Best Airline Credit Cards for United Flyers in 2024

Name: Best Credit Cards for United Flyers in 2024
Item: Best Credit Cards for United Flyers in 2024
Author: Rajiv Baniwal

Chase provides co-branded cards with United for personal and business use. The best credit cards for United flyers come with sizable spend-based welcome bonuses. Added perks and benefits depend on the annual fee you’re prepared to pay.

ByRajiv Baniwal

Reviewed byLee Huffman

Updated: March 14, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

All credit cards for United flyers come from Chase. Depending on the card you get, you might earn a significant number of bonus miles by meeting specific spending criteria as a new cardholder. Using these cards outside of the U.S. is perfect because they come with no foreign transaction fees.

The airline and airport benefits you stand to enjoy are not the same across all cards. For instance, while the top United credit cards let you check one or two bags for free, the no-annual-fee United Gateway Credit Card does not offer this benefit.

Other factors that need your attention when selecting a suitable United credit card include miles per dollar rates across different bonus categories, annual fees and APRs.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 3 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Airline Credit Cards

MoneyGeek's Take: Top 3 Credit Cards for United Flyers

Quick Summary

The number of miles you earn varies based on the card you get and category-based spending. Bonus miles for new cardmembers also differ from one card to the next. We have selected the best credit cards for United flyers after considering these factors as well as others such as APRs, annual fees, airport/airline benefits and added perks. You can view more options further down the page.

United Explorer Card
A good miles-earning rewards credit card with some perks and no foreign transaction fees
- 1–2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.99% - 28.99% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the United Explorer Card to people who wish to earn miles faster without having to pay a steep annual fee. This card comes with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 after that.
You get to earn 2X miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases as well as on a few other bonus categories. All cardholders get access to priority boarding and may check their first bags for free on United flights. You also get up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees every four years. Using this card outside of the U.S. makes sense as it charges no foreign transaction fees.
Additional benefits come in the form of 25% back on in-flight purchases, purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Pros
No transaction fees
Earn miles
Travel perks
Welcome bonuses
Intro annual fee

Cons
$95 annual fee
High APR
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
Member FDIC
Learn more about this card
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
An excellent card for earning United’s MileagePlus miles
- 1–4 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 21.99% - 28.99% VariableAPR
- $525Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
The United Club℠ Infinite Card stands out for frequent flyers, especially those loyal to United Airlines. It offers an impressive bonus miles opportunity and rewards generously on United, travel and dining expenses. The card's standout feature is its range of complimentary travel perks, including checked bags and flight discounts, enhancing the overall travel experience. However, it's tailored more towards high spenders due to its significant annual fee and high credit requirements.
Pros
Generous bonus miles offer
Potentially high rewards on United, travel and dining purchases
Complimentary travel perks
With discounts on United flights

Cons
Substantial annual fee
High variable APR
Main rewards focused on United spending
High credit requirement
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months
Earn 4 miles for every $1 spent on United® transactions
Earn 2 miles per dollar on all other travel
Earn 2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services like GrubHub, Caviar, Seamless and DoorDash)
Earn 1 mile for each $1 spent on all additional purchases
Complimentary first and second checked bags offering savings up to $320 per roundtrip (conditions apply), along with Premier Access® travel amenities
Benefit from a 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada
Opportunity to earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points, with 500 PQP per $12K spent
Regular APR ranges between 21.99% and 28.99% (variable)
Annual fee of $525
Member FDIC
Learn more about this card
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
United Quest℠ Card
A good choice for United Airlines flyers looking to earn more miles and enjoy some travel perks
- 1–3 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.99% - 28.99% VariableAPR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Chase United Quest℠ Card is best suited for frequent United flyers. While you need to pay a $250 annual fee toward this card, it comes with several benefits that include a spend-based welcome bonus offer.
This card offers three miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases and two miles per dollar on a few bonus categories such as travel and dining. All cardholders get priority boarding when flying United, and they get to check two bags for free. Further, you stand to earn a $125 United purchase credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits every year.
In-flight purchases come with 25% back. You get a statement credit toward Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fees. This card also comes with purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Pros
New cardholder welcome bonus
$125 annual statement credit for United purchases
Up to two flight credits per account anniversary
Free first and second checked bags
Priority boarding
No foreign transaction fee

Cons
$250 annual fee
High APR
No lounge access
Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)
Member FDIC
Learn more about this card
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Summary of the Best Airline Cards for United Flyers

Check this United credit card comparison table to look at how all the top cards from this category fare against each other across parameters such as who these cards are best suited for, reward rates, annual fee and the credit needed to apply.

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
United Explorer Card
A good miles-earning rewards credit card with some perks and no foreign transaction fees
1–2 Miles per $1*
$95
United Club℠ Infinite Card
An excellent card for earning United’s MileagePlus miles
1–4 Miles per $1*
$525
United Quest℠ Card
A good choice for United Airlines flyers looking to earn more miles and enjoy some travel perks
1–3 Miles per $1
$250
United℠ Business Card
Solid travel card for United fans
1–2 Miles per $1*
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
United Gateway Card
A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
1 Mile per $1
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

In addition to United co-branded cards, credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, can transfer to United on a 1:1 basis with no fees. This is an additional way to earn extra United miles, while also receiving other perks that United cards do not offer. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Airline Credit Cards & Intro Offers

The best credit cards for United flyers come with various card-specific features and benefits. As a result, selecting one that works well for you requires paying attention to different aspects.

Welcome offer

The top United credit cards give new cardholders the opportunity to earn bonus miles by meeting some spending-based requirements. For example, while one card might offer 20,000 bonus miles if you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months, another may let you earn 80,000 bonus miles if you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Miles per dollar

United credit cards come with bonus categories, although the miles you stand to earn depend on the card you get. For instance, while the United Explorer Card offers up to 2 miles per dollar on category-based spending, the United Club Infinite Card offers up to 4 miles per dollar on its bonus categories.

Annual fees

The annual fee you pay has a direct bearing on the features and benefits on offer. On the lower end of the spectrum is the no-annual-fee United Gateway Card Credit Card. The United Club Infinite Card, on the other hand, charges an annual fee of $525. While its annual fee is higher, the additional benefits of the United Club Infinite Card make it worthwhile for some United flyers.

APRs

You’ll want to take note of the annual percentage rate (APR) you’ll need to pay if you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account from one month to the next. If this is the case, you might benefit by looking at what low APR cards have to offer.

Foreign transaction fees

None of the existing credit cards for United flyers charge foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for use outside of the U.S. However, this cannot be said of new cards that might enter this segment.

Airline/airport benefits

Airport- and airline-specific benefits vary from one United card to the next — and this is where the annual fee comes into play. For example, the Chase United Quest℠ Card with a $250 annual fee offers up to 3 miles per dollar on bonus categories. The United Club Infinite Card, on the other hand, lets you earn up to 4 miles per dollar on bonus categories. While both these cards let you check two bags for free, it changes to one bag with the United Explorer Card. Some of the other benefits you may look forward to include statement credits, anniversary award flight credits and priority boarding.

Other perks

Other card-specific perks might come in the form of cash back on in-flight purchases, purchase protection, extended warranty and different levels of travel insurance coverage. The United℠ Business Card lets you get employee cards at no extra cost.