Summary
- The Star Alliance is the largest airline alliance, offering various credit cards, like United Quest Card from Chase Bank.
- The United Explorer Card, also from Chase Bank, provides one-time access to United Club and impressive welcome bonuses.
- The Aeroplan Credit Card, provided through Chase Bank, allows passengers to earn points through Air Canada’s loyalty program with a bonus point opportunity.
The Star Alliance was the world’s first global airline alliance, launched in May 1997. Today, it remains the world’s largest airline alliance by market share. 27 years later, the organization has become an intricately designed web of airlines, which operate over 17.3% of global flights and collectively maintain thousands of aircraft.
While each Star Alliance carrier has its own loyalty program and elite status system, the entire alliance also does, allowing loyal passengers access to all airlines’ facilities and premium experiences. As a result, Star Alliance Airlines offers dozens of different credit cards, even in the United States, the home of just one member airline, United Airlines.
It may seem counterintuitive to open an account with a credit card for a foreign airline in the United States, but this can make sense under many circumstances. In this article, we will examine the five Star Alliance credit cards that offer the best rewards.
5
United Quest Card
Offered through: Chase Bank
Accrual schedule:
- 3 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel bookings through United
- 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- 2 miles per $1 spent on select streaming sites
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
If you are looking to rapidly ascend through United’s various elite status tiers, the best card to look for is the United Quest Card, which its distinctive purple color can identify. In addition to a generous accrual schedule, the card also comes with an annual fee of $250, which is low for a card offering such rewards.
Photo: United Airlines
The company’s welcome bonus for the card is fairly generous: 60,000 bonus miles after cardholders make $4,000 in qualifying purchases. According to Chase Bank, passengers who meet the minimum spending requirements will also be offered 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).
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These cards all offer generous sign-up bonuses.
These PQPs offer passengers a nice boost when attempting to build elite status, which begins at 4,000 PQPs. All premier silver members are offered Star Alliance silver status, while the rest are offered Star Alliance gold.
4
United Explorer Card
Offered through: Chase Bank
Accrual schedule:
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United Airlines purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible hotel stays
- 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United’s most standard cobranded credit card likely offers the best bang for your buck. With an annual fee of just $95, which is waived in the first year, the card also offers one-time access vouchers for the United Club, the carrier’s premium lounge.
Photo: United Airlines
In addition to a healthy accrual schedule, the card offers passengers an impressive welcome bonus of 50,000 miles, which is offered to cardholders who spend a minimum of $3,000 on the card within the first three months of an open account. Passengers can also accrue status with the card, with 25 PQPs offered for each $500 spent on the card, up to 1,000 in a year.
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3
Aeroplan Credit Card
Offered through: Chase Bank
Accrual schedule:
- 3 points per $1 spent at grocery stores
- 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services)
- 3 points per $1 spent directly on bookings with Air Canada
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Aeroplan Credit Card allows cardholders to earn points through the loyalty program of Star Alliance carrier Air Canada. Uniquely, the card also allows passengers to earn 500 bonus points per month on each $2,000 worth of expenses (up to 1,500 bonus points per month).
In addition, passengers are offered a hefty welcome bonus of 70,000 points after making $3,000 worth of purchases on the card. Those holding the card can also redeem points for statement credit at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.
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2
Miles & More World Elite Mastercard
Offered through: Barclays
Accrual schedule:
- 2 miles per $1 spent on Lufthansa purchases
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Photo: Barclays
Regarding Star Alliance credit cards, the Miles & More World Elite Mastercard stands out as one of the few that allows consumers in the United States to accrue miles with the European Lufthansa Group. The card comes with a generous welcome bonus of 50,000 miles after $3,000 is spent on the card within the first 90 days.
1
avianca American Express Elite Card
Offered through: American Express
Accrual schedule:
- 3 miles per $1 spent on all avianca purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on restaurants and other dining
- 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel-related expenses
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purposes
Photo: Jonathan E Hendry | Simple Flying
With an annual fee of $250, the latest cobranded credit card from Colombian flag carrier avianca offers several benefits, including up to 100,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases, which are on the heftier side at $4,500 in the first 90 days and 25,000 in the first calendar year. Additionally, opening either of the new cards will provide a passenger with automatic Star Alliance silver status.
Which of these cards do you think is the most rewarding? Let us know in the comments!