Why United Credit Cards Are Becoming Essential
United Airlines is making changes that benefit United cardholders and its most dedicated flyers. Starting April 2, having the right co-branded United credit card and United Airlines elite status earns you more miles and larger award flight discounts.
At the same time, United flyers without a co-branded credit card will earn fewer miles on eligible United purchases. Even United MileagePlus elite members will earn fewer miles on United purchases than previously if they don’t also have a United card.
These changes make having the right United Airlines card more valuable. Plus, all of the cards that are impacted by these updates now have limited-time increased welcome offers:
- United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 additional miles after adding an authorized user within the first three months the account is open.
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 additional miles after adding an authorized user within the first three months the account is open.
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 additional miles after adding an authorized user within the first three months the account is open.
Below, CNBC Select covers what’s changing and how you can benefit.
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth it even if you only fly with United Airlines once or twice a year because you can take advantage of two United Club℠ passes per year when the primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling and you can receive free checked bags.
- No annual fee for the first year
- Unlocks upgrades for elite members on award flights
- Two free United Club airport lounge passes every year
- Valuable United Airlines perks, such as in-flight purchase discounts and the ability to earn elite status credit through credit card spending
- First checked bag free benefit requires you to pay for the flight with the card
- United Airlines has a dynamic award chart which can limit the value and flexibility of your miles
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year – over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save at least 10% when booking flights with miles. Premier members earn even more.
- Member FDIC
Why United Airlines credit cards are more essential now
United credit cards now offer a 10% discount on award flights, which increases to a 15% discount if you also have United elite status. This discount is on top of access to more of the cheapest saver-level awards eligible cardholders already have.
This benefit is an indirect boost to the value of your United miles and to the limited-time welcome offers currently available with cards such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Quest℠ Card.
The award discount means the United Explorer Card’s intro bonus can be used to book over 77,000 miles of award flights or more if you have elite status or add an authorized user within the first three months your account is open (and earn the 10,000-mile bonus).
You’ll earn fewer miles without a United credit card
If you don’t have a United credit card, you’ll earn fewer miles than you would have before on United purchases. For anyone who purchases the least expensive Basic Economy fares, it’s even worse; you’ll no longer earn United miles on these tickets unless you have a United credit card or United elite status.
Below are the old reward rates (for eligible United purchases made before April 2, 2026) and the new reward rates (for eligible United purchases made on or after April 2, 2026). The Basic Economy rates below apply to eligible United purchases made on April 2, 2026:
United MileagePlus reward rates
| United | Old rates | New rates | New rates with United cards | Basic Economy rates | Basic Economy rates with United cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No elite status | 5X miles | 3X miles | 6X miles | None | 3X miles |
| Premier Silver | 7X miles | 5X miles | 8X miles | 2X miles | 5X miles |
| Premier Gold | 8X miles | 6X miles | 9X miles | 3X miles | 6X miles |
| Premier Platinum | 9X miles | 7X miles | 10X miles | 4X miles | 7X miles |
| Premier 1K® | 11X miles | 9X miles | 12X miles | 6X miles | 9X miles |
On the other hand, having a United card lets you earn more miles on United spending than before. Even without this perk, it already made sense for anyone who values United miles or United Premier elite status to have a card. On top of helping you earn more miles, United cards help you earn elite status faster, and certain cards unlock the ability for elite members to receive upgrades on award flights.
The elevated earnings on eligible United purchases only apply to the primary cardholder and do not extend to authorized users. However, you can share the increased cardmember earning rates with up to eight children aged 18 or younger by linking your United MileagePlus accounts.
United credit cards to consider
United’s less expensive cards have a $10,000 annual spending requirement to unlock the new cardmember earning rates for your United purchases. This limitation applies to the United Gateway℠ Card (see rates and fees) and United MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card.
If you want to maximize your return on United purchases without jumping through any hoops, you’ll need one of the following cards:
The award flight discounts and increased earnings on United purchases aren’t available with other Chase cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). However, if you have a United card, the award flight discount and increased saver level award access will indirectly boost the value of transferable travel rewards that partner with United MileagePlus. That means a United card pairs well with cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Bilt Rewards, which both transfer to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
The Bilt Obsidian Card offers 3X Bilt Points on key everyday categories, like dining or groceries, plus comes with a $100 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit (split semi-annually each calendar year)
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- Can earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage
- High return on dining or grocery purchases
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Cap on earning bonus Bilt points for groceries
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 3X points on your choice of grocery (up to $25K/year) or dining. Your 3X category choice remains in effect for the entire calendar year.
- 2X points on travel
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $200 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved.
- $100 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $50 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
Balance transfer fee
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