If you happen to maintain the United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs), you are more likely 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 is it attainable you’d profit from extra?
That is the place the United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) is available in. Sure, the annual price is larger. Nevertheless, should you’d leverage the cardboard’s a number of assertion credit, Premier qualifying level head begin and better incomes charges, there may very well be a powerful argument for upgrading your card.
If you happen to’re contemplating a transfer up from the Explorer to the Quest, you’ve got come to the precise place. Let’s go into eight the explanation why this transfer could also be the best choice for you.
Evaluating the United Explorer to the United Quest
Earlier than we get right into a deep dive about why chances are you’ll wish to improve your United card, here is a side-by-side comparability of every card’s advantages.
| Card | United Explorer | United Quest |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $0 introductory annual price, then $150 | $350 |
| Incomes charges |
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| United advantages |
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| Assertion credit |
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Associated: Who ought to (and should not) get the United Quest Card?
Why improve from United Explorer to United Quest
Now that you have seen a side-by-side comparability of the United Explorer and United Quest advantages, let’s get into some particular circumstances through which upgrading would make sense for you.
You are over 5/24 and may’t get the opposite card via a brand new software
If you happen to determine you are prepared for the United Quest, chances are you’ll be compelled to amass it by upgrading.
Why? That might be Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you happen to’ve opened 5 (or extra) bank cards with any issuer over the earlier 24 months, you may nearly definitely be denied when making an attempt to open a brand new Chase card — no matter your credit score rating or another issue.
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If you happen to encounter this software restriction, chances are you’ll not have the ability to get the United Quest until you request a product change from one other United bank card. If you happen to’re over 5/24, you will not have the ability to get the cardboard by making use of.
Associated: Need to open a brand new Chase card? Here is learn how to calculate your 5/24 standing
You are high quality with paying a better annual price
New candidates for the Explorer Card pay an introductory annual price of $0 for the primary yr and $150 each following yr. The Quest Card has an annual price of $350. That is a distinction of $200.
If you happen to’ve determined that Quest’s advantages outweigh its larger annual price, then chances are you’ll be prepared for a product change.
You repeatedly spend cash with United and wish 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.
If you happen to’re interested by 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 ceaselessly or considerably with United, the maths may come out that it is a greater possibility so that you can earn extra on that spending.
Associated: When does it make sense to spend on a cobranded bank card?
You will use United TravelBank money
United TravelBank is actually a financial savings account you should use to take care of funds for United purchases. You should use money in United TravelBank to pay for flights with United or United Specific or give it as a present. You should use your funds alone or with most different cost varieties, and you may redeem funds from TravelBank with no minimal stability requirement.
If this seems like the kind of service you’d take pleasure in utilizing, the United Quest offers a a lot better United TravelBank profit than the United Explorer.
With the Quest, you may obtain an computerized $200 in United TravelBank money every account anniversary yr and after account opening. This basically wipes out greater than half of the $350 annual price.
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 computerized, however with the Explorer, it is incentivized by spending.
You may have only a few bank cards and wish to maximize the perks of every card
If you do not have a pockets filled with bank cards, chances are you’ll 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 an extended checklist of assertion credit on every little thing from Instacart and ride-hailing providers to resort stays booked via a journey portal and automobile leases with Avis and Funds.
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 protecting 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 may earn 1 PQP for each $20 you spend and your complete earnings are capped. Nevertheless, you will have a considerably larger threshold on the Quest than with the Explorer. You may earn as much as 18,000 PQPs annually via 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 annually with the United Quest.
You examine 2 luggage when flying with United at the least 5 instances a yr
The Quest Card presents two free checked luggage for you and a companion booked on the identical reservation. By comparability, the Explorer Card presents only one free checked bag per individual 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 instances per yr, getting a free second checked bag from the Quest Card could make sense.
When flying domestically with United or United Specific, a second checked bag will price at the least $45 per individual in every path (provided that you pay upfront — including a second bag inside 24 hours of departure prices $50). Meaning 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. If you happen to take two round-trip flights and a single one-way (5 complete flights), that is $225 for one traveler — which wipes away the Quest’s $200 further in annual charges.
Do not forget that no matter whether or not you will have the Explorer Card or the Quest Card, you could pay for the flight together with your United cobranded bank card to qualify for the free checked bag(s) profit.
Associated: These bank cards can get you free checked luggage in your subsequent flight
You spend greater than $20,000 on a United card annually
Each the United Explorer and the United Quest have some spend-incentivized perks. Nevertheless, if you are going to put a whole lot 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 routinely obtain one 10,000-mile award flight low cost with the United Quest — and you will obtain one other 10,000-mile award flight low cost should you spend $20,000 with that card.
If you happen to spend $40,000 on the United Quest, you can too obtain two international Economic system Plus seat upgrades, which is a strong incentive to maintain utilizing the cardboard.
And, as talked about above, your PQP incomes cap is eighteen instances larger (18,000 to 1,000) on the United Quest.
Associated: How you can get most worth from the United MileagePlus program
Issues that will not change should you improve
If you happen to improve from the United Explorer Card to the United Quest Card, there are various variations in advantages. Nevertheless, it’s value noting that some facets stay the identical between each of those playing cards:
- No international transaction price
- Precedence boarding privileges on United flights
- Journey and buy protections
- 2 miles per greenback spent on eating and supply providers
- As much as a $120 reimbursement on an software price for International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (legitimate each 4 years)
- A 25% low cost on inflight purchases when paying together with your card on United- and United Specific-operated flights
Moreover, a good thing about upgrading your card (fairly 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 among the elements 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 you need 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 Card when upgrading from the United Explorer Card. These presents are just for new functions — not altering from an current card to a different bank card. If you happen to’d be eligible for a welcome bonus, contemplate whether or not (or how a lot) it issues to you that you simply forgo the bonus when altering to the brand new card.
If you happen to do wish to earn the United Quest Card’s present bonus of 90,000 miles and 500 PQPs after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months the account is open, you may have to submit a brand new software. This provide ends Might 7.
Additionally, do not forget that the welcome bonus you earned once you opened your card has circumstances. It is best to at all times plan to maintain a bank card for at the least 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
How you can improve from the Explorer Card to the Quest Card
If you happen to’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 simply wish to improve your card to the Quest Card.
Be clear with the agent on the telephone that you simply wish to change to the brand new card to make sure that Chase does not course of a brand new card software or shut your present card by mistake.
The telephone consultant will usually have to learn you a compulsory disclosure. It will embrace issues like modifications in advantages, when your new card ought to arrive within the mail and vital details about when you’ll begin paying the upper annual price.
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 have the ability 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
There’s by no means an ideal selection for all vacationers, however when you think about how a lot you fly with United and the way you worth every card’s perks, chances are you’ll determine 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 get the method began.
Associated: The perfect bank cards to make use of for United flights
