United Airlines Credit Cards Are Now Offering Bigger Sign-Up Bonuses
by Lyle Daly | March 3, 2021
The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
Image source: Getty Images
Apply for a United credit card now and you'll have the chance to earn a lot more bonus miles.
Chase and United Airlines offer a trio of consumer credit cards. To kick off the month of March, they've decided to boost the bonus offers on each one. There's no word on how long these offers will last, but it's always a good idea to act quickly on offers you like.
Read on for details about the upgraded sign-up bonuses for all three United cards, as well as more information on the perks each card offers.
United℠ Explorer Card: 65,000 bonus miles
The United℠ Explorer Card has a two-part sign-up bonus. You earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in the first three months. You then earn 25,000 more for spending $10,000 in the first six months, for a total of 65,000 bonus miles.
Of the airline credit cards United offers, this one is the best for the typical consumer. That's because it packs several valuable features for an affordable price tag. The first year has a $0 intro annual fee, and after that, the annual fee is $95 per year.
In terms of features, it offers:
- A free checked bag for you and a companion on the same reservation
- Two complimentary one-time United Club℠ passes per account year
- A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- 2 miles per $1 on purchases with United, hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel, at restaurants, and with eligible food delivery services
- A 25% statement credit for in-flight purchases with United
United Club℠ Infinite Card: 75,000 bonus miles
The sign-up bonus on the United Club℠ Infinite Card is as straightforward as it gets. Spend $3,000 in the first three months, and you earn 75,000 bonus miles. It's one of the bigger sign-up bonuses on the market, and it doesn't have a super high spending minimum.
Since this is United's most luxurious card option, it has the best features, but also the highest annual fee at $525 per year. Given the cost of the card, you'll need to be a frequent flyer with United to get your money's worth.
Here's a list of its top benefits:
- A free United Club℠ membership, so you and up to two guests can access United's lounges (with boarding passes for same-day travel)
- Two free checked bags for you and a companion on the same reservation
- A Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- 4 miles per $1 on purchases with United
- 2 miles per $1 on travel and dining, including eligible delivery services
- Complimentary upgrades on award tickets when available
- A 25% statement credit for in-flight purchases with United
United Gateway℠ Card: 20,000 bonus miles
This is another straightforward sign-up bonus, and it also has the lowest spending minimum. When you spend $1,000 with the United Gateway℠ Card in the first three months, you get 20,000 bonus miles.
There's no annual fee for the United Gateway℠ Card. Although that's a plus, it has far fewer benefits than the other United cards. Most travelers will get more value from the United℠ Explorer Card, especially considering its $95 annual fee is waived the first year.
The United Gateway℠ Card offers:
- 3 miles per $1 on grocery store purchases, up to a spending cap of $1,500 per month, through Sept. 30, 2021
- 2 miles per $1 on purchases with United, at gas stations, and on local transit and commuting
- A 25% statement credit for in-flight purchases with United
Is it the right time to get a United credit card?
If you normally fly with United Airlines, then you could add to your miles with one of these offers. Even if you haven't been traveling recently, United miles don't expire, so you can save them for later.
To get any United credit card, it's recommended that you have a good credit score (specifically, a FICO® Score of 670 or above). Since they're all Chase credit cards, you can only qualify if you've opened fewer than five credit cards in the last 24 months. Otherwise, Chase's 5/24 rule will likely result in an automatic denial.
Assuming you can qualify, the final consideration is which card to apply for. You may have an idea already. If not, the United℠ Explorer Card will work well for most travelers because it provides the best balance of value and affordability. For loyal United flyers who want it all, the United Club℠ Infinite Card is the clear choice.
Top credit card wipes out interest until late 2022
If you have credit card debt, transferring it to this top balance transfer card can allow you to pay 0% interest for a whopping 18 months! That’s one reason our experts rate this card as a top pick to help get control of your debt. It’ll allow you to pay 0% interest on both balance transfers and new purchases until late 2022, and you’ll pay no annual fee. Read The Ascent's full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
About the Author
Lyle is a writer specializing in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work has also appeared on MSN Money, USA Today, and Yahoo! Finance.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
