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If you fly more than a couple of times a year, opening one of the best airline credit cards can make a lot of sense, even if it charges an annual fee. These cards typically offer benefits that can save you money and hassle — and offset the annual fee cost — including free checked bags, priority boarding, and even travel insurance.
Premium cards come with more bells and whistles and often include upscale perks like airport lounge access, but calculating the value you'll get relative to the yearly fee can get a little murky.
Here's a breakdown of what each card offers and a side-by-side comparison to help you decide if 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 Quest and Club Infinite Welcome Bonus Offers
Frequent flyers have six United credit cards to choose from, and the most expensive of them are the
These cards aren't for the casual United flyer (if that's you, check out the
Rewards rates
For those who spend a lot on paid United tickets, the
Otherwise, the cards are equal, earning 2x miles on travel and dining and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
United Quest and Club Infinite Benefits and Features
If you're looking at the cards' welcome bonuses alone, the
United Club airport lounge access
As the name suggests, the
A paid United Club membership can cost up to $650, so if this is something you'd pay for anyway, the
The value you'll get from a United Club membership really depends on how often you fly United and which airports you frequent. If your home airport has a United Club lounge, or you visit airports with United or partner lounges on a regular basis, having airport lounge access can be invaluable.
United Club lounges offer amenities like free food and beverages (including alcohol), better Wi-Fi, and a quieter place to work and relax before your flight. If you'd otherwise spend cash to grab meals, drinks, or upgraded Wi-Fi at the airport, a lounge membership could represent substantial savings.
The
Statement credits
The
Purchases that qualify include:
- Airline tickets purchased from United
- Seat upgrades
- Economy Plus
- Inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi
- Baggage fees
- Other United fees
- United Card Events from Chase purchases
However, United tickets booked through some discount travel websites or as part of a third-party travel package won't qualify, nor will United Cruises, United MileagePlus X, DIRECTV, and merchandise awards.
The
Even if you're already enrolled in one of these trusted-traveler programs, you can use your card to pay for someone else's fee and get reimbursed.
Free first and second checked bags on United flights
Many lower-tier airline credit cards (including the
United charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second, so if you're flying with a companion, you could get a value of $160 each way or $320 round-trip if you each check two bags. This could be a particularly lucrative benefit if you travel as a family or group, because you could easily make up the annual fee on either card in just a trip or two.
5,000-mile rebate on award travel
When you have the
You'll actually get the 5,000-mile rebate in your United account within two weeks of completing (not booking) an eligible award flight. Eligible award flights are those that include at least one United- or United Express-operated flight, and must include the primary cardholder on the reservation. Unused credits will expire 12 months after issue, and you can't transfer, combine, or extend them.
The
Travel and purchase protection and United flight benefits
When it comes to other travel benefits, like inflight discounts, priority boarding, and protections like primary car rental and trip delay insurance, both cards are fairly evenly matched.
The
- Better trip cancellation/interruption insurance: The
United Club℠ Infinite Card covers up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip; theNew United Quest℠ Card maxes out at a much lower $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. - Premier Access travel services: Both cards offer priority boarding, but
United Club℠ Infinite Card cardholders also get perks like priority check-in and security (where available) and baggage handling. - Return protection: If you purchase an eligible item and the store won't take it back within 90 days of purchase, the
United Club℠ Infinite Card offers up to $500 per item and up to $1,000 per year in reimbursement. - Avis President's Club elite status:
United Club℠ Infinite Card cardholders can enroll and receive Avis President's Club elite status, which offers upgrades and other perks.
United Quest vs United Club Infinite Side-by-Side Comparison
| Annual fee | ||
| Welcome bonus | ||
| Rewards rate | 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 | 4x miles on eligible United purchases 2x miles on travel 2x miles on dining 1 mile per dollar on everything else |
| United Airlines benefits | 5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary Free first and second checked bags Priority boarding 25% back on inflight purchases Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with your card (up to 6,000 PQP per year) Expanded award availability
| United Club airport lounge membership Free first and second checked bags Priority boarding Premier Access travel services 25% back on inflight purchases Earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases with your card (up to 8,000 PQP per year) Expanded award availability |
| Statement credits | Up to $125 in statement credits toward United purchases each year Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit | Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit |
| Other card benefits | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip) Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Extended warranty Access to the Luxury Hotel and Resort collection Visa Signature concierge Complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024 No foreign transaction fees
| Primary car rental insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip) Baggage delay insurance Trip delay reimbursement Lost luggage reimbursement Purchase protection Return protection Extended warranty Access to the Luxury Hotel and Resort collection Visa Infinite concierge Avis President's Club elite status Complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024 No foreign transaction fees |
| Review |
Which United Credit Card Should You Get?
If making up for the annual fee on the
Right off the bat, you can offset half the annual fee when you max out the $125 United statement credit, and perks like free checked bags and the 5,000-mile rebates (after the first year) can get you a value that far exceeds the annual fee.
However, if the out-of-pocket cost isn't a dealbreaker — and you fly United often enough to take advantage of United Club airport lounge access — the
Before you decide to apply for either card, think about your travel plans for the upcoming year. Will you fly United a lot of the time and check bags? Does your home airport have a United Club lounge, or do you often travel to airports that do?
If the answer is no to both, you're probably better off skipping these cards altogether and looking at the
It also has many of the same travel and shopping benefits the premium United cards do, including priority boarding, primary car rental insurance, and trip cancellation/interruption coverage. You can find out all the details in our United Explorer card review.