The United Quest edges out the Southwest Premier for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 100,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Southwest Premier is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.
Southwest Premier vs United Quest
Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.
Comparison Method
CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.
- Southwest Purchases 3x
- Grocery Stores and Restaurants 2x
- All Other Purchases 1x
- Prepaid Hotel Stays (Renowned Hotels) 5x
- United Flights 4x
- Other Travel 2x
- United Travel Credit $200
- Statement Credit $150
- Statement Credit $100
- +3 more
- Free First and Second Checked Bags
- Priority Boarding
- 25% Back on United Inflight Purchases
- +1 more
- 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points toward A-List statusAfter $5,000 spend
Quick summary
A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.
The United Quest edges out the Southwest Premier for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 100,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 5x vs 3x). The Southwest Premier is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, United Quest tops out at 5x versus 3x for Southwest Premier. Current signup bonus values are roughly $850 for Southwest Premier and $1000 for United Quest. Updated May 30, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/southwest-premier-vs-united-quest
- United Quest wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
- Top earn rate: United Quest reaches 5x; Southwest Premier reaches 3x.
- Annual fee: United Quest is $350/yr; Southwest Premier is $149/yr.
- Current public bonus values are approximately $850 and $1000.
Common Questions: Southwest Premier vs United Quest
Is the Southwest Premier or United Quest better for dining?
Southwest Premier earns 2x on dining; United Quest earns 2x on dining. Southwest Premier wins for dining.
Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?
Southwest Premier currently offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,000 in 3 months). United Quest offers 100,000 pts signup bonus (spend $4,000 in 3 months). United Quest has the larger bonus.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.
Can I hold both the Southwest Premier and the United Quest?
In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Both cards are from Chase, so check their specific application rules.