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The United℠ Explorer Card is our top pick for United Airlines because it offers valuable travel perks, like one free checked bag for you and a guest, a TSA PreCheck credit and more. The value of these perks can easily outweigh the reasonable $95 annual fee, which is much less than the annual fee for many travel cards.
United Airlines offers a wide range of co-branded credit cards. That includes higher-priced options that come with a full United Club lounge membership, as well as a no-annual-fee co-branded United credit card. If you prefer a more flexible travel credit card, you may want to consider getting a Chase card, as Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to United and keep their value.
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Travel perk: First checked bag free for you and one companion
United Airlines benefits:
The United℠ Explorer Card offers a range of United-specific benefits, like the one free checked bag for the primary cardholder and a companion. The card offers perks like a healthy sign-up bonus, generous earning rates and a waived annual fee for the first year. With benefits like one-time passes to United Club, priority boarding and statement credits, United Explorer provides a taste of luxury benefits for a reasonable $95 annual fee.
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Travel perk: United Club membership
United Airlines benefits:
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is our top choice for travelers who want United Club Access. The card, which has an annual fee of $525 each year, comes with a complimentary full United Club membership, which would normally cost $650 each year. With the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you can access international and domestic United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges.
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Travel perk: Fast-track your way to elite status
United Airlines benefits:
We like the United Quest℠ Card for its ability to help you swiftly reach MileagePlus elite status. Your card spending earns valuable Premier qualifying points (PQP) so you can reach the next status level and gain more benefits with the airline. While other United Airlines cards also let users earn PQP for spending, the United Quest℠ Card has one of the highest caps on annual PQPs of all available options and allows you to earn PQPs as part of the sign-up bonus.
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Travel perk: No annual fee
United Airlines benefits:
The United Gateway℠ Card is the perfect entry-level card for United fans and other travelers who want some airline benefits without the annual fee. Yes, you’ll receive more United benefits and other travel perks with other cards. Still, the Gateway card is a great option if you only fly occasionally or don’t want to pay for access to a credit card.
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Travel perk: Earn bonus United miles on business expenses.
United Airlines benefits:
The United℠ Business Card offers small business owners earning power on business-related purchases and other bonus spending categories. Plus, with complimentary cards for employees, you can take advantage of all company credit card spending to earn miles and elite status. The United Business Card features a nice assortment of travel benefits for a card with a reasonable annual fee.
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Travel perk: Annual travel credit.
Travel benefits:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great deal if you’re going to take advantage of the $300 annual travel credit, which offsets much of its $550 annual fee. Its generous sign-up bonus and high earning rates on travel and dining offer incredible value, especially when redeemed for travel through the Chase TravelSM portal. You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to a host of travel transfer partners, including United, giving you more rewards flexibility.
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Travel perk: Generous rewards across multiple categories with a low annual fee.
Travel benefits:
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a versatile travel rewards card that allows cardholders to earn 2x to 5x points on travel and 3x points on other types of purchases, like online grocery purchases at most stores, dining out, and select streaming services. It also comes with a substantial sign-up bonus and a reasonable $95 annual fee.
The points you earn are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through the Chase travel portal. As with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer your points to partner loyalty programs, including United MileagePlus.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Perk: Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges globally
Travel benefits:
For airport lounge access, few cards compare to The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Cardmembers receive entry into the Amex Global Lounge Collection, which includes more than 1,400 airport lounges in 140 countries, including Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club, Priority Pass™ Select*, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa, Escape and Plaza Premium lounges. The card has no United-specific benefits, but it offers incredible value to any frequent traveler who wants luxury benefits and perks.
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Travel Perk: Transferable points on business expenses.
Travel benefits:
We like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card because of its versatility and high bonus rates on all business spending. Cardholders have plenty of options for redeeming rewards for travel. Like other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards, you can transfer points earned with Ink Business Preferred to United and some other airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. You can also get free employee cards, which means earning more points on company purchases.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Foreign Exchange Fee | Recommended Credit Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United℠ Explorer Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best United Airlines credit card for free checked bags
|
$95 | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best United Airlines credit card for United Club access
|
$525 | $0 | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
United Quest℠ Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best United Airlines credit card for elite status
|
$250 | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
United Gateway℠ Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best United Airlines credit card with no annual fee
|
$0 | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
United℠ Business Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best United Airlines credit card for business
|
$99 | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best general travel credit card for United Airlines
|
$550 | $0 | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Runner-up for best general travel credit card for United Airlines
|
$95 | $0 | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
|
Best card for United Airlines lounge access
|
$695 | None | Good / Excellent | |
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best credit card for United business travel
|
$95 | $0 | Excellent |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
The best United Airlines card for you depends on the perks you value the most. You’ll want to consider the card benefits listed below when choosing a card.
United co-branded cards offer varying perks specific to the airline, like inflight discounts, credits, lounge access and priority boarding. The higher the annual fee, the more travel perks are generally included, with the United Club℠ Infinite Card offering the most luxury benefits.
Other travel cards on our list come with travel perks not associated with the airline. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with perks like elite hotel status, a large assortment of credits, extensive lounge access, discounts and other benefits.
No credit cards offer United Premier elite status — though some can help you earn elite status on United. You can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) on several United credit cards.
You can earn 25 premier points for every $500 in card spending, up to the PQP limit.
The United℠ Explorer Card lets you earn up to 1,000 PQP per calendar year. Meanwhile, cardholders of the United Quest℠ Card can earn up to 6,000 PQP per calendar year, and United Club Infinite cardholders can earn up to 10,000 PQP per calendar year.
Here’s how many PQPs and PQFs it takes to earn one of the Premier status levels:
| Status Level | PQP only | PQP + PQF | Lifetime status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQP | 4,000 PQP + 12 PQF | N/A |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQP | 8,000 PQP + 24 PQF | When you reach 1 million miles |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQP | 12,000 PQP + 36 PQF | When you reach 2 million miles |
| Premier 1K | 24,000 PQP | 18,000 PQP + 54 PQF | When you reach 3 million miles |
To earn one of the Premier status levels, you’ll need to take at least four United or United Express flights in addition to meeting the PQP and PQF requirements.
United credit cards typically offer a sign-up bonus of some kind, but the bonuses vary in terms of their value and the minimum spending requirements to earn them. You don’t necessarily want to go for the biggest bonus — that might lead you to spend more than you normally would.
Our top pick, the United℠ Explorer Card, features a generous sign-up bonus with an attainable spending requirement and an affordable annual fee.
When looking at bonuses, make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement with regular spending and bills, and that you don’t have to buy things you don’t need to reach the threshold.
The right card depends on how often you want to visit airport lounges and how much you travel through an airport with a United Club lounge. Both the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card offer two one-time United Club passes after you open your account, and after each card anniversary.
To get access to the United Club anytime you fly with the airline, you’ll want to opt for the United Club℠ Infinite Card, which grants the primary cardholder a full United Club membership.
For lounge access outside of the United Club network, you’ll want to opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express, as both offer access to extensive airport lounge networks.
If you like to check your bags, a United co-branded credit card can save you money. Both the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card offer a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and one companion when flying on United. If you often check more than one bag, you might want to opt for another card, like the United Quest℠ Card or the United Club℠ Infinite Card, as they each offer up to two free checked bags each time you fly United.
Many Chase United co-branded credit cards offer cardholders priority boarding on United. For example, the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card both offer priority boarding privileges for the primary cardholder and any companion on the same reservation. Meanwhile, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers full Premier Access benefits — which include priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling.
Travel credits can help offset a high annual fee. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an easy-to-use $300 travel credit each year. The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a $200 Airline Fee Credit, but it only applies to airline incidental fees (like baggage fees) with the airline you choose at the beginning of the year.
The only United co-branded credit card that offers a travel credit is the United℠ Business Card . You can earn an annual $100 United travel credit if you make seven or more United flight purchases of at least $100 that year.
Chase credit cards offer some of the best travel protections of any card issuer, but you need to use the right card to pay for your travel.
You’ll get some or all of the following travel protections on most cards featured in this roundup:
Check the terms of each card before you apply — for example, the United Gateway℠ Card doesn’t offer any of these protections.
If you almost always fly United, or on one of their partner airlines, you might prefer to earn United miles directly. In that case, the co-branded United credit cards offer some solid earning rates and sign-up bonuses. However, if you want more flexibility, you’ll want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Both Chase Sapphire cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred to United MileagePlus or 14 other airline and hotel partners. You can also use the points to purchase travel through Chase travel portal, where they can be redeemed at a rate of 1.25 cents per point for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or 1.5 cents per point for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Many of the best credit cards for United Airlines reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. So, you may want to choose one of these cards if you don’t already have one of these time-saving memberships:
Most United co-branded cards also offer 25% back on in-flight purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi. If you make a lot of onboard purchases with United, these savings can really add up.
Remember, United benefits and rewards are useful if you fly with Star Alliance or other United partners. That means you can use United miles with over 42 airlines. This is worth considering if you frequently fly internationally and want to be able to redeem your miles with as many carriers as possible. United Star Alliance partners include the following:
| Star Alliance Partners | |
|---|---|
| Aegean | Ethiopian |
| Air Canada | EVA AIR |
| Air China | LOT Polish Airlines |
| Air India | Lufthansa |
| Air New Zealand | SAS |
| ANA | Shenzhen Airlines |
| Asiana Airlines | Singapore Airlines |
| Austrian | South African Airlines |
| Avianca | SWISS |
| Brussels Airlines | TAP Air Portugal |
| Copa Airlines | THAI |
| Croatia Airlines | Turkish Airlines |
| Egyptair | |
United also partners with 17 airlines outside of the Star Alliance:
| Other Airline Partners | |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Eurowings |
| Air Dolomiti | Flydubai |
| Airlink | Hawaiian Airlines |
| Azul | JSX |
| Boutique Air | Olympic Air |
| Cape Air | Silver Airways |
| Discover Airlines | Virgin Australia |
| Edelweiss | Vistara |
| Emirates | |
United cards can benefit almost any kind of traveler who flies United. With a wide range of airline-specific benefits, other travel perks and annual fees, there are cards to fit most travel styles, including infrequent flyers.
Consider your travel habits and needs compared to the benefits offered with United credit cards to determine if there’s a good fit for you.
Comparing credit cards side-by-side can help you see which card aligns with your needs and holds the most value for you. Use the table below to see the first and second-year value of the cards listed and our rating for each. The card value listed is based on each card’s earning potential, credits, welcome offer and other benefits. You can read our methodology to see how we choose cards and assign value.
| Card Name | Earning Rate | Welcome Offer | First Year Value | Second Year Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United℠ Explorer Card | Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | $1,214 | $339 |
| United Club℠ Infinite Card | Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $1,657 | $487 |
| United Quest℠ Card | 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits (terms apply) and earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points. | Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | $1,143 | $363 |
| United Gateway℠ Card | 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | $688 | $298 |
| United℠ Business Card | Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. | $1,513 | $504 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $2,646 | $1,146 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 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 up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. | $2,332 | $832 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply. | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | $3,140 | $1,540 |
| Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $2,393 | $393 |
List your MileagePlus number when applying
Make sure to add your United MileagePlus number (if you already have one) when applying for a new United credit card — that way, the miles you earn from the card will be credited to your account and you’ll start getting perks the next time you fly United. If you don’t list your MileagePlus number, another account may be generated for you. If that happens, don’t worry: You can ask to have the two accounts merged, as long as you use the same name on both accounts.
Pay for travel with your United Card
In order to get many card benefits, you must pay for your flight (or other travel expenses) with your United card. That way, you can qualify for perks like free checked bag benefits and travel protections for that flight.
Add your United Credit Card to a mobile wallet
Most Chase credit cards can be added to mobile wallets like Google Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay. That way, you can still use your card even if you don’t have the physical card on you.
Book travel with friends and family
Some United credit card perks can apply to others on your flight itinerary, so make sure you book together if you can. For example, the United℠ Explorer Card and United Quest℠ Card both offer free checked bag benefits for the cardholder and one traveling companion on the same booking.
You can earn United miles by making purchases with your co-branded credit card or by providing your MileagePlus number when you make a reservation for a United flight or partner airline flight. Once you’ve earned miles, you can use them for award flights, upgrades, other travel expenses, shopping, gift cards or experiences.
The best United credit card depends on your spending habits and travel preferences. However, we’d suggest the United℠ Explorer Card for most travelers who often fly United, but aren’t avid travelers. Cardholder perks include getting your first checked bag for free, priority boarding and two United Club passes each year. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, the United℠ Explorer Card offers a competitive sign-up bonus.
A United credit card may be worth having if you are an occasional or frequent traveler with the airline. With several cards available, there are options to fit almost anyone who flies United or wants to earn miles redeemable for flights. If you don’t fly United or your preferred airport doesn’t offer United flights, you may be better off getting a flexible travel rewards card or a co-branded card with your preferred airline.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with a full United Club membership, while the United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card feature two one-time United Club passes after each cardholder anniversary.
Many United credit cards offer travel protections like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
United miles don’t count toward elite status, only Premier Qualifying Points and Premier Qualifying Flights help you earn Premier status. However, many United credit cards offer the opportunity to earn up to 1,000 to 10,000 PQPs, depending on the card. Requirements and limits vary by credit card.
There are United co-branded credit cards that reimburse the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Some of our favorite United cards include this perk, such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
To make choosing the right card easier, we’ve looked at credit cards reviewed on LendingTree as well as cards on major issuer sites to compile a list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Our recommendations are based on the additional value you can earn with the cards — including the rewards value, cost of ownership and value of benefits such as travel and purchase protections, lounge membership, and airline and hotel perks. Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers. Learn more about how we calculate rewards.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
