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United flyers are spoiled for choice when it comes to airline credit cards. United's six co-branded Chase cards include perks like lounge access, free checked bags, and priority boarding, as well as earning bonus miles on everyday purchases.
Looking beyond just United-branded cards, the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program means that cards like the
Here are the best credit cards for United Airlines flyers to consider.
Compare the Best United Credit Cards
Best United Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only : Best if you're not loyal to UnitedChase Sapphire Reserve® - Product Name Only : Best premium travel card if you're not loyal to UnitedUnited℠ Explorer Card - Product Name Only : Best United credit card for non-elite flyersUnited Quest℠ Card - Product Name Only : Best for travelers who check bagsUnited℠ Business Card - Product Name Only : Best United Airlines credit card for business travelersUnited Club℠ Infinite Card - Product Name Only : Best for United Club airport lounge accessUnited Gateway℠ Card - Product Name Only : Best for budget travelersInk Business Preferred® Credit Card - Product Name Only : Best for road warriorsThe Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only : Best for fancy flyersBilt Mastercard® - Product Name Only : Best for renters
Methodology: How we chose the best United credit cards
When considering the best United Airlines credit cards, we examined cards beyond those simply with the United Airlines name on the front. Some of the credit cards that best benefit United Airlines flyers aren't United cobranded cards.
In this post, we've included credit cards that confer valuable United-specific benefits, have the ability to rack up United miles quickly, and provide strong travel insurance to protect you against things like extended flight delays and missing luggage.
We've weighed these benefits against each card's annual fee and listed those with the biggest upside.
Why you should trust our recommendations
Insider's policy is to keep the credit cards team in the dark about which offers earn a commission. This means we have no agenda when writing these posts. We honestly examine each one and let you know what we think of it. And we've been doing this a long time, so we know a good deal (and a bad deal) when we see one.
United Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do you need for a United Airlines credit card?
Most United credit cards require at least a good credit score to be approved, which means a FICO score of at least 670. Some cards, like the premium
Is a United credit card worth it?
United credit cards are worth it if you fly with the airline or are focused on earning United miles. The right card for you depends on how often you fly United and whether or not you value benefits like airport lounge access and free checked bags.
United miles are useful even if you don't fly United often. You can redeem them for flights on United and Star Alliance carriers including Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines, or non-alliance partners like Aer Lingus and Hawaiian Airlines.
Who is eligible for United credit cards?
You are eligible for United credit cards if you fall under the Chase 5/24 rule, which means you've opened less than five cards in the past 24 months (from any bank, excluding some small business credit cards). You also won't qualify for a specific United card if you already have that exact card or have received its welcome bonus offer in the past 24 months. That said, each of the United cards is considered a different product, so you can have more than one United card — for example, the
Do United miles expire?
United Airlines miles do not expire, so you can earn miles now and use them whenever you want in the future.
Do United credit cards pay for Global Entry?
Some United Airlines credit cards pay for Global Entry. Namely, the
What credit card points transfer to United Airlines?
You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio to United — plus 13 other airline and hotel partners — as long as you have the
Best if You're Not Loyal to United
Although it's not a United co-branded card, the
These points also transfer to several other airlines including Southwest, Air Canada, British Airways, and JetBlue, so you'll gain flexibility by earning Ultimate Rewards points instead of just United miles.
The card earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2 points on all other travel purchases, including airline tickets. That means you can rack up extra points not just on United tickets and at hotels like with the
If you're a more frequent traveler, you could also consider the
It's also offering a welcome bonus of
If you're unsure which option is best for you, read our comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve for a thorough breakdown.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review
Best United Credit Card for Non-Elite Flyers
If you fly United a few times a year but don't have elite status, the
That's because the card offers elite-style perks like a free checked bag for the cardholders and a companion on the same reservation (when you pay with the card), priority boarding, and a 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases. Cardholders also receive two one-time United Club passes each anniversary year, which can help lighten day-of-travel stress on the occasional trip.
The card is a good earner in general, accruing 2x miles not just on United purchases, but also on dining and hotel stays. It earns 1 mile per dollar on everything else. When it comes time to put those miles to use, cardholders can also access expanded award ticket availability, which can save tens of thousands of miles on some trips.
Best for Travelers Who Check Bags
The
The
Although the card has a
Cardholders also receive priority boarding, up to $125 annually in statement credits toward United purchases, up to two 5,000-mile award flight credits per year after the first card anniversary, and valuable travel and purchase protections including primary car rental insurance.
Best United Airlines Credit Card for Business Travelers
If you already carry a United personal credit card or are simply looking for a small-business credit card for your work needs, the
This card has an annual fee of
Cardholders and a companion can check a bag for free when traveling on United, and receive priority boarding privileges. They also get two one-time United Club passes each anniversary year.
Best for United Club Airport Lounge Access
The
If you're a frequent United flyer and value access to United Club lounges, the
Cardholders and a companion on the same reservation can check up to two bags for free and enjoy Premier Access priority check-in, security screening, and boarding. The card earns 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, which is pretty stellar.
United Club Infinite Card Review
Best for Budget Travelers
If you prefer to avoid an annual fee, the
Though you won't get free checked bags or priority boarding, the card does offer 25% savings on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases. It also waives foreign transaction fees, and having this card gets you access to expanded award availability, just like other United cards with an annual fee.
United Gateway Credit Card Review
Best for Road Warriors
Like the
Not only is it offering a welcome bonus of
In short, if you're a small-business owner whose spending habits fit into these categories, you could make a killing on points and then transfer them to United for award travel.
Aside from that, you can also just redeem Ultimate Rewards points earned with this card directly for reservations made through the Chase travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece, which could make sense for some cheap airline tickets on United. The card also waives foreign transaction fees and comes with primary insurance on car rentals for business purposes.
Chase Ink Business Preferred Card Review
Best for Fancy Flyers
Ostensibly,
Although Amex Membership Rewards points don't transfer to United MileagePlus, they do convert to miles with Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, all of which you can redeem for award travel on United (and often at better rates than United MileagePlus itself offers).
The public welcome offer for this card is currently
The
Although it won't get you into United Clubs, it does grant access to Priority Pass lounges around the world** as well as Amex's own Centurion Lounges, so you can usually find a quiet place to work or relax before flights no matter where you travel. Those are just a few of the card's benefits, but there are plenty more to take advantage of.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Best for Renters
Bilt Rewards is a unique program that gives you the ability to pay rent with a credit card without exorbitant service charges. To boot, you'll earn points which can be converted into hotel points and airline miles — including United Airlines.
The
- 3 points per dollar on dining (including food delivery services like Uber Eats and GrubHub)
- 2 points per dollar on travel booked directly with airlines, hotels, car rentals, or cruise lines
- 1 point per dollar on rent payments (with no fees) on up to $100,000 in rent payments every year
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
As you can see, these bonus categories are exceptionally useful. Bilt also has a monthly promotion called "Rent Day." On the first day of each month, you'll earn double points on non-rent expenses (capped at 10,000 points each Rent Day).