I have been a United Airways flyer longer than I can bear in mind. Rising up in Chicago, I bought my MileagePlus quantity after I was 2 years outdated, and I’ve stayed loyal to the airline ever since — even after shifting away from a serious hub.
After welcoming a child late final 12 months, although, I am presently behind on my purpose to requalify for Premier Gold standing on the 12 months’s midway level; I’ve earned simply over 4,000 of the Premier qualifying factors of the 12,000 (or 10,000 PQPs plus 30 Premier qualifying flights) I will have to lock it in for 2026. Fortunately, there is a new United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) welcome provide that can assist clear up my drawback and provide tons of extra perks in addition.
At the moment, new cardholders can earn 100,000 miles and three,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months from account opening. This provide is so good I’d even get my husband, who does not presently maintain any United standing, to use for it, too.
This is why I am contemplating making use of for the United Quest Card, and why you would possibly wish to as effectively.
Perks of United Premier standing
I’ve had United Premier standing for years, and I’ve all the time deeply valued the related advantages, particularly Gold Premier standing. The power to ebook myself and a companion immediately into Financial system Plus has constantly been essential to me — particularly as a tall one who usually flies lengthy itineraries between the West Coast and the Midwest, East Coast or Europe.
However my elite standing has by no means are available in handier than since my daughter was born. By reserving her as a lap toddler on my husband’s ticket and treating him as my companion, I can get my whole household into the additional legroom seats, which is clutch as she will get squirmier and squirmier. Or, when it is simply the 2 of us and I do not wish to preserve her on my lap the complete flight, I can ebook a separate Financial system Plus spot for her automotive seat. That is a giant win, contemplating that an Financial system Plus improve can price greater than $100 per individual, relying on the flight.
I additionally love incomes miles at an elevated fee and gaining access to lowered award-ticket costs, particularly since I will want much more miles to fly my household as soon as my daughter ages out of lap-infant territory.
Find out how to obtain elite standing — and preserve it — with the United Quest Card
Proper now, the Quest card is sporting a best-ever welcome provide of 100,000 miles and three,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months from account opening. Since PQPs are usually earned based mostly on spending on United flights, taking out the cardboard — which has an annual price of $350 — may save me 1000’s of {dollars} and provides me a giant increase towards my Premier Gold purpose.
For these, like my husband, who do not presently have standing, the welcome provide’s PQP element is much more important. Attaining Premier Silver requires both 15 Premier qualifying flights and 5,000 PQPs or 6,000 PQPs outright. Meaning the three,000 that include the Quest will, at minimal, get you midway to elite standing.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
It is a compelling proposition, particularly as my daughter is getting much less and fewer concerned with sitting in our laps on flights. Since I can solely convey one companion into Financial system Plus, getting free entry to Financial system Plus at check-in can be helpful for my husband after we’re all flying collectively. Plus, Quest cardholders get two checked baggage totally free, which might give him the identical allotment I’ve as a Gold member, even when he is touring with out me.
The Quest may also assist us requalify for standing 12 months after 12 months, even with out a huge welcome provide. Cardholders get a soar begin on PQP incomes annually with a 1,000-point bonus, and the cardboard earns 1 PQP per $20 spent on purchases (as much as 18,000 PQPs per 12 months).
Associated:United Premier standing: What it’s and easy methods to earn it
United Quest best-ever welcome provide
As a brand new mum or dad, I’ve another choice for guaranteeing I preserve my Gold standing subsequent 12 months: placing it on maintain with the airline. United is considered one of a number of airways that gives standing extensions for parental go away.
Nevertheless, if I’m going that route, I will be sacrificing a giant profit: the 100,000 MileagePlus miles the Quest is presently providing new cardholders. That is simply the second time within the card’s historical past that it is supplied this many miles — it as soon as awarded the identical determine to those that took it out when it launched again in 2021.
Whereas PQPs are used solely to qualify for elite standing, MileagePlus miles are what you utilize to ebook award flights. Incomes 100,000 miles is greater than sufficient for a global trip. I can get from Portland, Oregon, to Portugal in financial system for 40,000 miles every method (as I am doing later this 12 months) and have 20,000 miles nonetheless leftover for my subsequent journey. Or, I may save them for a fancier journey in United’s lie-flat Polaris enterprise class, particularly since we have been seeing widespread award availability from the U.S. to locations like London, Paris and Rome for 80,000 miles one-way.
Backside line
I really like holding MileagePlus Premier standing, and for me, it is an indispensable a part of my journey expertise — particularly now that I’ve a household.
Whether or not you presently maintain standing or not, the United Quest card’s welcome provide will propel you towards the spending threshold so that you could get pleasure from perks like free entry to Financial system Plus and elevated incomes charges on income tickets.
Plus, the Quest’s present provide will web you sufficient miles for an opportunity to place these new advantages to make use of.
