The Best Credit Cards for United Airlines Flyers of May 2023

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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 Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are also strong contenders thanks to great earning rates and travel protections.

Best United Credit Cards

Here are the best credit cards for United Airlines flyers to consider.

Compare United Credit Cards

United Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

Best if You’re Not Loyal to United

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Although it’s not a United co-branded card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card presents a few compelling reasons for United flyers to carry it. It earns Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio to United MileagePlus miles, so your purchase activity can easily earn you award travel on the airline.

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 United℠ Explorer Card, but on all airline purchases, as well as on things like train tickets, parking, rideshares, and more.

If you’re a very frequent traveler, you could also consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It’s now harder to recommend this card to everyone since the annual fee increased to $550, but it still offers some great benefits, including 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after earning the $300 travel credit), 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025, 3x points on other travel and dining, and up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases each year.

It’s also offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

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

United℠ Explorer Card

If you fly United a few times a year but don’t have elite status, the United℠ Explorer Card is probably your best all-around option, with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95. It currently comes with a bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

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.

United Explorer Card Review

Best for Travelers Who Check Bags

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest℠ Card offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The United Quest℠ Card is the least expensive United co-branded card that offers a free first and second checked bag, making it ideal for those who check multiple bags. United charges $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for the second, so if you check bags frequently, these fees can put a big dent in your travel budget.

Although the card has a $250 annual fee, taking advantage of this benefit can more than offset the yearly cost. Cardholders receive the first and second checked bag free for themselves and one companion on the same reservation (though you need to use the card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket). On a single round-trip itinerary, two people could save a total of $320 if they each check two bags.

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.

United Quest Card Review

Best United Airlines Credit Card for Business Travelers

United℠ Business Card

If you already carry a United personal credit card or are simply looking for a small-business credit card for your work needs, the United℠ Business Card is a great choice for a number of reasons. It’s currently offering 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

This card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $99. It also fields some interesting bonus earning opportunities, racking up 2 miles per dollar on United purchases as well as at restaurants, gas stations, local transit and commuting, and office supply stores.

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.

United Business Card Review

Best for United Club Airport Lounge Access

United Club℠ Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

If you’re a frequent United flyer and value access to United Club lounges, the United Club℠ Infinite Card is the best card for you. Its annual fee is $525, but that’s still less than what most travelers would pay for a United Club membership each year. The other thing worth noting is that it is full club membership, not just access, so cardholders can bring in guests.

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

United Gateway℠ Card

If you prefer to avoid an annual fee, the United Gateway℠ Card could be the first option for you. It doesn’t offer much in the way of extra perks, but it does earn 2x miles on United purchases, and on gas stations, and local transit. And it’s also offering a bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

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

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to United MileagePlus, among other airline and hotel programs.

Not only is it offering a welcome bonus of 100,000 points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, but it also racks up a phenomenal 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 total spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising on social media sites and search engines each account year (then 1x). 

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

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Ostensibly, The Platinum Card® from American Express does not offer any direct benefits for United flyers. But if you look beyond its obvious perks, there are plenty of reasons to consider it.

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 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases on the Card in the first six months of card membership.

The Platinum Card accrues 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), which makes it the top earner in this category. It also includes up to $200 per year in statement credits toward airline incidentals** like checked bags, seat assignments, and club lounge passes, so for occasional United flyers without elite status, this is a big benefit.

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 Mastercard®

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 $0 annual fee Bilt Mastercard® earns these rewards for non-rent expenses, as well:

• 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).

Bilt Mastercard Card Review

 

 

Jasmin Baron, CEPF

Editor

Joseph Hostetler, CEPF

Credit cards reporter

Angela Fung

Marketing Compliance Manager

Angela Fung is the marketing compliance manager at Personal Finance Insider, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice. She is the primary contact for credit cards compliance and has experience managing content and partnerships for the banking, loans, and investment verticals as well. 
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