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Thinking about adding a United credit card to your wallet? In addition to lucrative opportunities to earn a new cardmember bonus, these co-branded cards from Chase come with an extensive list of perks that can make them easy to justify keeping for the long term.
The great thing about the United cards is that each one is well suited for a different type of traveler. From the modest United Gateway℠ Card with no annual fee to the benefit-packed United Club℠ Infinite Card with lounge access and other perks that make you feel like a top-tier elite, it's easy to find the card that will deliver the most value for the cost.
In this post, we'll break down those benefits to help you decide which United Airlines card is right for you.
Page Contents
- United℠ Explorer Card – A Great Mix of Benefits With a Modest Annual Fee
- United Quest℠ Card – A Huge Step up for Occasional United Flyers
- United Club℠ Infinite Card – Top-Tier Perks for Frequent United Flyers
- United Gateway Card – Earn United Miles Without Paying an Annual Fee
- Who’s Eligible for the United Cards?
- Our Take
United℠ Explorer Card – A Great Mix of Benefits With a Modest Annual Fee
Let's start with the card that strikes a solid balance between perks and cost. The United Explorer Card card is the most popular United credit card for good reason. If you fly with United at least a few times a year, it's easy to come out ahead on the $95 annual fee with a first free checked bag, priority boarding, and two United Club one-time passes each year on your account anniversary.
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Member FDIC
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent at restaurants and on hotel stays
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United Explorer Card feature benefits
- Two United Club one-time passes each anniversary — over a $100 value. (You must be traveling with United or a partner airline to use this benefit.)
- Free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same itinerary. That's a value of up to $140 per roundtrip. Limited to flights operated by United and purchased using your United Explorer Card.
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement every four years — one of the lowest annual fee cards to offer this perk.
- Priority boarding for the primary cardholder and companions traveling on the same reservation.
- Primary rental car coverage in the U.S. and abroad.
- Expanded MileagePlus award availability that's only available to cardholders and MileagePlus elites.
If you aren't certain whether you'll be able to maximize the additional perks that come with one of the higher-cost United credit cards, this is the perfect addition to your wallet. Check our full review of the United Explorer Card for more details.
United Quest℠ Card – A Huge Step up for Occasional United Flyers
The United Quest Card does a great job of filling the gap between the United Explorer Card and the ultra-premium United Club Infinite. The United Quest Card is an excellent choice for anyone who flies United more than once or twice a year, thanks to some unique benefits and credits that make it easy to justify the annual fee.
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
- Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year (terms apply)
- Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
- 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
- 2 miles per $1 spent on select streaming services
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United Quest Card feature benefits
- An annual $125 United purchase credit good for tickets, fees, inflight food and entertainment, and much more.
- Two 5,000-mile award flight credits supplied each year, up to 10,000 miles in total.
- Expanded MileagePlus award availability only available to cardholders and MileagePlus elites.
- Priority boarding.
- Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same itinerary, valued at up to $320 per roundtrip. Must pay with your card to receive this benefit.
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi when paying with your card.
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit every four years.
- Primary rental car insurance coverage.
- Baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Trip delay reimbursement.
- Access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
Once you account for the $125 annual credit towards United purchases, this card is only slightly more expensive than the United Explorer Card. And if you can consistently book at least two award flights each year to take advantage of up to 10,000 United miles credited back to your MileagePlus account, this card practically pays you to hold onto it for the long term. Read our full review of the United Quest Card for additional information.
United Club℠ Infinite Card – Top-Tier Perks for Frequent United Flyers
The United Club Infinite comes with a hefty annual fee, but if United is your primary airline, this card costs less than paying for United Club lounge access directly — and ot adds hundreds of dollars in additional value. Cardholders can take advantage of multiple free checked bags on every United-operated flight when paying with their card and benefit from elite-level perks such as United Premier Access, Premier upgrades on award tickets, and expanded MileagePlus award availability.
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
- Earn up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United Club Infinite feature benefits
- United Club membership valued at up to $650 per year.
- Expanded MileagePlus award availability only available to cardholders and MileagePlus elites.
- Free first and second checked bags, valued at up to $320 per roundtrip. Limited to flights operated by United and purchased using your United Club Infinite.
- 25% back on food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases.
- Premier Access travel services including priority check-in, boarding, and security.
- Premier upgrades on award tickets for MileagePlus elite members.
- Primary rental car coverage and complimentary roadside assistance.
Check out our full United Club Infinite review for more details.
United Gateway Card – Earn United Miles Without Paying an Annual Fee
The United Gateway℠ Card is the entry-level card in the United family of cards. If you want to earn MileagePlus miles but don't want to pay an annual fee, this card is the perfect option to add to your wallet.
- Earn 20,000 bonus miles
- No annual fee
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
- Member FDIC
- 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on local transit and commuting
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
You won't receive the long list of benefits found on the cards above, but you can put away a tidy sum of miles and never have to pay an annual fee.
Who’s Eligible for the United Cards?
If you're a current cardholder — or you received a sign-up bonus on one of these cards in the previous 24 months — you won’t be eligible to get that same card. Application terms have the following note:
“This product is not available to either (i) current Cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous Cardmembers of this credit card who received a new Cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.”
However, there is no restriction on applying for any of these cards if you already hold a different United card. For example, you could get the United Gateway Card if you have the United Explorer Card or United Club Infinite, and vice versa.
In short, if you're applying for a card you've had before, you'll need to proceed carefully. Make sure that you no longer have the card and that it's been at least 24 months since the last time that you earned the sign-up bonus. Otherwise, you won't be eligible.
Like all Chase cards, these United cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 policy. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards in the previous 24 months, you will not be approved for any of these cards. Moreover, Chase doesn't tend to approve any person for more than two credit cards in a 30-day period.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Our Take
United co-branded credit cards allow you to bank a substantial balance of United miles, plus you'll get access to some fantastic perks and benefits when flying United. If you only fly United a couple of times per year, the United Explorer Card has the perfect balance of a low annual fee with perks you care about. Between the free checked bags and lounge benefits, it's easy to justify the annual fee on this card.
If you want more perks or a lower annual fee, there are additional options to consider. Whether you’re a United fan or simply looking to diversify your points portfolio, there's a United credit card to suit your budget.
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