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.
June 13, 2024: United has increased its best sign-up bonus offers on its personal United credit cards. The United Gateway℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card, United Quest℠ Card, and United Club℠ Infinite Card all currently feature limited-time United new cardmember offers.
These are the best United Airlines credit card welcome offers for new cardmembers.
Limited-time increased United Credit Card offers: 10k more bonus miles
On June 13, 2024, Chase increased the welcome bonuses on the personal United credit cards. Each of these welcome offers currently gives you 10,000 more United MileagePlus miles than the standard offers.
- United Gateway℠ Card: bonus_miles_full (Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type)
- United℠ Explorer Card: bonus_miles_full
- United Quest℠ Card: bonus_miles_full
- United Club℠ Infinite Card: bonus_miles_full
Quick take: On all of these cards, the increased welcome bonuses match the best bonuses we’ve seen in the last three years. If you’re looking for the most miles for the spending and annual fee, the United℠ Explorer Card is your best bet.
Regular United credit card offers: Consider the United℠ Business Card
While the personal United credit card offers are currently offering increased limited-time bonuses, the business credit cards are currently offering their “business as usual” new cardmember bonuses:
- United℠ Business Card: bonus_miles_full
- United Club℠ Business Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Quick take: The United℠ Business Card offers a larger bonus than the equivalent personal version, but the United℠ Explorer Card card requires less spending. The current United Club℠ Business Card welcome bonus isn’t terribly compelling.
More about each of the United Airlines credit cards
Earning miles through a United credit card offer isn’t the only reason to get a United Airlines credit card. Each of these cards can provide plenty of ongoing value for United Airlines flyers. Here’s a bit more about each of the cards that features a new cardmember welcome bonus.
You can find the best card for you in our complete overview of all of the United Airlines credit cards, which has tables where you can compare all of the benefits of United airlines credit cards, side-by-side.
United Gateway℠ Card: An entry-level card with no compelling value proposition
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.
When to pick this card: You’ll usually get an airline credit card for the benefits—airline credit cards typically don’t offer compelling rewards for spending. In the case of the United Gateway, the earnings are limited and it offers almost no benefits for flying United, other than a 25% discount in inflight and club premium dink purchases. United miles don’t expire, so you don’t need to worry about keeping a card open if you’re an infrequent United flyer. You’re probably better off upgrading at least the United℠ Explorer Card for the checked bag benefit or considering a 2% credit card.
Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
United Gateway℠ Card sign-up bonus
bonus_miles_full (Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type)
Generally an uninteresting card, but could make sense when paired with the United Club℠ Business Card for that card’s “Better Together” bonus.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver.
Trip cancellation/ interruption insurance.
No foreign transaction fees.
Rewards:
2x on United purchases.
2x at gas stations.
2x on local transit and commuting.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
United℠ Explorer Card: A free checked bag and two lounge passes per year
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 to pick this card: You’ll get the most value from the United Explorer card if you fly on United occasionally and would otherwise pay for checked bags. If you have frequent flyer status or fly on airfares that include a checked bag, the card isn’t going to provide much value.
Yes, the two included United Club passes provide a nice perk when traveling on United, but you’re probably not going to pay the card’s ongoing annual fee solely for two lounge visits a year. If you want consistent airport lounge access, there are better options for lounge access, including the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Not sure the United℠ Explorer Card is the right card for you? Compare this card’s benefits and features against all of the other United credit cards.
Learn how to apply.
annual_fees
United℠ Explorer Card sign-up bonus
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This is the card to get if you fly United occasionally and would otherwise pay for checked bags.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
2 one-time United Club passes per year.
First checked bag free.
Priority Boarding.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
Rewards:
2x on United purchases.
2x on dining.
2x on hotel stays.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
United Quest℠ Card: The best card if you earn and redeem MileagePlus miles
The United Quest℠ Card may be the best choice for the United MileagePlus member who flies United often, but doesn’t want to pay for United lounge access. The United Quest℠ Card has a $250 annual fee.
When to pick this card: The United Quest℠ Card offers the most value for MileagePlus members who fly on United and redeem miles a few times a year. You’ll get two 5,000 mile award flight credits each year when you redeem your miles and up to $125 in annual United purchase credits. If you regularly check bags and don’t have another way to get free checked bags, you’ll get even more value from the card because you’ll get your first and second checked bags for free.
Chances are, if you’re looking at the United Quest card, you’re flying United often. Either pair the card with another card offering lounge access or consider whether it’s worth upgrading to the United Club℠ Infinite Card for lounge access. Compare all of the United cards and find the best card for you.
Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
United Quest℠ Card sign-up bonus
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The best card for those who fly United somewhat frequently, engage with MileagePlus, and redeem miles.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
Up to $125 in annual United purchase credits.
5,000 mile award flight credits, 2 times per year.
First and second checked bags free.
Priority boarding.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 6,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Rewards:
3x on United purchases.
2x on dining.
2x on all other travel.
2x on select streaming services.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: United Club access for the very frequent United traveler
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.
When to pick this card: The United Club Infinite card is designed for the person who flys United a lot and can charge their United flights to their personal credit card. For $525 a year, you’re buying access to the United Club, 4x earnings on your United purchases, and the ability to earn up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points each year. The more you fly United, the more value you’ll get out of this card.
If you only want to buy United Club access and don’t care about earning miles (or can’t charge your United flights to your personal card) consider the United Club℠ Business Card. Find the right United card for you in our comparison of all of the United credit cards.
Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: annual_fees
United Club℠ Infinite Card sign-up bonus
bonus_miles_full
Get this card if you spend a lot on United flights and want to effectively buy a United Club membership.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
United Club membership.
10% United saver award discount.
First and second checked bags free.
Premier Access.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Rewards:
4x on United purchases.
2x on dining.
2x on all other travel.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
United℠ Business Card: A better value for small business owners than the United℠ Explorer 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.
When to pick this card: Like the personal United℠ Explorer Card, the best way to think about the United Business card is as a pre-payment for a free checked bag for you and a companion when you fly United. If you fly frequently with United and would otherwise get a free checked bag, the card isn’t going to provide much value.
If you’re a small business owner, this card is probably a better choice than the personal card. The card includes two lounge passes each year, but you can also get a $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases—a benefit not offered on the personal card. Find the best United card for you in our comparison of United cards.
Learn how to apply.
annual_fees
United℠ Business Card sign-up bonus
bonus_miles_full
Generally more compelling than the personal United℠ Explorer Card and an interesting pairing with the United Gateway℠ Card.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
$100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases.
5,000 miles when you also hold a United personal card.
First checked bag free.
Priority boarding.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Rewards:
2x on United purchases.
2x on dining.
2x at gas stations.
2x on local transit and commuting.
2x at office supply stores.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
United Club℠ Business Card: The cheapest way to buy United Club membership
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 to pick this card: 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. Pick this card if you travel with United often and can’t charge your business travel to your personal card.
Learn more about this and the other United credit cards in our roundup of all United credit cards.
Learn how to apply.
Annual fee: $450
This is a direct bank link. All information about the United Club℠ Business Card has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
United Club℠ Business Card sign-up bonus
Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
The least-expensive way to buy your way into the United Club.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
United Club membership.
Free first and second checked bags.
Premier Access.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Rewards:
2x on United purchases.
1.5x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
I already have one United credit card. Can I get another?
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.
Which United credit card gets me free bags?
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.
Which is the best United credit card?
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.
