Earn 2X miles on United® purchases, dining at restaurants, and hotel stays when purchased directly with the hotel. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
For United Airlines loyalists, the United credit card lineup offers valuable perks. Whether you’re a high-end frequent traveler looking to access the United Club℠ or you’re simply looking to earn rewards toward your next flight, there’s a United card for you.
There are four personal cards and two business cards available, with annual fees ranging from $0 to $550. Continue reading as we help you decide which United card would fit nicely in your wallet.
Earn 2X miles on United® purchases, dining at restaurants, and hotel stays when purchased directly with the hotel. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Earn 3X miles on United® purchases and 2X miles on travel, dining, and select streaming purchases. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Earn 4X miles per dollar spent on United® purchases, earn 2X miles per dollar on other travel and dining purchases and earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Earn 2X miles on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1X miles on all other purchases.
Earn 2X miles per dollar spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Earn 2X miles on United® purchases and 1.5X miles on all other purchases.
Every card on this list comes with a decent list of benefits, though the exact perks you get as an account holder depend on which card you select.
When you pay for United flights with some of these credit cards, you can check one or more bags for free, and a traveling companion can check the same amount of bags for free. That’s a value of $140 to $320 per round trip flight, so the savings can add up. The Explorer and United business cards offer one free bag, while the United Quest, United Club Infinite and United Club business cards offer two.
Paying for United flights with some of these credit cards can help streamline your passage onto airplanes. You’ll get priority boarding with the United Club business card as well as the Quest, Explorer and United Club Infinite cards.
The United Club Infinite and United Club Chase business cards come with a complimentary United Club membership for cardholders in good standing. If you already have a United Club membership, this perk doesn’t go to waste. You can get reimbursed for any unused portion of your paid membership fee once you’re approved for a United credit card that offers a complimentary membership.
Some United Airlines credit cards include a benefit that credits you up to $100 every four years to help cover the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. You’ll get this benefit with the Explorer, United Club Infinite and Quest cards.
Every card on this list offers a 25% discount in the form of a statement credit when you use your card to pay for in-flight purchases, including beverages, food and Wi-Fi access. The discount also applies to premium drinks purchased in the United Club.
As a United MileagePlus member, you can access a discount on CLEAR Plus memberships. This program helps speed up your progress through airport security by allowing you to skip the manual ID check. Instead, when available, you can go through a dedicated lane that lets you verify your identity via biometrics such as fingerprints and facial recognition. This is handled by an automated kiosk. MileagePlus members automatically get $10 off their membership, but as a United credit card holder, you can get a $40 discount.
These are the CLEAR Plus discounts offered to United members:
*United may change or terminate this offer at any time and without notice. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or failure to provide, the benefit as stated in this offer.
The cards on this list provide several Chase travel insurance benefits. The perks differ for each card, so make sure to review your offer carefully.
Benefits to look for with United Airlines credit cards include:
Note that you must pay for flights, car rentals and other accommodations with your United credit card for these types of benefits to apply.
As travel rewards credit cards, all the United Airlines cards offer a way to earn miles.
New account holders who haven’t earned a welcome offer in the recent past with United and don’t already have a United Airlines credit card can earn a welcome offer. The welcome offers differ for each card, but you do need to spend $1,000 to $5,000 in the first three months, depending on which card you have.
You can continue earning miles with each of these rewards cards. You can earn 2 to 4 miles per dollar spent with United, depending on which card you have. Dining, select business expenses, transit, gas and other travel purchases can also earn you 2 or more miles per dollar spent, and each card has its own categories for optimal earning. You earn 1 mile per dollar on any purchases not included in specific categories.
MileagePlus miles don’t expire, and there are no blackout dates. You can redeem miles for award flights or to reduce the cost of flights, which is typically the best value for redemption. United cards are also part of the Chase Pay Yourself Back program, which provides even more redemption options.
However, you can also use miles to:
The exact value of your United miles depends on how and when you redeem them. The best value comes when you redeem your miles for United flights, which gives you around 1.2 to 1.5 cents per mile on average.
United Airlines travel rewards credit cards are best for individuals with good credit who travel frequently with United.
If you prefer another airline or don’t live or work near an airport that United flies out of, you’ll generally be better off with either a different airline credit card, such as one of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Cards or Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards, or a different type of travel rewards credit card entirely.
Look at the details of the card offer and perks and consider your financial situation and travel habits when selecting a United Airlines credit card.
Some things to consider include:
These cards generally require good credit, so you’re more likely to get approved if you have a 670 credit score or better. The luxury credit cards on this list may require an even higher credit score.
You’ll need to provide:
In most cases, you’ll receive an approval or denial within minutes.
If you already have a United Airlines credit card and want to upgrade to one with a better rewards tier, you can call Chase customer service to see if you’re eligible. When you upgrade from one card to another, you’re not eligible for any welcome offers.
For those who don’t fly with United or want a travel rewards credit card that provides a bit more flexibility, there are numerous options on the market.
A few you might consider include:
A United Airlines travel rewards credit card is worth it if you travel frequently with United and can maximize points earning and value.
The best credit card for you depends on your personal preferences and travel and spending habits. However, if you want the card with the highest rewards tier and most travel perks, it would be the United Club Infinite card.
When you redeem miles on United flights, you can get a value of 1.2 to 1.5 cents per mile on average.
These cards require at least good credit, which means you have the best chance at approval if you have a 670 credit score or better. The luxury cards may require a higher credit score, so you may need a score in the 700s to qualify for those.
None of these cards have foreign transaction fees.
Priority boarding is a perk with the United Club Business Card as well as the Quest, Explorer and United Club Infinite cards.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.