Earn Up To 110,000 Miles With Limited Time Bonus Offers On Chase United Cards, Now With New Critical Benefits For Anyone Flying United!

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United card offers

• United℠ Explorer Card: Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 80,000 miles
  • Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months, plus $0 intro annual fee for first year, then $150.

• United Quest℠ Card:  Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 100,000 miles+3,000 PQPs
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles+3,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.

• United Club℠ Card: Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+3,000 PQPs
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.

• United℠ Business Card: Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+2,000 PQPs
  • Earn 100,000 bonus miles+2,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.
• United Business Club Card (Click on apply now on the United Business Card to reach this card application): Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+2,000 PQPs
  • Earn 100,000 miles+2,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months. All information about the United Business Club Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.

• United Gateway℠ Card: Earn up to 40,000 miles
  • Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months, plus 12 months 0% APR on purchases.

United overhauled their credit card portfolio last March adding new features and benefits to their cards. The United cards have some of the best perks for travelers out of all the airline cards, making them a must have for anyone flying on United. In addition to typical airline card benefits, they also come with incredibly valuable perks like 10-15% off all United awards, plus expanded economy and business class saver award space.

Those perks make all of your Chase points more valuable as well.

Cardholders now also earn significantly more miles when flying on United.

United no longer includes any checked bags on their basic economy fares to Europe and Israel, but you can still get 1 or 2 free checked bags for you and for a companion with the cards below. That compares favorably to American, which doesn’t provide any free bags internationally with their cards, and to Delta, which doesn’t have any cards that provide 2 free checked bags.

While you normally have to use your card to pay for the flight to get the free bags, that requirement is waived for the first 90 days of cardmembership!

It’s not worth spending on United cards unless you’re gunning for elite status, but there’s no reason not to take advantage of signup offers and card benefits.

While United miles are not as valuable as they used to be, they never expire, there are never fuel surcharges, and there are advantages to using miles over cash or bank points.

Plus, United blocks a lot of saver award space from partners, so it is helpful to have a stash of United miles.

When you use bank points, you won’t get benefits like free bags for using your United card, whereas with miles you can put the taxes on your credit card to get those benefits.

Plus, you can cancel award tickets for free and get back all of your miles and taxes. That’s a huge peace of mind that is hard to calculate and accurately value when comparing the value of a mileage ticket to a cash ticket or to booking awards with partner airlines that don’t have free cancellations.

• United Gateway Card
  • Earn up to 40,000 miles: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user in 3 months, plus 12 months 0% APR on purchases.
  • This card previously offered 20,000 bonus miles.
  • No annual fee.
  • Cardholders will receive 2 free checked bag coupons after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
  • Expanded award space and cardholder award discounts after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases, gas stations, transit and commuting, including ride share services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit.
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

• United Explorer Card
  • Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 80,000 miles: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.
  • This card previously offered 50,000 bonus miles.
  • $0 intro annual fee for first year, then $150.
  • Cardholders will get $5 in monthly statement credits for rideshare purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $60 annually. Rideshare is valid for Taxi, limo, and rideshare and requires annual registration. Here is how to use this for Lyft gift cards, Uber Cash or Uber Eats.
  • Cardholders will get a $50 statement credit, up to twice per year, on hotels booked through United paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually.
  • Cardholders will get $25 in United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year, for Avis or Budget rentals paid on their card, a value of up to $50 annually. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will get up to $100 in statement credits on flights booked from JSX on their card. JSX offers semi-private flights with Starlink service. Here is how to stack JSX credits to get free flights.
  • Cardholders will get 3 months of free Instacart+ membership, and 25% off membership afterward. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will get $10 in monthly statement credits for Instacart purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $120 annually. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will earn $100 United TravelBank cash after spending $10,000 in a calendar year. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will earn a 10,000 miles award discount after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
  • Cardholders will earn 5 total miles per dollar on hotels booked through United.
  • Earn 3 miles per dollar on United purchases.
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar on hotels and dining.
  • Cardholders get Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS for free.
  • A free checked bag worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares.
  • A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Priority boarding for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • 2 free United Club passes every year for being a cardmember, valid when the primary or secondary card user is present.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance in every country (domestic rental coverage is secondary for NY residents).
  • Note that cardholders with United elite status no longer get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes with this card.
  • Earn 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs for $20,000 spending. PQPs from multiple cards stack together with no limits!
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

• United Quest Card
  • Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 100,000 miles+3,000 PQPs: Earn 90,000 bonus miles+3,000 PQPs after spending $4,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months,
  • This card previously offered 60,000 bonus miles.
  • $350 annual fee.
  • Earn 4 miles per dollar on United purchases.
  • Earn 2 miles per dollar on travel, dining, and streaming
  • Get Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS for free.
  • Earn $200 in United TravelBank cash automatically after card opening and on every card anniversary. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Get $8 in monthly statement credits ($12 in December) for rideshare purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually. Rideshare is valid for Taxi, limo, and rideshare and requires annual registration. Here is how to use this for Lyft gift cards, Uber Cash or Uber Eats.
  • Cardholders will get an annual $150 statement credit on Renowned Hotels and Resorts paid on their card.
  • Cardholders will get $40 in United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year, for Avis or Budget rentals paid on their card, a value of up to $80 annually. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will get up to $150 in statement credits on flights booked from JSX on their card. JSX offers semi-private flights with Starlink service. Here is how to stack JSX credits to get free flights.
  • Cardholders will get 3 months of free Instacart+ membership, and 50% off membership afterward. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will get $10 and a $5 monthly statement credits for Instacart purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $180 annually. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will earn 5 total miles per dollar on Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
  • Cardholders will earn a 10,000 miles award discount automatically every card anniversary.
  • Cardholders will earn another 10,000 miles award discount after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
  • Cardholders will earn 2 global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
  • 2 free checked bags worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares. A value of up to $680 round-trip!
  • A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Priority boarding for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance in every country (domestic rental coverage is secondary for NY residents).
  • Cardholders with United elite status get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes for the cardholder with status and a companion!
  • Get 1,000 PQPs annually just for being a cardholder, starting in 2026. Card must be open by 12/31 of the previous year.
  • Earn 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 18,000 PQPs for $360,000 spending. PQPs from multiple cards stack together with no limits!
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

• United Club Card
  • Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+3,000 PQPs: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 3,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.
  • This card previously offered 80,000 bonus miles.
  • This card has a hefty $695 annual fee, though that’s cheaper than even top-tier United elite members pay for a Club membership, which is included with the card.
  • United Club membership: Cardholders get a United Club membership. You can bring 1 free adult guest plus all dependent kids under 18 to United Clubs.
  • United Club All Access membership: If you have United Gold status or higher, or spend $50K+ in a calendar year on the card, you will get 2 free adult guests or 1 adult guest and all dependent kids under 18 at United Clubs and access to over 1,000 United and partner lounges and Star Alliance lounges worldwide when flying United or Star Alliance airlines.
  • If you have a free authorized user on the account and earn United Club All Access membership, you’ll also get 4 one-time use United Club passes, though these will only work if the primary or secondary cardholder is present.
  • Cardholders will get $12 in monthly statement credits ($18 in December) for rideshare purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $150 annually. Rideshare is valid for Taxi, limo, and rideshare and requires annual registration. Here is how to use this for Lyft gift cards, Uber Cash or Uber Eats.
  • Cardholders will get an annual $200 statement credit on Renowned Hotels and Resorts paid on their card.
  • Cardholders will get $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year, for Avis or Budget rentals paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will get up to $200 in statement credits on flights booked from JSX on their card. JSX offers semi-private flights with Starlink service. Here is how to stack JSX credits to get free flights.
  • Cardholders will get complimentary Instacart+ membership through 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will get two $10 monthly statement credits for Instacart purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $240 annually. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will earn 5 total miles per dollar on Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
  • Cardholders will earn a 10,000 miles award discount after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
  • Cardholders will earn another 10,000 miles award discount after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
  • 5 miles per dollar on United purchases, including tickets, upgrades, WiFi, inflight food and drinks.
  • 2 miles per dollar on all other travel and dining and 1 mile per dollar elsewhere.
  • Cardholders get Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS for free.
  • 2 free checked bags worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares. A value of up to $680 round-trip!
  • IHG Platinum elite status which gives free internet, 50% bonus points, upgrades, welcome amenity, late checkout, and more. Plus your IHG points will never expire if you have status.
  • Avis President’s Club Status.
  • Instant discount on select United awards: Cardholders get a 10% instant discount on saver awards within the US48 and Canada. This applies to X class (saver awards available to everyone) and XN class (expanded saver awards available only for United cardholders) flights.
  • Cardholders with United elite status get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes for the cardholder with status and a companion!
  • A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Premier Access: Priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling privileges.
  • The ability to use online checkin and get a boarding pass in advance on basic economy fares. United does not allow online checkin on basic economy fares unless you have elite status or a United card with free bags.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance in every country (domestic rental coverage is secondary for NY residents).
  • Cardholders will get 1,500 PQPs annually, just for being a cardholder, starting in 2026. Card must be open by 12/31 of the previous year.
  • Earn 1 PQPs for every $15 spent, up to a maximum of 28,000 PQPs for $420,000 spending. PQPs from multiple cards stack together with no limits!
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

• Chase United Business Card
  • Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+2,000 PQPs! Earn 100,000 bonus miles+2,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • A free checked bag worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares.
  • 2 miles per dollar on United, restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit, taxis, tolls, mass transit, and ride share services.
  • 5,000 bonus miles every card anniversary if you have this United business card and any United consumer card.
  • Cardholders will get $8 in monthly statement credits ($12 in December) for rideshare purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually. Rideshare is valid for Taxi, limo, and rideshare and requires annual registration. Here is how to use this for Lyft gift cards, Uber Cash or Uber Eats.
  • Cardholders will get a $50 statement credit, up to twice per year, on hotels booked through United paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually.
  • Cardholders will get $25 in United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year, for Avis or Budget rentals paid on their card, a value of up to $50 annually. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will get up to $25 in statement credits when you buy United FareLock on your card.
  • Cardholders will get up to $100 in statement credits on flights booked from JSX on their card. JSX offers semi-private flights with Starlink service. Here is how to stack JSX credits to get free flights.
  • Cardholders will get 3 months of free Instacart+ membership, and 25% off membership afterward. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will get $10 in monthly statement credits for Instacart purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $120 annually. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will earn 5 total miles per dollar on hotels booked through United.
  • Cardholders will earn $125 United TravelBank cash after making 5 $100+ United flight purchases in a calendar year.
  • Cardholders will earn 2 continental US Economy Plus upgrades after spending $25,000 in a calendar year.
  • 25% statement credit for food, beverage, and WiFi purchases on United flights.
  • A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Priority boarding for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • The ability to use online checkin and get a boarding pass in advance on basic economy fares. United does not allow online checkin on basic economy fares unless you have elite status or a United card with free bags.
  • 2 free United Club passes every year for being a cardmember.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance in the US when renting for business purposes and in every other country for any rental purpose.
  • Cardholders with United elite status get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes for the cardholder with status and a companion!
  • Earn 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 4,000 PQPs for $80,000 spending. PQPs from multiple cards stack together with no limits!
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

• Chase United Business Club Card (Click on apply now on the United Business Card to reach this card application)
  • Limited time offer until 5/20: Earn up to 110,000 miles+2,000 PQPs! Earn 100,000 bonus miles+2,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 in 3 months, plus earn 10,000 miles for adding an additional user within 3 months.
  • This card previously offered 50,000 bonus miles.
  • This card has a hefty $695 annual fee, though that’s cheaper than even top-tier United elite members pay for a Club membership, which is included with the card.
  • United Club membership: Cardholders get a United Club membership. You can bring 1 free adult guest plus all dependent kids under 18 to United Clubs.
  • United Club All Access membership: If you have United Gold status or higher, or spend $50K+ in a calendar year on the card, you will get 2 free adult guests or 1 adult guest and all dependent kids under 18 at United Clubs and access to over 1,000 United and partner lounges and Star Alliance lounges worldwide when flying United or Star Alliance airlines.
  • If you have a free authorized user on the account and earn United Club All Access membership, you’ll also get 4 one-time use United Club passes, though these will only work if the primary or secondary cardholder is present.
  • Cardholders will get $12 in monthly statement credits ($18 in December) for rideshare purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $150 annually. Rideshare is valid for Taxi, limo, and rideshare and requires annual registration. Here is how to use this for Lyft gift cards, Uber Cash or Uber Eats.
  • Cardholders will get up to $50 in statement credits when you buy United FareLock on your card.
  • Cardholders will get an annual $200 statement credit on Renowned Hotels and Resorts paid on their card.
  • Cardholders will get $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year, for Avis or Budget rentals paid on their card, a value of up to $100 annually. TravelBank cash is valid for United travel and expires 1 year from deposit date.
  • Cardholders will get up to $200 in statement credits on flights booked from JSX on their card. JSX offers semi-private flights with Starlink service. Here is how to stack JSX credits to get free flights.
  • Cardholders will get complimentary Instacart+ membership through 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will get two $10 monthly statement credits for Instacart purchases paid on their card, a value of up to $240 annually. Benefit expires 12/31/27.
  • Cardholders will earn 5 total miles per dollar on Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
  • Cardholders will earn 5,000 miles annually if they have this card and a personal United card.
  • Cardholders will earn 2 global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
  • Earn 1.5 miles per dollar everywhere and 2 miles per dollar on United purchases.
  • 2 free checked bags worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares. A value of up to $680 round-trip!
  • A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares.
  • Premier Access: Priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling privileges.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance in the US when renting for business purposes and in every other country for any rental purpose.
  • Avis President’s Club Status.
  • The ability to use online checkin and get a boarding pass in advance on basic economy fares. United does not allow online checkin on basic economy fares unless you have elite status or a United card with free bags.
  • Cardholders with United elite status get free upgrades on coach award tickets on upgrade eligible routes for the cardholder with status and a companion!
  • Earn 1 PQPs for every $15 spent, up to a maximum of 28,000 PQPs for $420,000 spending. PQPs from multiple cards stack together with no limits!
  • 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash.

Ultimate comparison chart

Welcome bonus terms

You can receive the bonus on each of these cards if you haven’t received a bonus on the same exact card in the past 24 months and don’t currently have the same exact card.

If you do have the exact same card you can change to another United card, wait 3-4 days, and apply for that card again.

5/24

While Chase cards may be subject to 5/24 restrictions, there have been many reports of that not being enforced for United cards. If you apply for a United card and are over 5/24, please let us know what happens!

In general, 5/24 means that you won’t be approved for a Chase card if you have been approved for 5 or more consumer credit cards in the past 24 months. Read more about that here.

Spend Threshold

You can pay your federal taxes for a 1.75% fee. If you overpay your taxes you can request a refund or apply it to your next year’s taxes.

My local natural gas company allows me to prepay up to $1,000 on a credit card for a $1.65 flat fee. That’s a great way to earn miles and help meet a spend threshold. My electricity supplier allows me to pay with a credit card for free as long as I am enrolled in autopay.

Card convertibility

You can change a consumer card between all 4 United consumer card products:

You can change a business card between both United business card products:

Card benefits

In addition to the benefits listed above, all 6 cards offer:

Bonus Miles On United Flights For Cardholders And Kids

Cardholders will earn more miles on United flights.

United cardholders can also share the increased earnings for flying with up to 8 of their kids under 18. You can link their accounts here. Benefits will end when they turn 18.

You don’t need to book directly with United or with a United card for those increased cardholder earnings. That means you can book with The Platinum Card® from American Express to earn 5 points per dollar, or a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ to earn 4-8 points per dollar, or a Citi Strata Elite card to earn 6 points per dollar.

All of the United cards offer this benefit, except the Gateway card, which requires $10K spending per calendar year on the card.

Miles earned on non-basic fares:

If you’re on a basic fare in any cabin, you will only earn miles if you are a cardholder or have elite status.

Miles earned on basic fares:

United Cards As Part Of A Chase Quinfecta Strategy

All of the United cards have unique benefits, so which should you get?

That depends on which benefits you value and how much they would cost you otherwise.

It’s worth noting that you can get the signup bonus for each United card as long as you didn’t get the bonus for that exact card within the past 24 months and don’t currently have that exact card.

If you have a United consumer card you can change to any currently offered United consumer card and if you have a United business card you can change to any currently offered United business card. After waiting 3-4 days you can apply for that card again.

It certainly makes sense to have a United card on top of a Chase Quinfecta strategy as just having the card makes your points more valuable. That consists of:

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card for mileage transfers and bonus value on points.
2. A no-fee Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited®for 1.5 points per dollar everywhere.
3. A no-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card for 5 points per dollar on wireless and office supply stores, including gift cards to stores like Amazon and hundreds more.
4. A no-fee Freedom Flex for 5 points per dollar in rotating categories. All information about the United Business Club Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.
5. Having a United card on top of the cards above creates a Chase Quinfecta as your United miles (and by extension your Chase points) become more valuable thanks to expanded award availability.

10-15% Off United Award Flights, Plus Expanded United Award Availability

The reason the United cards are the best airline cards you can get isn’t for the spending benefits, it’s for the perks. And they are awesome.

The United cards are the only airline card that offers expanded award ticket availability.

All of the United cards offer this benefit, except the Gateway card, which requires $10K spending per calendar year on the card.

This increases the value of your miles significantly and in turn makes the Chase Quadfecta/Quinfecta spending strategy even more valuable.

Cardholders now get at least 10% off all United flights booked with United miles. Cardholders who are also United elites will get at least 15% off all United flights booked with United miles.

United cardholders can also share the mileage discounts with up to 8 of their kids under 18. You can link their accounts here. Benefits will end when they turn 18.

Cardholders also have access to significantly expanded coach saver award availability (XN class), last seat coach standard award availability (YN class), and last seat business/first class standard award availability (JN class). As of last August, cardholders also have access to book expanded business saver award availability (IN class).

For example, from earlier this year, if you are not a United cardholder, a coach flight to Israel may cost 62.8K miles:

But a cardholder pays just 40K:

A non-cardholder would pay 270K miles to fly business class to New Zealand:

While a cardholder would pay just 90K miles and an elite cardholder would pay just 85K for the same flight:

With 15% plus expanded saver award availability, you can save a bundle:

LA-Newark is 12.7K in saver coach or 25.5K in saver business:

Denver-Kauai is 21.2K in saver coach or 42.5K in saver business:

Newark-London is 34K in saver coach, 42.5K in saver premium, or 68K in saver business:

Newark-Dubai is 34K in saver coach, 42.5K in saver premium, or 68K in saver business:

Newark-Marrakech is 38.2K in saver coach, 46.7K in saver premium, or 68K in saver business:

LA-Sydney is 46.7K in saver coach or 85K in saver business:

Newark-Tokyo is 46.7K in saver coach or 85K in saver business:

San Francisco-Papeete is 38.2K in saver coach, 55.2K in saver premium, or 72.2K in saver business:

This saver award availability differential applies to all domestic and international routes in coach and business class, and makes it crucial to be a United cardholder!

Discounted partner award ticket pricing

United no longer charges a 10% surcharge for United cardholders to fly on partner airlines in coach or business class.

That means a non-cardholder will pay 44K miles in coach or 88K miles in business class to fly a partner airline to Europe or the Middle East, but cardholders will pay just 40K miles in coach or 80K miles in business class for the same flights!

A non-cardholder will pay 60.5K miles in coach or 110K miles in business class to fly a partner airline to Japan or the Australia, but cardholders will pay just 55K miles in coach or 100K miles in business class for the same flights!

Discounted United awards for cardholders

United often runs promotions offering additional discounts on United award flights, exclusively for cardholders.

Expanded Plan B availability

As you have better access to saver coach awards you’ll also have better ability to do Plan B awards.

Plan B allows you to redeem for saver business class awards when there’s only saver coach available! Read more about Plan B in this post.

No airline besides United offers a Plan B style award redemption.

Here Is United’s Hidden Award Chart

United no longer publishes a saver award chart, but I have compiled those rates in the chart below. Prices are before cardholder and elite discounts.

Business card information

Some of these are business cards, but you may already have a business that needs a card to keep track of expenses. For example if your name is Joe Smith and you sell items online, or if you have any other side business and want a credit card to better keep track of business expenditures you can open a business credit card for “Joe Smith” as the business. You don’t need to file any messy government paperwork to be allowed to do that. Just be sure to select “Sole Proprietorship” as the business type and just use your social security number in the Tax Identification Number field.

It’s important to just write your own name as the business name if you are just applying for your own small business as a Sole Proprietorship that doesn’t have any business paperwork.

If you’re like me and you run more than one business, you can signup for multiple of the same card for each business to manage each businesses expenses separately.

Business cards from most banks, including Chase business cards, do not get added to your 5/24 count of recently opened cards. That’s because business cards from most banks don’t show up on your personal credit report and the 5/24 count is based off of your personal credit report. That means that applying for Chase business cards won’t “hurt” your 5/24 count.

Another benefit of business cards not reporting on your personal credit report is that when you spend money on personal cards your credit score will be hurt even if you pay your bill on time. A whopping 30% of your credit score is based on credit utilization. You can pay off your card bill before your statement is generated to avoid that, but that takes effort and laying out money well before you have to. Additionally it’s good to have the statement close with a couple dollars to show the card is active and being paid every month. On a business cards from banks like AMEX and Chase it’s just not reported, so you can wait until the money is due without it having a negative effect on your score. That also means if you close the card, it won’t have an effect on your credit score.

Dan’s quick thoughts

United has made having their cards pretty critical in order to unlock benefits when flying on United or redeeming miles for travel on United or partner airlines.

Annual fees have gone up, but so have the benefits.

As for which card is the way to go, that will depend on the situation as arguments can be made for each of the cards being the most worthwhile, depending on your situation.

• The United Gateway Card is no longer very compelling due to losing access to expanded saver and discounted award pricing unless you spend $10K per calendar year on the card. However, if you have any United consumer card and a United Business Card or Business Club card, you will get a 5,000 mile annual bonus, so this is a nice way to trigger that bonus for free. This is also a useful card to do
• If you also want to be able to get discounted award pricing, bonus miles on flights, a free bag, and bypass onerous basic economy restrictions, go for the United Explorer Card or United Business Card. The business card has the advantage of allowing elite members to get upgrades on award tickets.
• If you will be able to take advantage of the Quest card’s $200 annual TravelBank credit and 10,000 mile rebate, then the United Quest Card will effectively be cheaper than the Explorer card, plus you’ll get 2 free checked bags, additional JSX, rideshare, and Instacart credits, elite upgrades on awards, starter PQPs, a $150 Renowned Hotels credits, and more over the Explorer card.
• If you want United Club access, or want to earn PQP at the highest earning rates and caps, go for the United Club℠ Infinite Card or United Business Club Card.

Will you signup for any of these cards? Which United cards do you have?