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If you’re hoping to add some United MileagePlus frequent flyer miles to your account, now’s a great time to take a look at the airline’s family of credit cards. With some strong — and increased — offers on all five credit cards, earning miles for a future vacation is easier than ever. And with so many different options, there’s bound to be a card option that fits your needs.
If you’re a United road warrior, the luxury United Club℠ Infinite Card is offering 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months from account opening. This card sports a pricey $525 annual fee but features complimentary access to the worldwide United Club lounge network, along with a number of other high-end perks.
But if you’re not looking to spend that much on a single card, although you still want favorable benefits, the United Quest℠ Card is another option for the frequent United flyer. The card currently comes with 70,000 bonus miles plus 500 Premier Qualifying Points after you spend $4,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months after opening the account. The card has a $250 annual fee, but also comes with several credits and elite perks.
On the other hand, if you only fly United only once in a while, the United℠ Explorer Card — which has no annual fee for the first year, then a $95 annual fee starting the second year you have it — is currently offering new card holders 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months your account is open.
And if you rarely fly United but want to earn some United MileagePlus miles, the no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card currently offers new card holders 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months your account is open. That’s a solid sign-up bonus for a card that never has an annual fee, even after the first year.
Alternatively, those eligible for a business card can look into the United℠ Business Card with its 50,000 miles bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months. This business card also comes with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99 — a great way to try out the card without spending any money upfront.
All five of these cards earn United MileagePlus miles, which are easily redeemed on United as well as for flights on the airline’s 20-plus Star Alliance partners. While United uses a dynamic pricing structure instead of a fixed award chart to price award tickets, the airline’s website is adept at finding partner airline inventory, which makes it easy to see route options, find seats and confirm your next award trip.
United Explorer credit card: Flight perks and rewards
With domestic United award tickets starting as low as 5,000 miles one-way, 50,000 bonus miles from the personal United Explorer Card could cover 10 tickets at the lowest rate, meaning you could take your whole family on a sorely-needed vacation.
You’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend on United with the United Explorer Card, as well as at restaurants (including eligible delivery services) and on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel. The card then earns 1 mile per dollar on everything else you buy.
However, these earning rates aren’t generally best in class. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on all travel (or 5 total points if purchased through Ultimate Rewards) and not just on United flights or hotels. Plus, you can convert Chase points to United miles at a 1-to-1 ratio, as well as to 13 other airline and hotel transfer partners.
But with the United Explorer Card, you’ll also get a number of perks when you’re flying United that you can’t get with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The card features a free checked bag for you (and one for a companion on the same reservation), a pair of one-time United Club lounge passes each year (that would cost you $59 each otherwise), 25% back on United in-flight purchases, priority boarding on United-operated flights and one-year DashPass membership (must activate by 12/31/2024).
Also, you can earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward United elite status (up to Platinum level) for every $12,000 spent on the United Explorer Card, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs per calendar year. However, in 2024, United is making it easier to earn PQPs with credit card spend, where you’ll earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent on the card.
The United Explorer Card also has no foreign transaction fees, so it’s safe to use it overseas as international travel resumes. And those hoping to sign up for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS will also appreciate the up to $100 fee reimbursement on the card.
Learn more and apply now for the United Explorer Card.
United Club Infinite credit card: Elite VIP perks
If you’re a United fanatic and fly on the airline constantly, or you plan to make it your primary carrier in the near future, then you may find the benefits of the United Club Infinite Card are well worth the cost.
With the United Club Infinite Card, you’ll earn the same 2 miles per dollar on restaurants and eligible food delivery services as you do with the United Explorer card. But in addition, you’ll get 2 miles per dollar on all travel (not just hotels) and 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, along with 1 mile per dollar on everything else you buy.
Plus, not only does the United Club Infinite Card offer a complimentary United Club membership, but it also comes with not one, but two free checked bags for both you and a companion on the same reservation when you’re flying United, along with Premier Access — which includes priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding and baggage handling — and 25% back on United in-flight purchases.
You’ll also have access to up to a $100 fee reimbursement when applying for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS, a one-year DashPass membership, which offers $0 delivery fee (on orders over $12) at thousands of eligible restaurants (must activate by 12/31/24) and no foreign transaction fees.
Cardmembers also have the ability to earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points toward United elite status for every $12,000 spent on the card, up to a maximum of 8,000 PQPs per calendar year. However, in 2024, United is making it even easier to earn PQPs from credit card spend, as you’ll earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent on the card, with a maximum of PQPs earned on the Infinite card.
Card holders can also receive complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status by registering here. And for right now, card holders get up to $75 in statement credits for IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases charged to your card from Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023.
Learn more and apply now for the United Club Infinite Card.
United Gateway credit card: An airline card for beginners
If you aren’t much of a regular traveler but want to earn some airline miles, you might consider the United Gateway Card, which replaced the old United TravelBank Card. It doesn’t have all the perks of the United Explorer card, but it also doesn’t have an annual fee, so you can earn United miles without having to pay each year just to have the card.
When it comes to earning miles, the United Gateway Card does have a number of bonus categories. It earns 2 miles for every dollar you spend on United Airlines purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. The card earns 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Two perk that carries over from the United Explorer card to the United Gateway Card is a 25% rebate on all United in-flight purchases and one-year DashPass membership (must activate by 12/31/2024). Surprisingly, the card also carries no foreign transaction fees, which is somewhat unusual for a no-annual-fee card, but certainly welcome.
Learn more and apply now for the United Gateway Card.
United Quest credit card: More miles for United loyalists
While the bonus offer is the first thing most people will notice about the United Quest Card, it also comes with a number of perks that can be rewarding if you’re a regular United flyer.
First, every year you have the card (including the first year) you can get up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases that you charge to your card. This can even include tickets, so it’s easy to use this entire credit each year just by buying one flight that costs $125 or more. And if you can use the entire credit, you’re effectively only paying $125 annually for the card.
Then, starting with the second year you have the United Quest Card, whenever you take a United or United Express flight that you book with United miles, you’ll get 5,000 miles back in your account, up to two times each year you have the card. The award flight doesn’t even have to cost 5,000 miles to get the 5,000 miles back, so if you book United awards even twice a year, you can benefit from this perk.
You can also rack up even more United miles just by using the card. The United Quest Card earns 3 miles for every dollar you spend on United purchases; 2 miles per dollar at restaurants, on select streaming services and all other travel; and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
And when you’re traveling on a United-operated flight, you’ll be able to check both a first and second bag for free when you have the United Quest Card. This perk even extends to a companion traveling with you on the same reservation, which can mean a substantial savings.
Other perks of the United Quest Card include a fee credit of up to $100 for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS membership, priority boarding when flying United, 25% back on United in-flight purchases, one-year DashPass membership (must activate by 12/31/2024) and no foreign transaction fees.
Additionally, cardmembers have the ability to earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with the card (up to 6,000 PQPs in a calendar year). Although, in 2024, United is changing the earning, where you’ll receive 25 PQPs for every $500 spent on the card.
Overall, it’s a decent package for people who are relatively loyal to United but aren’t road warriors who expect to fly constantly.
Learn more and apply now for the United Quest Card.
United Business credit card: Great for business owners
Finally, the United Business Card is another way to rack up some United miles. And the fact that the card comes with a $0 introductory annual fee the first year, then $99, is a nice way to start off with a new credit card. Beyond the sign-up offer, the card earns 2 miles for every dollar you spend on local transit and commuting, including train tickets, taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share services. It also earns 2 miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases, at gas stations, restaurants and at office supply stores, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
In comparison, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 3 points for every dollar you spend on all travel (or 10 total points on hotels and car rentals and 5 total points on air travel if purchased through Ultimate Rewards), and you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a 1-to-1 ratio. However, the Sapphire Reserve carries an extremely high annual fee. In other words, you pay more for the privilege of earning more.
With the United Business Card, you’ll also get a free checked bag when you fly United (and one for a companion on the same reservation), a pair of one-time United Club lounge passes each year (which would cost you $59 each otherwise), 25% back on United inflight purchases, and priority boarding on United-operated flights.
And for avid United flyers, there’s a single perk that essentially cancels out this credit card’s already-low $99 annual fee: After seven United flight purchases of $100 or more charged to the card, cardholders receive a $100 annual United travel credit.
Also, here’s a key element important for business owners: You can add employee cards at no additional cost and set individual spending limits on a per-card basis. This allows owners to personally accrue miles from employee spending (though be aware that savvy employees may push to use their own cards, where they earn points and miles themselves, and expense the purchases instead). The United Business Card also has no foreign transaction fees, so it’s safe to use on overseas purchases.
Plus, if you already hold a personal Chase-issued United credit card, or if you’re intrigued by one of the personal United credit card offers listed here, here’s another perk that may interest you. United will hand over 5,000 additional miles each year as a “better together” bonus when you have both the United Business Card and a personal Chase United credit card.
Just be mindful of applying for too many credit cards in rapid succession, and consider the rules banks employ for people who quickly pick up a lot of cards. For instance, Chase — the bank that issues United credit cards — won’t approve any new credit cards for people who have already gotten five or more credit cards across all banks in the previous 24 months. This is colloquially known as Chase’s 5/24 rule.
Learn more and apply now for the United Business Card.
Use these United credit card offers to stash away miles
Even if you haven’t been traveling, you can pick up one of these cards today, earn the sign-up bonus and use the miles down the road not just for United flights but for flights on any of United’s airline partners as well. Just keep in mind that you’ll typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for these cards.
So if you want to lock down a nice haul of United miles in preparation for a vacation in the near future, take a look at these offers now and consider if they make sense for you.
Check out CNN Underscored’s guide to the best credit cards currently available.
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