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Premium travel credit cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or United Quest℠ Card can help frequent flyers maximize each trip with exceptional benefits. Both of these cards might be excellent alternatives to the better-known but pricier Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express cards. This head-to-head Capital One Venture X vs United Quest Card matchup can help you choose the better card.

75,000 bonus miles: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

60k Bonus Offer: United Quest℠ Card

United’s Premier Access lane from Newark to Los Angeles on United 777-200 April 15, 2023. Credit: Johnny Jet

Capital One Venture X and United Quest Annual Fees

Both the Capital One Venture X and United Quest cards have reasonable annual fees and offer anniversary bonuses to offset each renewal. There are no foreign transaction fees on either card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a $395 annual fee and is $0 for additional cards.

You receive 10,000 bonus miles each card anniversary, worth $100 in award travel.

United Quest Card

The Chase United Quest℠ Card charges $250 for the primary card and $0 for secondary cards.

United Quest & Venture X Signup Bonus

Both Venture X and United Quest cards offer attractive bonuses. However, the Capital One Venture X has a substantially higher spending threshold.

Capital One Venture X Signup Bonus

Earn a 75,000 bonus Capital One miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel, with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

United Quest Card Signup Bonus

New United Quest Card cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months their account is open.

This card is subject to the Chase 5/24 application rules.

Earning Travel Rewards

Here’s another fun part of this Capital One Venture X vs United Quest review. Both cards have several bonus categories that can make it easy to earn travel miles.

Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns up to 10x Capital One Miles on purchases:

  • 10x on hotels and car rentals through Capital One Travel
  • 5x on flights through Capital One Travel
  • 2x on all remaining purchases

You only earn bonus miles when booking upcoming travel through the Capital One Travel portal. However, earning 2x miles on all other purchases is better than the 1x base rate for most cards.

United Quest Card

The United Quest℠ Card has a 3-2-1 rewards program. All purchases earn United miles.

Rewards categories include:

  • 3x on United® purchases
  • 2x on all other travel purchases
  • 2x on dining and select streaming services
  • 1x on all remaining purchases

Plus, earn 25 Premier qualifying points for every $500 spent on purchases, up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year.

Redeeming Travel Rewards

Your most valuable redemption option for either card can be award flights. However, the Venture X also lets you get a similar redemption value for non-flight travel purchases.

Capital One Venture X

Your miles are worth 1 cent for these two award travel redemption methods:

  • Travel statement credits for recent purchases (i.e., flights, hotels, car rentals, and experiences)
  • Upcoming award travel through Capital One Travel

You can also transfer your miles to airlines and hotels. Many of the loyalty programs are for international airlines and have a 1:1 transfer ratio.

Here’s how much 50,000 Capital One miles are worth.

Unfortunately, United Airlines isn’t one of those partners, but you can transfer your miles to Avianca LifeMiles or Singapore Airlines to book Star Alliance partner flights.

United Quest Card

Your most valuable redemption option is award flights for United-operated and Star Alliance partner flights.

Additional Card Benefits

The real reason to upgrade to a premium travel credit card instead of a consumer version is the add-on travel perks.

Both cards cater to frequent flyers. However, you must decide if you want benefits applicable to one airline (United) or independent of any loyalty program.

Capital One X Travel Benefits

Featured Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card travel benefits include:

  • Annual $300 travel credit for Capital One Travel purchases
  • Capital One Lounge access
  • Priority Club Select Access
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • Hertz Presidents Circle status
  • Up to $800 in cell phone protection

United Quest Card Travel Benefits

The best United Quest℠ Card benefits include:

  • Two free checked bags for the primary cardholder and one companion (terms apply)
  • 25% back on United in-flight purchases
  • Priority boarding on United flights
  • Reward seat upgrades (MileagePlus Premier members only)
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year – terms apply.

You won’t get airport lounge access but can enjoy unique benefits when you fly United Airlines. This card can also make it easier to achieve MileagePlus elite status.

Capital One Venture X vs United Quest: Who Wins?

So who wins in the Capital One Venture X vs United Quest review? Both of these cards are an excellent option if you fly several times per year. If you’re still undecided, here are some reasons to try for either card.

When to Try for the Capital One Venture X

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can be the better card for these reasons:

  • Can redeem your miles for flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel purchases
  • Annual $300 Capital One Travel credit applies to more travel purchases
  • Complimentary airport lounge access
  • Potentially more valuable signup bonus
  • Can earn more miles on travel purchases

Venture X is the better option if you want flexibility and are not a United Airlines loyalist. While you may have to pay to check your luggage, being able to redeem your miles on more travel purchases and the annual $300 travel credit can be worth it. You do need a good credit score to apply for the Venture X.

You might also apply for this card if the Chase 5/24 guidelines currently restrict you from getting new Chase credit cards. And the Capital One Venture may be a better fit than the Venture X.

And here’s our post on if you have both the Venture and Venture X cards.

When to Try for the United Quest Card

The United Quest℠ Card gains the upper hand for these reasons:

  • Signup bonus can be easier to earn
  • It can be easier to earn United MileagePlus Premier status
  • Free checked bags on United-operated flights
  • Lower annual fee

If there’s a chance you can get United Airlines’ elite status (or live near a United airport hub), this card can be the clear winner.

Summary of Venture X vs United Quest

In conclusion, in this Capital One Venture X vs United Quest review, if you love to travel, these two cards can help you book award trips more often and enjoy complimentary perks on any trip. If you like flexibility with earning and redeeming rewards, go for Capital One Venture X. But if you fly on United Airlines regularly, are trying to get Premier status, or want free checked bags, the United Quest Card can be the better option.

75,000 bonus miles: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

60k Bonus Offer: United Quest℠ Card

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Johnny Jet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Johnny Jet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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