United Quest vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why we think the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card is a strong contender.

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• Cardholders receive a suite of premium travel benefits, including unlimited airport lounge access and various annual statement credits, though the card does carry an annual fee.
• The card offers a solid rewards rate on travel and dining, with a strong base rate for all other spending.
• Maximizing the up to $300 airline incidental credit and the up to $150 lifestyle credit can offset a significant portion of the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers annual statement credits for airline incidentals and a variety of lifestyle purchases.
• Comes with a host of premium travel perks, including complimentary airport lounge access through a Priority Pass Membership and benefits at select hotels.
• Features a flexible rewards program with bonus earning on travel and dining, and a discount on airfare booked with points through the Bank of America® Travel Center.

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Cons

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• Unlike many competing premium travel cards, points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs, which limits redemption flexibility.
• The card carries a high annual fee, yet its rewards structure is nearly identical to the issuer’s less expensive travel card, making it difficult to justify the cost for some users.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite vs United Quest

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the United Quest℠ Card or the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card, comes down to your specific travel habits and spending style.

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• United Quest℠ Card: This card is built for frequent travelers, especially those who regularly fly with United Airlines and want to leverage airline-specific benefits.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: This premium travel card is ideal for frequent travelers who value luxury perks and are already integrated into the Bank of America ecosystem, which helps maximize rewards.

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Redemption

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United Quest℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed as MileagePlus miles, which are best used for booking flights with United and its extensive network of airline partners. You can also use miles for other travel-related purchases, such as hotel stays and car rentals, through the United travel portal.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: This card provides flexible redemption options, allowing you to use points for travel purchases, cash back, or gift cards. Points can be redeemed for travel through the Bank of America Travel Center or as a statement credit to your account.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Ecosystem: The United Quest℠ Card is deeply integrated with the United Airlines MileagePlus program, making its perks most valuable for travelers loyal to United and its Star Alliance partners. In contrast, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers a more flexible, brand-agnostic ecosystem with benefits that apply across a wider range of airlines and travel providers.
• Booking Portals: With the Quest Card, travel is booked through the United portal using MileagePlus miles. The Premium Rewards® Elite card utilizes the Bank of America Travel Center, where points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Lounge Access: The Premium Rewards® Elite card includes a Priority Pass Select membership, which grants access to a global network of airport lounges. The Quest Card does not offer a broad lounge membership but may provide limited trip passes to United Club lounges.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are well-suited for international travel, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
• Airline Credits: The Quest Card provides an annual United purchase credit and other airline-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. The Premium Rewards® Elite card offers a more general annual airline incidental credit that can cover qualifying expenses like baggage fees or seat upgrades on various airlines.
• Expedited Security Screening: Both cards offer a statement credit to reimburse the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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If you're looking for a data-driven way to compare cards, Kudos offers a comprehensive tool with a database of nearly 3,000 credit cards.

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• Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
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• Get detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
• Access incentives like a $20 bonus for new users or a welcome offer guarantee.
• Manage multiple cards, track spending, and monitor your credit score all in one place.

Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent United Airlines flyers who can consistently take advantage of its specific travel perks. This includes travelers who fly the airline several times per year, allowing them to maximize benefits like the annual United purchase credit, free checked bags, and the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points toward elite status. Ultimately, it's a strong choice for loyal United customers who value premium benefits and can easily offset the annual fee through their regular travel patterns.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is best suited for frequent travelers who are already deeply invested in the Bank of America ecosystem, including those with existing bank or Merrill investment accounts. This cardholder is someone who can maximize the value of its luxury travel perks and take full advantage of its annual statement credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle purchases to offset the $550 annual fee. In particular, Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members stand to gain the most through boosted earning rates, as highlighted in a detailed review of the card.

Alternatives to Consider

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Perhaps after comparing the United Quest℠ Card and the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card, you've decided neither is quite right for you. Let's look at a few other top-tier travel cards that might be a better fit.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review issuer-specific rules – Some issuers have application restrictions or offer enhanced benefits for existing customers.
• Plan your spending – Ensure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement with your regular purchases.

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Application Strategy

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• Evaluate the ecosystem – Consider if a card's benefits align with your existing airline loyalties or banking relationships.
• Confirm transfer partners – Verify if the card allows point transfers to airline and hotel partners if that is part of your redemption strategy.
• Compare within the card family – Review other cards from the same issuer to ensure you are choosing the tier that best fits your needs.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Which card is better for someone who flies United Airlines exclusively?

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The United Quest card is specifically designed for United flyers, offering benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding on United flights. These direct airline perks often provide more value for loyal United customers than a general travel rewards card.

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What are the annual fees for the United Quest and Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite cards?

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The United Quest card has a $250 annual fee, while the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card has a $550 annual fee.

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Do both cards offer statement credits for travel purchases?

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Yes, both cards feature annual credits that help offset their annual fees. The United Quest card offers an annual United purchase credit, while the Premium Rewards Elite provides broader airline incidental and lifestyle credits.

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