5 reasons I'm opening the United Quest Card now — even though I already get elite benefits with United

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• Changes to the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program make the United Quest℠ Card more useful for frequent flyers.
• The card is also currently offering a limited-time elevated bonus of United Quest℠ Card.
• I'm opening the card to take advantage of earning Premier Qualifying Points for spending and other great benefits.
• Read Insider's guide to the best airline credit cards.

As a frequent United flyer, I've had my eye on the United Quest℠ Card ever since it launched last year. However, because I already have benefits like priority boarding and free checked bags through my United MileagePlus Premier Platinum status, I've never seriously considered opening it — until now.

Between a new limited-time bump to the card's welcome bonus and United's new elite status qualification rules, I'm finally on the verge of filling out my application. Here's why the card will play a new important role in my wallet — and why I expect it will be a key part of requalifying for Premier Platinum status next year.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

United award tickets will now earn PQPs

Unlocking United elite status requires certain spending thresholds, with every dollar spent earning 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP). In 2023, those thresholds will be going up, but the good news is that award tickets will now earn PQPs, too. For every 100 miles redeemed, you'll earn 1 PQP, meaning redeeming miles for award flights will bring you closer to qualifying or requalifying for status.

With this change, I plan to earn as many United miles as possible to avoid spending lots of money on my path to requalification. The United Quest℠ Card earns 3x miles per dollar on United purchases, 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services, and 1x miles on everything else, making it a great tool for miles accrual.

United Quest welcome bonus offer

On top of the miles you can earn from spending on the United Quest℠ Card, Chase is currently offering a limited-time elevated welcome bonus of United Quest℠ Card. That's worth around United Quest℠ Card in flights, based on Insider's points and miles valuations.

Once redeemed, those 80,000 miles will earn 800 PQPs — and that's not to mention the free trip you'll get. Saver awards in economy between the US and Europe can run as low as 60,000 miles round-trip, meaning you can cash in this welcome bonus offer for an international adventure.

Award flight credits

The United Quest℠ Card also comes with a perk that's unique among Chase's family of United credit cards. Starting with your first account anniversary, you'll get 5,000 miles returned to your MileagePlus account after taking a United award flight, up to twice each anniversary year.

Of course, the more miles you have in your account, the more free travel you can do, and the more PQPs you can earn, making this a great benefit whether or not you're chasing elite status.

Raised PQP spending cap

In addition to earning PQPs through flying on either revenue or award tickets, you can also earn them by spending on the United Quest℠ Card — and United just raised the ceiling on how many you can rack up using this method.

Beginning January 1, 2023, you'll earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with the United Quest℠ Card, up to 6,000 PQPs per year. That's double the previous ceiling, which was 3,000 PQPs for 2022.

Other United Quest card benefits

The United Quest℠ Card also comes with a host of additional benefits, including travel and purchase protection and free first and second checked bags. But to me personally, the most exciting of the bunch is a $125 annual United purchase credit. Each account anniversary year, you'll see $125 come back to your statement in reimbursement for United purchases charged to the card.

As someone who will be working toward elite status next year, I'll definitely be purchasing United flights, meaning I'll use this perk without trying. And considering that the card's annual fee is United Quest℠ Card —in other words, that I'll recoup half the cost with this credit alone — taking it out is a no-brainer.

Why choose the United Quest?

While Chase has other cards in its United lineup — such as the United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee of United℠ Explorer Card) and the United Club℠ Infinite Card-a-year United Club℠ Infinite Card — the United Quest℠ Card is the one I've landed on as the most helpful for my specific elite status goals.

Only the United Quest℠ Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card earn PQPs through spending, but unlike with the United Club℠ Infinite Card, the $125 flight credit will offset half of the United Quest℠ Card's annual fee. In addition, the award flight credit will help keep more miles in my account that I can put toward more free travel and PQP accrual.

Here's Insider's review of the United Quest with a closer look at all the card's benefits.