. As soon as you have made an knowledgeable choice, you will get began by calling the quantity on the again of your card.
Associated: The very best bank cards to make use of for United flights