Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Credit Cards Best United Airlines Credit Cards: Which One Is Right for You? Updated Jun 16, 2023   |   6-min read Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Written by Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Expertise: Student loans, personal loans, home loans, insurance, credit cards Jeff Gitlen, CEPF®, is the director of content operations at LendEDU. He graduated from the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Learn more about Jeff Gitlen, CEPF® Some offers mentioned on this page may be outdated. To confirm offers and credit card details, check the issuer’s website. The information for these cards is outdated. For more accurate information, visit the issuer’s website. What we likeSign-up bonusRewards rateAPRAnnual feeUnited Explorer CardFee is waived for first year40,000 miles after spending $2,0002x miles at United, restaurants, and hotels; 1x everywhere else18.24% – 25.24%$95 ($0 first year)United Club Card1st and 2nd bags checked free50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,0002x miles on United purchases, 1.5x miles everywhere else18.24% – 25.24%$450United TravelBank CardGood rewards for a no-fee card$150 after spending $1,0002x miles on United purchases, 1.5x miles everywhere else18.24% – 25.24%$0 Which United Airlines Credit Card Is Right for Me? When it comes to choosing the best United credit card, it’s easy to get confused. After all, there are several credit cards to choose from and each has different benefits and drawbacks. The best credit card for United miles will vary for each person, depending on whether they’re looking for a no-annual-fee card or one with higher rewards. We’ll review each of the United Airlines credit card options below so you can decide which one is right for you. In this review: United Explorer Card: Best for Moderately High SpendersUnited Club Card: Best for Heavy Spenders and Frequent TravelersUnited TravelBank Card: Best for low spenders United Explorer Card: Best for Moderately High Spenders The information for this card is outdated. For more accurate information, visit the issuer’s website. Learn Moreon Chase’s secure websiteAnnual Fee: $95 (waived first year)APR: 18.24% – 25.24%Rewards: 2x miles on purchases at United, restaurants, and hotels; 1x miles on everything elseSign-Up Bonus: 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 within three months of account opening Pros Good introductory bonus offerNo annual fee for the first yearNo foreign transaction feesFree first checked bag for up to two people per trip Cons Sub-par rewards rates for the annual feeHigh APRsBad for balance transfers: no 0% intro period, plus balance transfer fee of 5% Recommended Credit Score Good Review The United Explorer Card is a great card for those who fly United often and spend a lot of money on their credit card. It provides a solid one-time bonus offer that lets you earn 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first three months. It also allows you to earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at restaurants, hotel reservations booked directly with hotel brands, and on United purchases. You earn just 1 mile for every dollar spent elsewhere. These rewards rates are average, but not great for a card with an annual fee. Other perks include a free first checked bag for up to two people every time you fly United and no transaction fees. You also get a $100 statement credit every 4 years when you apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck with your card. While this card doesn’t give you ongoing access to lounges, you do get two United Club passes per year. Ultimately, this card is best for higher spenders who don’t mind paying a $95 annual fee in exchange for a few perks. United Club Card: Best for Heavy Spenders and Frequent Travelers The information for this card is outdated. For more accurate information, visit the issuer’s website. Learn Moreon Chase’s secure websiteAnnual Fee: $450APR: 18.24% – 25.24%Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases; 1.5x miles on everything elseSign-Up Bonus: 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in three months Pros Good introductory bonus offerAirport lounge accessFirst and second checked bags freeNo foreign transaction fees Cons Very high annual fee of $450High APRsBad for balance transfers: no 0% intro period, plus a balance transfer fee of 5% Recommended Credit Score Good to Excellent Review The United MileagePlus Club Card is a premium travel card that’s best for those who travel very frequently and spend a lot of money on their cards. The card offers a generous sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles, but it’s not that much more than the bonus offered for the United Explorer card which offers 40,000 bonus miles. However, you have to pay an annual fee of $450 for this card compared to $95 on the Explorer card (which is waived in the first year). The United MileagePlus Club card does provide you with things like free first and second checked bags for up to two travelers each time you fly with United, upgrades on flights, hotel deals and perks, priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, and access to United Club and Star Alliances lounges. It also comes with trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, auto rental collision waiver, price protection, extended warranty protection, and purchase protection. While you will get access to airport lounges and travel deals on flights and hotels, the United MileagePlus Club Card doesn’t offer some perks like companion fares, or travel vouchers that other similarly priced cards offer. United TravelBank Card: Best for low spenders The information for this card is outdated. For more accurate information, visit the issuer’s website. Learn Moreon Chase’s secure website Annual Fee: $0APR: 18.24% – 25.24%Rewards: 2x miles on United purchases; 1.5x miles on everything elseSign-Up Bonus: $150 in TravelBank cash after spending $1,000 in three months Pros Attainable bonus offer for low spendersNo annual feeNo foreign transaction feesGood rewards rates for a no-fee card Cons The introductory bonus offer isn’t as high as with other cardsHigh APRsBad for balance transfers: no 0% introductory period, plus a balance transfer fee of 5% Recommended Credit Score Good to Excellent Review The United TravelBank card is a good card for those who aren’t big spenders since it requires you spend just $1,000 in the first three months in order to take advantage of the $150 United TravelBank cash offer. The card also has no annual fee, so you won’t have to worry about spending enough to make the card worth it. The United TravelBank card offers relatively good rewards for a card with no annual fee. You earn 2% TravelBank cash when you buy tickets from United and 1.5% TravelBank cash on other purchases. These points can be redeemed for United flights with $1 in TravelBank cash equaling $1 toward the cost of a flight. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, auto rental collision damage waivers, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, price protection, and purchase protection. The card’s rewards rate is equal to the rate you’d get with the $450 United Club Card, so it’s not a bad deal. That said, the card doesn’t have a great bonus offer compared to other United credit cards, and it doesn’t have a lot of perks. As with the other cards, its high minimum APR of 18.24% is also not ideal. If you’re looking for a United credit card, this might be a good choice for you if you’re a low spender, but there could be better travel credit cards available. >> Read More: Best airline credit cards