Should you maintain the United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs), you are prone to fly comparatively typically with United Airways and worth the cardboard’s precedence boarding perk, checked bag privilege and two annual United Membership passes.
However what should you’re on the lookout for extra advantages?
That is the place the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) is available in.
Sure, the annual charge is larger. Nevertheless, should you leverage the cardboard’s a number of assertion credit, Premier qualifying level (PQP) head begin and better incomes charges, there could possibly be a robust argument for upgrading your card.
Bear in mind, although, that the United Quest Card is at the moment providing the highest welcome provide in its historical past, so now could possibly be a great time to use for it outright. With the Quest, you could possibly earn 100,000 bonus miles and three,000 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.
You will not be eligible for the bonus should you improve from the United Explorer, so for now, you might need to apply outright and get the bonus as an alternative of upgrading.
Evaluating the United Explorer to the United Quest
Earlier than we get right into a deep dive about why you might need to improve your United card, this is a side-by-side comparability of every card’s advantages.
| Card | United Explorer | United Quest |
|---|---|---|
| Annual charge | $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr, then $150 | $350 |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
| United advantages |
|
|
| Assertion credit |
|
|
Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the United Quest Card?
Why improve from United Explorer to United Quest
Now that you’ve got seen a side-by-side comparability of the United Explorer and United Quest advantages, listed below are eight explanation why upgrading to the United Quest could also be the most effective transfer for you.
Every day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
You are over 5/24 and may’t get the opposite card by a brand new software
Should you resolve you are prepared for the United Quest, you might be pressured to accumulate it by upgrading.
Why? That might be Chase’s 5/24 rule. Should you’ve opened 5 (or extra) bank cards with any issuer over the earlier 24 months, you may nearly definitely be denied when attempting to open a brand new Chase card, no matter your credit score rating or every other issue.
Should you encounter this software restriction, you might not be capable to get the United Quest except you request a product change from one other United bank card. Should you’re over 5/24, you will not be capable to get the cardboard by making use of.
Associated: Wish to open a brand new Chase card? Here is calculate your 5/24 standing
You are advantageous with paying a better annual charge
New candidates for the Explorer Card pay an introductory annual charge of $0 for the primary yr and $150 every following yr. The Quest Card has an annual charge of $350. That is a distinction of $200.
Should you’ve determined that Quest’s advantages outweigh its larger annual charge, then you might be prepared for a product change.
You usually spend cash with United and need to earn extra miles
The Quest Card earns 8 miles per greenback spent on United flights and three miles per greenback spent on all different United purchases. The Explorer earns 7 miles per greenback spent on United flights and a couple of miles per greenback spent on different United purchases.
Should you’re inquisitive about what number of miles you could possibly earn in a yr, contemplate how a lot cash you spent with United throughout the final 12 months. You’d earn an extra mile on all these purchases should you maintain the Quest.
So, should you spend continuously or considerably with United, the maths might come out that it is a greater choice so that you can earn extra on that spending.
Associated: When does it make sense to spend on a cobranded bank card?
You may use United TravelBank money
United TravelBank is actually a financial savings account you need to use to keep up funds for United purchases. You should use money in United TravelBank to pay for flights with United or United Categorical or give it as a present. You should use your funds alone or with most different fee varieties, and you’ll redeem funds from TravelBank and not using a minimal stability requirement.
If this appears like the kind of service you’d get pleasure from utilizing, the United Quest offers a a lot better United TravelBank profit than the United Explorer.
With the Quest, you may obtain an automated $200 in United TravelBank money every account anniversary yr and after account opening. This basically wipes out greater than half of the $350 annual charge.
In the meantime, the Explorer offers $100 in TravelBank money after you spend $10,000 on purchases in a calendar yr. With the Quest Card, it is automated, however with the Explorer, it is incentivized by spending.
You could have only a few bank cards and need to maximize the perks of every card
If you do not have a pockets filled with bank cards, you might end up leaning into the advantages of your one card greater than somebody who has a swath of playing cards with advantages to handle.
Each the United Explorer and the United Quest include a protracted checklist of assertion credit on all the pieces from Instacart and ride-hailing providers to lodge stays booked by a journey portal and automobile leases with Avis and Price range.
The United Quest’s assertion credit are value extra, so if you end up seeking to maximize a number of assertion credit, you may get extra worth with the Quest.
Associated: United bank cards add assertion credit and better annual charges — is it value preserving your card?
You are chasing United elite standing
The United Quest Card offers higher PQP earnings towards United Premier standing than the United Explorer Card.
With both card, you’ll be able to earn 1 PQP for each $20 you spend, and your whole earnings are capped. Nevertheless, you’ve got a considerably larger threshold on the Quest than with the Explorer. You may earn as much as 18,000 PQPs every year by spending on the United Quest. You may solely earn as much as 1,000 PQPs with spending on the Explorer.
Plus, beginning in 2026, you may obtain a 1,000 PQP bonus award after Feb. 1 every year with the United Quest.
You examine 2 baggage when flying with United not less than 5 occasions a yr
The Quest Card provides two free checked baggage for you and a companion booked on the identical reservation. By comparability, the Explorer Card provides only one free checked bag per particular person for you and that companion.
So, ask your self this query: How typically do you examine a second bag in your journeys with United Airways?
If the reply is greater than 4 occasions per yr, getting a free second checked bag from the Quest Card could make sense.
When flying domestically with United or United Categorical, a second checked bag will price not less than $45 per particular person in every course (provided that you pay prematurely — including a second bag inside 24 hours of departure prices $50). Which means you’d incur an extra $90 per round-trip flight.
The distinction in annual charges from the Explorer Card to the Quest Card is $200. Should you take two round-trip flights and a single one-way (5 whole flights), that is $225 for one traveler, which offsets the Quest’s $200 further in annual charges.
Do not forget that no matter whether or not you’ve got the Explorer Card or the Quest Card, you will need to pay for the flight along with your United cobranded bank card to qualify for the free checked bag(s) profit.
Associated: These bank cards can get you free checked baggage in your subsequent flight
You spend greater than $20,000 on a United card every year
Each the United Explorer and the United Quest have some spend-incentivized perks. Nevertheless, if you are going to put lots of spending on a United bank card, you are going to earn extra should you do it on the Quest.
After spending $20,000 on the United Explorer, you may obtain a ten,000-mile award flight low cost, which is an efficient profit.
Nevertheless, you may mechanically obtain one 10,000-mile award flight low cost with the United Quest — and you may obtain one other 10,000-mile award flight low cost should you spend $20,000 with that card.
Should you spend $40,000 on the United Quest, you can even obtain two international Financial system Plus seat upgrades, which is a stable incentive to maintain utilizing the cardboard.
And, as talked about above, your PQP incomes cap is eighteen occasions larger (18,000 to 1,000) on the United Quest.
Associated: The way to get most worth from the United MileagePlus program
Issues that will not change should you improve
Should you improve from the United Explorer to the United Quest, there are lots of variations in advantages. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that some elements stay the identical between each of those playing cards:
- No international transaction charges
- Precedence boarding privileges on United flights
- Journey and buy protections
- Earn 2 miles per greenback spent on eating and supply providers
- As much as a $120 reimbursement on an software charge for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (legitimate each 4 years)
- A 25% low cost on inflight purchases when paying along with your card on United- and United Categorical-operated flights
Moreover, a good thing about upgrading your card (slightly 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.
Associated: What is an efficient credit score rating?
What to contemplate earlier than you improve
Other than merely evaluating the advantages of your current card to the opposite card you are contemplating for a product change, there are some things it’s best to take into consideration earlier than taking any motion.
Do not forget that you will not be eligible for a welcome provide on the United Quest when upgrading from the United Explorer. These provides are just for new purposes, not altering from an current card to a different bank card. Should you’d be eligible for a welcome bonus, contemplate whether or not (or how a lot) it issues to you that you just forgo the bonus when altering to the brand new card.
Should you do need to earn the United Quest Card’s present bonus of 100,000 bonus miles and three,000 Premier qualifying factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open, you may have to submit a brand new software.
As beforehand talked about, that is the United Quest’s best-ever welcome provide, so you might need to apply for that card outright whereas the bonus is operating.
Additionally, keep in mind that the welcome bonus you earned whenever you opened your card has situations. It is best to all the time plan to maintain a bank card for not less than a yr to keep away from having the bonus factors or miles confiscated by the financial institution.
Associated: 4 main concerns earlier than upgrading your bank card
The way to improve from the Explorer Card to the Quest Card
Should you’re able to improve from the United Explorer to the United Quest, you may have to name the quantity on the again of your bank card. Clarify to the 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 to make sure that Chase would not course of a brand new card software or shut your present card by mistake.
The telephone consultant will sometimes have to learn you a compulsory disclosure. This may embrace issues like adjustments in advantages, when your new card ought to arrive within the mail and necessary details about when you’ll begin paying the upper annual charge.
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 to 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
The United Explorer card is a mid-tier choice for United flyers, whereas the United Quest card offers further advantages for these prepared to pay a better annual charge.
There’s by no means an ideal alternative for all vacationers, however when you think about how a lot you fly with United and the way you worth every card’s perks, you might resolve that the United Quest is well worth the improve.
If that sounds such as you, name the quantity on the again of your Explorer Card to provoke the method.
Associated: One of the best bank cards to make use of for United flights
