The 7 best credit cards for United Airlines in 2024

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Taking flight with United Airlines this year? Before you board, make sure you have the right credit card to maximize rewards with every trip. Whether you only fly occasionally or live out of United Club lounges, there’s a card that suits your style.

We compared annual fees, earning rates, elite perks, and lounge access privileges across cards. We then segmented top card offers based on how you fly — whether you’re a frequent flier, business traveler, or lounge enthusiast.

Best United credit cards

Based on our research, these are the best credit cards for United Airlines in 2024:

• Best value: United℠ Explorer Card
• Best for loyalists: United Quest℠ Card
• Best for flexibility: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for airport lounge access: United Club℠ Infinite Card
• Best for no annual fee: United Gateway℠ Card
• Best for small business owners: United℠ Business Card
• Best for frequent business travelers: United Club℠ Business Card

United℠ Explorer Card: Best value

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

Regular United fliers who want rewards without paying a high annual fee will love this card. You’ll enjoy a free first checked bag, priority boarding, two one-time United Club day passes per year, and solid travel protections.

The biggest perk comes by way of earning miles. You receive 2X miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays, and 1X miles on all other purchases. This adds up quickly for regular travelers who dine out and stay at hotels during every trip.

Because the $95 annual fee is waived the first year, this card offers an affordable way to boost your United status. Considering the free first checked bag perk alone can save over $100 per trip, the Explorer Card pays for itself if you check your luggage regularly.

United Quest℠ Card: Best for loyalists

Rewards: 

• 3X miles on United® purchases
• 2X miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel.
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $250

United loyalists who hold Premier elite status will find their best travel companion in the United Quest℠ Card. With priority services, seat upgrades, and annual travel credits up to $125, it caters directly to those committed to United.

With this card, you can earn boosted miles on dining, streaming services, and other travel. While it carries a $250 annual fee, you can expect premium perks like up to two free checked bags per person and bonus miles after your account anniversary.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for flexibility

Rewards: 

• 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠
• 5X total points on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on other travel
• 1X points on other purchases

Annual fee: $95

Fliers who split travel across United and other airlines will enjoy the flexibility of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

While it won’t offer United-specific perks, you can redeem points towards United flights at a 1:1 ratio. And, if you book via Chase’s travel portal, your points will be worth 25% more. This provides excellent value in exchange for a $95 annual fee.

You can also transfer points to other airline and hotel partners like Southwest Rapid Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt. Or, you can redeem points for cash back or as a statement credit. This card has solid travel insurance benefits, including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip delay reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance.

United Club℠ Infinite Card: Best for airport lounge access

Rewards: 

• 4X miles on United Airlines purchases
• 2X miles on all other travel purchases, dining, and eligible delivery services
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $525

First-class fliers who want VIP treatment should consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card. It unlocks United Club airport lounge access, United Premier access, and other premium perks. Consider this card your first-class ticket on the ground and in the air.

Remember that the annual fee can be steep and may not be worth it if you don’t regularly visit United Club lounges or fly United. But two free checked bags per person and seat upgrades may be worth the cost.

United Gateway℠ Card: Best for no annual fee

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on United® purchases, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0

The United Gateway℠ Card charges an annual fee, which is a solid feature for travelers who don't fly enough to justify paying one. But this card still earns United miles for spending and comes with benefits that can make signing up well worth the trouble.

This card includes travel benefits, like trip cancellation insurance and purchase protection. You can earn 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight United purchases.

United℠ Business Card: Best for small business owners

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on United Airlines purchases and on dining, gas stations, office supplies, and local transit and commuting
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $99

United business owners can maximize both personal and professional rewards through this card. Plus, the $99 annual fee is reasonable enough for most businesses, and primary cardholders also get free employee cards.

The United℠ Business Card includes benefits like a free first checked bag, a $100 United travel credit, two annual United Club passes, and priority boarding.

United Club℠

Business Card: Best for frequent business travelers

Rewards: 

• 2X miles on United purchases
• 1.5X miles on all other purchases

Annual fee: $450

Road warrior business travelers who live on United will get the most mileage from the United Club℠ Business Card. That’s why it’s one of our picks for best business travel cards.

The biggest perk comes from United Club membership and lounge access. You can also enjoy other premium benefits like seat upgrades, free checked bags, and travel protections.

How United credit cards work

United co-branded credit cards help members earn miles to use on flights with United Airlines and its Star Alliance partners.

Star Alliance is the largest airline alliance in the world, with more than 16,000 daily departures. You can use your miles to travel to more than 1,200 destinations in 186 countries worldwide.

United cards also have valuable benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, airport lounge access, and a leg up toward elite status.

United Airlines MileagePlus Program

The United Airlines MileagePlus loyalty program is the airline's frequent flyer program, allowing members to earn miles on flights, credit card purchases, and other qualifying activities. 

These miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. 

MileagePlus has four elite status tiers: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K. Each tier offers progressively more valuable benefits, such as priority check-in, complimentary upgrades, and bonus miles earning. Holding a United Airlines credit card can help you earn miles faster and achieve elite status more quickly.

Which is the best United card?

The best United card varies from person to person based on how often you travel with the airline and the perks you want.

For example, someone who flies with United several times per month could benefit from a card with generous rewards on United purchases and airport lounge access.

So, how do you know which is right for how you fly? Here are three key questions to ask yourself:

1. How often do you fly United? Low (or no) annual fee cards like the United℠ Explorer Card offer the most value if it's less than five times a year. Frequent fliers may consider a card with more perks (and a higher annual fee) like the United Quest℠ Card.
2. What’s your typical cabin — economy, business, or first class? Premium cards offer the most value when booking business or first-class tickets.
3. Do you exclusively fly United? United co-branded cards offer targeted perks. Flexible travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card allow transfers to different travel partners.

While most United cards charge annual fees, these can be offset by certain perks, like free checked bags. Other benefits include priority boarding, earning points toward elite status, fee credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and discounts on in-flight purchases.

Should I get an airline credit card?

Airline credit cards can offer great perks for loyal customers, like free checked bags, airport lounge access, priority boarding, and inflight discounts.

Frequent fliers on a specific airline get tremendous value from co-branded airline cards. The perks can offset annual fees and help unlock elite status faster.

But these cards make less sense for infrequent fliers or those who comparison shop flights across multiple airlines. That’s because the miles you earn have limited redemption options. United miles are best used for flights with United and its partners.

If you want more flexibility, consider a general travel card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards earn flexible points that you can use to book travel through the Chase portal or transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners. You can redeem Chase points for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise.

How to maximize your United credit card

To get the most value from your co-branded United Airlines card:

1. Use your card for United purchases: Most United Airlines credit cards offer bonus miles on United purchases, so be sure to use your card when booking flights, purchasing upgrades, or making in-flight purchases.
2. Take advantage of bonus categories: Many United cards also offer bonus miles on categories like dining, hotels, or car rentals. Use your card for these purchases to accelerate your earnings.
3. Redeem miles strategically: United MileagePlus miles are generally most valuable when redeemed for flights. Look for opportunities to redeem miles for high-value routes or premium cabin travel to maximize your return.
4. Combine miles with other benefits: If you have a United Airlines credit card that offers free checked bags or lounge passes, combine these benefits with your miles redemptions to enhance your travel experience.

How we rated the best cards for United  

To determine the best credit cards for United, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any rewards you earn, so it's important to understand these costs and how to avoid them.

Frequently asked questions about United credit cards

Can I have more than one United Airlines credit card?

Yes, you can hold multiple United Airlines credit cards, even if they are issued by different banks. However, be aware of Chase's 5/24 rule, which may limit your ability to open new cards if you've applied for several recently.

Do United Airlines credit cards have foreign transaction fees?

Most United Airlines credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them a good choice for international travel. Make sure to check the specific terms of your card.

Can I transfer United MileagePlus miles to other programs?

United MileagePlus miles cannot be directly transferred to other airline or hotel loyalty programs. However, you can use your miles to book flights on United's Star Alliance partners.

The bottom line

Any of these seven cards help loyal United fliers take off with valuable travel perks, airline rewards, and premium status. When choosing the best credit card, make sure you pick the one tailored to your travel habits and brand allegiance to maximize its benefits. You can also consider pairing a United credit card with a Chase travel credit card to get the best of both worlds.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.