Best United Airlines Credit Cards in November 2024

Choosing the best United Airlines credit card depends on how often you fly with United and what perks you value most. Whether you’re looking for a no-annual-fee option or you’re focused on earning maximum miles from your purchases, there’s a card that can enhance your United travel experience.

Here are our top picks:

Our picks for the best United Airlines credit cards were carefully selected after evaluating each card’s rewards-earning potential, travel perks and overall value. We focused on how well each card meets the needs of different traveler profiles, from occasional flyers to weekly United travelers looking for enhanced benefits.

Here are your top options:

Choosing the best United Airlines credit card involves weighing factors like introductory bonuses, ongoing miles earned and annual fees to see how each aligns with your travel goals. With options that range from no annual fee to premium benefits, United offers a card for every type of traveler.

Here are the key factors to consider when selecting the right card for flying United Airlines:

United credit cards come with a range of travel perks that can add comfort and convenience to your trips. These benefits are especially valuable for frequent flyers who can maximize their use.

When choosing a card, consider which perks you’re likely to use to ensure you’re getting the best value.

United credit cards provide generous bonuses for new cardholders, helping you kickstart your miles balance. With United miles generally valued at around 1.2 to 1.3 cents per mile, these bonuses can translate into significant savings on flights. Each card’s offer varies, so you can choose the best fit based on your expected spending.

• United Gateway Card: 20,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
• United Explorer Card: 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months, a solid start for casual United flyers.
• United Quest Card: 60,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months, great if you want a larger bonus with moderate spending.
• United Club Infinite Card: 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first three months, best for frequent travelers who book their flights in advance.

By signing up for a United MileagePlus membership, you’ll automatically earn miles on your United flights. But with a United co-branded card, you can rack up even more miles — not only on flights but also on everyday purchases like dining, gas and transit, allowing you to rack up miles faster through regular spending.

United cards offer at least 2X miles on United purchases and some bonus categories, varying depending on the card. For all other purchases, you’ll earn a base rate of 1X mile per dollar.

• United Gateway Card: Earn 2X miles on United purchases, gas stations and local transit (including rideshare).
• United Explorer Card: Earn 2X miles on United purchases, dining and hotel stays.
• United Quest Card: Earn 3X miles on United purchases and 2X miles on dining and other travel purchases.
• United Club Infinite Card: Earn 4X miles on United purchases and 2X on dining and other travel purchases.

When choosing a United Airlines credit card, consider whether the annual fee aligns with the value you’ll get from the card’s perks. Higher fees often bring premium benefits like lounge access or priority boarding, but these only add value if you use them regularly.

Frequent United travelers may find the added benefits well worth the cost, while occasional flyers might prefer a card with a lower or no annual fee to earn miles without the commitment. Weigh the fee against your travel habits to find a card that matches your needs.

A United Airlines credit card is best suited for travelers who frequently fly with United and want to maximize their miles and perks. However, even occasional travelers, especially those near a United hub, may find a United card worthwhile.

Here are two profiles that might get the most out of a United card:

• Living Near a United Hub, But Fly Less Frequently: If you live near a United hub, you’re more likely to fly United, and this is true whether you travel regularly or occasionally. Having a United card like the United Explorer Card allows you to take full advantage of perks like free checked bags and priority boarding whenever you fly, making it a practical choice for maximizing your travel benefits.

• Always Takes United Flights: A co-branded card is a natural fit if you’re loyal to United for your flights. Not only will you earn extra miles on United flights, but you’ll also accumulate miles from everyday spending. Plus, United cards such as the United Quest Card allow you to take full advantage of perks like free checked bags and priority boarding. Frequent use also helps you earn elite status points, bringing you closer to United’s Premier status levels for added benefits on every trip.

While co-branded United credit cards offer great perks for loyal United flyers, they may not be the best choice for everyone.

Here are a few reasons to consider other travel or airline cards instead:

• Flexible Rewards and Redemption: Co-branded cards typically focus rewards and benefits on a single airline, which can be limiting if you sometimes fly with other carriers. Non-co-branded cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred allow you to earn and redeem rewards across various airlines and even hotel stays, giving you more flexibility with your travel plans.
• Expanded Travel Benefits: United cards offer United-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, but general travel cards come with premium travel perks like access to a wider range of airport lounges, statement credits for various services and other benefits that can enhance your overall travel experience.
• Maximizing Everyday Spending: If you’re looking to earn rewards on everyday purchases like dining, groceries or gas, a travel card with diverse earning categories may be a better fit. Many general travel cards like the American Express® Gold Card offer higher earning rates across a variety of spending categories, helping you accumulate rewards faster.
• Annual Fees and Value: While United cards come with valuable perks, the cost may not be worthwhile if you don’t fly United frequently. Non-co-branded cards may provide similar benefits without requiring you to commit to a single airline.

If you’re looking for more flexible rewards or broader travel perks, check out our lists of the best airline credit cards and the best travel credit cards to find the right fit for your travel style.

Here are some common questions about United Airlines credit cards, covering everything from perks to earning miles.

We thoroughly reviewed over 20 airline credit cards, focusing on factors that provide the most value to United travelers. Our evaluation framework applies specific criteria and weights to ensure reliable and expert recommendations:

• Expected Value for Travelers (40%): We calculated the overall value of each card’s rewards and perks relative to its annual fee, providing a net benefit analysis for frequent United flyers. This includes earning potential, savings on United-specific travel expenses and perks like free checked bags.
• Airline Scope (20%): We assessed United’s extensive domestic and international route network, which offers travelers broad accessibility and flexibility. This factor is crucial for those who prioritize ease of booking across multiple destinations.
• Offer ROI (15%): We evaluated the return on investment from each card’s introductory bonus, comparing the bonus miles value against the spending required to earn the offer. Cards with higher-value bonuses for lower spending requirements scored higher.
• Airline Rewards Rate (10%): This measures the rate at which cardholders can earn United miles on United flights and related purchases. We prioritized cards that maximize earning potential for frequent United flyers looking to build miles faster.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): We reviewed customer satisfaction ratings based on J.D. Power’s annual study to assess overall cardholder experiences, including service quality, transparency and satisfaction with the issuer.
• Foreign Transaction Fees (5%): We rated each card based on its foreign transaction fees, with higher scores for cards that waive these fees — an advantage for travelers who frequently book international flights.
• Recommended Credit (5%): We considered the accessibility of each card, evaluating the typical credit score needed for approval. Cards with broader accessibility scored higher to ensure options are available to a wider range of applicants.