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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 500 Premier qualifying points for every $12K you spend on purchases, up to 6,000 PQP
- Each year, receive up to a $125 United® purchase credit and two 5K-mile anniversary award flight credits. Terms apply.
- Save up to $320 per round trip (terms apply) with free first and second checked bags and priority boarding
- 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
- Annual fee of $695* See more details about military protections for you and your spouse
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on 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 with American Express Travel when you pay with 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+, Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $200 Uber Cash: Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on Uber Eats and rides
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at 1 qualifying airline
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR® Plus at 45+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back each year on an Equinox+ subscription, or any Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. Enrollment required. Membership subject to auto-renewal.
- $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
- Access 40+ Centurion Lounges and 1,200+ Priority Pass airport lounge for free
- 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
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal
- 3x points on dining (includes takeout, delivery, and dine-in)
- 2x points on all other travel purchases
- Points can also be redeemed with “Pay Yourself Back” for 1.25 cents each on eligible purchases in select, rotating categories
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R). For example, 60,000 points are 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
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- 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 making qualifying purchases after you $5,000 in the first 3 months from account opening
- 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 $320 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 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K 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.