Are you a frequent United Airlines flyer looking to maximize your travel rewards and enjoy exclusive perks?
Choosing the right United Airlines credit card can unlock a world of benefits, from complimentary United Club access to priority boarding and free checked bags.
In this article, we will explore the best United Airlines credit cards, their unique features, welcome bonuses, and benefits to help you make an informed decision and elevate your travel experience.
Best Overall Value: United℠ Explorer Card (review)
Best for Lounge Access: United Club℠ Infinite Card (review)
Best for Business Travelers: United℠ Business Card (review)
Best for Flexible Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review)
1. United℠ Explorer Card
Best Overall Value
The United℠ Explorer Card (review) delivers premium travel benefits without the premium price tag, making it ideal if you fly United just a few times yearly. You’ll enjoy practical perks like free checked bags and priority boarding alongside monthly credits for ride-sharing and grocery delivery that provide value throughout the year.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning Miles: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel; 1x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Free first checked bag for you and one companion, 2 United Club one-time passes each year, $120 Instacart credit, $100 JSX credit, $60 ridesharing credit, $100 United Hotels credit, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and baggage delay), purchase protection, and extended warranty.
2. United Club℠ Infinite Card
Best for Lounge Access
The United Club℠ Infinite Card (review) stands out as United’s most premium personal credit card offering extensive United Club lounge access and elite-style benefits. The card provides excellent value for loyal United travelers through its lounge access, free checked bags, and bonus miles on United purchases.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months; plus 5,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months.
Earning Miles: 4x miles on United Airlines purchases; 2x miles on all other travel purchases (hotels, rental cars, cruises, transit, rideshare, etc.) and dining (including eligible delivery services); 1x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: United Club membership, free first and second checked bags for you and companion, Premier Access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, Avis President’s Club, No foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, lost luggage, and primary rental car), purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty.
3. United℠ Business Card
Best for Business Travelers
The United℠ Business Card (review) packs useful perks for United flyers, including free checked bags, priority boarding, and two annual United Club passes. This practical business card proves worthwhile for small business owners who fly United even just a few times yearly.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Earning Miles: 2x miles on United Airlines purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), gas stations, at United Hotels, office supply stores, local transit, and commuting; 1x miles on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Free first checked bag, $100 United travel credit after after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more within each card anniversary year, 5,000 anniversary bonus miles when you also have a personal United credit card, 2 United Club one-time passes each year, annual $25 FareLock credit, $100 rideshare credit, $100 JSX credit, $120 Instacart credit, $50 Avis or Budget credit, annual $100 United Hotels credit, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (primary rental car, trip delay, baggage delay, lost luggage, trip cancellation), extended warranty, and purchase protection.
4. United Quest℠ Card
Best for Upgraded Benefits
The United Quest℠ Card (review) delivers strong value through its combination of travel credits, checked bag benefits, and mile-earning potential on United flights. This card works best if you fly United several times per year and can take advantage of the annual United credit plus award flight rebates.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning Miles: 3x miles on United Airlines purchases; 2x miles on all other travel (hotels, car rentals, cruises, transit, rideshare, etc.), dining (including eligible delivery services), and select streaming; 1x miles on all other purchases.
Benefits: Free first and second checked bags for you and one companion, $125 annual United purchase credit, up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year, priority boarding, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $100 every four years, 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases, no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance (trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage delay, lost luggage, and primary rental car), purchase protection, and extended warranty.
5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) is one of the most popular travel rewards cards because it offers nice welcome bonus and extra points on travel and dining, which can be transferred to airline and hotel partners or redeemed directly for travel at a rate of 1.25 cents per point through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also offers great travel and purchase protections for a card with a $95 annual fee. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Rewards: 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Card Benefits: Ability to transfer to airline and hotel partners, 25% bonus when redeeming points through Chase Travel, $50 annual hotel stay credit via Chase Travel, 10% anniversary points bonus, no foreign transaction fees, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty. Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Emirates, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Hyatt, IHG, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Singapore KrisFlyer, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.
6. United Gateway℠ Card
Best for No Annual Fee
- Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
- 2X Miles on United Purchases, at Gas Stations, Local Transit, Ridesharing, and Commuting
- 25% Savings on United In-Flight Food and Drinks
- Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty
- No Annual Fee
The Chase United Gateway℠ Card is a good option if you’re looking for a no-annual-fee credit card that earns United Airlines miles.
With this card, you’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, as well as at gas stations, local transit, ridesharing, and commuting.
Plus, you’ll get 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee with this card, so it’s a good option for budget-minded travelers.
