United Airlines, in partnership with Chase, offers several credit cards that allow travelers to earn MileagePlus miles and enjoy various benefits like priority boarding and a free checked bag when flying with United. These cards cater to different types of travelers, from occasional flyers to frequent business travelers.
Today, we’ll look at the different United credit cards, so you can decide which one is best for you.
United MileagePlus is United Airlines’ loyalty program. It allows members to earn miles through flights, credit card spending, and partner activities. You can then redeem these miles for award flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses.
When choosing a United credit card, we recommend considering factors like the annual fees, earning rates, travel perks and your flying habits. It’s best to select credit cards that align with your travel needs, such as free checked bags, priority boarding or lounge access.
The United Gateway℠ Credit Card is the best option if you’re looking for a United Airlines credit card without an annual fee.
This card is best for occasional United flyers who want to earn miles without paying an annual fee.
The United℠ Explorer Card offers the best value for travelers looking for free checked bags.
The United Explorer Card an excellent choice for both occasional travelers and frequent flyers looking to maximize their benefits with United Airlines with a modest annual fee.
The United Quest℠ Card is the best mid-tier option for United Airlines travelers. It has a balance of valuable benefits and a moderate annual fee.
The United Quest Card is ideal for frequent United flyers who want premium travel perks without the high annual fee of the United Club Infinite Card. It’s great for those who travel with United several times a year and can take advantage of the annual United purchase credit and award flight credits.
The United Club Card provides the most comprehensive premium travel benefits.
The United Club Card is best for frequent United flyers who value lounge access and premium travel perks. It’s ideal for those who fly United often enough to take full advantage of the United Club membership and can offset the high annual fee with the card’s benefits.
The Explorer and Quest earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent while the Club card earns 1 PQP per $15 spent. These are underwhelming earn rates, and overall, we don’t recommend using United credit card spend to qualify for elite status. Each card has a maximum number of annual PQPs you can earn from credit card spend:
The United Club Card offers the highest earning rates on United purchases and everyday spending. It earns 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. This card provides the most opportunities to accumulate United MileagePlus miles quickly.
The United℠ Explorer Card provides a good balance of benefits and a reasonable annual fee for most United travelers.
The United℠ Business Card offers tailored rewards and perks for small business owners who frequently fly United.
The United Business Card is a great choice for small business owners who fly United Airlines, even if it’s just a few times a year. It offers valuable perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. This card is ideal for those who can utilize the $100 United travel credit and need employee cards, which are available at no extra cost.
Additionally, it allows business travelers to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward elite status. While it doesn’t provide full United Club membership, the two annual passes are a nice bonus for occasional lounge access.
United Airlines credit cards offer a range of options to suit different travel needs and budgets. By carefully considering your travel habits and priorities, you can choose the card that best aligns with your goals, whether it’s earning miles, enjoying travel perks or working towards elite status.
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