The Best United Airlines Credit Cards - CreditCards.com (2023)

If you fly regularly with United Airlines or live near Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark or San Francisco, the airline's hubs, getting a United Airlines credit card can make a lot of sense.

A United credit card can not only help you make moneyMilhas MileagePlusfaster, but you can also get some useful perks, including free checked baggage.

United Airlines currently offers several United co-branded credit cards for individuals or small business owners. But how do you know which are the best United Airlines credit cards?

Our guide aims to help you compare options so that you end up finding the right one.airline credit cardfor your needs and destinations.

See related:United MileagePlus Restaurant Guide

United Airlines Credit Card Guide

MapAwardBonus when registeringannual quota
United Gateway℠-Karte
  • 2 miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases
  • 2 miles per dollar at gas stations and on public transportation and commuting
  • 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
  • Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
$ 0
United Club℠ Infinite-Karte
  • 4 miles per dollar on United purchases
  • 2 miles per dollar for all other travel
  • 2 miles per dollar on meals (including eligible delivery services like Grubhub, Caviar, Seamless, and DoorDash)
  • 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
  • 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
$ 525
United℠ Explorer-Karte
  • 2 miles per dollar on United hotels, restaurants and tickets purchased directly
  • 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, including qualifying delivery services
  • 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
  • 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
$95, $0 for the first year
United Quest℠-Karte
  • 3 miles per mile on United purchases
  • 2 miles per mile on meals, select streaming services and all other travel
  • 1 mile per mile on all other purchases
  • 70,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of your account
$ 250
United℠ business card*
  • 2 miles to the dollar on public transit and commuting, including train tickets, cabs, public transit, tolls, and rideshare
  • 2 miles per dollar at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores
  • 2 miles per dollar on United purchases
  • 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
  • 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
$99, $0 for the first year
United Club business card*
  • Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United
  • Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all other purchases
  • 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
$ 450

Preferably without annuity:United Gateway℠-Karte

if you are looking for onetravel credit cardwithout annuity, theUnited Gateway℠-KarteHe is United's best (and only) option. This card starts with 20,000 bonus miles (after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months, your account is opened). You also earn:

  • 2 miles per dollar on United flights, gas and transit purchases, and commuting
  • 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

In addition to no annual fees, other United Airlines credit card benefits include a 25% discount on inflight purchases and no international transaction fees. This means that this card is quite limited in terms of benefits, but this is normal with credit cards with no annual fee.

Best for casual travelers:United℠ Explorer-Karte

If United is your airline of choice and you're willing to invest in an annual membership card to get more benefits, it's best to choose this one.United℠ Explorer-Karte. First, you can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening an account. Regarding daily expenses, you can charge:

  • 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, meals including delivery and pickup, and hotels with direct booking
  • 1 mile for every dollar spent on other purchases

United Airlines credit card benefits include two United Club Passes, one free first checked bag, up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership credit, Priority Boarding, 25% off onboard purchases, andno foreign transaction fees. These benefits are not only ideal for United frequent flyers who want a convenient travel experience, but can also help cardholders save money. This card has a $95 annual fee, but the first year is waived.

Best for United Frequent Flyers:United Quest℠-Karte

Chase's latest addition to United's card offering could be a good fit for you if you're a frequent flyer. Despite the $250 annual fee, theUnited Quest℠-KartePerks can provide a lot of value and help you save money when traveling.

The card offers up to $125 in credit for United purchases, such as airline tickets and incidentals, as well as 5,000 credit miles twice a year when you complete an award-eligible flight on United, starting on your card's first anniversary. . In addition, you will receive a first and second checked bag free of charge for you and your companion when purchasing airfare with the card and up to $100 travel credit every four years.Global entry is TSA Precheckregistration fee.

As for the rewards, this is what you get:

  • 3 miles per mile on United purchases
  • 2 miles per mile for meals, select streaming services and all other travel
  • 1 mile per mile on all other purchases

Perhaps one of the best features of the United Quest Card is its incredibly generous sign-up bonus offer. You can earn 70,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Best for United's Big Donors:United Club℠ Infinite-Karte

If you spend a lot of money on United and fly with the airline all the time, you probably want a card that lets you earn tons of miles while still enjoying a convenient travel experience. HeUnited Club℠ Infinite-Karteit's perfect in any case. This card replaces an earlier version of the United Club Card but offers even better rewards and benefits designed specifically for luxury travelers.

As a cardholder, you get:

  • 4 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines
  • 2 miles per dollar spent on meals (including pickup and delivery) and travel
  • 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening

In terms of benefits, you won't be disappointed. Not only does this card get you membership to the airline's United Club lounges (worth $650), but when you travel internationally, it gives you access to lounges on all Star Alliance member airlines, including Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa. Meanwhile, you'll also get two free checked bags for you and one companion on the same reservation, plus priority check-in, priority boarding, priority security, 25% off onboard purchases, and no international transaction fees. You will also receive up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership credit.

This card has one big downside: it costs an annual fee of $525.

See related:When is it worth paying the credit card annual fee?

Best United Card for Small Business Owners:United℠ business card

If you are a small business owner, you can apply for one of two United Airlines business credit cards. HeUnited℠ business card* It is a good choice for small business owners who travel several times a month for business or pleasure due to cardholder benefits and low annual fee.

Initially, you will earn 75,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account. You also earn:

  • 2 miles per dollar spent on groceries, United pickup and delivery, gas stations, office supply stores, local transportation, and commuting
  • 1 mile for every dollar spent on other purchases

Like all good United Airlines credit card deals, the United Business Card offers a number of perks, including 5,000 miles each year on the cardholder's birthday when loading a United Airlines business credit card and a credit card. . You also get two exclusive United Club Passes, a free first checked bag, priority boarding, a $100 United travel credit when you make at least seven United purchases of $100 or more each year, 25% discount on retail purchases. . There is an annual fee of $99 ($0 annual fee for the first year).

Best United Card for Business Travelers: United Club Business Card

Finally, United Airlines offers a perfect business credit card for frequent business travelers who want to earn tons of miles and real-time lounge access. The United Club Business* credit card starts at 50,000 miles when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening an account. You will also collect:

  • 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases
  • 1.5 miles to everything else

Although this card has a $450 annual fee, you are getting great value when it comes to the benefits you get. You don't get just oneUnited Club Subscriptionvalued at $650, but you get a free first and second checked bag, priority check-in, security screening and baggage handling, 25% off on inflight purchases, and no international transaction fees.

Who should get a United Airlines credit card?

The best United Airlines credit card deals make it easy to earn miles for every dollar you spend, and most offer a generous bonus if you meet a minimum spending requirement. That said, United Airlines credit cards are really best for people who are loyal to the airline or those who live in a United hub and often fly accordingly with the airline.

If you're not loyal to United Airlines or want more options for redeeming your points, consider one too.Chase travel credit cardThis allows you to transfer your points to United on a 1:1 basis or exchange them for other types of travel.

As an example, both theChase Saphir-ReservaYChase Sapphire Preferred Cardyou can earn points that can be transferred to United and other airline and hotel partners like Southwest, British Airways, Emirates, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and more. Chase credit cards also allow you to redeem points for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, giving you even more flexibility.

See related:How to earn and use Chase Ultimate Rewards points

How much are United miles worth?

Based on our internal comparisons, United miles areworth about 1.5 cents each. That means 60,000 miles are usually worth around $900. However, please note that you may receive more value when you redeem miles for award flights or international flights.

Fortunately, there are many ways to enjoy your United miles, whether you're traveling the world or enjoying a relaxing trip closer to home.

*All United Commercial Card and United Club Commercial Card information has been independently collected by CreditCards.com and has not been verified by the issuer. These offers are no longer available on our website.

Editorial disclaimer

The editorial content on this site is based solely on the objective judgment of our authors and is not driven by advertising dollars. Not provided or commissioned by credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation if you click on links to products from our partners.

Dana Dragschis a personal finance and lifestyle writer who enjoys talking about money and credit. He also writes Red Herring Mysteries (for Kensington Books), in which money often plays a role as a motive. Contact them at: @ReadAboutMoney.

Emilio ShermanHe is a senior editor at CreditCards.com, focusing on news and product recommendations. She is also one of the founders of To Her Credit, a biweekly series of financial tips for women by women. When you're not writing about credit cards, you're using your own points and miles to plan your next great vacation.

holly johnsonis a finance expert and award-winning author obsessed with economics, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as editor of The Simple Dollar, Johnson is the owner of Club Thrifty and co-author of Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love.

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