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United Quest vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United Quest℠ Card is a strong choice for frequent United flyers aiming to rack up MileagePlus miles and enjoy elevated travel perks.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is ideal for earning rewards on Marriott hotel stays, as well as on purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
United Quest Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think the United Quest℠ Card is a strong contender for frequent flyers.
- The card provides significant value through an annual United purchase credit and up to two free checked bags, which can help offset its annual fee.
- You can quickly accumulate miles with 3x earnings on United purchases and 2x on other travel, dining, and select streaming services.
- The $200 annual United purchase credit alone can significantly reduce the net cost of the card for regular United flyers (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Valuable annual credits for United purchases and complimentary checked bags can provide significant savings for frequent flyers.
- Accelerated mileage earning on United flights and a pathway to elite status through spending make it easier to unlock premium travel benefits.
- Includes a suite of travel protections and perks like priority boarding and credits for expedited security screening programs.
Cons
- The card’s benefits are heavily focused on United Airlines, offering limited value for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline or its partners.
- Its rewards program is less flexible than some competitors, as miles are most valuable when redeemed for flights within the United and Star Alliance network.
- It lacks some premium perks like unlimited lounge access, and maximizing all card benefits can require a significant spending commitment.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card a compelling choice for Marriott loyalists.
- The card offers strong earning rates at Marriott properties, plus bonus points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
- You'll automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, though the card does have an annual fee (See Rates & Fees).
- By spending $15,000 in a calendar year, you can earn an Annual Free Night Award that can offset the annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status provides valuable hotel perks without meeting annual stay requirements.
- Earn bonus points on everyday spending categories, including at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.
- Receive annual Elite Night Credits to help you achieve higher status tiers in the Bonvoy program.
Cons
- Carries an annual fee that is not waived in the first year.
- The annual Free Night Award is not automatic and requires meeting a significant spending threshold to earn.
- Benefits are heavily skewed towards Marriott loyalists, offering less value for travelers who do not frequently stay at Marriott properties.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card vs United Quest
Categories
When deciding between premium travel cards, many travelers ask which is better United Quest or Marriott Bonvoy Bevy. Both cards cater to frequent travelers, but their core benefits are tailored to different loyalty ecosystems.
- United Quest℠ Card - This card is designed for frequent travelers, particularly those who regularly fly with United Airlines and want to maximize airline-specific perks and benefits.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card - This card is also aimed at frequent travelers, but it specifically benefits those who often stay at Marriott properties and value hotel elite status.
Redemption
United Quest℠ Card: Points earned with this card are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, primarily for award flights on United and its Star Alliance partner airlines. You can also use points for upgrades, hotel stays, and other travel-related purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card: Points are redeemed within the Marriott Bonvoy program, with the most valuable use typically being for free hotel nights across Marriott's extensive portfolio of brands. Points can also be transferred to various airline partners or used for unique experiences.
Travel Perks
- The United Quest℠ Card is built around the airline experience, offering perks like free checked bags and an annual statement credit on United purchases. In contrast, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card focuses on your hotel stay, granting cardholders automatic Gold Elite status within the Marriott Bonvoy program.
- For airport relaxation, the United Quest℠ Card includes a limited number of one-time United Club℠ passes each year. The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, however, does not offer airport lounge access as a standard benefit.
- Both cards are strong companions for international journeys, as neither charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
- Each card offers a path to significant value. The United Quest℠ Card features an annual statement credit for United purchases, while the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card allows cardholders to earn a Free Night Award after meeting an annual spending requirement.
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.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To find the right card for your spending habits, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of options to find the best fit.
- Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, you can use your real spending data to see personalized calculations of your potential earnings with any card.
- Approval odds: The platform provides a detailed analysis based on your credit report to estimate your chances of approval for specific cards.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of getting a card through Kudos, they will match it.
- Kudos Boost: You can earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when shopping at partner stores.
- Automatic card selection: At checkout, Kudos can autofill the best card from your wallet to maximize rewards for that specific purchase.
Who Should Choose the United Quest?
The United Quest℠ Card is an excellent choice for frequent United Airlines flyers who can maximize its travel-centric benefits and annual credits. It's also well-suited for travelers who value comprehensive protections and perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Additionally, MileagePlus members looking to accelerate their path to Premier status will find significant value in this premium travel card's ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points through spending.
Who Should Choose the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card is tailored for frequent Marriott travelers who want to maximize rewards on their hotel stays. It's also a strong choice for travelers who value the perks of Gold Elite status but don't stay enough nights to earn it on their own, and who can meet the $15,000 annual spending requirement to unlock a Free Night Award. As detailed in our card review, it also appeals to everyday reward maximizers thanks to its accelerated earning rates at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
Alternatives to Consider
If the United Quest vs Marriott Bonvoy Bevy comparison has left you feeling that neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards to consider that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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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
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – most premium travel and hotel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet any requirements for welcome offers or annual benefits.
- Review the ecosystem – ensure the card’s airline or hotel partners, like Marriott Bonvoy or United, align with your travel habits to maximize value.
Application Strategy
- Know the issuer's rules – Be aware of application restrictions like Chase's 5/24 rule before you apply.
- Time your application – Apply early in the calendar year to maximize annual benefits and credits.
- Have your info ready – Keep your loyalty program number handy for co-branded card applications.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Which card is better for someone who primarily flies with United Airlines?
The United Quest℠ Card is specifically designed for United flyers, offering benefits like statement credits for United purchases and bonus award credits. These perks directly enhance the travel experience for loyal United customers.
What kind of hotel benefits can I expect from the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card?
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card provides cardholders with complimentary Gold Elite status and an annual Free Night Award after meeting a spending requirement. Terms apply to these American Express benefits.
How do the annual fees for these two cards compare?
Both the United Quest℠ Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card have a $250 annual fee.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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