Starting Oct. 1, 2026, all four consumer United credit cards are offering elevated bonus offers for a limited time.
The temporary promotions are especially noteworthy for the United Gateway℠ Card and United℠ Explorer Card, the two most affordable United cards. The Explorer’s offer matches the previous high of 80,000 miles, while the Gateway card’s 50,000-mile offer is the highest ever. If you were thinking of getting either card, now may be the most opportune time.
Here are the new welcome offers for each United card:
- United Gateway℠ Card. Earn up to 50,000 United MileagePlus miles. Get 40,000 miles after spending $1,000 in purchases and 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user, both within the first three months of account opening.
- United℠ Explorer Card. Earn up to 80,000 United MileagePlus miles. Get 70,000 miles after spending $3,000 in purchases and 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user, both within the first three months of account opening.
- United Quest℠ Card. Earn up to 90,000 United MileagePlus miles. Get 80,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases and 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user, both within the first three months of account opening. Quest cardholders may also move up a level within United’s MileagePlus loyalty program for just 500 Premier Qualifying Points after making a purchase with the Quest card.
- United Club℠ Card. Earn up to 100,000 United MileagePlus miles. Get 90,000 miles after spending $5,000 on purchases and 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user, both within the first three months of account opening.
NerdWallet values United MileagePlus miles at 1.2 cents each, making these offers worth anywhere from about $600 to as much as $1,200 in flights.
Check out our comparison table if you need help picking the best United card for you.
Personal cards
Annual fee
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$350.
$695.
Bonus offer
Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user 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. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 500 Premier qualifying points after your first purchase and 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user 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. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earning rates
• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases, gas stations and local transit and commuting.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• Earn 3 additional miles per $1 on United airfare (excluding taxes and fees) just for holding the card.
• 5 miles per $1 on prepaid hotels booked through United.
• 3 miles per $1 on United purchases. Earn 3 additional miles per $1 on United airfare (excluding taxes and fees) just for holding the card.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and hotels (when booked directly with hotel).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on hotel stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
• 4 miles per $1 on United purchases. Earn 3 additional miles per $1 on United airfare (excluding taxes and fees) just for holding the card.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants, select streaming services and all other travel.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on United purchases and hotel stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts. Earn 3 additional miles per $1 on United airfare (excluding taxes and fees) just for holding the card.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and all other travel purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
PQP earning
No PQP earning.
1 PQP for every $20 spent, up to 1,000 PQP annually.
1 PQP for every $20 spent, up to 18,000 PQP annually.
1 PQP for every $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQP annually.
Other benefits
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Two free checked bags each year after spending $10,000 annually.
• First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year.
• Credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• 10,000-mile award flight discount per year after spending $20,000 on purchases.
• Several annual credits, including a $100 United travel credit (after spending $10,000), up to $100 in United hotel credits and up to $60 in rideshare credits.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• $200 United travel credit per year (good on airfare).
• Several annual credits, including up to $150 in Renowned Hotels & Resorts credits, up to $100 in rideshare credits, and up to $180 in Instacart credits.
• 10,000-mile award flight discount each year.
• Credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• Access to United Club airport lounges.
• Several annual credits, including up to $200 in Renowned Hotels & Resorts credits, up to $150 in rideshare credits, up to $100 in Avis/Budget credits, up to $200 in JSX credits (JSX is a semi-private jet service) and up to $240 in Instacart credits.
• Credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
