The card_name is a great card if you want United Club airport lounge access.
The card earns 4x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on restaurants and other travel, and 1x miles everywhere else.
The United Club card also offers valuable benefits such as IHG Platinum elite status, two free checked bags on United, priority check-in, primary rental car insurance, and trip delay insurance.
This article will cover everything you need to know about the United Club Card to see if its right for you, so let’s dive right in.
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- 4X Miles on United Purchases
- 2X Miles on Dining, Travel, Transit, and Rideshare
- United Club Airport Lounge Access
- IHG Platinum and Avis President’s Club Elite Status
- Free First and Second Checked Bags
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- $525 Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
The United Club Card currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Earning Miles
The United Club Card earns extra miles in several categories including:
- 4 miles per dollar spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges;
- 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride-share services, and tolls;
- 2 miles per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services; and
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Annual Fee
The United Club Card has a $525 annual fee, which is one of the highest annual fees.
But if you were planning on purchasing a United Club membership, which costs $650 per year, this card is a better deal overall.
Perks and Benefits on United Airlines
The United Club Card offers these benefits on United Airlines:
United Club Membership
The biggest perk of the United Club Infinite card is a membership to United Clubs, which normally costs $650 per year.
A membership gets you access to United Clubs and Star Alliance airlines when flying United or a Star Alliance airline.
United Club members can also bring one adult and dependent children under age 21, or up to two adult guests.
Authorized users do not get access to the United Club.
To find Star Alliance lounges, visit their (1) Lounge Finder, (2) select “Filters”, (3) choose United Club under “Paid Membership Card” and (4) select your airport.
Two Free Checked Bags
The primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive two free checked bags when traveling on a United Airlines flight (worth $320 for a roundtrip flight).
However, you need to purchase the flight using this card to receive the free checked bags benefit, unlike other airline credit cards.
Earn up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
This card helps you achieve United Elite status by allowing you to earn up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) per year.
You’ll earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with your Club Card.
10% Award Discount
The United Club card allows the primary cardholder to book United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada for 10% fewer miles.
Additional Award Availability on United
This United card gets you access to additional award availability when using your United miles to book a flight. This perk can help you save a lot of miles by booking cheaper “Saver” award space over much more expensive Everyday awards.
Eligible for Upgrades on Award Tickets
Normally United Premier members only receive complimentary upgrades on cash tickets.
But holding this card also makes Premier members eligible for upgrades when using their miles on award tickets.
Premier Access® Travel Services
Another nice perk of this card is that it gets you priority boarding, priority check-in, priority security, and priority baggage handling so you can breeze through the airport when you fly.
25% Back on In-Flight Purchases
This card offers 25% back in the form of an account statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, onboard United when you pay using your card.
Potential Annual 5,000 Mile Bonus
Other Card Benefits and Perks
The United Club Card also offers these other card benefits:
Avis President’s Club Elite Status
Receive a free Avis President’s Club membership that offers benefits such as two-class upgrades for cars, guaranteed availability of cars, fast rental service, and other additional perks
IHG Platinum Elite Status
The primary cardhlder is eligible for complimentary IHG Platinum elite status, which gets you room upgrades, extra points, and a welcome amenity.
Additionally, cardholders receive a one-time $75 statement credit for IHG Hotels & Resorts purchases charged to the card through Dec. 31, 2023.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
This card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the U.S., which is helpful if you travel internationally to help you avoid paying a 3% fee on those international purchases.
Global Entry, TSA Pre-Check, or NEXUS Credit
This card offers a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit of up to $100 every four years.
TSA PreCheck is a membership program offering dedicated airport security lines and faster security screening (typically 5 minutes or less) at more than 200 airports across the United States and includes over 81 airlines.
Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck and expedited immigration upon arrival from an international trip back to the United States.
The NEXUS program is designed to facilitate expedited travel between the United States and Canada by providing pre-approved individuals with streamlined border clearance and enhanced security measures.
Trip Delay Insurance
This card offers trip delay insurance when you purchase your flight with this card.
This reimburses you for reasonable expenses things like hotels, food, transportation, and other necessary items.
Flights are increasingly delayed or canceled, and it is too risky to not use a card that offers free trip delay insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance reimburses you for non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason such as illness, severe weather, or an accidental injury when you pay for your travel expenses with this card.
Primary Rental Car Insurance
Primary rental car insurance covers any damage to a rental car when you pay for the rental using this card.
But you still need to maintain liability car insurance to cover damage to another person or property.
Baggage Delay Insurance
Baggage delay insurance can reimburse you for the cost of necessary personal and business items if (1) you purchased your trip with this card and (2) your bag is delayed by a common carrier like an airline, train, ferry, or cruise ship, etc.
Common reimbursable items include clothing, toiletries, and phone chargers, which can be a life-saver when you are without your bag.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement
Baggage insurance covers the cost to repair or replace your luggage and the contents inside if your bag is lost or damaged during a covered trip.
You must purchase the trip with this card, and it will also cover immediate family members traveling with you.
120-Day Purchase Protection
Purchase protection can save you a lot of money if you bought an eligible item that is damaged or stolen within 120-days.
For example, if accidentally dropped your new phone or laptop and broke the screen, you could file a claim to get it replaced if it was purchased within the last 120 days.
Extended Warranty
Credit card extended warranty protection adds up to an additional year of coverage for eligible purchases on manufacturer’s warranties up to 3 years.
Coverage matches the protection provided by the original warranty so that damage or defect would have to be covered by the original warranty for extended warranty coverage.
Return Protection
This card provides you with return protection, which provides you with reimbursement for the cost of an eligible item of personal property if you are dissatisfied with the item for any reason within 90 days of the purchase and if the retailer will not accept the return.
Coverage is limited to $500 per eligible item and up to $1,000 annually.
DashPash Membership
This card offers a one-year DashPass membership for free, which includes DoorDash and Caviar, offering unlimited deliveries with free delivery fees and reduced service fees for eligible purchases The offer must be activated by December 31, 2024.
Once the free membership is over, you will be automatically enrolled in DashPass at the prevailing monthly rate.
Pros and Cons
Before making a decision to apply for the United Club Infinite card, take some time to review these benefits and drawbacks to help you determine if this card is the right fit for your needs
Pros
- Complimentary United Club membership.
- Great perks when flying United Airlines.
Cons
- High annual fee.
- Authorized users and guests don’t get United Club access like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, which allows up to 10 authorized users Admirals Club access.
Card Alternatives to the United Club Infinite Card
Now that you know about this credit card’s various benefits and pros and cons, it’s time to see its alternatives.
United℠ Explorer Card
Lots of Perks on United Without a Large Annual Fee
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- 2X Miles on United Purchases, Dining, and Hotel Stays
- 2 United Club One-Time Passes Per Year
- Free First Checked Bags for Two People
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or Nexus Credit
- 25% Savings on United In-Flight Food and Drinks
- Priority Boarding
- Primary Rental Car and Trip Delay Insurance
- $0 Intro Annual Fee, Then $95 Per Year
The card_name (review) is one of my favorite cards to keep long-term because of the great benefits when flying United, including:
- Free first checked bag when you pay using the Explorer card;
- Two free United Club passes each account anniversary;
- Priority boarding for you and companions on the same reservation;
- Extra award space when redeeming your United miles;
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United; and
- Premier upgrades on award tickets.
Even if you’re not a frequent United flyer, the money-saving perks and travel benefits of this card can still make it a worthwhile choice.
Besides the airline-specific benefits, the United Explorer card offers purchase protection, extended warranty, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance, providing peace of mind while traveling.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
More Points on Dining and Travel + Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
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- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 10x Points on Hotels and Rental Cars and 5x Points on Flights Booked Through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x Points on Dining, Takeout, & Eligible Food Delivery
- 50% More Redemption Value
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $550 Annual Fee
The card_name (review) is a great option for travelers who want premium perks such as airport lounge access and top-tier travel protections.
The Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, but you receive an annual easy-to use $300 travel credit and access to 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges.
Plus, great benefits such as trip delay insurance, primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase and return protection, extended warranty, and no foreign transaction fees.
Cardmembers also earn extra points with:
- 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 3x points on travel.
- 3x points on dining, and food delivery purchases.
- 1x points everywhere else.
One thing to remember is that you won’t earn points on your first $300 in travel purchases each cardmember year since the $300 travel credit covers those purchases.
You can also cash out points at a 50% bonus (1.5 cents per point) when redeeming points towards travel or transfer the points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
United Quest℠ Card
Perks on United for Smaller Annual Fee
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- 3X Miles on United Airlines
- 2X Miles on Dining, Streaming, and Other Travel
- $125 Annual United Statement Credit
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit
- Two 5,000-Mile Anniversary Award Flight Credits
- Free First and Second Checked Bags
- Priority Boarding
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $250 Annual Fee
The Chase United Quest℠ Card is a travel rewards card that offers great benefits for frequent United Airlines flyers.
The Quest Card comes with several nice benefits to help offset the $250 annual fee:
$125 Credit: Each anniversary year, cardholders will receive a $125 annual United purchase statement credit that will help offset the $250 annual fee.
Up to 10,000 Miles back: Automatically get 5,000 United miles back into your account after taking a United award flight up to two times per anniversary year.
Two Free Checked Bags: Cardholders get up to two free checked bags for you and a companion on the same reservation when you purchase the flight with the Quest card.
Is the United Club Infinite Card Worth It?
The United Club Card is worth it for frequent travelers on United since it gets you access to the United Club, plus many other valuable perks when flying United.
If you are not a frequent United traveler and still want perks on United for a smaller annual fee, I recommend the card_name (review), which gets you a lot of similar perks on United plus two annual United Club passes.
The United Explorer also pairs well with a higher-end travel card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (review) or card_name (review) to give you more flexible airport lounge access and fee credits to offset their annual fee.
- bonus_miles_full
- 4X Miles on United Purchases
- 2X Miles on Dining, Travel, Transit, and Rideshare
- United Club Airport Lounge Access
- IHG Platinum and Avis President’s Club Elite Status
- Free First and Second Checked Bags
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
- $525 Annual Fee
