There are a number of good co-branded credit card options for those who fly United. The best choice will depend on your travel habits: Do you always check a bag? Do you love the serenity of an airport lounge? And how frequently do you fly?
Some of these cards offer some valuable credits, as well as perks like free checked bags and United Club membership, which offers airport lounge access around the world. They also offer decent rewards on spending, but we view those rewards as more of a way to earn some extra miles when buying tickets. For other purchases, more general credit cards for everyday use typically offer better overall value than airline credit cards.
If you fly United at least a few times a year, there’s likely a Chase co-branded card that offers additional comfort and net savings through your travels.
For those who fly United at least a few times a year, the United Quest℠ Card offers the best value for the broadest group of people. Though it has a $250 annual fee, there are some annual credits that help offset it -- up to a $125 United purchase credit that’s applied automatically toward the first $125 of United spending each year, and two 5,000-mile annual credits you’ll receive after booking a United flight (terms apply).
Add on top four free checked bags (two for the primary cardholder and two for a travel companion on the same reservation) each trip, 3x miles on United purchases, and a 60,000-mile welcome bonus and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, and you’ve got a lot of potential value.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
For those who fly United at least a few times a year, the United Quest℠ Card offers the best value for the broadest group of people. Though it has a $250 annual fee, there are some annual credits that help offset it -- up to a $125 United purchase credit that’s applied automatically toward the first $125 of United spending each year, and two 5,000-mile annual credits you’ll receive after booking a United flight (terms apply).
Add on top four free checked bags (two for the primary cardholder and two for a travel companion on the same reservation) each trip, 3x miles on United purchases, and a 60,000-mile welcome bonus and 500 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, and you’ve got a lot of potential value.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
If you balk at the idea of paying for a credit card, the Gateway offers United fliers a means of boosting their miles when buying United tickets, without the hassle of an annual fee. You won’t get the perks and credits of the other Chase United credit cards, but the welcome offer of 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months is all upside.
Remember to pay it off every month so you’re not paying interest fees, and otherwise you can take advantage of the discounted United in-flight purchases (25% back as a statement credit), and 2x miles on United purchases.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
If you balk at the idea of paying for a credit card, the Gateway offers United fliers a means of boosting their miles when buying United tickets, without the hassle of an annual fee. You won’t get the perks and credits of the other Chase United credit cards, but the welcome offer of 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months is all upside.
Remember to pay it off every month so you’re not paying interest fees, and otherwise you can take advantage of the discounted United in-flight purchases (25% back as a statement credit), and 2x miles on United purchases.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
There are more than 45 United Club airport lounge locations across the globe, and a standard annual membership costs $650. So if you typically purchase an annual membership or would like to, the Chase United Club credit card offers United Club membership. Note that a onetime pass costs $59 per person, so make sure to think about how often you plan on visiting a lounge if that’s your primary motivation for signing up for the Chase United Club card.
On top of Club membership, cardholders get 4x Miles on United purchases and an 80,000-mile welcome offer after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
There are more than 45 United Club airport lounge locations across the globe, and a standard annual membership costs $650. So if you typically purchase an annual membership or would like to, the Chase United Club credit card offers United Club membership. Note that a onetime pass costs $59 per person, so make sure to think about how often you plan on visiting a lounge if that’s your primary motivation for signing up for the Chase United Club card.
On top of Club membership, cardholders get 4x Miles on United purchases and an 80,000-mile welcome offer after spending $5,000 in the first three months.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Explorer is a bit of an awkward middle child in Chase’s United lineup, but it does offer particular value for solo travelers or those traveling with one other person. If two people on the same reservation both check a bag, you could save up to $140 each round-trip ticket given United’s typical $35 checked-bag fee.
Explorer cardholders also get two United Club onetime passes each year, so if you like United Clubs but don’t use them enough to justify a Chase United Club credit card, that could be a valuable perk.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Explorer is a bit of an awkward middle child in Chase’s United lineup, but it does offer particular value for solo travelers or those traveling with one other person. If two people on the same reservation both check a bag, you could save up to $140 each round-trip ticket given United’s typical $35 checked-bag fee.
Explorer cardholders also get two United Club onetime passes each year, so if you like United Clubs but don’t use them enough to justify a Chase United Club credit card, that could be a valuable perk.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase United Business credit card is good for people who fly United on business trips. You’ll get one free checked bag each flight (two if you’re traveling with a companion on the same reservation), and the welcome bonus is 100,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months. You also get two United Club onetime passes each year, and if you have a personal United card, you get a 5,000-mile anniversary bonus.
However, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. There’s a $100 annual credit, but it requires seven separate United travel-related purchases of $100 or more each account anniversary year, so don’t count that as value unless you fly United seven times a year.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase United Business credit card is good for people who fly United on business trips. You’ll get one free checked bag each flight (two if you’re traveling with a companion on the same reservation), and the welcome bonus is 100,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months. You also get two United Club onetime passes each year, and if you have a personal United card, you get a 5,000-mile anniversary bonus.
However, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. There’s a $100 annual credit, but it requires seven separate United travel-related purchases of $100 or more each account anniversary year, so don’t count that as value unless you fly United seven times a year.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.99% – 28.99% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
What makes a good airline credit card?
A good airline credit card will offer worthwhile perks with the branded airline, rewards with enough value to cover flights throughout the year and time-saving amenities like TSA PreCheck credits, priority boarding or airport lounge access.
How to choose the right United card for you
The right United card for you will depend on your travel habits and lifestyle. United offers a number of cards across varying annual fee levels. The higher fee cards will offer better perks and rewards, but you’ll need to be able to get enough from its perks to make the cost worthwhile.
The United Quest Card, for example, costs $250 annually. However, it comes with up to a $125 United purchase credit annually, free first and second-checked bags and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year. If you can utilize all of that, its annual cost will be easy to justify.
United has some other perks that keep it competitive, too. “The United Explorer Card offers two one-time lounge passes per year,” credit expert Aaron Hurd said. “Most other airline credit cards don’t offer lounge access at this price point.
“However, don’t use the lounge access passes at the first opportunity,” he said. “Instead, use them if your travel gets disrupted. Airport lounges frequently have well-trained agents who can help you get rebooked faster than standing in line at the gate or waiting on hold for a call center.”
How to apply for a credit card
Follow these steps to apply for a new credit card:
- Find a card that matches your needs and travel budget. Once you find a card that’s a good fit, you can follow the links above to the card issuer’s site.
- Fill out the application with the required personal and financial information. You’ll need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, income, and your rent or mortgage payment, among other things.
- You should hear back instantly with the card issuer’s decision. If you don’t, the issuer will likely reach out for clarification or to get more information. Otherwise, you’ll receive a letter in the mail detailing why you’ve been denied.
FAQs
Our general recommendation is to use an airline co-branded credit card (like a Chase United card) as a supplemental card to a travel rewards credit card and/or a flat-rate cash back credit card. In most cases, it doesn’t make sense to use one as your primary rewards credit card or to put most of your spending on one.
The best travel rewards credit cards offer more versatile rewards points and better rewards, in most cases, so they’re usually the best for most travel purchases.
But adding an airline co-branded credit card could still provide value, when considering the annual credits and free checked bags. That’s why it’s usually best to think about your airline credit card as a “free bag pass” or “lounge membership” more than a typical rewards credit card.
Several of the Chase United credit cards offer spending rewards for “local transit and commuting,” which Chase defines as “passenger trains, buses, taxis, limousines, rideshare, ferries, toll bridges and highways, parking lots and garages.”
As a general rule, we don’t recommend using your Chase United credit card for much spending outside of United flights, since other rewards credit cards tend to offer better overall value. But if you do decide to use it for transit or commuting, understanding those purchase categories is helpful.
A travel companion is defined as someone who’s traveling with you on the same reservation.
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