United Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world today, serving six continents and having the highest number of flights of any airline on Transpacific and Transatlantic routes. Today, its fleet has grown to over 800 aircraft, and its order book is significant, with Boeing having most of the orders. Late last year, United took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft in over twenty years, adding the A321neo to its operations. As one of the founding members of the Star Alliance, the world’s first alliance, members of MileagePlus have access to several airlines worldwide.
Related
United Airlines’ MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program: The Simple Flying Guide
Everything you need to know about the United Airlines frequent flyer program.
United’s MileagePlus program is one of the biggest frequent flier programs worldwide and has some great perks. Of course, like several loyalty programs, there are several ways to earn MileagePlus miles, like flying United, using its credit cards, or even flying on partner airlines. United has partnered with Chase Bank, the largest bank in the United States, to offer airline-branded credit cards. Currently, there are four personal credit cards available and two for business accounts.
Banks tend to run special sign-up bonus promotions several times throughout the year, and Chase is currently running a promotion on its four personal United cards. The four cards and their annual fees are listed below:
|
Card |
Annual fee |
|
United Gateway Credit Card |
$0 |
|
United Explorer Card |
$0 for the first year, then $95 |
|
United Quest Card |
$250 |
|
United Club Infinite Card |
$525 |
Speaking on the current sign-up bonuses, Laurinda Rainey, Managing Director and General Manager of United Cobrand Cards at Chase, told Simple Flying,
“The United Family of Cards from Chase is consistently bringing more exciting travel experiences to consumers through card rewards and benefits. The elevated welcome bonus is the perfect opportunity for cardmembers to get the most out of travel this summer by growing their miles for future reward travel.”
To break down the bonuses currently available for each card, and their earning rates, we will start with the Gateway card which has the lowest fee and then move our way up.
United Gateway Credit Card
The United Gateway Credit Card has no annual fee and is an introductory-level card. Perfect for those who are not accustomed to using credit cards and are put off by annual fees, the Gateway Card currently has a sign-up bonus of 30,000 miles, enough for a transatlantic flight, even from some West Coast hubs, depending on the time of year. In order to earn the 30,000 mile bonus, cardholders must spend $1,000 within the first three months of opening the account.
Photo: Chase
The Gateway Card has several benefits and different earnings rates depending on the spend category; for example, purchases of United flights earn seven points per dollar and two points per dollar on any other United purchases like inflight WiFi or beverages. Three miles per dollar are earned on hotel bookings through United Hotels, two points per dollar on gas stations, two miles on local transit and commuting, and all other purchases earn one point per dollar.
|
Benefits |
Additional information |
|
No annual fee |
|
|
7x miles on United flights |
5x miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles on entire United purchase with the United Gateway Card. Premier members earn even more. |
|
2x miles on other United purchases |
|
|
3x miles on hotel bookings through United Hotels |
2x miles from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 1x mile earned with the United Gateway Card |
|
2x miles on gas stations |
|
|
2x miles on local transit and commuting |
|
|
1x miles on all purchases |
|
|
Low intro APR |
0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 21.99%–28.99% |
|
25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases |
|
|
No foreign transaction fees |
|
|
MileagePlus miles don’t expire |
|
|
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver |
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance. |
|
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance |
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by covered situations like sickness or injury. |
|
Purchase Protection |
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. |
|
Visa Concierge |
Get complimentary Visa Signature® Concierge Service 24 hours a day. Find tickets to the top sports and entertainment events, make dinner reservations and even get help sending the perfect gift. |
|
Extended Warranty Protection |
Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. |
|
DoorDash |
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 |
|
Chase Pay Over Time |
Chase Pay Over Time lets eligible Chase customers break up credit card purchases into budget friendly payments. |
United Explorer Card
As mentioned above, the United Explorer Card has no annual fee. As expected, the sign-up bonus is higher and the Explorer card has additional benefits. The current sign-up bonus for the Explorer card is 60,000 points, which is nearly enough for a roundtrip flight from Las Vegas to São Paulo, Brazil, and can be earned after $3,000 are spent in the first three months of opening.
Different from the Gateway Card, Explorer cardholders earn four miles per hotel booking through United hotels. Additionally, two points per dollar are earned when a booking is made directly through a hotel and two points per dollar are earned on dining through eligible delivery services. The Explorer card also includes two one-time United Club passes annually. On every domestic booking, cardholders and one companion can check one bag at no charge.
Photo: Chase
Explorer cardholders and all companions traveling on the same booking have priority boarding and board with group two. Those interested in TSAPreCheck, Global Entry, and NEXUS, can use their explorer card once every four years to cover the fees. Inflight and certain Club purchases earn 25% back. The Explorer Card also earns Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), which go toward higher status in the MileagePlus program.
|
Benefits |
Additional information |
|
7x miles on United flights |
7x total miles on United flights – 5x miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles on entire United purchase with the United Explorer Card. Premier® members earn even more. |
|
2x miles on all other United purchases |
|
|
4x total miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels |
2x miles from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles earned with the United Explorer Card |
|
2x miles on hotel stays when booked with the hotel |
|
|
2x miles on dining including eligible delivery services |
|
|
1x mile on all other purchases |
|
|
2 United Club one-time passes per year |
Over a $100 value. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi and more |
|
Free first checked bag |
The primary Cardmember and one companion can each check a first standard bag for free – save up to $160 per roundtrip |
|
Priority boarding |
the primary Cardmember and companions on the same reservation will be invited to board United-operated flights prior to general boarding. |
|
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS |
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card. |
|
25% back on Inflight and Club purchases |
purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card |
|
Earn up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) |
You’ll earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your Explorer Card (up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year) that can be applied toward your Premier status qualification, up to and including the Premier 1K® level. |
|
Premier upgrades on award tickets |
The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus® Premier® status and is traveling on an award ticket and one companion that is traveling on the same reservation are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability |
|
No foreign transaction fees |
|
|
MileagePlus miles don’t expire |
|
|
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver |
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. |
|
Baggage Delay Insurance |
Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days. |
|
Lost Luggage Reimbursement |
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger. |
|
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance |
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations |
|
Trip Delay Reimbursement |
If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. |
|
Purchase Protection |
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. |
|
Visa Concierge |
Get complimentary Visa Signature® Concierge Service 24 hours a day. Find tickets to the top sports and entertainment events, make dinner reservations and even get help sending the perfect gift. |
|
Extended Warranty Protection |
Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. |
|
DoorDash |
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. |
|
Chase Pay Over Time |
United Quest Card
The United Quest Card is the intermediary of the three United cards with annual fees. With a $250 annual fee, those who sign up for the card with the current sign-up bonus will earn 70,000 bonus miles if $4,000 are spent in the first three months. This card earns almost just one point less per dollar spend on United flights than the highest-tiered card, the Club card. It also offers up to 10,000 miles in award credit annually.
Photo: United
|
Benefits |
Additional information |
|
8x miles on United flights |
5x miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 3x miles earned on entire United purchase with the United Quest Card. Premier members earn even more. |
|
3x miles on all other United purchases |
immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit. |
|
4x total miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels |
2x miles from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles earned with the United Quest Card |
|
2x miles on all other travel |
including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride-share services, and tolls |
|
2x miles on dining including eligible delivery services |
|
|
2x miles on select streaming services |
|
|
1x mile on all other purchases |
|
|
Up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year |
Starting with your first anniversary, you’ll get 5,000 miles back in your MileagePlus® account after you take a United® or United Express-operated award flight booked with your miles – up to 2 times every anniversary year |
|
$125 annual United purchase credit |
Receive up to $125 in statement credits each account anniversary year as reimbursement for United purchases charged to your United Quest Card |
|
Free first and second checked bags |
The primary Cardmember and one companion can each check a first and second standard bags for free – save up to $360 per roundtrip |
|
Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) |
You’ll earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your United Quest Card (up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year) that can be applied toward your Premier status qualification, up to and including the Premier 1K® level |
|
Priority boarding |
The primary Cardmember and companions on the same reservation will be invited to board United-operated flights prior to general boarding. |
|
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS |
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card. |
|
Premier upgrades on award tickets |
The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus® Premier® status and is traveling on an award ticket and one companion that is traveling on the same reservation are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability |
|
No foreign transaction fees |
|
|
MileagePlus miles don’t expire |
|
|
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance |
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations |
|
Baggage Delay Insurance |
Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days. |
|
Lost Luggage Reimbursement |
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger. |
|
Visa Concierge |
Get complimentary Visa Signature® Concierge Service 24 hours a day. Find tickets to the top sports and entertainment events, make dinner reservations and even get help sending the perfect gift. |
|
Trip Delay Reimbursement |
If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. |
|
Purchase Protection |
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. |
|
Extended Warranty Protection |
Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. |
|
DoorDash |
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. |
|
Chase Pay Over Time |
|
|
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver |
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. |
United Club Infinite Card
The United Club Infinite Card, more commonly known as the United Club card, is the top tier of United cards offered to personal accounts. The limited sign-up bonus is 90,000 points, as long as the cardholder spends a minimum of $5,000 within the first three months of opening the account. If the cardholder adds an authorized user, they will receive an additional 5,000 miles. Though the Club card earns PQP at the same rate as the other cards, cardholders are eligible to earn up to 10,000 points annually.
Photo: United Airlines
|
Benefits |
Additional information |
|
9x miles on United flights |
5x miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 4x miles earned on entire United purchase with the United Club Card. Premier® members earn even more |
|
4x miles on all other United purchases |
|
|
4x total miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels |
2x miles from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles earned with the United Club Card |
|
2x miles on all other travel |
including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride share services and tolls |
|
2x miles on dining |
including eligible delivery services |
|
1x miles on other purchases |
|
|
United Club Membership |
|
|
Free first and second checked bags |
The primary Cardmember and one companion can each check a first and second standard bags for free – save up to $360 per roundtrip |
|
Premier Access® travel services |
receive preferential treatment to ease your way through the airport with priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling privileges (where available) |
|
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS |
Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card. |
|
25% back on Inflight and Club purchases |
purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card |
|
Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) |
You’ll earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your United Quest Card (up to 10,000 PQP in a calendar year) that can be applied toward your Premier status qualification, up to and including the Premier 1K® level |
|
Premier upgrades on award tickets |
The primary Cardmember who has MileagePlus Premier status and is traveling on an award ticket and one companion that is traveling on the same reservation are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability |
|
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status |
The primary Cardmember is eligible for Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards (enhance your stay with complimentary room upgrades and extended check-out as available, earn points towards free nights and elite points that never expire). Plus, receive up to $75 in statement credits per calendar year as reimbursement for IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases charged to your card from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2024 |
|
Avis President’s Club |
The primary Cardmember of the United ClubSM Card is invited to enroll in Avis President’s Club and enjoy complimentary two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental service and more. |
|
No foreign transaction fees |
|
|
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance |
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations |
|
Baggage Delay Insurance |
Reimburses you for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for baggage delays over 6 hours by passenger carrier up to $100 a day for 3 days. |
|
Lost Luggage Reimbursement |
If you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger. |
|
Trip Delay Reimbursement |
If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you and your family are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per ticket. |
|
Visa Infinite Concierge Services |
Enjoy 24/7 personalized assistance for travel planning, dinner reservations, sports, entertainment tickets and more. Available 365 days a year from home or abroad. |
|
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver |
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad. |
|
Purchase Protection |
Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year. |
|
Return Protection |
You can be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase. Up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year |
|
Extended Warranty Protection |
Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less |
|
DoorDash |
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. |
|
Chase Pay Over Time |
Related
How To Use The United Airlines MileagePlus Status Match
Match your status with any of the seven carriers United has included.
-
MileagePlus
- Participating Airlines:
- United Airlines
- Owner:
- United Airlines
- Region:
- North America
- Countries:
- United States
- Established Date:
- 1981-05-00
