United Airlines has a reliable credit card lineup consisting of four personal cards with UnitedQuest℠Card (see rates and fees).
This interim product is located between United℠Explorer cards (see rates and fees), with an annual introductory first year of $0, followed by an annual fee of $150, while UnitedClub℠ card is an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees).
Quest cards have many benefits of $350 annual fee and semi-frequency joint flyers.
Apart from the initial welcome bonus, let’s get a deeper look at who should (and who shouldn’t) get a joint mission card.
Key Benefits
New applicants can earn 100,000 miles and 3,000 Prime Minister Qualifying after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening an account.
According to TPG’s July 2025 valuation, the bonus points are worth $1,300 (excluding PQP). This is the best offer we’ve seen on this card, thanks to a large amount of rewards PQP.
While a welcome offer may be enough to get you on board, the Union Mission Card also has other privileges that may keep you stuck with it for a long time, including:
- $200 Credit: Cardholders will receive $200 in United Travelbank cash after the account is open and every anniversary year, which will help offset the $350 annual fee.
- Reward flight discounts up to 20,000 miles: Each cardholder anniversary (starting with your first anniversary) automatically receives a 10,000-mile discount. You can then earn another 10,000 miles off after spending $20,000 in one calendar year.
- Benefits of checking bags: The cardholder’s two free check bags, and a companion on the reservation.
- Boarding and Upgrade Privileges: If you have a United Elite identity, priority boarding and free space available upgrades.
- Hotel Credit: Up to $150 for famous hotels and resorts
- Airline Credit: JSX points up to $150
- Car rental credit: Up to $40
- Car Credit: The monthly stated credit for the ride service is up to $8, and the bonus for December is $4 (total $12).
- Seat upgrade: Earn two global economies and upgrades after spending $40,000 on your card per calendar year
- Global Entry or TSA Precheck receives up to $120 credit every four years
- 25% return on combined aircraft purchases (including Wi-Fi, food and beverages)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cancellation/interruption insurance and travel delay reimbursement
- Purchase protection
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$200 Travelbank Cash is a great card gain that helps cover most of the annual charges for this task. Meanwhile, the card offers two shipping bags for free, which is a benefit you can also find on the United Club card at $695 a year.
Other benefits can be found at United Clubs and explorers, such as United Shipping Fees, no foreign transaction fees, global admission fees and 25% of TSA Precheck credit and travel protection measures.
Income rate in bonus category
United Quest cards have a fairly wide range of reward categories. You will earn:
- Each dollar spent 8 miles on a joint flight (5 miles in miles Pluce members, which is 3 miles for mission cardholders)
- Spend 5 miles per dollar on prepaid hotels booked in famous hotels and resorts
- Spend 3 miles per dollar
- Spend 2 miles per dollar
- 2 miles per dollar for dining and featured streaming
- Spend 1 mile per dollar
Who should get a joint mission card?
If you decide you want a joint card, let’s narrow down why the United Quest card may be the best for you.
You fly halfway
There are key differences between United Explorer, Mission and Club Card.
Simply put, the Explorer card molds meet the “occasional joint flyer” once or twice a year, the Quest Carddolder meets the “semi-frequency joint flyer” category, and most club cardholders are “often used United Flyers” and they enjoy access to the lounge.
However, diving into these benefits shows that the Quest card is (mainly) a superior card for the Explorer card, although you need to ride a few times a year to really make the card really worth it.
The only tangible advantage of the Explorer card is the double-year Joint Club Pass (must be a primary or authorized cardholder to redeemed), and of course, the lower $150 annual fee (this does not apply in the mid-year of your first cardholder).
But for half a joint flyer, you can easily offset the $350 annual fee on the task card. $200 Travelbank cash should be easy to use and cover most annual fees.
Finally, if you are a heavy packer – and plan to check two bags, it should be on your list.
Who shouldn’t get a joint mission card?
You want the United Club Lounge
If you want to access United Club Lounges, this task may not be for you. It doesn’t have any lounge privileges and you won’t get any guest passes.
Instead, consider the United Club Card. The perennial allowance for the Club Card is United Club membership, which is usually a $750 annual cost for a United MileagePlus member. Instead, as long as you hold the card, you can pay $695 per year and get a joint club with a primary cardholder and an adult companion and any child under the age of 18.
You have exceeded 5/24
In order to obtain approval for any chase card that complies with its 5/24 rules (including joint mission cards), you may not open five or more personal credit cards in all banks over the past 24 months. If you are over 5/24, consider other issuers’ cards.
Related: What to do after reaching 5/24
You don’t value the mileage of the joint
If you personally don’t think United Miles are a valuable currency, then the United Mission Card may not make sense to you. Instead, you can view transferable point cards such as the Chase SapphirePreferred® card (see Rates and Fees), which offer greater redemption flexibility.
Bottom line
For those planning to ride the United Quest card, the United Quest card is a great mid-level option. The annual United Travel Credit of $200 per year is a $350 annual fee value, especially since it is a unique privilege without duplication on other joint credit cards. Plus, the excellent limited-time welcome offer makes this card even more attractive.
To learn more, read our full review of United Quest Cards.
Apply here: Joint Mission Card
Related: Best Credit Cards for Flight United
