Unlock United Airlines Elite Status with the United Quest Card

As a long-time flyer with United Airlines, my journey with the airline began when I received my MileagePlus number at just two years old. Growing up in Chicago, I remained loyal to United even after relocating away from a major hub. However, after the arrival of my baby late last year, I found myself falling behind on my goal to requalify for Premier Gold status. With only 4,000 of the required 12,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) accumulated, I was in need of a solution. Fortunately, the new United Quest℠ Card comes with a remarkable welcome offer that could help me achieve my goal while providing numerous additional perks.

Currently, new cardholders can earn 100,000 miles and 3,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of account opening. This enticing offer is so appealing that I might even encourage my husband, who does not hold any United status, to apply as well.

Having enjoyed United Premier status for many years, I have always valued the benefits that come with it, especially the Gold Premier status. One of the most significant advantages for me is the ability to book Economy Plus seats for myself and a companion. This is particularly crucial for someone like me, who often flies long distances between the West Coast and destinations like the Midwest, East Coast, or Europe.

Since becoming a parent, my elite status has proven to be invaluable. By booking my daughter as a lap infant on my husband’s ticket and designating him as my companion, I can secure extra legroom seats for the entire family. This is especially beneficial as she becomes more active and less inclined to sit still on my lap during flights. On occasions when it’s just the two of us, I can book a separate Economy Plus seat for her car seat, which can save me over $100 per person for an upgrade.

The opportunity to earn miles at an elevated rate and access reduced award-ticket prices is another reason I’m drawn to the Quest card. As my daughter grows, I will need even more miles to travel with my family, especially once she ages out of the lap-infant category.

The Quest card’s current welcome offer is exceptional: 100,000 miles and 3,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months. Given that PQPs are usually earned through spending on United flights, obtaining this card, which has an annual fee of $350, could save me significant money while giving me a substantial boost towards my Premier Gold goal.

For individuals like my husband, who do not currently hold any status, the 3,000 PQPs included in the welcome offer are particularly valuable. To achieve Premier Silver status, one must either complete 15 qualifying flights and earn 5,000 PQPs or earn 6,000 PQPs outright. The 3,000 PQPs from the Quest card will get new applicants halfway to elite status.

This offer is especially appealing as my daughter becomes less interested in sitting on our laps during flights. While I can bring only one companion into Economy Plus, free access for my husband at check-in would be a significant advantage for family travel. Additionally, Quest cardholders enjoy two free checked bags, providing him with the same baggage allowance I have as a Gold member, even when traveling alone.

The Quest card also supports our efforts to maintain status year after year, even without a substantial welcome offer. Cardholders receive a 1,000-point bonus to kickstart their PQP earning each year, along with the ability to earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent on purchases, up to a maximum of 18,000 PQPs annually.

As a new parent, I have the option to pause my Gold status with United, as the airline offers status extensions for parental leave. However, this would mean sacrificing the impressive 100,000 MileagePlus miles currently available to new cardholders. This is only the second time in the card’s history that such a generous miles offer has been made, the first being at its launch in 2021.

While PQPs are essential for qualifying for elite status, MileagePlus miles are what you use for booking award flights. Earning 100,000 miles is more than sufficient for an international trip. For instance, I can fly from Portland, Oregon, to Portugal for 40,000 miles each way (as I plan to do later this year), leaving me with 20,000 miles for future travel. Alternatively, I could save them for a premium experience in United’s lie-flat Polaris business class, especially given the recent increase in award availability from the U.S. to popular destinations like London, Paris, and Rome for just 80,000 miles one way.

Holding MileagePlus Premier status is crucial for my travel experience, especially now that I have a family. Whether you currently hold status or not, the United Quest card’s welcome offer can significantly help you reach the spending threshold necessary to enjoy benefits like free access to Economy Plus and elevated earning rates on revenue tickets.

In conclusion, the Quest card’s current offer provides enough miles to make the most of these new benefits. The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives by allowing you to leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That’s why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons to help you find the perfect card to turn your travel dreams into reality.

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