Issued by Chase Bank, the United Quest Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are two premium travel credit cards that cater to frequent travelers, offering a range of benefits and rewards.
In this comparison, we will delve deeper into the specific features, benefits and drawbacks of both cards.
General Comparison
The United Quest Card is designed for United Airlines frequent flyers, offering high point earnings on United purchases along with solid airline perks like priority boarding, a free checked bag, and an annual travel credit for United-related expenses.
In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a more versatile travel card with broader redemption options. It comes with a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, and a better points rewards rate across most categories.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the cards’ main features:
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Compare Rewards: Which Card Gives More?
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|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Chase Sapphire Reserve | United Quest Card |
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 10,000 points | 15,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants | 15,000 points | 10,000 miles |
$6,000 – Hotels | 60,000 points | 12,000 miles |
$8,000 – Airline
| 40,000 points | 24,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 points | 4,000 miles |
Total Points | 129,000 points | 65,000 points |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 point ~ 1 – 1.5 cent | 1 point = ~1.2 cents
|
Estimated Annual Value | $1,290 – $1,935 | $780 |
You can use United miles to book flights to various destinations worldwide, covering over 1,000 destinations. Additionally, redeem miles for seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and even experiences like concerts or events. United also allows miles to be used for merchandise or donated to charity.
With Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can use points for travel, whether it's flights, hotels, or car rentals, and get a 50% bonus when booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Dining enthusiasts can redeem points at restaurants, while others may choose cash back or gift cards.
Can I Transfer Chase Reserve Points To United?
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which includes several airline and hotel transfer partners, with United Airlines being one of them.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio, meaning for every 1 Ultimate Rewards point you transfer, you’ll receive 1 MileagePlus mile.
To transfer your points to United or any other partner, just log in to your Chase account, go to the Ultimate Rewards portal, select the transfer option, and follow the simple steps to complete the transfer. Here's an example:
Travel Benefits: Comparison
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a clear winner when it comes to travel perks – it offers higher annual credit, lounge access and 50% more value for travel redemption.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- $300 Annual Travel Credit: Receive up to $300 in statement credit each year for various travel purchases.
- 50% More Value for Travel Redemption: Redeem points for travel and get 50% more value, e.g., 60,000 points are worth $900.
- Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: Enjoy free access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide for you and up to two guests.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS Fee Credit: Receive up to $100 in statement credit every four years for application fees.
- 24/7 Customer Service: Access dedicated customer service specialists around the clock.
- Lyft Pink Membership: Get 2 complimentary years of Lyft Pink All Access, including discounts and rewards.
- DoorDash DashPass Subscription: Enjoy a year of $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
- Monthly DoorDash Credit: Receive $5 in DoorDash credits each month through Dec 31, 2024.
- Instacart Membership: Get 1 year of complimentary Instacart+ for grocery delivery.
- Monthly Instacart Credit: Instacart+ members earn up to $15 in statement credits each month through July 2024.
- Priority Pass Select Membership: Access 1,300+ VIP airport lounges worldwide.
- Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection: Receive room upgrades, daily breakfast, late checkout, and other benefits at select hotels and resorts.
- 10x on Peloton Purchases: Earn 10x total points on Peloton equipment and accessories over $150 through March 31, 2025.
United Quest Card
- $125 Annual United Purchase Credit: Cardholders receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases each account anniversary year.
- Up to 10,000 Miles in Award Flight Credits: Starting from the first anniversary, cardholders get 5,000 miles back in their MileagePlus account after taking up to 2 United or United Express-operated award flights annually.
- Free First and Second Checked Bags: The primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation enjoy complimentary first and second standard checked bags on United-operated flights.
- Elite Status Boost: Accumulate up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) by earning 500 PQP for every $12,000 spent on your United Quest Card in a calendar year. These points contribute towards your Premier status qualification, with eligibility extending up to the Premier 1K® level.
- Priority Boarding: The primary cardmember and companions on the same reservation receive priority boarding on United-operated flights.
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Fee Credit: Cardholders receive a statement credit of up to $100 every 4 years for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.
- 25% Back on United Inflight and Club Premium Purchases: Cardholders get a 25% statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights, as well as Club premium drinks.
- Premier Upgrades on Award Tickets: The primary cardmember with MileagePlus Premier status, traveling on an award ticket, and one companion on the same reservation are eligible for complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United and United Express-operated flights.
- DoorDash: Cardholders receive a one-year complimentary DashPass membership, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders.
What Travel Insurance You'll Get With Each Card?
While both cards issued by Chase, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers broader coverage.
Here are the protections you'll get on both cards:
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Receive coverage up to $3,000 per passenger for lost or damaged checked or carry-on luggage.
- Baggage Delay Insurance: Get reimbursed for essential purchases (up to $100 per day for 3 days) in case of baggage delays over 6 hours.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extend the manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Purchase Protection: Enjoy coverage for new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account, providing added security for your acquisitions.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: In the event of trip cancellation or interruption due to covered situations like sickness or severe weather.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: If common carrier travel is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, the card covers unreimbursed expenses, including meals and lodging.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: By declining the rental company's collision insurance and charging the entire rental cost to the card, primary coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad, up to the actual cash value of the vehicle.
Here are unique protections for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card:
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Offers access to legal and medical referrals and other travel emergency assistance when you encounter problems away from home.
- Emergency Evacuation and Transportation: Provides coverage for medical services and transportation, up to $100,000, in case of an emergency evacuation during a trip far from home.
- Roadside Assistance: Offers roadside services like towing, jumpstarts, tire changes, locksmith, or gas up to $50 per incident, 4 times a year.
- Emergency Medical and Dental Benefit: Provides reimbursement of up to $2,500 for medical expenses if you or an immediate family member become sick or injured while 100 miles or more from home on a trip.
- Return Protection: Reimburses eligible items that the store won't accept returns for within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
- Zero Liability Protection: Protects against unauthorized charges made with your card, ensuring you won't be held responsible for unauthorized transactions.
- Travel Accident Insurance: Pay for air, bus, train, or cruise transportation with your card and get accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $1,000,000.
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When You Might Want the United Quest Card?
Choosing the United Quest card over the Chase Sapphire Reserve card can be a preferable option in several scenarios:
Dedicated United Airlines Traveler: If you are a loyal United Airlines traveler and frequently utilize their services, the United Quest card offers specific perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, and an annual credit for United purchases, making it a preferred choice for those dedicated to United.
Lower Annual Fee Preference: If you are seeking premium travel benefits but prefer a card with a lower annual fee, the United Quest card offers a more budget-friendly option compared to the higher annual fee associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
When You Might Want the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Choosing the Chase Sapphire Reserve over the United Quest card can be a preferable option in several scenarios:
Versatile Travel Redemption Options: If you value flexibility in redeeming rewards and prefer a broader range of travel redemption options beyond United Airlines, the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be a better fit, as it allows you to transfer points to various airline and hotel partners or redeem for cash back.
Better Point Rewards Ratio: According to our analysis, the Chase Reserve card provides a superior points earning ratio, resulting in a higher overall value compared to the United Quest card.
You Want Higher Travel Credits and Lounge Access: If you frequently utilize airport lounges and appreciate a higher annual travel credit, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 credit, which can be more substantial than the United Quest's credits. The Priority Pass Select membership with the Reserve also provides access to a global network of lounges.
- You Want Transferable Points: If you prefer the option to transfer your credit card points to various loyalty programs for added flexibility in your travel redemptions, the Chase Sapphire Reserve allows this.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for a travel rewards credit card– there are some excellent alternatives you may want to consider:
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|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Capital One Venture X Rewards | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $95
| $395 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
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2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services. 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
| 1X – 10X
10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases
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Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
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60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
| 75,000 miles
75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
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Foreign Transaction Fee | $0. See Rates & Fees | $0
| $0
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Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR | 20.99% – 27.99% variable APR
| 19.99% – 29.74% (Variable) |
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