Ultimate Guide to United Airlines Credit Cards: Which One Is Right for You?
If you’re a frequent flyer—or just an aspiring travel hacker looking to maximize points and miles for your next adventure—United Airlines credit cards can unlock valuable perks, from free checked bags to airport lounge access.
In this post, we break down each United credit card option, help you decide if one’s right for your wallet, and highlight how to earn more United MileagePlus miles with everyday spending.
Why should you get a United Airlines credit card?
Depending on who you ask, some travel hackers may suggest you avoid co-branded cards at all costs – but that advice is really dependent on your personal travel goals. And if you’re still learning travel hacking terms, a co-branded card is one that is associated with a specific company. For purposes of this article, that’s a United Airlines credit card. With a United Airlines credit card, your purchases earn United MileagePlus miles directly, rather than flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards.
So, why get a United credit card if it locks you into one airline?
Simple: travel perks. Think free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge passes, and special cardmember discounts—all benefits that flexible cards typically don’t offer.
If you fly United even a couple of times a year, those perks can save you hundreds of dollars.
Flexible points earners include the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
United Hub Airports Matter
If your home airport is a United hub or simply a location that offers a lot of United flights, a United credit card can be a smart addition to your travel hacking strategy.
Major United hubs in the U.S. include:
- Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
- Denver (DEN)
- Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH)
- Newark (EWR)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
Flying out of any of these cities or even frequently transiting through them makes it more likely you’ll get maximum value from the perks built into United’s cards.
Another Major Advantage: PQPs and Elite Status
Another major advantage is that the United Airlines credit cards with an annual fee—the Explorer, Quest, and Club Infinite—offer Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) earned through credit card spend.
PQPs are crucial for reaching or maintaining United MileagePlus elite status faster, unlocking perks like priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, and free checked bags.
Primary cardmembers will earn:
- 1 PQP per $15 on the United Club Infinite card
- 1 PQP per $20 spent on all other PQP-eligible cards
For frequent United travelers aiming to climb the status ladder quickly, these cards can accelerate the path to elite benefits, making the annual fee worthwhile.
Which banks offer United credit cards?
If you’re wondering which bank offers United credit cards, the answer is simple: Chase is the exclusive issuer of all United Airlines co-branded credit cards.
Through a long-standing partnership with United, Chase Bank offers a lineup of personal and business credit cards that earn United MileagePlus miles. These include options like the United Gateway Card, United Explorer Card, United Quest Card, and the premium United Club Infinite Card.
Because these are Chase credit cards, they’re also subject to the Chase 5/24 rule—a common restriction where your application may be denied if you’ve opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months.
Note on Personal vs Business United Airlines Credit Cards
This guide covers the main personal United Airlines credit cards issued by Chase. If you’re a small business owner or freelancer, Chase also offers a range of United business credit cards with benefits tailored for business spending and travel. These business cards can provide additional opportunities to earn United MileagePlus miles and unlock travel perks specifically designed for company expenses.
Keep in mind, this post focuses on personal cards, but it’s worth exploring the business card options if you want to maximize miles across all your spending.
Let’s break down the United Airlines credit cards. Which one fits your travel style?
Now that you know why a United Airlines credit card might be worth it—and that they’re all issued by Chase—let’s look at the four main cards currently available. Each card is designed for a different type of traveler, from casual vacationers to elite frequent flyers.
Here’s how they compare:
United Gateway Credit Card: Best No Annual Fee United Credit Card
Annual Fee: $0
Current Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months (subject to change)
Key Benefits:
- Earn 2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and local transit
- Earn 1x mile on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees — great for international travel
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- No annual fee makes this an ideal starter card for new travel hackers
This card may be right for you if:
You’re new to airline rewards or simply don’t want to pay an annual fee but still want to earn United MileagePlus miles and enjoy basic travel perks.
Note that this card is not eligible to earn PQPs or the new 2026 benefits I’ll outline later in the post.
Insider Tips: I (P1) have a United Gateway credit card in my wallet that I only use for gas. This is not a massive earning card but it’s nice to have for a reason I’ll get into later.
United Explorer Card: The Most Popular Choice for United Loyalists
Annual Fee: $150
Current Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months (subject to change)
Key Benefits:
- Earn 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays
- First checked bag free for you and one companion
- Priority boarding
- 2 United Club one-time passes each year
- Up to $120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit
- Up to 1,000 PQPs annually via spend
This card may be right for you if:
You fly United multiple times a year and want to save on baggage fees, enjoy priority boarding, and collect miles on everyday spending.
Depending on your travel goals, 80,000 miles could potentially get you Polaris seats on a flight.
Insider Tips: This was the first United Airlines credit card both P2 and I opened. At the time, the annual fee was only $95, and we were just starting to really play the travel hacking game. As I mentioned above, I downgraded mine because the perks did not justify the annual fee.
This is also a card I wouldn’t recommend using all the time – dining is typically a higher earner on other cards so the 2x isn’t really a great offer. Higher earning cards include 3x on Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited and 4x on the American Express Gold card.
With the United Club passes, note that not every United Club Lounge is not always accepting one-time passes, particularly at the larger, more busy airports. You may find that perk is hard to use depending on the airports you frequent.
United Quest Card: Higher Rewards (with a Higher Annual Fee)
Annual Fee: $350 (no first-year waiver)
Current Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles plus 5,000 PQPs (Premier Qualifying Points) after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months (subject to change)
Key Benefits:
- Earn 3x miles on United purchases
- Earn 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, gas stations, and transit
- $200 United TravelBank credit annually
- Up to $100 in rideshare credits (Uber, Lyft, etc.) annually
- Up to $150 JSX flight credits annually Up to $150 Renowned Hotels credit annually
- Up to $80 Avis/Budget car rental credits annually
- Instacart+ membership plus monthly Instacart credits (limited-time benefit through 12/31/2027)
- Two free checked bags on United flights Priority boarding and Premier Access benefits
- 10,000-mile annual award flight discount (anniversary benefit)
- Additional 10,000-mile award discount after $20,000 spend in a cardmember year
- Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent on the card, up to 18,000 PQPs per calendar year
- Annual bonus of 1,000 PQPs added to your MileagePlus account each year
- No foreign transaction fees
This card may be right for you if:
You’re a frequent United flyer who wants premium travel credits and perks and is willing to pay a higher annual fee for more rewards and enhanced experiences.
Insider Tips: As mentioned above, the 2x mile multiplier isn’t reason enough to use this card super frequently. This card may be worth it to you for the purchase credit ($350 annual fee – $200 United credit = $150) and then checking your bags on a few flights.
United Club Infinite Credit Card: Premium Perks for Frequent Fliers
Annual Fee: $695 (increased for 2025; no longer waived first year)
Current Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months; an additional 5,000 miles after adding an authorized user and making a purchase within the first 3 months.
Key Benefits:
- Earn 4x miles on United purchases
- Earn 2x miles on all other travel and dining
- Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
- United Club lounge membership with access to United Clubs worldwide + Star Alliance lounges
- Up to $200 in United Hotels (Renowned Hotels & Resorts) credits annually
- Up to $150 in rideshare credits (Uber, Lyft, etc.) annually
- Up to $240 in Instacart credits annually (monthly credits through 2027)
- Up to $200 in JSX flight credits annually
- Up to $100 in United TravelBank credit for Avis/Budget car rentals booked via United
- Two free checked bags on United flights
- Priority check-in, security screening, and boarding (Premier Access)
- 25% back as a statement credit on United inflight purchases and Club premium drinks
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit every 4 years
- Earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year
- Receive 1,500 bonus PQPs annually (awarded each year)
- Annual award flight discount of up to 20,000 miles total (two 10,000-mile discounts per year after spend thresholds)
- Premier upgrades on award tickets (when eligible and status-qualified)
- Visa Infinite concierge services
- Travel protections including primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption, baggage delay, and purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
This card may be right for you if:
You’re a frequent traveler who values lounge access, priority boarding, and enhanced earning potential on United purchases.
Insider Tips: Remember when I said P2 originally got the United Explorer? Well this is the card he has now. Why? We live in Chicago, so we fly out of O’Hare, which means we are always starting at an airport with a United Club. We mainly hold the United card for this lounge access, as it gives us free food and a place to relax before flights. Is all the food amazing? No, but free is free.
It’s also nice that our checked bags are free because we travel with our kids, and they brings a lot of stuff. Now we did have free bags on the United Explorer cards, but we didn’t both need to be paying annual fees for the same benefit. We also both have status on United, which comes with free bags as well.
When he originally got the card, it had the $525 annual fee, but even with the recent increase, we’re planning to keep it in our travel hacking portfolio thanks to the benefits.
It’s important to note you can hold more than one United card. P2 holds both the Club and Quest, meaning he gets 2,500 PQPs every year for holding the cards. He travels more for work than I do, so these PQPs help him continue to achieve Gold status, which benefits our whole family when we travel together.
2026 Update: How United Credit Cards Are Becoming More Valuable
Here’s an important update that’s worth understanding if you’re evaluating a United credit card today.
United has made changes to its MileagePlus program that increasingly favor cardholders.
Expanded Saver Award Access
United has started giving cardholders better access to saver-level award space, including premium cabins in some cases.
Saver awards are typically:
- The lowest mileage pricing
- The best value per mile
Historically, these were limited and hard to find—but now cardholders are seeing improved availability.
Cardholder-Only Pricing
United is also beginning to show different award pricing depending on whether you hold a United credit card.
In some cases:
- Cardholders see lower mileage rates
- Certain saver awards may only appear for cardholders
This creates a meaningful distinction between cardholders and non-cardholders.
Award Discounts for Cardholders
United is also offering automatic discounts on award flights for cardholders (typically around 10% but cardholders with United Status get 15% or more).
While not huge on its own, combined with improved saver access, it enhances overall redemption value.
This is a key reason United credit cards are becoming more relevant in a travel strategy.
Which United Airlines Credit Card Is Right for You?
The answer depends on your travel habits and needs.
Consider:
- Your home airport
- Your travel frequency
- How often you check bags
- Whether you care about lounge access
- How you plan to redeem United MileagePlus miles
If you’re near a United hub like Chicago O’Hare, Newark, or Denver, cards offering lounge access and priority perks might provide more value.
If you’re a casual traveler, the United Gateway Card may be enough.
Frequent travelers will likely benefit more from Explorer, Quest, or Club Infinite cards.
Which United Airlines Credit Card is right for you?
The answer to which United Airlines credit card is best for you really depends on your individual travel habits and needs. Consider your home airport—if you’re near a United hub like Chicago O’Hare, Newark, or Denver, cards offering lounge access and priority perks might provide more value.
Your frequency of travel also matters: occasional flyers may prefer no-annual-fee options like the United Gateway Card, while frequent travelers might benefit from the premium perks of the United Quest or United Club Infinite Cards.
Don’t forget to factor in how often you check bags, since many United cards waive baggage fees for cardholders and companions—a big money saver for families or travelers with lots of luggage. Ultimately, weighing these factors will help you choose the United credit card that aligns with your travel style and maximizes your rewards.
A Little Known Perk of the United Airlines Credit Cards: The 25% Mileage Bonus with the United MileagePlus App
One often overlooked benefit of holding any United Airlines credit card is the 25% bonus miles you earn when using the United MileagePlus X app to make everyday purchases. The app acts as a mobile gift card platform that lets you shop at hundreds of popular retailers while earning extra United miles on top of your card’s base earning rate.
This perk is one reason I chose to downgrade to my United Gateway Card active rather than cancel my United Explorer card completely. Because the Gateway has no annual fee, I lose nothing by keeping it open. And, the 25% mileage kicker through the MileagePlus X app helps me accumulate miles faster with regular spending, making the card a valuable part of my travel rewards strategy.
Should I get a United credit card?
If you’re reading this post, you may already be wondering to yourself, “should I get a United card?” or “Is a United card worth it?” Great place to start. We won’t say there’s one right or wrong answer for everyone. But you may want to consider getting a United card if the following apply to you.
It might be a good fit if you live near a United hub.
United has major hubs in cities like Chicago (ORD), Newark (EWR), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), and San Francisco (SFO). If one of these airports is your home base, you’re probably more likely to fly United regularly, which means you’ll get more value from card perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and MileagePlus earning opportunities. Even if you don’t live near a formal United hub, check the frequency of flight options to see if it still may be a fit. On the other hand, if United doesn’t offer a lot of options at your local airport, you may be better off with a more flexible travel card.
Or if United flies to a destination you care about.
Let’s say you often travel to a city that United serves well (like Tokyo, Honolulu, or Lima), but you don’t live near a United hub. It might still make sense to get the card and book a short positioning flight from your home airport to take advantage of a United route with great award availability or better cash fares. In that case, having a United card can unlock perks like expanded award space and a free checked bag, even if you’re only flying them a few times a year.
If you value perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Even if you fly United just a couple of times a year, the card can pay for itself through perks alone. Most United cards offer one free checked bag for you and a companion on the same reservation: that’s up to $70 in savings per roundtrip. You’ll also get early boarding (Group 2), which means a better shot at overhead bin space and a less rushed experience.
Summary: Choosing the Best United Airlines Credit Card for Your Needs
United Airlines credit cards offer a variety of options tailored to different travel styles and budgets. Whether you’re a casual flyer looking to earn miles on everyday purchases or a frequent traveler aiming to fast-track elite status through Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), there’s a United card that can help you maximize your rewards and travel benefits.
Consider your home airport, travel frequency, baggage needs, and how much value you place on perks like lounge access and travel credits. Don’t forget about lesser-known benefits like the 25% mileage bonus when using the United MileagePlus X app, which can help you earn miles even faster.
Remember, all these cards are issued by Chase and come with features designed to enhance your United Airlines travel experience. By choosing the right card based on your personal travel habits, you can make the most of your United miles.
Ready to find the perfect United credit card for you? Start by evaluating your travel priorities and comparing the card benefits outlined here to see which fits your lifestyle best!