The New United Club Card review: Is United's most premium credit card worth $695?

News The New United Club Card review: Is United’s most premium credit card worth $695?

To the point The New United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits, and PQP boosts—premium perks that can offset its $695 fee for frequent United flyers.

The New United Club℠ Card has recently undergone major updates, including a higher annual fee and an expanded suite of premium perks. While the cost has risen, so too has the value proposition for frequent United and Star Alliance flyers. From unlimited United Club access to opportunities to boost MileagePlus Premier status through spending, plus travel credits and enhanced protections, this card is designed for high spenders who are willing to pay a $695 annual fee. For those deeply invested in United, the benefits may easily outweigh the fee, though casual flyers may find it harder to justify.

Let’s take a closer look at the card to see if it’s worth it for you.

The New United Club Card welcome offer

The New United Club℠ Card

Elevate Every Journey with The United Club℠ Infinite Card

80,000 bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within 3 months
4X miles per $1 on United purchases
2X miles per $1 on dining and all other travel
1X mile per $1 on all other purchases
Complimentary United Club℠ membership for you and eligible guests
Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion on United flights
Premier Access℠ airport services, including priority boarding
Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^® credit every four years
25% back on in‑flight purchases
Up to two 10,000‑mile award flight discounts each year
No foreign transaction fees
$695 annual fee

Ideal for frequent United flyers, this premium card transforms travel into a seamless experience. Earn accelerated miles on every United purchase and enhance your airport journey with lounge access, priority services and complimentary bags. Annual credits and award discounts help offset the fee, while robust travel protections and intuitive online tools keep you covered and in control. Make every trip more rewarding and comfortable.

Terms apply. Bonus miles, credits and benefits require qualifying purchases. Annual fee applies. See issuer for complete details.

The New United Club Card earning rates

The New United Club Card rewards travel and United-related spend exceptionally well, with elevated rates in select categories. Some of the standout earning rates include:

4 miles per dollar on all United purchases.
5 miles per dollar on prepaid hotel reservations booked through Renowned Hotels & Resorts.
2 miles per dollar on dining and all other travel categories (outside United).
2 miles per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services.
1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

These rates make the card especially strong for those who spend a significant amount with United and for those whose travel budget includes a substantial amount of dining and non-United travel.

The New United Club Card benefits

Key benefits

The premium nature of this card is reflected in its benefits, many of which are airline-centric and lounge-oriented:

United Club membership included: Cardmembers gain access to over 45 United Clubs worldwide.
Free first and second checked bags for the cardmember and one companion on United-operated flights.
Premier Access travel services: Priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage handling.
United Club One-time Passes: Four per year when you meet the “All Access” membership requirement (which comes either from Premier Gold status or $50,000 in spending). These are for authorized users.

Travel protections

Like other premium Chase travel cards, the New United Club Card includes a suite of built-in protections that can save you hundreds — or even thousands — when things don’t go as planned:

Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Receive up to $10,000 per covered person and $20,000 per trip for non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered situations like illness, severe weather or other eligible emergencies.
Trip Delay Reimbursement: If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours (or requires an overnight stay), you and eligible family members can be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for meals, lodging and other essentials.
Baggage Delay Insurance: If your baggage is delayed by more than 6 hours, you’ll be covered for up to $100 per day (for 3 days) toward necessities like clothing and toiletries.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Receive up to $3,000 per passenger if you or an immediate family member’s checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: When renting a car and paying with your card, you can decline the rental company’s collision insurance and be covered for theft and collision damage in the US and abroad.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services: Access a 24/7 hotline for help with legal, medical and travel emergencies while away from home.
Purchase Protection: Eligible new purchases are covered against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty Protection: Adds an additional year of coverage on eligible US manufacturers’ warranties of three years or less.

Additional Perks

To help offset the steep annual fee, the card now includes some valuable credits and extras:

Up to $200 annually in prepaid hotel credits through Renowned Hotels & Resorts.
Up to $150 back on rideshare purchases yearly.
Up to $100 in TravelBank cash annually for car rentals through Avis or Budget.
Up to $200 in JSX flight credits.
Up to $240 in Instacart credits per year (two $10 credits per month). Some of these perks are temporary or have expiration dates (for example, the Instacart benefit has a known end date in late 2027).
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status.
Avis President’s Club status.
Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^{^®} or NEXUS fee credit.
25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases.
No foreign transaction fees.

Also noteworthy: you can unlock the United Club All Access Membership by achieving Premier Gold status with United or spending $50,000 annually on the card, which increases guest privileges (from two adult guests to two adult guests or one adult guest plus dependents) for lounge access.

MileagePlus benefits & awards

Holding the New United Club Card ties you directly into United’s MileagePlus ecosystem. Unfortunately, that doesn’t offer you transferable rewards and puts your United miles at a significant risk of devaluation.

MileagePlus redemptions

United MileagePlus award pricing is dynamic, which means costs vary based on demand, route, and timing. However, some benchmarks can help set expectations:

Domestic economy flights within the US typically start around 12,500 to 15,000 miles one-way, though it’s common to see higher prices on peak routes.
Business class to Europe generally begins at about 80,000 miles one-way (though can exceed over 200,000 miles), while premium cabins to Asia start at 100,000 miles one-way, depending on seasonality and can go over 500,000 miles.

Premier status using the New United Club Card

If you’re pursuing United Premier status, the New United Club Card offers one of the most valuable shortcuts available: the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) directly through everyday spending.

Annual PQP bonus: Cardholders automatically receive 1,500 PQPs each year. These bonus PQPs are deposited within 6 to 8 weeks after February 1 (beginning in 2026).
Earning PQPs through spend: You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent on eligible purchases, up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year. That’s more than enough to cover the PQP requirement for most status levels.

By combining the automatic annual bonus with accelerated PQP earning on spend, the United Club Card makes it far easier to maintain or climb the MileagePlus Premier ladder. For frequent spenders who can’t always fly enough to qualify, this benefit alone can justify keeping the card in your wallet.

Cards comparable to The New United Club Card

If you’re considering this card, these alternatives might offer similar value depending on your travel style:

United Quest Card: Lower annual fee ($350), no lounge perks, but still offers strong United benefits and is more accessible.
United Explorer Card: Low fee ($150 and waived the first year), fewer premium perks, but free checked bags, priority boarding and generally good value for less frequent United flyers.
General travel rewards cards: For frequent flyers who prefer flexibility over loyalty to a single airline, premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum may deliver greater overall value through their transferable point currencies.

Is The New United Club Card worth it?

Whether the New United Club Card is worth it depends heavily on how much you fly United (and use United Clubs), and whether you can take full advantage of the credits and lounge access.

If you fly United several times a year, lounge access adds up; the waived checked-bag fees for two people, guest privileges, and all the travel credits can offset a large portion of the $695 fee. For travelers who regularly visit United Clubs or Star Alliance lounges and want to enhance their airport experience, this card offers substantial premium value.

On the other hand, if you fly United less frequently, don’t use lounges often, or cannot take advantage of the numerous complicated partner credits (hotels, rideshare, Instacart, etc.), the fee may be difficult to justify. In that case, a less premium card with a $250 to $350 fee (or even one of the no-fee The New United Gateway℠ Card) might be a better fit.

Bottom line

The New United Club Card is the top-tier consumer United credit card, designed for frequent United or Star Alliance travelers who seek premium amenities, including lounge membership, generous credits, guest access, and perks such as free checked bags and Premier Qualifying Point boosts.

The 2025 fee increase to $695 is steep, but the package of credits (hotel, rideshare, JSX, Instacart, etc.), lounge access, and award flight discounts help cushion the cost. If you fly United often and value comfort, the Club card can deliver excellent value. If not, you’ll want to run the numbers carefully (or consider a less expensive United or general travel card).

Marc Delaney

Marc Delaney is a bilingual (English/French) travel rewards strategist and credit card expert at Milesopedia USA. Born in the U.S. to a French-American family, Marc combines North American know-how with a deep understanding of international loyalty programs. With over a decade of experience in personal finance, he specializes in helping high-income individuals, digital nomads, and frequent flyers optimize their credit card points and travel benefits. His insights focus on maximizing value from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Amex Membership Rewards®, Aeroplan® and Flying Blue®. Marc started his career advising startups on business credit strategies and later transitioned into rewards consulting for cross-border entrepreneurs. He holds a degree in economics from the University of Vermont and has contributed to financial newsletters, webinars, and loyalty-focused communities across North America and Europe. A passionate traveler, Marc has explored more than 40 countries using points and miles to fly in premium cabins and stay in luxury hotels. When he's not analyzing credit card ecosystems, you'll find him hiking remote trails or reviewing airport lounges for Milesopedia readers.

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