Is a United Credit Card Worth It?

If you fly United Airlines regularly, a United card is now a must have. That's because United's MileagePlus loyalty program offers cardholders more miles when flying with United than non-cardholders, as well as extra perks like award ticket discounts.

United serves six continents and is a founding member of Star Alliance, giving you many ways to redeem miles earned on its co-branded credit cards. And if you live near a United hub airport, like Chicago O'Hare or San Francisco, it makes even more sense to have one of its mileage-earning cards.

United credit cards

United issues several personal and business co-branded credit cards through Chase. These are the ones that are currently available.

» Learn more: Is United Airlines good?

How United credit cards work

United credit cards are linked to your United MileagePlus account. This means that any miles earned from your United credit card (including from monthly spend and bonus miles) will be deposited directly into your MileagePlus account and, so long as you add your MileagePlus account number to your United reservation, you’ll receive any flight and lounge benefits that come with your United credit card when you fly United.

According to NerdWallet’s most recent valuations, United MileagePlus miles are worth 1.2 centsper mile if you’re booking a seat in the main cabin.

In addition to being able to redeem United MileagePlus miles on United flights, you can also redeem your miles for flights on 41 other airlines (25 through the Star Alliance, 16 through independent partnerships). United's partner airlines include Swiss Airlines, Air New Zealand, EVA Airways, Avianca Airlines and Lufthansa.

United cardholder-exclusive benefits

In April 2026, United overhauled its MileagePlus program, making it more rewarding to be a United cardholder than not.

When it comes to earnings on United flights, MileagePlus members receive an extra 3 miles per $1 spent on United airfare (excluding taxes and fees) just for holding the card. Even if you don't pay with your United card, you'll earn at the higher rate.

For example, MileagePlus members without elite status typically earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United flights. If you hold an eligible United card, you'll earn 6 miles per $1 instead — double the rate just for holding the card.

Eligible cardholders also get at least 10% off award pricing for United flights. If you also have Premier elite status, you're guaranteed at least 15% off.

While most United cards include these benefits, United Gateway℠ Card holders must spend at least $10,000 on the card in a year to unlock the cardmember rates for mileage earning and flight redemptions.

United cards are worth it if you can use the benefits

One of the key things to think about when signing up for a credit card is balancing the cost of the annual fee with the perks that come with the card. In many cases, the value of those benefits (like lounge access, travel credits or credits for TSA PreCheck) can exceed the card’s annual fee. In essence, you are coming out ahead.

The more you travel, the more value you can get from those perks. Let’s say you travel each month and need to check a bag. A credit card that offers free checked bags could save you $50 in each direction of your trip. That can really add up, but it would only make sense if you usually fly United.

But keep in mind that many benefits aren’t automatic. Consider some of the benefits on the United Club℠ Card :

• Up to 20,000 miles in award flight discounts annually.

• Up to $200 in credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts, a hotel collection curated by Chase that gets you extra benefits like free breakfast.

• Up to $150 in rideshare credits annually.

• Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases annually. 

• Up to $200 in credits on JSX purchases annually. (JSX is a semi-private jet service.)

• Up to $240 in Instacart credits. Terms apply.

If you can remember to use every benefit — and find a way to max them all out — you can get well over $1,000 worth of value on top of the lounge access and other perks. But that takes effort, and you might not be able to do it every year.

The United Gateway℠ Card, which has an annual fee of $0, comes with much fewer benefits. It offers two free checked bags per year — but only if you spend $10,000 on it in a calendar year.

» Learn more: Your guide to the Star Alliance

Some United cards can make it easier to reach elite status

Some United credit cards help you reach or maintain United Premier elite status by offering free Premier Qualifying Points, or PQPs, which you need to earn to reach United’s higher elite tiers. You earn 1 PQP per dollar spent on United and United Express flights, the airline’s regional network.

Some United cards will also get you closer to elite status:

• United℠ Explorer Card: 1 Premier Qualifying Point for every $20 spent on up to 1,000 PQP per year. 

• United Quest℠ Card: 1 Premier Qualifying Point for every $20 spent on up to 18,000 PQP per year.  18,000 PQP would get you Premier Platinum status, United’s second-highest tier. You’ll also get 1,000 PQP each qualification year.

• United Club℠ Card: 1 PQP for every $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQP per year. You need 28,000 PQP to qualify for Premier 1K status, the airline’s highest elite tier. You’ll also get 1,500 PQP each qualification year.

• United℠ Business Card: 1 PQP for every $20 spent each year, up to 4,000 PQP per year. 

• United Club℠ Business Card: 1 PQP for every $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQP per year.  

The lowest tier of elite status, Premier Silver, requires 6,000 PQP. With the United Club℠ Card, for example, you could reach that status if you charged $4,250 on United flights in a year.

Who should skip a United credit card?

A United credit card can pack in a lot of value, but those perks aren’t perfect for everyone. For example, if you don’t ever check bags, then the checked bag waiver with some United credit cards is not helpful. These are some of the reasons that a United credit card may not be a fit for you:

• You don't fly with United or its partner airlines. You won’t be able to take advantage of extra benefits on United flights if you don’t fly with the airline. 

• You rarely travel. What good are airline miles and travel credits if you don't travel? For those people, perhaps a cash-back card would make more sense.

• You prefer to earn flexible travel points that can be transferred to other airline or hotel programs. These types of points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, are also redeemable like cash when buying travel through the credit card’s portal. United miles can only be redeemed with United and its partners.

• You are not loyal to one airline. If you fly several different carriers, opting for the best flight time rather than staying loyal to one carrier to achieve an airline’s elite status, then a United co-branded card may not make as much sense as a more general travel credit card. Perhaps a credit card that awards double or triple points on all travel categories and with any airline is a better way to go.

Before you commit, take stock of the card benefits and which ones you could reasonably use each year. Make sure that the value you’ll get out of the card exceeds the annual fee.