Overview of United Airlines Credit Cards
United Airlines offers a range of credit cards with different features and benefits. The ideal card for you depends on how often you fly on United Airlines and how much you spend on credit cards. These cards have varying annual fees and provide benefits such as bonus miles, miles on United purchases, in-flight savings, and statement credits.
Annual Fees and Bonuses
The Gateway card has no annual fee but offers a modest 20,000-mile bonus. For higher bonuses, the Explore card provides 50,000 miles, with first-year annual fee waived. The Quest card offers 60,000 miles with a $250 fee that is not waived. The Infinite card stands out for its high $525 fee but gives you 80,000 bonus miles and a United Club membership.
Earning Miles
All cards earn miles on United Airlines purchases, but the rates differ. The Gateway and Explore cards earn 2x miles per dollar. The Quest card earns 3x. The Infinite card is the most rewarding for frequent flyers, offering 4x miles per dollar spent on United flights.
Additional Benefits
Many of these cards include a 25% discount on in-flight purchases and priority boarding. The Infinite card provides the highest level priority boarding, lounge access, and travel statement credits, justifying its higher fee.
Choosing the Right Card
For fee-conscious travelers, the Gateway card offers solid value at no cost. If maximizing bonus miles is a priority, the Infinite card provides the most. Frequent flyers who value premium perks like lounge access should consider the Infinite card despite its high annual fee.
