United Quest vs. United Club Infinite: Bigger is better
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card was launched in March 2020 and the United Quest℠ Card was launched in April 2021 as a brand-new offering that sits between United’s entry-level and ultra-premium card options.
If you’re a loyal United flyer and wondering whether to apply for one or the other, this guide should help you determine which is best for you.
United Quest vs. United Club Infinite comparison
Card
United Quest
United Club Infinite
Annual fee
$250
$525
Sign-up bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in the first three months of account opening — plus 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months
Earning rate
3 miles per dollar on purchases with United
2 miles per dollar on all other travel
2 miles per dollar on dining
2 miles per dollar on select streaming services
1 mile per dollar on everything else
4 miles per dollar on purchases with United
2 miles per dollar on all other travel
2 miles per dollar on dining
1 mile per dollar on everything else
Benefits
Annual $125 United purchase credit
Earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 spent — up to a maximum of 6,000 PQPs in a calendar year
Earn 5,000 miles back when you take a United award flight — up to two times per year starting after your first anniversary
First and second checked bags free
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee credit
25% back on United inflight purchases
Complimentary Premier upgrades on United award flights when available
Priority boarding
No foreign transaction fees
United Club membership
Free first and second checked bags
Premier Access travel services (priority access for check-in, security screening where available, boarding and baggage handling)
25% off inflight United purchases
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS
IHG One Rewards Platinum status and a $75 statement credit
Complimentary Premier upgrades on award flights for United elite members
10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards
Earn 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12,000 spent — up to a maximum of 8,000 PQPs in a calendar year
Expanded award availability
No foreign transaction fees
Travel protections
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Trip delay reimbursement
Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Trip delay reimbursement
Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
Purchase protection
Extended warranty protection
Return protection
United Quest vs. United Club Infinite welcome bonus
The United Quest Card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 60,000 United miles plus 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 in the first three months your account is open. Based on TPG’s valuations, these bonus miles are worth $660.
PEKIC/GETTY IMAGES
The United Club Infinite Card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 80,000 United miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months your account is open. Based on TPG’s valuations, these bonus miles are worth $880.
Winner: Infinite. Its welcome offer is more valuable.
United Quest vs. United Club Infinite benefits
Both cards offer benefits specifically for flying United, so let’s look at similar benefits first.
Both offer a free first and second checked bag, priority boarding, 25% off inflight United purchases, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit, no foreign transaction fees, complimentary upgrades on award flights (where available), and expanded award availability.
You’ll also earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 in net purchases up to a maximum of 6,000 PQP in a calendar year with Quest but 8,000 PQP with the Infinite.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
A major difference between the two cards is the annual fee. The Quest has a $250 annual fee, whereas the Infinite charges $525.
In terms of lounge access, the Infinite gives you a full United Club membership, while the Quest offers no form of lounge membership or even one-time United Club passes.
The Infinite gives cardholders more United perks, including priority check-in and baggage handling, IHG One Rewards Platinum status and a $75 statement credit, a 10% discount on Economy Saver Awards, and Avis President’s Club elite status.
While both cards have a similar lineup of travel protections, the United Club Infinite has better coverage for trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The Quest comes with up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip in coverage, but the Club Infinite comes with $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in coverage.
Additionally, the United Club Infinite comes with return protection, while the Quest does not.
Winner: Infinite. Its benefits win out.
Earning miles with the United Quest vs. United Club Infinite
Both United cards earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other travel (including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride-share, ride-sharing services and tolls) and dining. But this is the extent of their similarities.
The United Quest Card earns 3 miles per dollar on purchases with United and 2 miles per dollar on select streaming services. Meanwhile, the United Club Infinite Card earns 4 miles per dollar on purchases with United but no bonus miles on streaming.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Based on TPG’s valuation of United miles at 1.1 cents each, this means you’ll earn a 3.3% return on United purchases, 2.2% on dining, select streaming services and other travel with the Quest Card, along with 1.1% on all other purchases. On the other hand, you’ll earn 4.4% on United purchases, along with 2.2% on other travel and dining with the United Club Infinite Card.
None of these earning rates are overly compelling unless you need United miles for an upcoming redemption. From an earning standpoint, you may be better off using cards in the Chase Trifecta or Chase Quartet and then transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United miles.
Winner: Infinite. Its earnings rates are superior.
Redeeming miles with the United Quest Vs. United Club Infinite
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 and United-Express flights and flights on Star Alliance carriers and partner airlines.
BECKY BLAINE/THE POINTS GUY
When redeeming United miles, you’ll get the best value when booking saver-level tickets because they are priced the lowest. Unfortunately, United’s recent devaluation has greatly affected the cost of redemptions, and some awards have increased by up to 122%.
Winner: Tie. These cards both earn United miles, which can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program.
Should I get the United Quest or United Club Infinite?
If you want to earn United miles and get priority boarding and two complimentary checked bags when flying United on a semi-frequent basis, the United Quest Card is the one for you. However, the United Club Infinite Card is the better choice if you are a die-hard United frequent flyer, as you’ll get the same benefits as the Quest in addition to a United Club membership, better-earning rates on United purchases and several other additional benefits.
Bottom line
In most situations, I’d recommend going with the United Club Infinite Card over the United Quest Card due to a higher sign-up bonus, United Club membership, and a slightly better earning structure.
If United Club access isn’t incredibly important to you, you may be better off with the less expensive Quest card.
Apply here: United Quest Card
Apply here: United Club Infinite Card
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