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April 4, 2024: United has ended its incredible 100k bonus on the United℠ Business Card, but it now offers a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. We’d still rather have an extra 25k points, but in our view, the United Business Card still has the best welcome bonus when considering both spend required and fees you’ll pay.
See below for more on this and the other welcome bonuses offered by United Airlines.
Current United Airlines credit card welcome bonuses
United and Chase offer welcome bonuses for new cardmembers who get a new United credit card and meet spending requirements. Here are the details on the best welcome bonuses we know about on United Airlines credit cards.
| United Credit Card | Welcome Bonus | Card at a glance |
|---|---|---|
 United Gateway℠ Card Annual fee: $0 | bonus_miles_full (Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type) Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. Perks: 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases. |
 United℠ Explorer Card Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | bonus_miles_full Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked with the hotel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. Perks: 2 United Club one-time passes per year. Free first checked bag. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points. |
 United Quest℠ Card Annual fee: $250 | bonus_miles_full Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 3x miles on United purchases. 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. Perks: Up to $125 in United purchase credits. Up to 10,000 in award flight credits. Free first and second bags. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points. |
 United Club℠ Infinite Card Annual fee: $525 | bonus_miles_full Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 4x miles on United purchases. 2x miles on dining and all other travel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. Perks: Untied Club membership. Free first and second bags. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points. |
 United℠ Business Card Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99. | bonus_miles_full Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores and local transit and commuting. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. 5,000 mile anniversary bonus when you also hold a United personal credit card Perks: First checked bag free, 2 United Club passes per year, can earn Premier Qualifying Points |
 United Club℠ Business Card Annual fee: $450 | Earn 75,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Jump to this welcome bonus. | Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases. 1.5x miles on other eligible purchases. Perks: Untied Club membership. Free first and second bags. Earns Premier Qualifying Points. |
Other ways to get United miles through welcome bonuses
Chase Ultimate Rewards® is a transfer partner of United Mileage Plus. If you’re collecting Mileage Plus miles, you might also be interested in Ultimate Rewards welcome bonuses. Ultimate Rewards become transferable to United Mileage Plus if you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve.
My take on the United℠ Business Card welcome bonus
Generally, if you’re looking to earn miles with a new Untied credit card welcome bonus, the best time to get the new card is when Chase and United offer limited-time increased offers. Unfortunately, United and Chase recently lowered the bonus on the United℠ Business Card. But it’s not all bad news… the card now has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99. That means that it remains the best welcome bonus on the United credit cards in our view.
More details about the United Airlines credit card welcome bonuses
United Gateway℠ Card welcome bonus
card_name welcome bonus:
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Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: The current offer is the business-as-usual welcome bonus. It’s not terribly exciting, but we don’t often see larger offers on this card.
The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.
United Gateway℠ Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
Perks: 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases.
More about the United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway℠ Card is United’s entry level credit card that earns MileagePlus miles. You’ll earn miles when you spend with the card and get a small discount on in-flight purchases with the card. The United Gateway℠ Card has no annual fee.
The card earns 2 miles per dollar spent on a variety of United Airlines purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and wifi, baggage charges, and other United purchases. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. Other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
The United Gateway℠ Card is light on benefit, but you will earn 25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases. The card also offers purchase protection and extended warranty benefits.
United℠ Explorer Card welcome bonus
The United℠ Explorer Card can be a good choice if you occasionally fly on United Airlines and want perks like free checked bags. A unique feature of this card is that it will get you access to the United ClubSM with 2 one-time passes per year.
card_name welcome bonus:
bonus_miles_full
Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: The current bonus is the standard bonus. We’ve occasionally seen better welcome offers on this card, but Chase typically only increases the bonus by 10,000 additional miles or so.
The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.
United℠ Explorer Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, dining, and hotel stays booked with the hotel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
Perks: 2 United Club one-time passes per year. Free first checked bag. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points.
More about the United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card offers a free first checked bag on United, one-time passes to the United Club each year, a credit for Trusted traveler programs, and the opportunity to earn Premier Qualifying Points toward status. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
When you use the United℠ Explorer Card for United purchases, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel. Other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
With the United℠ Explorer Card, you’ll get a first free checked bag for you and a companion. When you travel on United, you’ll receive Priority boarding and 25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases. Twice a year, you’ll be able to treat yourself to lounge access with the 2 United Club℠ passes that you’ll get each year. The card also includes travel insurance coverages like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
United Quest℠ Card welcome bonus
If you are into redeeming United MileagePlus miles for flights, the United Quest℠ Card is the card to get. You’ll get two 5,000 mile award flight credits each year when you redeem your miles. Some other airline credit cards at this price point offer a companion certificate, but with the Quest card you can earn $125 in United purchase credits annually—that’s potentially less value than you could get from a companion certificate, but much easier to use for solo travelers.
card_name welcome bonus:
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Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: Chase seems to increase the welcome bonus on this card every few months. If you don’t need the card immediately, it might be worthwhile to wait on another bonus.
The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.
United Quest℠ Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $250.
Rewards: 3x miles on United purchases. 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
Perks: Up to $125 in United purchase credits. Up to 10,000 in award flight credits. Free first and second bags. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points.
More about the United Quest℠ Card
The United Quest℠ Card may be the best choice for the United MileagePlus member who flies United often, but doesn’t need lounge access. With the card, you’ll get an annual United purchase credit and a rebate on miles when you book MilagePlus award ticket on United twice a year. The United Quest℠ Card has a $250 annual fee.
The United Quest℠ Card ups the earnings on United, giving you 3 miles per dollar on United purchases. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar in long list of categories including all other travel (airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, rideshare services, and tolls), on dining and select streaming services. Other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
You and one companion on the same reservation will get a first and second free checked bag when you book your United-operated flight with your card. You’ll also be rewarded with flight credits and additional miles when you book tickets on United. You can get up to $125 in statement credits as reimbursement for United purchases. When you book award tickets, you can get 5,000 miles back in your MileagePlus account when you book a United-operated award ticket, up to twice a year.
United Club℠ Infinite Card welcome bonus
If you want to buy access to the United Club, this is the card for you. With the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you’ll get 4x points on your United purchases, plus 2x points in several bonus categories. You’ll also get a 10% discount on United saver award tickets. If all you want is lounge access and you don’t care about earning points or saver award discounts, consider the United Club℠ Business Card to save $75 on the annual fee.
card_name welcome bonus:
bonus_miles_full
Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: In early 2023, the welcome bonus on this card offered 100k points, but the current bonus is the best bonus we’ve seen recently on this card.
The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.
United Club℠ Infinite Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $525.
Rewards: 4x miles on United purchases. 2x miles on dining and all other travel. 1x miles on other eligible purchases.
Perks: Untied Club membership. Free first and second bags. Trusted traveler credit. Earns Premier Qualifying Points.
More about the United Club℠ Infinite Card
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the card that will get you into the United Club when traveling on United. It is also the card that offers the most miles for your United charges, paired with the most generous slate of additional travel benefits. The card has an annual fee of $525.
With the United Club℠ Infinite Card, you’ll earn more for your United flights than you will with any other United card—4 points per dollar for United purchases. You’ll earn 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases, plus dining and eligible delivery services. Other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.
The headline benefit of the United Club℠ Infinite Card is its included United Club℠ membership, which can get you and your eligible companions into the United Club℠ and participating Star Alliance lounges. You’ll also get a free first and second checked bag for you and a companion, plus a suite of premium travel insurance benefits.
United℠ Business Card welcome bonus
The United℠ Business Card gives you 2 one-time United Club passes per year and a $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases. Pair this card with a personal card and you’ll get a 5,000 point annual “better together” bonus. The United℠ Explorer Card is an ideal pairing if you don’t fly United that often, but want a total of 4 United Club one-time passes.
card_name welcome bonus:
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Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: Chase recently lowered the bonus to the current 75,000 miles, but it also lowered the first year annual fee on the card. That means the United Business Card’s welcome bonus remains the best welcome bonus when you consider annual fees, in our view.
The link above is our affiliate link. We always show you the best offer, and this is the best offer we know about on this card.
United℠ Business Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases, dining, gas stations, office supply stores and local transit and commuting. 1x miles on other eligible purchases. 5,000 mile anniversary bonus when you also hold a United personal credit card
Perks: First checked bag free, 2 United Club passes per year, can earn Premier Qualifying Points
More on the United℠ Business Card
The United℠ Business Card is United and Chase’s entry-level offering for small business owners. The card offers the usual benefits like a free checked bag and earning additional miles on United tickets that you’d expect from an entry-level card. Carrying the United℠ Business Card can also help you earn Premier qualifying points, the points you need for status.
The card helps you earn MilagePlus miles across a wide selection of categories relevant to small businesses. First, you earn two miles per dollar you spend on United Purchases. You’ll also earn two miles per dollar spent on dining, at gas stations, at offices supply stores and on local transit and commuting. You’ll earn one mile per dollar spent on other purchases. You’ll also earn a 5,000 mile “better-together” bonus when you hold this card and a United personal credit card.
Like most airline credit cards with an annual fee, the United℠ Business Card offers a free checked bag, but only for the primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation. You’ll also get two United Club one-time passes each year and a $100 United travel credit after making seven United flight purchases of $100 or more each cardmember anniversary year.
United Club℠ Business Card welcome bonus
The United Club℠ Business Card is the cheapest way to get a United Club membership. You won’t earn as many points or benefit from the saver ward travel discount available on the personal card, but you’ll save $75 each year in annual fee charges.
United Club℠ Business Card welcome bonus:
Earn 75,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
All information about the United Club℠ Business Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Click here to learn more and apply.
Our take on the welcome bonus: If you’re after PQPs, this elevated bonus is worth a look, but the current 100k bonus on the other business card is probably better if you want redeemable miles.
The link above is a link directly to the bank’s website. We don’t make money when you use the above link, but we always show you the best offer.
United Club℠ Business Card at a glance:
Annual fee: $450.
Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases. 1.5x miles on other eligible purchases.
Perks: Untied Club membership. Free first and second bags. Earns Premier Qualifying Points.
More on the United Club℠ Business Card
For small business owners, the United Club℠ Business Card offers the most affordable entry point for United Club℠ lounge access. The card doesn’t earn terribly impressive rewards on United travel, but it is the only United card that earns 1.5x miles on general purchases. The United Club℠ Business Card’s annual fee is $450.
When you use the United Club℠ Business Card for United purchases, you’ll get 2 miles per dollar. Other purchases earn 1.5 miles per dollar—the most miles earned on any United card on general purchases.
In addition to a United Club℠ membership, you’ll get a first and second checked bag free for you and a companion, Premier Access travel services, and an opportunity to earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points each year toward your status. The card also comes with premium travel insurance protections.
A few notes on applying for Chase cards
- 5/24 rule. Chase generally won’t approve you if your credit report is showing 5 or more new credit card accounts opened in the last 24 months. This rule is knows as the 5/24 rule. If you’re unsure if you are “under 5/24” you should check your 5/24 status before applying for a Chase card. Note that recently this rule seems to have softened, especially for Ink cards. See our coverage about Chase 5/24 for more.
- Only one Sapphire-branded card. You can only hold one Chase Sapphire-branded card at a time. This means you can have either a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but not both.
- You can get a welcome bonus on a Chase card, even if you’ve had the card previously. How often you can earn a welcome bonus on a Chase card varies by card family.
- Most cards allow you to earn a welcome bonus if it has been at least 24 months since your last received a welcome bonus on the same card.
- Chase Sapphire-branded cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can only earn a welcome bonus once every 48 months. (We published a separate article to help you determine if you can get a Sapphire welcome bonus.)
- Marriott cards have their own special rules.
- Chase will match an increased bonus. If you apply for a Chase card and the bank offers a higher bonus within 90 days, you can send Chase a secure message or call them to have your welcome offer matched.
- In-branch offers are sometimes better. Chase sometimes has better credit card welcome offers in-branch than it will publish on its own website or through affiliate networks. Check all channels to make sure you’re getting the best bonus.
- Chase business cards do not report to personal credit reports and do not impact your 5/24 status as long as they are current.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. You can hold multiple United Airlines credit cards and earn a welcome bonus for each. In fact, United encourages small business owners to hold both a personal and a business credit card with its “better together” bonus.
Any of the United credit cards with an annual fee will get you a first checked bag free. The United Quest℠ Card, United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Club℠ Business Card offers a first and second checked bag for free.
The best card for you depends on how often you fly with United. Occasional flyers are probably best matched to the United℠ Explorer Card. If you want lounge access, consider the United Club℠ Infinite Card. Frequent United travelers who don’t need lounge access should consider the United Quest℠ Card.
Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.