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United credit cards can get you perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and even airport lounge access.
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There are brand-new increased welcome bonuses on four of the United credit cards, but only for a limited time.
The highest bonus is on the premium United Club℠ Infinite Card, which is now offering United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Other cards offering increased welcome bonuses are the United Quest℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card, and United Gateway℠ Card.
Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
No matter what kind of United Airlines flyer you are, you can benefit from having a United credit card. There are options for occasional travelers, a premium card for frequent flyers, and even a no-annual-fee version.
For a limited time, four United credit cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses, worth up to 100,000 miles. This is a great opportunity to stock up on valuable miles you can redeem for travel on United, Star Alliance airlines (including Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa), and other partners.
United miles never expire, so opening a card now can set you up with miles you can use whenever you’re ready to travel.
Here’s a quick overview of each United credit card offer to help you decide if you should take advantage before these higher bonuses disappear.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
United Club Infinite card: Earn 100,000 miles
Normally, the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers 80,000 miles after meeting minimum spending requirements, but right now it’s offering a whopping United Club℠ Infinite Card. Since United Airlines miles are worth 1.3 cents each, on average (based on Insider’s points and miles valuations), that’s worth around United Club℠ Infinite Card in travel.
You’ll earn 4x miles on United purchases, 2x on all other travel, 2x on dining including eligible delivery services, and 1x on all other ourchases.
With a high United Club℠ Infinite Card annual fee, this card really only makes sense for frequent United flyers who can take advantage of its premium benefits.
United Club Infinite card benefits:
United Club airport lounge membership (access United Club airport lounges and many Star Alliance airline lounges when flying with United or its partners)Two free checked bags for the cardholder and one companion on the same reservation on United flights (worth up to $320 round-trip if both passengers each check two bags)25% back on inflight purchasesEligibility for complimentary IHG Rewards Club Platinum status10% award discount on flights within the continental US and CanadaFree upgrades for elite status members and one companion on their United reservation when flying UnitedPriority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handlingExpanded access to United award flights
Folks who don’t often fly United, and won’t be able to use of most of the card perks, should consider a different United card (or a different airline card altogether).
United Quest card: Earn 80,000 miles
The United Quest℠ Card is best for frequent United flyers who want elite-like perks but don’t need United Club airport lounge access. New cardholders can now earn United Quest℠ Card — worth about United Quest℠ Card in flights.
Cardholders earn 3x miles on eligible United purchases, 2x on travel, 2x on dining, 2x on select streaming services, and 1x on all other purchases.
The card has a United Quest℠ Card annual fee, and comes with a solid selection of upscale perks.
United Quest card benefits:
$125 in annual statement credits toward United purchasesTwo free checked bagsPriority boarding on United flightsComplimentary premier upgrades25% discount on inflight purchases5,000-mile credit (up to twice a year) after completing an eligible award flight on United (after the card’s first anniversary)Up to $100 credit every four years toward the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS applicationExpanded access to United award flights
Like, the United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest℠ Card isn’t ideal for folks who don’t fly with United enough to take advantage of the card’s perks. But if you’re willing to pay the high annual fee, and frequently use United Airlines, then this card is definitely worth considering.
United Explorer card: Earn 60,000 miles
The United℠ Explorer Card is probably the best all-around card for frequent and occasional United flyers alike. It’s currently offering an elevated bonus of United℠ Explorer Card. That’s worth around United℠ Explorer Card in flights.
The card earns 2x miles on eligible United purchases, 2x on dining, and 2x on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel (1x miles on everything else).
Cardholders receive a wide range of perks, some of which you’d only expect from cards that charge a much higher annual fee than this card charges (United℠ Explorer Card). Notable benefits include:
United Explorer card benefits:
Two United Club airport lounge one-time passes per anniversary yearFree first checked bag on United flights, for the cardholder and up to one companion on the same reservation (must use card to pay for your ticket)Priority boarding on United flights25% back on United inflight purchasesGlobal Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee creditComplimentary Premier upgrades500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchasesExpanded access to United award flights
United Gateway card: Earn 30,000 miles
The United Gateway℠ Card doesn’t have nearly impressive as a bonus or perks as the other United cards, but it’s a good option for occasional United flyers who want a no-fee card for earning United miles. Plus, the card gets cardholders a handful of valuable benefits.
Like the other cards, it’s also currently offering an increased welcome bonus offer of United Gateway℠ Card (worth around United Gateway℠ Card in flights based on Insider’s valuations).
The card earns 2x miles on eligible United purchases, 2x at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, and 1x on everything else.
Because this card has no annual fee, it’s a good choice for those who mainly want a United card to access expanded award availability on United flights. Otherwise, it doesn’t come with much in the way of day-of-travel benefits, except a rebate on inflight purchases.
Side-by-side comparison of the United credit cards
United Club℠ Infinite CardUnited Quest℠ CardUnited℠ Explorer CardUnited Gateway℠ CardAnnual FeeUnited Club℠ Infinite CardUnited Quest℠ CardUnited℠ Explorer CardUnited Gateway℠ CardReward rates
4x miles on eligible United purchases
2x miles on travel
2x miles on dining
1x miles on everything else
3x miles on eligible United purchases (after earning the $125 United credit)
2x miles on travel
2x miles on dining
2x miles
on streaming services
1x mile on everything else
2x miles on eligible United purchases
2x miles on dining and hotel stays booked directly with the hotel
1 x mile on everything else
2x miles on eligible United purchases
2x miles at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
1x miles on everything else
Welcome bonusesUnited Club℠ Infinite CardUnited Quest℠ CardUnited℠ Explorer CardUnited Gateway℠ CardBenefits
United Club membership
Free first and second-checked bags on United flights*
Priority boarding on United flights
25% back on United inflight purchases
NEXUS, Gloval Entry, or TSA PreCheck application credit
Complimentary Premier upgrades
500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases****
Expanded access to United award flights
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024
Up to $125 in annual statement credits toward United purchases
Free first and second-checked bags on United flights*
Priority boarding on United flights
25% back on United inflight purchases
NEXUS, Gloval Entry, or TSA PreCheck application credit
Complimentary Premier upgrades
500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases****
Expanded access to United award flights
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024
Two United Club one-time passes per anniversary year
Free first checked bag on United flights
Priority boarding on United flights
25% back on United inflight purchases
5,000-mile award flight rebate twice a year starting on your first anniversary
NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Complimentary Premier upgrades
500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) for every $12,000 you spend on purchases****
Expanded access to United award flights
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024
25% back on United inflight purchases
Expanded access to United award flights
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass and Caviar membership through December 31, 2024
ReviewUnited Club Infinite card reviewUnited Quest card reviewUnited Explorer card reviewUnited Gateway card review
Bottom line
If you’re looking to boost your United MileagePlus account balances, it’s a good time to look at the United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Quest℠ Card, United℠ Explorer Card, and the United Gateway℠ Card before the limited-time offers expire.
Keep in mind these aren’t the absolute highest bonuses we’ve seen on these cards, but they’re pretty close. We don’t know what the new offers will be after these ones expire, so if you have an immediate need for United miles, now is the time to apply.