Best United Airlines Credit Cards of December 2024
Updated: Nov 18, 2024Take a look at our top picks, then let us walk you through making the decision.
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United Airlines offers an array of branded credit cards, from a $0-annual-fee version for occasional travelers to a $525-a-year club card that gives regular flyers unlimited airport lounge access and free checked bags. Some United flyers might even be better off with a card that doesn't carry the United brand. In general, the higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right United credit card for you.
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United Airlines offers an array of branded credit cards, from a $0-annual-fee version for occasional travelers to a $525-a-year club card that gives regular flyers unlimited airport lounge access and free checked bags. Some United flyers might even be better off with a card that doesn't carry the United brand. In general, the higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right United credit card for you.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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United Airlines offers an array of branded credit cards, from a $0-annual-fee version for occasional travelers to a $525-a-year club card that gives regular flyers unlimited airport lounge access and free checked bags. Some United flyers might even be better off with a card that doesn't carry the United brand. In general, the higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right United credit card for you.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
United Airlines offers an array of branded credit cards, from a $0-annual-fee version for occasional travelers to a $525-a-year club card that gives regular flyers unlimited airport lounge access and free checked bags. Some United flyers might even be better off with a card that doesn't carry the United brand. In general, the higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right United credit card for you.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best United Airlines Credit Cards of December 2024
United℠ Explorer Card: Best for Most United flyers
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Best for VIP lounge access
United Quest℠ Card: Best for Elevated benefits
United Gateway℠ Card: Best for No annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Point transfers and flexibility
United℠ Business Card: Best for Business travelers
Show SummaryHide Summary
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Our pick for: Point transfers and flexibility
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't a United-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to United — meaning that if you use this card right, you could earn 5 United miles per dollar spent even on other airlines. (See how it compares to the United℠ Explorer Card.)
You earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and certain online grocery purchases; 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Points can be transferred to United or a dozen other hotel and airline partners, or you can use them to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece. There's a stellar sign-up bonus and a slew of other perks.
Since this is a general-purpose travel card, you won't get the free checked bags, priority boarding or lounge access available on United-branded cards.
Our pick for: Most United flyers
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Up to $120 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
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
The United℠ Explorer Card provides excellent value at a reasonable cost, even for those who fly only a couple of times a year. The free checked bags alone can make up for the annual fee, and in a rare perk for a card in its class, it gives you a taste of the airport lounge life.
The rewards you earn on spending aren't over the top: You cap out at 2 miles per dollar spent with United, at restaurants and on certain hotel accommodations. But it has the most extensive perks of any airline card in its class, including a free checked bag for you and a companion, two one-time lounge passes each year, a Global Entry or TSA Precheck statement credit every four years, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, priority boarding and more. You start out with a great bonus offer, too.
Comparable cards from other airlines provide a free checked bag for more people traveling on your reservation.
Our pick for: Business travelers
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
- 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- $100 United® travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
The United℠ Business Card is a practical, helpful travel companion to business travelers. With benefits that closely track those of the consumer Explorer card, plus a few extras, it can easily pay for itself even with occasional travel.
You earn 2x miles spent with United as well as at restaurants, gas stations and office supply stores, and on commuting and transit expenses; other spending earns 1x mile. There's a good bonus offer, a checked bag benefit, two one-time lounge passes each year, priority boarding, the chance to earn a United travel credit if you fly often enough and more.
The free checked-bag benefit is limited to you and just one other person on your reservation, which might be an issue if your business has you traveling in groups. Other airlines' cards offer a broader benefit. Unlike several consumer United cards, this card doesn't reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Our pick for: VIP lounge access
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Limited-time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles
- 4x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on all other travel and dining
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- United Club℠ membership - up to $650 value per year
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
The United Club℠ Infinite Card gives you unlimited access to the airline's airport lounges for about 20% less than the price of a stand-alone membership, along with free checked bags (two per person!) and a great rewards rate for United purchases.
The defining perk of this card is that it gets you into United Club airport lounges; there are about 45 such lounges at more than 30 airports worldwide. (A standalone lounge membership costs $650 a year, so the jumbo annual fee on this card could be viewed as a bargain.) You earn 4 miles per dollar spent with United; 2 miles per dollar on other travel and at restaurants; and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. You and a companion can each get two checked bags free. There's a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, a terrific bonus offer and more.
The $525 annual fee can be tough to swallow, even when you have complimentary airport lounge beverages to wash it down with. If you don't expect to spend a lot of time in United Clubs, it's not worth the cost.
Our pick for: Elevated benefits
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Limited-time Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP
- 3x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services
- 1x mile on all other purchases
- Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
- Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
NerdWallet's take
The United Quest℠ Card is a solid middle option for those who fly United a lot but aren't interested in a pricey lounge membership. It earns more miles and offers more perks than the airline’s basic cards. The annual fee is higher, too, but there's a credit that offsets much of it.
You earn 3 miles per dollar spent with United; 2 miles per dollar on other travel, at restaurants and on select streaming services; and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. There's a solid bonus offer, a beefed up checked-bags benefit (two per person), a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, mile credits and more. Notably, there's an annual $125 credit for United purchases, which can effectively cut the annual fee in half (and which makes the Quest card not that much more expensive than the Explorer card).
The $250 annual fee is fairly high, especially for a card that doesn't give you lounge access. It also doesn't offer a companion fare, which you see on some airline cards in a comparable price range.
Our pick for: No annual fee
Rewards breakdown
Card details
- Limited-time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles
- No annual fee
- 2x miles on United® purchases
- 2x miles at gas stations
- 2x miles on local transit and commuting
- 1x mile 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
NerdWallet's take
An annual fee is simply going to be a non-starter for some people. The United Gateway℠ Card is an option for those who don't travel very often and just want an airline card that earns miles at a steady clip between occasional trips.
The key selling point of this card is the $0 annual fee. Unlike with most airline cards, you don't have to worry about making up for the out-of-pocket cost. You'll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases; 2 miles per dollar at gas stations and on local transit and commuting; and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. There's a modest bonus offer, too, to get you started toward your next trip.
You don't get a free checked bag, which is a signature perk of other airline cards (and which can more than make up for an annual fee). No priority boarding either. If you don't travel much anyway, it might not be worth it to lock yourself into a single airline; a general-purpose travel card might be a better fit.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR UNITED AIRLINES
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United℠ Explorer Card
Our pick for: Most United flyers
The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.
United℠ Explorer Card: Rewards
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases from United.
2 miles per dollar on restaurant purchases.
2 miles per dollar on hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel.
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
United℠ Explorer Card: Notable perks
First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Two United Club one-time use passes per year.
Priority boarding.
Global Entry or TSA Precheck statement credit every four years.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
United℠ Explorer Card: Bonus offer
Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
. . .
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Our pick for: VIP lounge access
The signature benefit on the United Club℠ Infinite Card is membership in United Airlines' lounge network, but you also get two free checked bags apiece for you and a companion, plus other benefits to make travel more enjoyable. Read our review.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Rewards
4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases.
2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Notable perks
United Club membership.
First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Premier access. Not just priority boarding, this also includes priority check-in, baggage handling and security screening (where available).
Global Entry or TSA Precheck statement credit every four years.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Bonus offer
Limited-time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
United Quest℠ Card
Our pick for: Elevated benefits
The United Quest℠ Card occupies a solid middle ground between United's entry-level cards and the airline's pricey lounge card. You earn more miles and get some nicer perks than with the more basic cards, but you'll pay a higher fee too. That fee can be significantly offset with an annual United credit. Read our review.
United Quest℠ Card: Rewards
3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.
2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
United Quest℠ Card: Notable perks
First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Priority boarding.
$125 in annual statement credit for United Airlines purchases.
Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS statement credit every four years.
Up to two 5,000-mile credits each anniversary year after booking a flight with miles.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
United Quest℠ Card: Bonus offer
Limited-time Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
. . .
United Gateway℠ Card
Our pick for: No annual fee
This entry-level card gives occasional leisure flyers who prefer United Airlines a way to try out an airline credit card for free. Unlike a lot of cards in its class, it won't cost anything to carry, even if you seldom use it. But it lacks valuable airline-card perks, such as free checked bags and early boarding. Read our review.
United Gateway℠ Card: Rewards
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases from United.
2 miles per dollar at gas stations.
2 miles per dollar on transit and commuting.
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
United Gateway℠ Card: Notable perks
25% back on in-flight purchases.
United Gateway℠ Card: Bonus offer
Limited-time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
. . .
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Point transfers and flexibility
For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Rewards
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase.
5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025).
3 points per dollar on dining.
3 points per dollar on select streaming services.
3 points per dollar on online grocery orders (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through Chase.
1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Notable perks
Redeem points for travel booked through Chase at a value of 1.25 cents apiece.
Transfer points to United or a dozen other airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.
$50 in statement credit every anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase. (Note: You won't receive rewards points for the $50 in spending that gets reimbursed via this credit.)
10% annual points bonus: Each anniversary, earn points equal to 10% of your spending in the past year. Spend $10,000, for example, get 1,000 bonus points.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
How to earn 5X United miles with other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5 points per dollar when you purchase travel through Chase. That includes flights, hotel stays, car rentals and more. So you could use the card to book a flight on any airline through Chase, earn the 5X points, then swap those points for United miles.
. . .
United℠ Business Card
Our pick for: Business travelers
The United℠ Business Card is a stand-out option for frequent business flyers, particularly those loyal to United. Cardholders earn rewards on everyday spending, like dining, gas stations and transit. A sign-up bonus, plus no annual fee for the first year, sweeten the pot. Learn more and apply.
United℠ Business Card: Rewards
2 miles per dollar spent with United.
2 miles per dollar on dining.
2 miles per dollar at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
2 miles per dollar at office supply stores.
1 miles per dollar on other spending.
United℠ Business Card: Notable perks
First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Two United Club one-time use passes per year.
Priority boarding.
$100 United travel credit after booking seven flights of at least $100 in an anniversary year.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
5,000-point bonus each year if you have both this card and a personal United card.
United℠ Business Card: Bonus offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• • •
OTHER RESOURCES
How to choose the right United Airlines card for you
The four United Airlines consumer credit cards from Chase include a basic card with no annual fee, a premium card with a high-end price tag and two in-between cards with varying in-between fees. All four cards earn MileagePlus miles on spending, which you can redeem for free flights, seat upgrades, lounge passes and more.
The higher the annual fee, the more you'll get. Consider how often you fly and how much you'll use the perks. Here's a quick summary of how they stack up:
United Gateway℠ Card | United℠ Explorer Card | United Quest℠ Card | United Club℠ Infinite Card |
ANNUAL FEE | |||
$0. | $0 intro for the first year, then $95. | $250. | $525. |
BONUS OFFER FOR NEW CARDHOLDERS | |||
Limited-time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more. | Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Limited-time Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Limited-time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
FREE CHECKED BAGS | |||
None. | First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation. | First and second checked bags free for you and one companion on your reservation. | First and second checked bags free for you and one companion on your reservation. |
REWARDS ON SPENDING WITH UNITED AIRLINES | |||
2 miles per $1. | 2 miles per $1. | 3 miles per $1. | 4 miles per $1. |
REWARDS ON OTHER SPENDING | |||
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations. • 2 miles per $1 on local transit and commuting. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 2 miles per $1 at restaurants. • 2 miles per $1 on hotels (when booked directly with the hotel). • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel (including other airlines, hotels, car rentals and more). • 2 miles per $1 on dining (including takeout and delivery). • 2 miles per $1 on select streaming services. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 2 miles per $1 on all other travel. • 2 miles per $1 on dining. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. |
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS | |||
None. | 2 United Club one-time passes each year. | None. | Annual membership to all United Club locations, plus select Star Alliance lounges. |
CREDIT FOR TSA PRECHECK, GLOBAL ENTRY OR NEXUS | |||
None. | Up to $120 every four years. | Up to $120 every four years. | Up to $120 every four years. |
People who live in Hawaii and a few other places in the Pacific are eligible for the First Hawaiian Bank United® Credit Card.
Business travelers can choose between the United℠ Business Card, which is the business equivalent of the Explorer-branded consumer card, and the United Club℠ Business Card, which provides lounge access for a hefty fee.
Key points of difference
Annual fee
Don't count a card out just because it has an annual fee — even a high one. The more you pay, the more you'll usually get in terms of the miles you earn and the perks you'll enjoy.
For example, regular travelers can save enough on checked bag fees to more than make up for the annual fee on the United℠ Explorer Card. (More on this below.) If you’re a heavy traveler who eats several meals a month at the airport, you could eat for free in the airport lounges that the United Club℠ Infinite Card gives you access to and come out on top despite the high annual fee.
The United Quest℠ Card offers more United-specific perks that can effectively reduce the $250 annual fee. When you use the card to make eligible United charges, you'll get up to $125 back in statement credits each year. Plus, when you redeem United miles, you’ll get 5,000 miles back on eligible United flights — up to two times every anniversary year.
NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each. That means those 5,000 miles you could get as a rebate for holding the card are worth roughly $50, with the potential to earn back about $100 in United travel.
That said, you’ll have to weigh how much you’ll use the extras to see if it makes sense for you.
Rewards
The United Club℠ Infinite Card earns 4 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, which is twice as much as you get with the United℠ Explorer Card or the United Gateway℠ Card. If you spent $5,000 in a year on United airfare, you would earn 20,000 miles with the United Club℠ Infinite Card, compared with 10,000 miles on the other cards.
None of the cards offer standout earnings in other categories — 2 miles per dollar is the best you'll do.
If you spend a good chunk of change eating out, the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card cards will earn 2X on dining. But if you drive a lot, the 2X on gas from the United Gateway℠ Card can help fill up your MileagePlus account. And only the United Quest℠ Card offers 2X on streaming services.
Free checked bags
Bag fees can add up, but three of the four United cards can save regular travelers a tidy sum. Put it this way: If you have the United℠ Explorer Card, a round-trip flight with a companion will completely cover the cost of the annual fee.
The potential savings go even higher with the United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Quest℠ Card: These cards cover the fees for the first and second checked bags for you and one travel companion.
The United Gateway℠ Card doesn't offer free checked bags.
VIP treatment
If you like having time to settle into your seat and get dibs on the overhead compartments, this perk will appeal to you. Holders of the United℠ Explorer Card and United Quest℠ Card (and any companions traveling with them) are eligible for priority boarding on United flights.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card kicks the red carpet treatment up a notch. Not only will cardholders get priority boarding on United flights, but they’ll also get priority check-in, security screening and baggage handling.
The United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card also give a credit of up to $100 every four years for Global Entry or TSA Precheck — services designed to make your travel experience smoother and faster at security checkpoints.
Want to build up MileagePlus miles for your small business? United offers more than just personal credit cards. Check out the United℠ Business Card for United-loyal entrepreneurs.
Airport lounge access
For regular travelers, use of United's airport lounges could be the deciding factor when choosing a card. United Club lounges are a quiet place to relax before a flight with snacks, light meals, beverages and sometimes even showers. The United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with an annual membership, and it allows you to bring one adult and dependent children under 21, or up to two guests, into any United Club location.
If you fly through an airport with a United Club lounge often, you and your traveling companions could enjoy substantial value from this premium perk. But if your home airport doesn’t have a United Club lounge, or you fly only a few times a year, it may not make sense.
Occasional travelers can get a taste of the good life with the United℠ Explorer Card, which comes with two one-time lounge passes each year.
Though the United Quest℠ Card has a $250 annual fee, it lacks any lounge access perks at all. You could, however, use your card to pay for access to a United Club and be reimbursed up to $125 with the card's annual statement credit.
What these cards have in common
25% back on United in-flight purchases
If you hold any of the United credit cards, you’ll get a 25% rebate when purchasing an in-flight snack, drink or Wi-Fi connection. Use your United card to pay on board, and you’ll receive a statement credit for 25% of the total.
» Learn more: Is the United Quest℠ Card worth its annual fee?
Foreign transaction fees
The United Gateway℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card are all good traveling companions when you’re going abroad. You won’t pay foreign transaction fees on any of the cards.
Trip cancellation and interruption protection
You’ll get some trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance coverage from all four of these United credit cards, though the amounts vary by card:
United Gateway℠ Card, United Quest℠ Card and United℠ Explorer Card: Eligible for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable fares.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Eligible for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable fares.
The United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card also have some extra travel protections, like auto rental collision damage waivers and lost luggage reimbursement, that the United Gateway℠ Card doesn't offer.
Which United credit card should you choose?
If you’re only a casual United flyer, you probably won’t get enough value from the United Club℠ Infinite Card to make it worth the high fee.
If you're a loyal United flyer but don't value all the bells and whistles that come with the United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest℠ Card is a strong contender. And if you'll use the $125 United statement credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits, the $250 annual fee can be effectively reduced to just $25.
For most people, though, the choice comes down to the United Gateway℠ Card and the United℠ Explorer Card. If you check bags on your United flights a couple times a year, your baggage savings will likely outweigh the annual fee. And the United℠ Explorer Card gives a better sign-up bonus to help your MileagePlus balance take flight.
If you don’t check bags, aren’t excited about the two United Club passes and just want a no-cost way to earn miles, the United Gateway℠ Card could be a better choice.
It's also worth considering whether a more flexible travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card works better for your travel style. When you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer them to United or use them for hotel stays, rental cars, vacation packages and more.
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NerdWallet's Erin Hurd contributed to this article.
Last updated on November 18, 2024
Methodology
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Frequently asked questions
Does United Airlines have a credit card with no annual fee?
The United Gateway℠ Card has an annual fee of $0. However, the benefits you get with this card are fairly thin compared with those on other United cards. Most notably, you don't get any free checked bags — a perk that can easily make up for the fee on the airline's standard card, the United℠ Explorer Card. Still, if you're dead-set against paying an annual fee and you're just looking to earn miles between occasional trips, it's a decent option.
Do United Airlines credit cards get you into airport lounges?
The United Club℠ Infinite Card gives you and your eligible guests access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide. That VIP perk comes at a VIP price, though: an annual fee of $525.
For an occasional taste of the lounge life, consider the United℠ Explorer Card. Cardholders get two one-time passes to the United Club each year.
Do United Airlines credit cards give you free checked bags?
Most United credit cards offer a checked-bag benefit. The exception is the $0-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card.
CONSUMER CARDS
United Gateway℠ Card (annual fee $0): No free checked bags.
United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee $0 intro for the first year, then $95): First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Quest℠ Card (annual fee $250): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Club℠ Infinite Card (annual fee $525): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
BUSINESS CARDS
United℠ Business Card (annual fee $0 intro for the first year, then $99): First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Club℠ Business Card (annual fee $450): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
What credit score do you need to get a United Airlines credit card?
You'll need good to excellent credit to qualify for a United Airlines credit card. That's generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. It's important to understand, though, that credit scores aren't the only factor that credit card issuers take into account when evaluating applications. They'll also look at things like your income and your other debts. Chase, the bank that issues United Airlines cards, also looks at how many other cards you've opened recently under a policy referred to as 5/24.
What's the sign-up bonus on a United Airlines credit card?
Each United Airlines credit card comes with a bonus offer: Spend a certain amount in the first few months with the card, and you'll get a pile of miles deposited into your account with United's frequent-flyer program, MileagePlus. Current bonus offers for United credit cards:
United Gateway℠ Card: Limited-time Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
United℠ Explorer Card: Limited-time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
United Quest℠ Card: Limited-time Offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Limited-time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
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