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Frequent flyers have a lot of great choices when it comes to United Airlines credit cards. The
United Club Infinite Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You?
One of the
Plus, the
If you check bags with United, this card offers other big savings. The primary cardholder and up to one companion on the same reservation can get their first and second checked bags free on United flights — worth up to $320 round-trip if both passengers each check two bags.
It earns a whopping 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, including not only tickets, but also extras like Economy Plus seat assignments, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, and other charges like if you need to check extra bags. That's higher than almost any other airline credit card earns on its own co-branded carrier, and can boost your mileage balance into the stratosphere if you purchase a lot of United fares.
Aside from the airline bonus, the
The
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
United Club Infinite Card Rewards
Welcome bonus offer
The card currently offers a welcome bonus of
How to earn miles with the United Club Infinite card
The
- 4 miles per dollar on eligible United purchases (including airline tickets purchased from United, United seat upgrades, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, baggage service charges, other United fees, and United Card Events from Chase)
- 2 miles per dollar on travel (including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, rideshare services, and tolls)
- 2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services)
- 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases
How to use miles from the United Club Infinite Card
You can redeem United miles for flights on United and its Star Alliance partners, like Lufthansa, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines. United also partners with a handful of airlines outside of major alliances, including Aer Lingus and Hawaiian Airlines.
Because United no longer has an award chart, the number of miles required for a flight varies based on demand, paid ticket price, and season. Most recently, United raised award prices to Europe by up to 33% on its own flights and on partners, but other redemptions haven't seen the same increase.
One-way domestic economy award tickets start at 5,000 miles, but can go up to over 30,000 miles. You can find saver business or first-class awards within the US for as few as 25,000 miles. From the US to other regions, prices start at around 32,500 miles in economy and circa 60,000 miles in business class.
United also offers a redemption option called "Money + Miles." Similar to Delta's Pay With Miles, it's currently available on select United flights, and allows you to pay for part of your fare with cash and the rest with miles, at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile.
That's a lower rate than our average United miles value, but this can be handy if you don't have enough miles for an award ticket but want to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
If you're not ready to travel right now, there's no rush to spend your miles because United miles don't expire. There are other redemption options, but you'll typically get a much lower value:
- Seat upgrades
- United Club memberships
- Inflight Wi-Fi passes
- TSA PreCheck application fees
- Merchandise
- Gift cards
- Experiences
- Hotels and cruises
- Charitable donations
United Infinite Card Benefits and Features
Any airline credit card you're considering should include a host of travel perks to make the flying experience that much better and, in some cases, cheaper. The
United Club airport lounge access
While many travel credit cards offer airport lounge access, it usually comes with a lot of conditions. If you're actually a frequent United flyer, though, and can use the airline's own lounges when traveling, the perk offered by the
That's because, instead of just access to clubs, this card confers full United Club membership. This means the primary cardmember can enter United Clubs along with up to two adult guests, or one other adult and any children under the age of 21. They can also get into many of the airline's Star Alliance partner airlines' lounges around the world.
Just remember that a United Club membership does not get you into the airline's swanky Polaris Lounges. For that, you'll need a same-day boarding pass for travel in United Polaris or business class on another Star Alliance member airline on a long-haul international flight.
United Club membership costs $650 for non-cardholders, so if you do plan to use this benefit, getting the
Free first and second checked bag
The primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first and second checked bag on United flights for free when they use the card to pay for their ticket (or taxes and fees on an award ticket). That's worth up to $80 per person each way, because United charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the next.
Premier access
Along with United elites,
Inflight discounts
Need to purchase a snack on board or catch up on some work emails? Cardholders receive 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi aboard United-operated flights when they use their card to pay.
Premier upgrades
If you have this card and are also a United MileagePlus Premier elite member, you're eligible for complimentary upgrades for yourself and one companion on the same reservation on United flights, even when traveling on an award ticket.
Saver award discounts
A relatively new benefit of the
Expanded award availability
As with United's other co-branded cards,
Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
Cardholders receive 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 spent on purchases with the card, up to 8,000 PQP per calendar year. This is useful if you're working toward the next level of elite status and need a boost.
IHG Rewards elite status and statement credits
CLEAR membership discount
The primary cardholder can receive a $40 discount on CLEAR membership (normally $189 per year). CLEAR is an expedited security program that allows you to skip security screenings at select US airports (and a few sports stadiums). Instead of showing your ID and or documents, CLEAR uses your biometrics, like face and eyes, to confirm your identity and allow you to go directly to secondary screening.
Application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
Like many other premium rewards cards, this one will reimburse you for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee once every four years, which should help you speed through security, customs, and immigration that much faster.
Primary rental car insurance
Only a handful of travel rewards credit cards, including the
With the
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
This card covers you if your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason and will reimburse you for pre-paid non-refundable expenses up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Using a credit card with travel insurance to book your trip can be a lifesaver if things go awry during your travels.
Trip delay coverage
If your common carrier (like an airline or cruise ship) is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires you to stay somewhere overnight, the card's trip delay insurance can cover up to $500 per ticket for expenses such as lodging or meals.
Baggage delay insurance
If your bag is delayed by more than six hours, you can expect up to $100 per day for up to three days to purchase necessities like clothing and toiletries.
Lost luggage reimbursement
If your bag (or your immediate family member's) is lost altogether, you can claim up to $3,000 per covered passenger.
Emergency evacuation insurance
This card covers up to $100,000 for you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your legally dependent children for emergency evacuation and related emergency medical services.
Purchase protection
If an item you purchase with your card is damaged or stolen within 120 days, Chase's purchase protection will consider claims of up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
Return protection
If a merchant won't take back an item you bought, meanwhile, you could be eligible for reimbursement of up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year within 90 days of purchase.
Extended warranty
When you use the
Avis President's Club
Cardholders can activate complimentary Avis President's Club elite status, which comes with perks like complimentary two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, and expedited rental service.
Visa Infinite concierge
The Visa Infinite concierge can help you coordinate things like hard-to-get tickets to theater and sporting events or restaurant reservations. The service itself is free, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort collection
Be sure to compare the rates and perks you'll get when you book through the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to reserving with the hotel directly. Sometimes Chase rates are more expensive, and the benefits don't always outweigh the higher cost.
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
With the
Pickup orders are also eligible for 5% back in DoorDash credit. Normally, a subscription costs $9.99 per month, and DoorDash says the average DashPass user saves about $5 per order, so this can translate into significant savings if you use the service regularly. Activation of this benefit is required by December 31, 2024.
United Club Infinite Card Annual Fee and Other Costs
The
The key to avoiding other fees with this card – as with all other cards — is to pay your balance in full each month so you don't rack up interest. If you do need to carry a balance, there's a
Like most other cards, this card charges other fees in certain situations, including:
- Balance transfer fees
- Cash advance fees
- Late payment fees
- Returned payment fees
How the United Club Infinite Card Compares
United Club Infinite vs other United credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 4x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit) 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 2x miles on select streaming services 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 2x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on dining 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus | |||
United benefits | United Club membership Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights Premier Access travel services 25% back on inflight purchases Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights | Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights | Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year Free first checked bag on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights 25% back on United inflight purchases NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights |
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*When you use your card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket
****Up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Explorer Card; up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Quest; up to 8,000 PQP in a calendar year for the United Club Infinite card
United Club Infinite vs other premium airline credit cards
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 4x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 1 mile per dollar on everything else | 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases 1 mile per eligible dollar on everything else | 2x miles on American Airlines purchases 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
Welcome bonus | |||
Airline benefits | United Club membership Free first and second checked bags on United flights* Priority boarding on United flights Premier Access travel services 25% back on inflight purchases Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit Complimentary Premier upgrades 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases**** Expanded access to United award flights | Free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights Annual Delta companion certificate 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, up to four times* Complimentary Delta Sky Club airport lounge access when you fly Delta Complimentary American Express Centurion Lounge access when you fly Delta and use the card to pay for your ticket Access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider 20% off inflight purchases as a statement credit | Free first checked bag on domestic American Airlines itineraries Priority screening, check-in, and boarding on American Airlines Admirals Club membership 25% back on inflight purchases as a statement credit Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit |
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United Club Infinite Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the United Club Infinite Club worth it?
The
Who is eligible for the United Club Infinite card?
The
What credit score do you need for the United Club Infinite card?
Because it's a premium card, you'll need an excellent credit score to be approved for the
When do you get United Club membership with the United Club Infinite card?
Your United Club membership will activate within about two weeks of opening a new
Methodology: How we reviewed the United Club Infinite Card
Insider's credit cards team evaluated the
- Ease of use — Does the card have straightforward bonus categories and benefits that are easy to use? Are there any hoops to jump through or complex rules to navigate?
- Earning potential — Does the welcome bonus offer a value that matches or exceeds those of competing cards? Are there ongoing opportunities to earn lots of rewards?
- Benefits — Do the benefits save cardholders money or make their travel experience more comfortable, and do they justify the annual fee?
- Annual fee — When a card has a high annual fee, we look at whether its benefits and rewards make it worthwhile, especially in comparison to similar cards.
For more details on how we review cards, read about how we rate credit cards at Insider.