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The Platinum Card® from American Express is my #1 recommended card
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The United Quest℠ Card waives the annual fee for US military servicemembers. This is in accordance with Chase's Military Lending Act (MLA) policy.
Chase credit card military policy waives the annual fees on all personal credit cards for military servicemembers and military spouse, including the ultra-premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card.
United Quest℠ Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- $250 annual fee – waived for military
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
- 3x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
- 2x miles on travel, dining and select streaming services
- Earn 1x mile on all other purchases
- Earn 25 Premier qualifying points for every $500 you spend on purchases, up to 6,000 PQP
- Get up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year – terms apply
- Save money with up to $360 per round trip (terms apply) with free first and second checked bags and priority boarding
- Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
Chase waives the annual fees to comply with the Military Lending Act. Check the MLA database before you apply to ensure you will get your annual fees waived.
You may also want to consider the United Club Infinite℠ Card, which can earn even more United miles and grant you United Club lounge access when you fly.
United Quest Card Benefits
The primary benefit on this card is the huge welcome bonus. Depending on how you use the points, you could score round-trip free flights in first or business class. If you fly United frequently, the $125 annual credit on United purchases can offset the cost of a ticket or reimburse you for in flight purchases.
There's a checked bag benefit of two free checked bags for the cardholder and a companion, which can save some money when you travel.
Unless you fly United every month or so, I would skip this card and get a more flexible travel rewards card like the The Platinum Card® from American Express, American Express® Gold Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Especially if you are in the military, these cards all have the annual fees waived. Learn more about how to get your annual fees waived in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- $695 annual fee.* See more details about military protections for you and your spouse
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Earn 5x points on airfare booked directly with airline or on amextravel.com up to $500,000 per calendar year
- Earn 5x points on prepaid hotels at amextravel.com
- $200 Annual Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. Note that The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $200 Uber Cash: Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on Uber Eats and rides every year. Only available to the basic card member, Terms Apply
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at 1 qualifying airline
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- This is a MAJOR time saver–$100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®! Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Complimentary access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection® lets you visit more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting. You can love the lounge life with more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax.
- Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, enrollment required
- No foreign transaction fees
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – learn how to apply
- Read my full review of the Amex Platinum card for military, terms apply
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Learn how to apply on our partner's secure site
- Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year.
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x points on dining (includes takeout, delivery, and dine-in), select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠ . Example- 60,000 points would be worth $750 toward travel.
- No foreign transaction fees, great for overseas OCONUS assignments, TDY, and PCS
- Primary rental car insurance coverage & trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and more.
- DashPass access is complimentary which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Upgrade to a Chase Sapphire Reserve after 1 year (compare Reserve vs Preferred)
- $95 annual fee waived for military and spouses with Chase Military Lending Act
- Member FDIC
The points these cards earn are much more flexible for cash out or travel. You can transfer Chase or Amex points to travel partners. Learn more about how to maximize your travel benefits with these cards in my 100% free online course.
Another United Card to consider is the United Club Infinite Card. This card can be even better for United Club lounge access and earning United miles.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Learn how to apply at our partner's secure site
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on qualifying United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other eligible travel and dining purchases with your card
- Also earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags – a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) – and Premier Access® travel services
- 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
- You can earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
United Quest Card Questions
The best United Airlines credit card is United Club Infinite Card. The annual fee on the United Club Infinite Card is waived for military.
If you fly United a few times a year or you are looking for an easy way to earn United miles, then the United Quest card can be worth it.