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Chase offers 6 co-branded cards with United Airlines: 4 personal cards and 2 business cards.
When we talk about Chase cards, we often focus on how to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points. However, there are several benefits that come with the Chase United cards that should not be ignored. Let’s dig into each of these United cards and see what you get.
Whether looking for a card for your personal use or for your business, there are several cards in the United portfolio, from premium high-end cards to options without an annual fee! The following reviews will help you decide which card is right for you.
United Explorer Card (Best Sub-$100 Card for Checked Bags, Priority Boarding & United Club Access)
Probably the most popular United card is the United Explorer card. This card comes with a sign-up bonus to get you started with a nice stash of MileagePlus miles, and there are several other useful benefits.
When you use this card to purchase a ticket on United, you will receive your first checked bag for free. Additionally, 1 traveling companion on your itinerary will also receive a free checked bag. This could save you up to $100 in checked bag fees charged by United.
Cardholders also receive priority boarding access which can be very useful when you want to ensure that you find overhead space for your carry-on bag. While it’s free to gate-check a bag, this can be very inconvenient if you have a tight connection.
You’ll also get 25% back on United inflight Wi-Fi, food, and drinks.
When you are approved for the card, you will receive 2 single-use passes to the United Club. These are great when you want to make a fun trip just that little bit better. You will continue to receive these for each cardmember anniversary.
When it comes to earning more United MileagePlus miles, you will earn 2x miles on all purchases with United, hotels, and dining and 1x miles on all other purchases. Your miles will not expire as long as your card is open.
Hot Tip: To celebrate Black History Month, United co-branded credit cards will earn 5 miles per dollar (up to $1,500) when donating to select charities through March 12, 2023.
United Quest Card (Best Mid-tier Card for Checked Bags & Priority Boarding)
The newest edition to the United lineup of credit cards is the United Quest card. With a mid-range annual fee, it sits squarely between the more affordable United Explorer card and the more premium United Club Infinite card.
In terms of rewards, United Quest cardholders earn 3x miles on United purchases, 2x miles on travel, dining, and streaming services, plus 1x miles on all other purchases.
The United Quest card comes packed with some benefits that United frequent flyers are sure to love. For starters, cardholders receive a $125 annual United purchase credit that can be applied to any United expense — including flights!
If you love booking award flights, the United Quest card helps stretch your miles even further by giving you up to 2 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits after you book an award ticket with your United miles. So as long as you book at least 2 United award tickets each year, you can count on receiving 10,000 United miles on your account anniversary.
Chasing United elite status? The United Quest card can help you get there by offering 500 PQPs for every $12,000 you spend on your United Quest card (up to 3,000 PQPs in a calendar year).
You and 1 traveling companion will also receive 2 free checked bags when you use your United Quest card to purchase your tickets, along with other great benefits like priority boarding, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit, and 25% back on United inflight purchases.
Hot Tip: Chase United credit cards are eligible for Chase Offers. Check out our complete guide to Chase Offers for ways to save a lot on special discount offers or earn a lot of extra points!
Enjoy access to United Clubs with either of United’s co-branded Club cards. Image Credit: Greg Stone
The United Club Infinite card is a high-end card with perks and benefits to match. The annual fee is $525, and it’s pretty easy to see why.
As a cardholder, you’ll receive full membership to the United Club. This allows you and 2 guests to access United Clubs anytime you’re traveling on United or a Star Alliance partner. As a comparison, United Club memberships are sold by United for $650 per year.
This card also earns 100% more on United purchases than the United Explorer card, which means you can earn 4x miles on all United purchases, as opposed to 2x with the United Explorer card.
You (and a companion) will also receive 2 free checked bags, as well as Premier Access at the airport where available. Premier Access provides 4 main benefits: dedicated check-in lines, priority security lanes, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling so you can get your checked bags quickly.
The travel perks don’t stop with United, though. You will also receive a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit and 25% back on United inflight purchases.
This card also provides access to The Luxury Hotel & Resorts Collection. When you book stays with this card, you can receive benefits such as breakfast for 2, a dining or spa credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, room upgrades when available, and early check-in and late checkout when available.
Want to earn United miles and benefits but aren’t keen on the idea of paying an annual fee? Then the United Gateway card might be the perfect option for you. The no-annual-fee card offers you 2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and transit and commuting (including ride shares, trains, and mass transit), and 1x miles on all other purchases.
While the United Gateway card doesn’t offer nearly as many benefits as all of the other co-branded United cards, you’ll still get perks like 25% back on United inflight purchases, expanded United award availability, trip cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
Hot Tip: Cardholders of the United Business card, United Club Business card, United Club Infinite card, and United Explorer card are also eligible for a 12-month complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (enroll by December 31, 2024).
United Business Card (Best Sub-$100 Business Card for Checked Bags, Priority Boarding & United Club Access)
The United Business card is a great option for small business owners who frequently fly with United. The card offers 2x miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting charges.
It also includes perks like priority boarding, your first checked bag free, a $100 annual United travel credit (after you make 7 United flight travel-related purchases, each totaling $100 or more) with your card, 25% back on United inflight purchases, 2 United Club 1-time passes, and 5,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary when you have both the United Business card and a personal United card.
The United Club Business card differs a bit from the personal version of the card. This card earns 2x miles on all United purchases and 1.5x miles on all other purchases, but the annual fee is less expensive at $450.
This card comes with complimentary United Club membership, Premier Access at the airport where available, free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, 25% back on United inflight purchases, upgrades on award tickets, and more.
Cardmembers will also receive complimentary Avis President’s Club elite status and benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resorts Collection.
Hot Tip: United Club membership does not allow you access to United’s Polaris Lounges. To gain access to a Polaris Lounge, you must be traveling on a United flight in Polaris first class or business— this is different than United first or business — or in first or business class on an international Star Alliance flight.
Extra Award Space on United Flights
While standard awards are not a great deal, if you need 1 in a pinch, then guaranteed space is nice to have. Image Credit: Chris Hassan
One of the best perks provided by all 6 of these United cards? Guaranteed access to extra award availability on United flights.
With these cards, you’ll receive access to award space in the fare class XN, which is only available to cardholders and those who have earned status on United. The XN fare class is a saver-level economy fare class.
While we often talk about booking United business class and first class, this extra economy award space can be extremely useful when you need to book a flight but ticket prices are sky-high.
Additionally, cardholders are guaranteed the ability to book a standard level award in first class, business class, or economy on United if there is a seat for sale. While we don’t recommend booking standard-level awards, they can be useful if you’re in a tough spot.
Bottom Line: Access to extra award space on United might be the best perk offered by its co-branded airline cards.
What Can You Do With United Miles?
United MileagePlus miles can be used to book awards on United or any of its Star Alliance partners. Thanks to the large Star Alliance network, you can travel just about anywhere.
In fact, some of the best redemption options are on United’s partners. With United miles, you can book Lufthansa first class, which is considered one of the best flying experiences in the world.
You could also book an award flight on EVA Air to Taiwan in one of the nicest business class cabins out there.
If you fly with United regularly and are looking to reach a certain Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) or Premier Qualifying Flight (PQF) requirement, one of these co-branded United cards can help.
First, let’s look at the requirements of each elite status level with United.
2023 Status
Earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF)
and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
… or Meet a Higher PQP Goal
Premier Silver
8
3,000
3,500
Premier Gold
16
6,000
7,000
Premier Platinum
24
9,000
10,000
Premier 1K
36
13,500
15,000
United Explorer card, United Quest card, United Club Infinite card, United Business card, and United Club Business cardholders can earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 they spend on their card — for a maximum of 1,000 PQPs per year (or 3,000 PQPs per year with the United Quest card and United Club Infinite card).
While hitting these spending thresholds certainly won’t fast-track you to any particular elite status level, it can certainly help if you’re already flying with United frequently.
Which United Card Should You Get?
If you’re looking for an easy way to earn United MileagePlus miles and want access to award space, and some of the benefits that come with low-level United elite status, the United Explorer card is a great choice.
However, if you know you will be flying out of airports with United Clubs regularly and would prefer to earn 4x miles on United purchases, the United Club Infinite card might be right for you.
If you’re looking for something a little more robust than the benefits offered with the United Explorer card, but don’t quite want to pay the large annual fee of the United Club Infinite card, then the United Quest card is a happy medium.
On the other hand, if you really prefer to avoid paying an annual fee, but still want to earn United miles and receive a few benefits, too, then the United Gateway card would be your best bet.
For business cards, the United Business card is great thanks to 3 bonus categories that earn 2x miles per dollar. If your spending lines up with those categories, it can easily outweigh the 4x miles on United purchases with the United Club Business card. In this case, you have to decide if the other perks from a higher-end card are worth it.
Alternatives to the Chase United Credit Cards
With the flexibility of Ultimate Rewards, you could transfer to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program to fly Suites class. Image Credit: Alex Miller
We can’t forget to mention that earning United miles with a United-branded card locks you into booking with United miles. If you aren’t concerned about extra award space, United Club access, or other perks, you might want to consider earning Chase Ultimate Rewards that can be transferred to United almost instantly.
Cards that earn Ultimate Rewards often come with more bonus categories that can help you earn points even faster. Since you won’t be locked in with a single airline program, you’ll have many more options to redeem Ultimate Rewards.
Hot Tip: United is also transfer partners with Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. While American Express Membership Rewards cannot be directly transferred to United, you can utilize its Star Alliance airline partners (Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines) to book United flights.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are looking for a card for personal use or business expenses, Chase has plenty of options to choose from. If you prefer to stick to redeeming United MileagePlus miles, one of the co-branded United cards might be just what you need.
In search of extra perks such as United Club access? One of the United Club cards can provide that.
Finally, if you want the ability to earn tons of points but don’t want to be locked into United’s MileagePlus program (just in case there’s a better option for some of your travel), you can look to Amex, Bilt, Chase, and Marriott Bonvoy cards that earn transferrable points.
Whatever you choose, you’re going to get some great value out of these cards. Whether it’s free checked bags and priority boarding or flexible points that can be transferred to United, you’re on the way to enjoying a better travel experience!
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: United
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the miles you earn with the United cards are redeemable miles. They do not count towards elite status.
No, but you can book flights on United’s partners using United miles. As a member of Star Alliance, there are plenty of other airlines that you can fly with United miles.
Yes, you could technically get all of them — but that wouldn’t necessarily be the best decision. In all likelihood, you can choose just the 1 card that best fits your needs.
The “best” United card will depend on what you are looking for out of the card. If you want to earn the most possible for your United purchases and get United Club access, then you should go with the United Club Infinite card.
Prefer not to pay an annual fee but still want to earn United miles? The United Gateway card makes the most sense here.
If you want a middle-of-the-road option that offers a nice balance of perks relative to the annual fee, then consider the United Explorer card or United Quest card.
Always a fan of flying, it was only natural that Spencer was drawn to finding a way to improve the travel experience.
Like many, he started this journey searching for cheap flights to take him around the world. This was fun for a while, but Spencer was intrigued by the idea of flying in business and first class!
Throwing himself into what became an extensive research project, Spencer spent 3-4 hours per night learning everything he could about frequent flyer miles over the course of several months (he thinks this is normal). He runs Straight to the Points, an award-seat alert platform.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
7 comments
Marina
November 04, 2019
What will happen if the United-Chase cobranded card is cancelled/closed after qualifying for the PQD waiver: is the waiver going to stay in place this year or is it going to be cancelled?
Hi Marina. According to the PQD waiver terms and conditions, United states that members qualify for the waiver when, “during the applicable calendar year have spent at least $25,000 in Net Purchases, on a MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. at the time in 2018 (2019) when they qualify for Premier status”. This language suggests that if you’ve spent the $25,000 and have also qualified for Premier status (miles/segments, etc) then you should be ok if the card is subsequently canceled. However, I would contact United MileagePlus customer service for a solid answer.
Joel
October 26, 2020
You can’t use United Clubs unless you are flying on United or a Star Alliance partner that day. This applies to all club memberships (purchased, Club card, or Infinite Club card). They made that rule November 1, 2019.
Hi Joel. Thanks for pointing that out, we’ve now updated the post to make that information current.
Raymond Gallagher
December 31, 2020
I have used a Chase Credit Card for many years. Recently, for whatever reason, they have disallowed a charge that I made. I have an $18,000 credit limit with a current balance of less than $3,000. We have NEVER missed a monthly payment, nor have we incurred a finance charge. Yet, on three recent occasions, a charge made through this account has been declined by Chase. Today, I attempted to resolve this problem and after waiting for more than 10 minutes, the call was disconnected. Later the same process, but I did speak with a Chase representative – after going through the verification process and explaining about my concern, she said that she would check into the matter…the line went dead! At the moment, I have been waiting on hold for more than 20 minutes and just listening to lousy recorded music…not really the way to run a ship! Perhaps they’d rather spend umpteen dollars to find new customers! I’m through with them!
Gene
April 05, 2021
Your post mentions that all 4 of these cards have access guaranteed access to extra award availability on United flights. However, I read elsewhere that the no annual fee Gateway card does not (even though the older no AF MileagePlus cards did). Can you confirm that the Gateway card does in fact have the same access to saver awards as the other three?
7 comments
Marina
November 04, 2019
What will happen if the United-Chase cobranded card is cancelled/closed after qualifying for the PQD waiver: is the waiver going to stay in place this year or is it going to be cancelled?
Christine Krzyszton
November 06, 2019
Hi Marina. According to the PQD waiver terms and conditions, United states that members qualify for the waiver when, “during the applicable calendar year have spent at least $25,000 in Net Purchases, on a MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. at the time in 2018 (2019) when they qualify for Premier status”. This language suggests that if you’ve spent the $25,000 and have also qualified for Premier status (miles/segments, etc) then you should be ok if the card is subsequently canceled. However, I would contact United MileagePlus customer service for a solid answer.
Joel
October 26, 2020
You can’t use United Clubs unless you are flying on United or a Star Alliance partner that day. This applies to all club memberships (purchased, Club card, or Infinite Club card). They made that rule November 1, 2019.
Christine Krzyszton
October 27, 2020
Hi Joel. Thanks for pointing that out, we’ve now updated the post to make that information current.
Raymond Gallagher
December 31, 2020
I have used a Chase Credit Card for many years. Recently, for whatever reason, they have disallowed a charge that I made. I have an $18,000 credit limit with a current balance of less than $3,000. We have NEVER missed a monthly payment, nor have we incurred a finance charge. Yet, on three recent occasions, a charge made through this account has been declined by Chase. Today, I attempted to resolve this problem and after waiting for more than 10 minutes, the call was disconnected. Later the same process, but I did speak with a Chase representative – after going through the verification process and explaining about my concern, she said that she would check into the matter…the line went dead! At the moment, I have been waiting on hold for more than 20 minutes and just listening to lousy recorded music…not really the way to run a ship! Perhaps they’d rather spend umpteen dollars to find new customers! I’m through with them!
Gene
April 05, 2021
Your post mentions that all 4 of these cards have access guaranteed access to extra award availability on United flights. However, I read elsewhere that the no annual fee Gateway card does not (even though the older no AF MileagePlus cards did). Can you confirm that the Gateway card does in fact have the same access to saver awards as the other three?
Thanks.
Jarrod West
April 05, 2021
Hi Gene,
Yes, Chase even advertises it as a benefit of the card.
Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!
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