Best United Airlines Credit Cards of April 2026
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Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
United Airlines offers an array of branded credit cards, from a $0-annual-fee version for occasional travelers to a $695-a-year club card that gives regular flyers unlimited airport lounge access and free checked bags. Some United flyers might even be better off with a card that doesn't carry the United brand. In general, the higher the fee, the more benefits and perks you'll get. Below, you'll find our picks for different types of travel, followed by a guide to choosing the right United credit card for you.
| Credit card | Rating | Annual fee | Rewards rate | Intro offer | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card  Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardApply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website | Best for Point transfers and flexibility | $95 | 1x-5x | 75,000 points | Apply Nowon Chase's website on Chase's website |
2026 Best all-purpose travel rewards credit card
Annual fee$95Rewards rate1x-5xPointsIntro offer75,000pointsRegular APR19.24%-27.49% Variable APRRecommended credit scoreRewards breakdown
5xPoints on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.3xPoints on dining.3xPoints on select streaming services.3xPoints on online groceries.2xPoints on all other travel purchases.1xPoint on all other purchases.Card details
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- View Rates & Fees
NerdWallet's take
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't a United-branded card, but the points you earn are super-flexible. Among your options: transferring points directly to United — meaning that if you use this card right, you could earn 5 United miles per dollar spent even on other airlines. (See how it compares to the United℠ Explorer Card.)
Read full reviewProsYou earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase; 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and certain online grocery purchases; 2 points per dollar on other travel; and 1 point per dollar everywhere else. Points can be transferred to United or other hotel and airline partners, or you can use them to book travel through Chase. There's a stellar sign-up bonus and a slew of other perks.
ConsSince this is a general-purpose travel card, you won't get the free checked bags, priority boarding or lounge access available on United-branded cards.
More about our picks
United℠ Explorer Card
Our pick for: Most United flyers
United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.
Rewards
5 miles on prepaid hotels booked through United
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases from United.
2 miles per dollar on restaurant purchases.
2 miles per dollar on hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel.
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Notable perks
First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Two United Club one-time use passes per year.
Priority boarding.
Global Entry or TSA Precheck statement credit every four years.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Up to $100 statement credit on prepaid hotel stays booked through United ($50 per reservation).
Up to $60 statement credit on rideshare purchases ($5 per month).
Up to $50 in United TravelBank credits on Avis or Budget reservations booked through United ($25 per reservation).
Bonus offer
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
. . .
United Club℠ Card
Our pick for: VIP lounge access
The signature benefit on United Club℠ Card is membership in United Airlines' lounge network, but you also get two free checked bags apiece for you and a companion, plus other benefits to make travel more enjoyable. Read our review.
Rewards
5 miles per $1 spent on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United Cardmembers when you prepay directly through Chase
4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases.
2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Notable perks
United Club membership.
First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Premier access. Not just priority boarding, this also includes priority check-in, baggage handling and security screening (where available).
Up to $200 statement credit each anniversary year on Renowned Hotels and Resorts when you prepay through Chase.
Up to $150 on rideshare purchases: $12 in January through November and $18 in Decembe (enrollment required).
Up to $100 in United TravelBank when you book Avis or Budget rental cars through United ($50 per reservation).
Global Entry or TSA Precheck statement credit every four years.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Bonus offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
. . .
United Quest℠ Card
Our pick for: Elevated benefits
The United Quest℠ Card occupies a solid middle ground between United's entry-level cards and the airline's pricey lounge card. You earn more miles and get some nicer perks than with the more basic cards, but you'll pay a higher fee too. That fee can be significantly offset with an annual United credit. Read our review.
Rewards
5 miles per $1 spent on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts when you prepay directly through Chase.
3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.
2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Notable perks
First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Priority boarding.
$200 in United TravelBank credits.
Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS statement credit every four years.
Annual 10,000 mile award flight discount (after your first cardholder anniversary).
Up to $80 in TravelBank credits each anniversary year when you book an Avis or Budget rental car through United ($40 per reservation).
Up to $100 on rideshare purchases: Receive $8 back as a statement credit each month from January to November and $12 during December. Yearly enrollment required.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Bonus offer
Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
. . .
United Gateway℠ Card
Our pick for: No annual fee
This entry-level card gives occasional leisure flyers who prefer United Airlines a way to try out an airline credit card for free. Unlike a lot of cards in its class, it won't cost anything to carry, even if you seldom use it. It lacks certain valuable airline-card perks, such as early boarding — although a checked-bag benefit is possible if you spend enough. Read our review.
Rewards
2 miles per dollar spent on purchases from United.
2 miles per dollar at gas stations.
2 miles per dollar on transit and commuting.
1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Notable perks
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Two free checked bags after spending $10,000 per year on the card.
Bonus offer
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
. . .
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our pick for: Point transfers and flexibility
While premium travel credit cards race toward annual fees of $1,000, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains an outstanding choice if you’re looking for solid, flexible benefits at a reasonable cost. Although it lacks some of the perks you’d enjoy with higher-end cards — airport lounge access, for example, or credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry — you still get a lot for the money. So much value, in fact, that it has been the NerdWallet Best-Of Award winner for best all-purpose travel card from 2023 to 2026. There’s a generous sign-up bonus, plus elevated rewards for travel (especially travel booked through Chase), dining, streaming services and online grocery purchases. The card also offers an annual credit toward hotels booked through Chase, as well as an anniversary point bonus and primary rental car coverage. Points are potentially worth more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The partner list is especially strong and includes big brands like United, Southwest, JetBlue, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG. But note that all those redemption options can make this a more complicated card to manage. Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
» For simpler rewards for a similar price: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Rewards
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase.
5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through September 2027).
3 points per dollar on dining.
3 points per dollar on select streaming services.
3 points per dollar on online grocery orders (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through Chase.
1 point per dollar on other purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Notable perks
Redeem points for travel booked through Chase.
Transfer points to United or a dozen other airline or hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.
$50 in statement credit every anniversary year for hotel stays booked through Chase. (Note: You won't receive rewards points for the $50 in spending that gets reimbursed via this credit.)
10% annual points bonus: Each anniversary, earn points equal to 10% of your spending in the past year. Spend $10,000, for example, get 1,000 bonus points.
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Bonus offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
How to earn 5X United miles with other airlines: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 5 points per dollar when you purchase travel through Chase. That includes flights, hotel stays, car rentals and more. So you could use the card to book a flight on any airline through Chase, earn the 5X points, then swap those points for United miles.
. . .
United℠ Business Card
Our pick for: Business travelers
United℠ Business Card is a stand-out option for frequent business flyers, particularly those loyal to United. Cardholders earn rewards on everyday spending, like dining, gas stations and transit. A generous sign-up bonus sweetens the pot. Learn more and apply.
Rewards
2 miles per dollar spent with United.
2 miles per dollar on dining.
2 miles per dollar at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
2 miles per dollar at office supply stores.
1 miles per dollar on other spending.
Notable perks
First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
Two United Club one-time use passes per year.
Priority boarding.
$125 United TravelBank credit after booking five flights of at least $100 in a calendar year with your card.
Up to $100 on rideshare purchases: $8 back as a statement credit from January through November and $12 in December. Yearly enrollment required.
Up to $100 as a statement credit on hotel stays booked through United each anniversary year ($50 per reservation).
Trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance.
Primary rental car insurance.
25% back on in-flight purchases.
Bonus offer
Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
How to choose the right United Airlines card for you
The four United Airlines consumer credit cards from Chase include a basic card with no annual fee, a premium card with a high-end price tag and two in-between cards with varying in-between fees. All four cards earn MileagePlus miles on spending, which you can redeem for free flights, seat upgrades, lounge passes and more.
The higher the annual fee, the more you'll get. Consider how often you fly and how much you'll use the perks. Here's a quick summary of how they stack up:
United Gateway℠ Card | United℠ Explorer Card | United Quest℠ Card | United Club℠ Card |
ANNUAL FEE | |||
$0. | $0 intro for the first year, then $150. | $350. | $695. |
BONUS OFFER FOR NEW CARDHOLDERS | |||
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
FREE CHECKED BAGS | |||
Two free checked bags after spending $10,000 per year. | First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation. | First and second checked bags free for you and one companion on your reservation. | First and second checked bags free for you and one companion on your reservation. |
REWARDS ON SPENDING WITH UNITED AIRLINES | |||
2 miles per $1. | 2 miles per $1. | 3 miles per $1. | 4 miles per $1. |
REWARDS ON OTHER SPENDING | |||
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations. • 2 miles per $1 on local transit and commuting. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 5 miles per $1 on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels. • 2 miles per $1 at restaurants. • 2 miles per $1 on hotels (when booked directly with the hotel). • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 5 miles per $1 on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts • 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel (including other airlines, hotels, car rentals and more). • 2 miles per $1 on dining (including takeout and delivery). • 2 miles per $1 on select streaming services. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. | • 5 miles per $1 on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts. • 2 miles per $1 on all other travel. • 2 miles per $1 on dining. • 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. |
AIRPORT LOUNGE ACCESS | |||
None. | 2 United Club one-time passes each year. | None. | Annual membership to all United Club locations. |
CREDIT FOR TSA PRECHECK, GLOBAL ENTRY OR NEXUS | |||
None. | Up to $120 every four years. | Up to $120 every four years. | Up to $120 every four years. |
People who live in Hawaii and a few other places in the Pacific are eligible for the First Hawaiian Bank United® Credit Card.
Business travelers can choose between United℠ Business Card, which is the business equivalent of the Explorer-branded consumer card, and the United Club℠ Business Card, which provides lounge access for a hefty fee.
Key points of difference
Annual fee
Rewards
Free checked bags
VIP treatment
Lounge access
What these cards have in common
25% back on United in-flight purchases
Foreign transaction fees
Trip cancellation and interruption protection
Which United credit card should you choose?
If you’re only a casual United flyer, you probably won’t get enough value from United Club℠ Card to make it worth the high fee.
If you're a loyal United flyer but don't value all the bells and whistles that come with United Club℠ Card, United Quest℠ Card is a strong contender. And if you'll use the $200 United TravelBank credit and 10,000-mile discount, the $350 annual fee can be effectively reduced to just $50.
For most people, though, the choice comes down to United Gateway℠ Card and United℠ Explorer Card. If you check bags on your United flights a couple times a year, your baggage savings will likely outweigh the annual fee. And United℠ Explorer Card gives a better sign-up bonus to help your MileagePlus balance take flight.
If you don’t check bags, aren’t excited about the two United Club passes and just want a no-cost way to earn miles, United Gateway℠ Card could be a better choice.
It's also worth considering whether a more flexible travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card works better for your travel style. When you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer them to United or use them for hotel stays, rental cars, vacation packages and more.
Frequently asked questions
Does United Airlines have a credit card with no annual fee?
The United Gateway℠ Card has an annual fee of $0. However, the benefits you get with this card are fairly thin compared with those on other United cards. Most notably, you don't get any free checked bags — a perk that can easily make up for the fee on the airline's standard card, the United℠ Explorer Card. Still, if you're dead-set against paying an annual fee and you're just looking to earn miles between occasional trips, it's a decent option.
Do United Airlines credit cards get you into airport lounges?
The United Club℠ Card gives you and your eligible guests access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance-affiliated lounges worldwide. That VIP perk comes at a VIP price, though: an annual fee of $695.
For an occasional taste of the lounge life, consider the United℠ Explorer Card. Cardholders get two one-time passes to the United Club each year.
Do United Airlines credit cards give you free checked bags?
Most United credit cards offer a checked-bag benefit. The exception is the $0-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card.
CONSUMER CARDS
United Gateway℠ Card (annual fee $0): No free checked bags.
United℠ Explorer Card (annual fee $0 intro for the first year, then $150): First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Quest℠ Card (annual fee $350): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Club℠ Card (annual fee $695): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
BUSINESS CARDS
United℠ Business Card (annual fee $150): First checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation.
United Club℠ Business Card (annual fee $695): First and second checked bags free for you and a companion on your reservation.
What credit score do you need to get a United Airlines credit card?
You'll need good to excellent credit to qualify for a United Airlines credit card. That's generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. It's important to understand, though, that credit scores aren't the only factor that credit card issuers take into account when evaluating applications. They'll also look at things like your income and your other debts. Chase, the bank that issues United Airlines cards, also looks at how many other cards you've opened recently under a policy referred to as 5/24.
What's the sign-up bonus on a United Airlines credit card?
Each United Airlines credit card comes with a bonus offer: Spend a certain amount in the first few months with the card, and you'll get a pile of miles deposited into your account with United's frequent-flyer program, MileagePlus. Current bonus offers for United credit cards:
United Gateway℠ Card: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
United Quest℠ Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
United Club℠ Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• • •
NerdWallet's Erin Hurd contributed to this article.
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Our ratings consider not just a card’s rates, fees, rewards and perks, but also how easy or hard it is to get that card, manage it and enjoy its advertised benefits.
Star rating categories
What you want out of, say, a cash back credit card is fundamentally different from what you’re looking for in a balance transfer card or a card for building credit. That’s why we have different scoring models that put weight on different features.
Cash back cards
General travel cards
Balance transfer cards
Branded airline cards
Branded hotel cards
Credit builder cards
College student cards
Small business cards
Cash back cards
Our formula looks at how much cash back you could expect to earn from typical household spending. We consider rewards rates and categories, bonus offers and the cash value of other benefits, as well as any annual fee. The rating is also influenced by the complexity of the rewards structure.
General travel cards
We consider how many points you could expect to earn from typical household spending, along with per-point values and redemption options. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and other benefits, subtract annual fees and other costs, and take into account the complexity of the rewards structure.
Balance transfer cards
Our balance transfer rubric calculates how much money a card could save you with a low or 0% interest rate. Primary factors include the length and structure of the introductory APR period and the balance transfer fee. We also consider long-term value, such as whether the card offers rewards.
Branded airline cards
We calculate how many miles you could expect to earn from typical household spending and what those miles are worth based on our valuations. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and perks such as free checked bags and lounge access, and we subtract annual fees and other costs.
Branded hotel cards
We calculate how many points you could expect to earn from typical household spending and what those points are worth based on our valuations. We add in the cash value of bonus offers and perks such as free nights and automatic elite status, and we subtract annual fees and other costs
Credit builder cards
Our rubric focuses on accessibility (such as whether a credit check is required), out-of-pocket costs (such as annual fees or minimum security deposits), credit-building features (such as bureau reporting and access to a free credit score) and upgrade options when you’re ready to move on.
College student cards
Our formula calculates the rewards you could expect to earn on spending typical for a college student and takes into account the cash value of bonus offers and other benefits. Accessibility to students without established credit is a key consideration, as is the effort required to manage the card.
Small business cards
Our star ratings criteria for small business credit cards are similar to those for consumer cards, although they account for potentially higher spending levels and higher credit limits, as well as rewards structures and bonus categories tailored specifically to entrepreneurs and business operators.
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards in various categories based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluations include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. Because different consumers can have markedly different needs, preferences and spending habits, we recognize that there is rarely a single credit card that is "best" for everyone. That's why this page includes a variety of options to suit an array of circumstances. Also, a single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories.
Our star ratings provide a quick way to compare credit cards. We assess the features of a card, score those features according to how they compare with other options on the market, and assign the card a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on those features. In general, a card that rates 4.5 stars will be a better value for more people than a card that rates 4.0 stars. However, the 4.0 card might be better than the 4.5 card for an individual consumer depending on that person’s circumstances. Further, ratings are only comparable within categories. If you're looking for rewards, for example, a 3.5-star cash back card will be of greater value than a 5.0-star balance transfer card or a 4.5-star credit-builder card. Star ratings are an important consideration in which cards appear on our "best" pages, but they are not the sole determining factor. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
