The Best United Airlines Credit Card Offers
These United cards offer a generous sign-up bonus and ongoing statement credits, which can help justify the annual fee.
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When it comes to United Airlines credit card offers, potential cardmembers aren’t short on options. Four cards to choose from mean there’s one for every type of traveler. Which is the best? That depends on you.
We’ll break down the current United credit card offers and perks so you can choose the one that’s right for your travel plans and style.
Current United credit card offers
Card name | Welcome bonus | Earning rates | Other benefits |
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Debut Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. |
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Debut Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. |
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Debut Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. |
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Debut Offer: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. |
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Welcome bonus
The The New United Gateway℠ Card offers the lowest bonus, but also the lowest spending threshold. Debut Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The The New United℠ Explorer Card affords a much more generous welcome offer. Debut Offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The The New United Quest℠ Card tops that slightly. Debut Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Last up, the The New United Club℠ Card provides an impressive miles bonus. Debut Offer: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Annual fee
Each card comes with a different annual fee except for The New United Gateway℠ Card, which has none, making it a stellar option for those who don’t fly often or wouldn’t use all the perks that come with cards with higher annual fees.
The New United℠ Explorer Card has a $0 intro for the first year, then $150 annual fee, which allows cardmembers to test the perks and benefits that come with holding the card.
Annual fees start to rise with The New United Quest℠ Card, however: It will cost you $350 per year to hang on to this one, but it does come with a suite of perks and benefits that will make it worth the price for some.
Coming in at the upper end of the annual fee spectrum is The New United Club℠ Card at $695 per year, but that can be offset by taking advantage of the free United Club membership that comes with it.
» Learn more: What credit cards get you into United Polaris lounges?
Elite status
If it’s elite status you’re after, many of these cards can help you achieve it faster, except for The New United Gateway℠ Card, which offers no fast-track to status.
The New United℠ Explorer Card can give you a boost through the ability to earn 1 Premier Qualifying Points for every $20 you spend on purchases up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year. Those extra points can be applied toward your Premier status qualification all the way up to Premier 1K.
You can earn even more PQP with the The New United Quest℠ Card, which offers 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on up to 18,000 PQP in a calendar year (so a larger cap than the The New United℠ Explorer Card).
Lastly, with the The New United Club℠ Card, you can score up to 28,000 PQP in a calendar year through 1 PQP for every $15 you spend, giving it the largest cap in terms of earning elite status with your spending.
» Learn more: Guide to United Airlines Premier elite status
Anniversary bonuses and other benefits
Several of these cards also come with special perks and benefits, a few of which accompany each account anniversary.
If you have the The New United Quest℠ Card, for example, you’ll automatically receive up to $700 in partner credits annually. That includes $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.
The The New United Club℠ Card, on the other hand, comes with a United Club membership, which is worth up to $750 annually, making the card’s annual fee more than worth it if you were already paying for access. You’ll also enjoy premier travel services like priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling if it’s available.
Choose the best United credit card offer for you
Naturally, not every card is right for every traveler.
The New United Gateway℠ Card is great for those who may not travel on United that often but wouldn’t mind a quick miles boost for an upcoming award flight and a way to earn a few miles through everyday spending.
The New United℠ Explorer Card is more suited to those who travel with United at least a few times a year. You can earn lots more bonus miles right off the bat, plus sign up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry at no cost after the statement credit.
The New United Quest℠ Card is definitely a step up for more loyal United customers. For starters, you get in United TravelBank cash, essentially cutting the annual fee by more than half.
For those who prefer to travel in style, the high-annual-fee The New United Club℠ Card offers the swankiest perks of them all: annual access to United Clubs, but also the opportunity to fast-track Premier status and earn more miles for every United flight you do pay for with the card.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll earn United MileagePlus miles and enjoy enough miles for award travel faster.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Travel
Dining
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