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The Best United credit cards offers
United and Chase have a bunch of personal and business credit cards to chose from, and we’ve complied a list of the very best offers you can find on each and every one of them. Starting in 2024, United announced that card spend will count toward elite status 25 PQP for every $500 in purchases, and it’ll count toward top tier 1K status as well, and if you have more than 1 United card, there isn’t a cap on how many PQPs you can earn.
Peruse down below, and if you happen to know about/see an offer than is better, give us a shout via comment or email and we will update the offer.
One of the best uses of United miles is International business class
- United business class review 77W EWR to TLV
- United business class review 77W GRU to ORD
- United business class review 767 ORD to LHR
United Personal Cards
United Gateway(SM) Card
This is the entry level United Card from Chase that has no annual fee and gets you some basic United benefits like 25% back on food/beverages/Wifi in flight. Personally I would opt for one of the more premium cards like the United(SM) Explorer Card which yields more benefits but comes with an annual fee.
Chase United Gateway(SM) Card
No annual fee and earn 25% back on United in flight beverages or premium beverages in United Clubs
Welcome Offer
20k United Miles after $1k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Points Earned
United Miles
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United(R) purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United(R) purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and on commuting
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 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 Gateway Card
- Member FDIC
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
If you occasionally fly United and you’d like in flight food/beverage discounts, then I guess this is one to consider.
Personally, if you want some real United perks, start with this card’s big brother the United(SM) Explorer Card – it has an annual fee, but there is much more substance to it.
United(SM) Explorer Card
This is a United credit card that could be beneficial to United loyalists since it comes with a free first checked bag for you and a companion, 2 United Club passes each year, priority boarding, and the 25% in flight statement credit for food/beverage/Wifi. You’ll also get a Global Entry/TSA Pre $100 credit every four years you keep the card. Not bad for $95 a year!
Chase United(SM) Explorer Card
The Chase United(SM) Explorer Card offers Free first checked bag, Priority Boarding, 2x United Club passes + 1 year of Comped DashPass.
Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Annual Fee
$0 first year; then $95
Points Earned
United Miles
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United(R) purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck(R) 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.
- You and a companion
- Terms Apply.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Member FDIC
We have seen 70k after $3k spend in 3 months with a waived annual fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
If you occasionally fly on United, but don’t have status or care about earning it, this card could come in handy.
You and a companion get your first checked bag fee waived which could = $140 roundtrip combined, or if you travel alone, $70 roundtrip.
Priority boarding could be helpful in getting overhead space, and you’ll get two United Club passes each year you keep the card.
You’ll get 25% back on food, beverages, WiFi that you purchase on board
United Quest(SM) Card
This is a true premium United credit card that comes with a $250 annual fee. The biggest extras you’ll get come with the $125 United purchase credit and the two 5000 mile award flight credits. These credits are refunds when you book United award flights, so effectively, if you use United miles two times in a year, you’d get 10k miles back. If you bought United flights, you’d get up to $125 back. If you’re spending more than $125 a year on United and taking more than two award flights, it could make sense to have this card over the Explorer since you’re netting out at $125 vs $95 and getting 10k miles redeposited in your account.
*Highest offer ever: 100k after $5k spend in 3 months
Chase United Quest(SM) Card
Chase United Quest(SM) Car is a United Airlines premium card offering $125 flight credit, two 5000 mileage credits, 2 free checked bags, and more.
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus miles + 500 PQP after $4k in 3 months
Annual Fee
$250
Points Earned
United Miles
- $250 Annual Fee
- Earn 3x miles on United(R) purchases
- Earn 2x miles on dining including eligible delivery services, select streaming services, and all other travel
- Earn 1x mile on all other purchases
- 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)
- Two 5K-mile anniversary award flight credits.
- 1st and 2nd bag roundtrip
- For you and companion = up to $320 roundtrip
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges
- Global Entry, TSA Pre Check, 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
- Member FDIC
We have seen up to 100k after $5k spend in 3 months
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
$250 is a lot for an annual fee and the same as the Amex Gold…so you want to make sure you’re extracting value.
The biggest areas you’ll find that value are the $125 United purchase credit and the two 5000 mile award flight credits.
These credits are refunds when you book United award flights, so effectively, if you use United miles two times in a year, you’d get 10k miles back.
If you bought United flights, you’d get up to $125 back.
So…if you’re spending more than $125 a year on United and taking more than two award flights, it could make sense to have this card over the Explorer since you’re netting out at $125 vs $95 and getting 10k miles redeposited in your account.
If you value United miles around 1.25 cents a piece, you’d effectively erase the annual fee
You could also consider the perk of getting 2 free checked bags roundtrip, for you an a companion, but in all honesty…how often are you checking two bags?
Enjoying the United Polaris Pajamas I was given on my flight from Newark to Tel Aviv, Israel
United Club(SM) Infinite Card
This is the flagship United credit card and really only makes sense if you travel a lot on United and want lounge access. Typically, lounge access is going to cost you $650 a year, but this card comes with it as a perk and costs $550. The other big perk, and this is really important if you like United but don’t have status, is the 2 free checked bags for you and a companion. Those fees could add up fast, and with status requiring higher and higher spend, could end up saving you quite a bit of money.
Other notable benefits: You’ll also get IHG Platinum status and 10% back on Economy Saver flights
*highest offer ever: 120k after $6k spend in 3 months
Chase United Club(SM) Infinite Card
The Chase United Club(SM) Infinite Card comes with United Club access, IHG Platinum status, 10% off on saver flights, 2 free checked bags, and the ability to earn PQPs via spend to help earn United status
Welcome Offer
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
Points Earned
United Miles
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
- United Club Membership
- $525 Annual Fee
- United Premier Access
- Earn 500 Premier Qualifying points for every $12k spend you put on the card
- maxed at 8,000 PQP ( goes to 10,000 PQPs in 2024 )
- IHG Rewards Platinum Status
- $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre credit
- 1st and 2nd checked bag is free
- Clear perks
- Up to 4k PQPs via spend
- 10% back on Economy Saver Award tickets
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- 25% back as a statement credit on premium drink purchases made in United Clubs with their United Card.
- 4x United Miles on:
- Gas
- Office Supplies
- Restaurants
- And Local Transit ( to include taxis, mass transit, tolls, and ridesare)
- 2x United Miles on
- travel
- restaurants
- eligible food delivery services, including Caviar, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Seamless
- No blackout dates
- Member FDIC
- No foreign transaction fees
We have seen 120k after $6k in 3 months
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
This is the flagship United credit card and really only makes sense if you travel a lot on United and want lounge access.
Typically, lounge access is going to cost you $650 a year, but this card comes with it as a perk and only has an annual fee of $550.
The other big perk, and this is really important if you like United but don’t have status, is the 2 free checked bags for you and a companion. Those fees could add up fast, and with status requiring higher and higher spend, could end up saving you quite a bit of money.
Other notable benefits: You’ll also get IHG Platinum status with a $75 statement credit towards IHG hotel purchases and 10% back on Economy Saver flights
Swiss business class is a great use of United miles as well..starting at 70k from the US to Europe
United Business Cards
Chase United(SM) Business Card
This card is kind of the business version of the United Explorer card. It comes with a $100 United travel credit if you buy more than 7 flights, 2 United Club passes, first checked bag for you and a companion, and if you carry it alongside a United personal card, you’ll get 5000 bonus miles. For $99 a year, I’d say this is a better card than the Explorer and doesn’t count against your Chase 5/24 number.
*highest offer ever: 150k after $20k spend in 6 months
Chase United(SM) Business Card
Chase United(SM) Business Card comes with United perks including first free checked bag for you and a companion, 2 United Club passes per year, and a $100 United credit if you fly United more than 7x in a year
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
Annual Fee
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Points Earned
United Miles
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99.
- Receive a 5,000-mile “better together” bonus each anniversary when you have both the UnitedSM Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card
- 2x United Miles on:
- Gas
- Office Supplies
- Restaurants
- And Local Transit ( to include taxis, mass transit, tolls, and ridesare)
- $100 annual United(R) travel credit after seven United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year
- 25% back on United inflight purchases (includes Wi-Fi, food and beverages)
- No blackout dates
- 1st checked bag is free
- Priority boarding as a cardholder
- 2 United ClubSM one-time passes
- This is on account opening
- Every year on your account anniversary
- No foreign transaction fees
- Add employee cards fee-free
- Member FDIC
We’ve seen 150k after $20k spend in 6 months
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
This card is kind of the business version of the United Explorer card.
It comes with a $100 United travel credit if you buy more than 7 flights in a year.
It also comes with 2 United Club passes, first checked bag for you and a companion, and if you carry it alongside a United personal card, you’ll get 5000 bonus miles.
For $99 a year, I’d say this is a better card than the Explorer and doesn’t count against your Chase 5/24 number.
United ClubSM Business Card
This is the business version of the Club Infinite card that comes with complimentary United Club access for just $450 a year vs $650 if you bought United Club access without the card. It also comes with Avis President’s Club status ( top tier ), Premier Access on United which includes expedited check-in, early boarding, more award space, and you even get primary rental car coverage.
*highest ever was 100k after $10k spend in 3 months
- United Club Access
Non-affiliate
Information about this card has been collected independently by Monkey Miles. Card issuer is not responsible for the information or accuracy.
United Club(SM) Business Card
The United ClubSM Business Card comes with United Club access, Avis President’s Club, Premier access and primary rental car coverage.
Welcome Offer
50k United Miles after $5k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$450
Points Earned
United Miles
- United Club membership ( $650 value )
- $450 annual fee
- 2x on United purchases
- 1.5x everywhere else
- 2 free checked bags
- Premier Access
- Priority boarding
- Expanded award availability
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- 500 PQP after every $12k you spend
- up to 1000 PQP per year
- Avis President’s Club status
- DoorDash Dash Pass
- Get one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both Doordash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Activate by 12/31/24.*
- Primary rental car insurance
- Trip delay, cancellation
- Baggage delay, loss
- Purchase protection
- No foreign transaction fees
We have seen 100k after $10k in 3 months
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists what the highest offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
This is the business version of the Club Infinite card that comes with complimentary United Club access for just $450 a year vs $650 if you bought United Club access without the card. It also comes with Avis President’s Club status ( top tier ), Premier Access on United which includes expedited check-in, early boarding, more award space, and you even get primary rental car coverage.
This is hands down the best United card when it comes to perks.
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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