What the United Airlines credit card gives you and what it charges

The United Airlines credit card is issued by Chase and comes in several versions — the most common are the United Explorer Card and the United Gateway Card. The card earns points on United purchases and other spending, gives you a checked bag allowance and priority boarding on United flights, and charges an annual fee that ranges from $0 to $450 depending on which version you hold.

The card does not give you free flights outright. Instead, you accumulate points that you can redeem for United award flights, seat upgrades, or other travel purchases. The value you get depends on how much you fly, how you spend on the card outside of flying, and whether the annual fee version you choose actually saves you money compared to what you would spend on baggage fees and upgrades otherwise.

United also runs a separate frequent flyer program called MileagePlus. The credit card is one way to earn miles in that program, but you earn miles on flights themselves regardless of whether you hold the card. The card straightforward accelerates that earning and adds benefits like checked bags.

Key Takeaways

  • The United Explorer Card charges $325 per year and gives you a free checked bag, priority boarding, and bonus points when you first open the account.
  • The United Gateway Card charges no annual fee but offers fewer benefits and earns points at a lower rate on most purchases.
  • You earn points on the card that convert to United miles, which you redeem for flights, upgrades, or other travel — not cash back.
  • The card's value depends on whether you fly United frequently enough that the free checked bag and other perks offset the annual fee.
  • Points earned on the card do not expire as long as your MileagePlus account remains active, even if you close the card.

The annual fee versions and what each one covers

Chase offers the United Explorer Card at $325 per year and the United Gateway Card at no annual fee. The Explorer Card is the premium version and includes a free checked bag on United flights for you and companions on the same reservation, priority boarding, a $100 statement credit toward United purchases every four years (after you pay the annual fee), and a higher earning rate on United purchases and dining.

The Gateway Card has no annual fee but earns points at a lower rate — typically 1 point per dollar on most purchases and 2 points per dollar on United purchases. It does not include a free checked bag or priority boarding. The Gateway Card makes sense if you fly United occasionally but not often enough to justify paying $325 per year for the Explorer benefits.

Both cards offer a sign-up bonus when you first open the account — typically 50,000 to 75,000 bonus points if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. That bonus alone can be worth several hundred dollars in flight value, depending on how you redeem the points.

How points convert to flights and what they are actually worth

Points earned on the United card are called miles in the MileagePlus program. One mile equals one point toward a United award flight. The number of miles required for a flight varies by route, distance, and demand — a short domestic flight might cost 12,500 miles, while a long international flight could cost 70,000 miles or more.

The actual dollar value of a mile depends on the flight you book. If you redeem 50,000 miles for a flight that would cost $500 in cash, each mile is worth about 1 cent. If you redeem the same 50,000 miles for a flight worth $800, each mile is worth 1.6 cents. This is why the card's value varies widely — you might get excellent value on one redemption and poor value on another.

You can also use miles for seat upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel purchases through the MileagePlus program. The redemption value on non-flight purchases is often lower than on flights, so most cardholders focus on redeeming miles for award flights.

Earning rates on different types of spending

The United Explorer Card earns 2 points per dollar on United purchases (flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees) and dining at restaurants. It earns 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. The Gateway Card earns 2 points per dollar on United purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Neither card earns bonus points on groceries, gas, or other common spending categories the way some general-purpose travel cards do. If you spend heavily on groceries or gas, a different card might earn you more points overall, even if you fly United regularly.

Points do not expire as long as your MileagePlus account stays active. If you close the credit card but keep your MileagePlus account open, the points you earned on the card remain in your account and do not disappear.

When the annual fee makes financial sense

The $325 annual fee on the Explorer Card pays for itself if you use the free checked bag benefit at least twice per year. A checked bag on United costs $35 to $40 per flight, so two round trips (four checked bags) equals $140 to $160 in fees you avoid. The priority boarding benefit and the $100 statement credit every four years add additional value on top of that.

If you fly United fewer than twice per year or you never check a bag, the Gateway Card's zero annual fee is the better choice. If you fly United frequently — more than four times per year — the Explorer Card's benefits almost certainly exceed the annual cost.

The sign-up bonus also affects the math. If the bonus is worth $500 to $600 in flight value and you can meet the spending requirement without changing your normal spending habits, the card pays for itself in year one even if you do not use the other benefits.

How the card compares to other airline cards and general travel cards

Other airlines offer similar cards — American Express has the American Express Platinum Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage card, for example. The United card is not inherently better or worse; it depends on which airline you fly most often. If you fly United 80 percent of the time, the United card makes more sense than an American Airlines card, even if the American card has slightly better earning rates on other spending.

General travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred earn points that you can transfer to multiple airlines, including United, or redeem for cash back. Those cards often have higher annual fees ($95 to $550) but offer more flexibility if you fly different airlines or want to use points for non-travel purchases. If you are loyal to United, the United card's simplicity and checked bag benefit usually outweigh that flexibility.

What happens to your points if you close the card

Closing the United credit card does not close your MileagePlus account or erase your miles. The points you earned on the card stay in your MileagePlus account indefinitely, as long as you keep that account active. You can continue to redeem those miles for flights and other travel even after you cancel the card.

Your MileagePlus account stays active as long as you have some account activity — earning miles on flights, using miles to redeem rewards, or holding a United credit card. If your account sits completely inactive for 24 months, United may close it and you could lose your miles. But if you fly United even occasionally or hold the card, your account and miles remain safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a frequent United flyer to make the card worth it?

No, but the card's value increases with how often you fly. If you take two United round trips per year and check a bag both times, the free checked bag benefit alone ($140 to $160) covers most of the $325 annual fee. If you fly United fewer than twice per year, the Gateway Card's zero annual fee is the better choice.

Can I use the points on airlines other than United?

No. MileagePlus miles are United-specific and can only be redeemed for United flights, United seat upgrades, or travel purchases through United's partners. If you want points that work across multiple airlines, you need a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred instead.

What is the sign-up bonus worth in real dollars?

A 50,000-point sign-up bonus is typically worth $500 to $750 in flight value, depending on the routes you book and current award pricing. A 75,000-point bonus could be worth $750 to $1,200. The exact value depends on how you redeem the points, so treat the bonus as a range rather than a fixed amount.

Does the free checked bag explore to my family members?

The free checked bag applies to you and companions on the same reservation. If your spouse or child is booked on the same ticket, they get a free checked bag too. If they are on a separate reservation, they do not get the benefit.

What if I earn miles on a United flight but do not have the credit card?

You still earn miles on the flight itself through your MileagePlus account. The credit card straightforward accelerates that earning and adds benefits like the free checked bag. You do not need the card to earn miles on flights — the card just makes earning faster and adds perks.