What the United Airlines Credit Card is and who issues it
The United Airlines Credit Card is a co-branded card issued by Chase in partnership with United Airlines. You earn miles on every purchase — both at United and everywhere else you use the card — and those miles can be redeemed for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards through United's MileagePlus program.
Chase offers several versions of this card, each with different annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and earning rates. The most common versions are the United Explorer Card, the United Club Infinite Card, and the United Gateway Card. Each one targets a different type of traveler: frequent flyers who want lounge access, occasional flyers who want a lower fee, or people building their first rewards card relationship with United.
The card itself is a Visa, so you can use it anywhere Visa is accepted. Your miles balance stays with your MileagePlus account, not with the card issuer, which means your miles do not disappear if you close the card — though some benefits tied to card membership do.
Key Takeaways
- United Airlines Credit Cards are issued by Chase and earn miles that you can redeem through United's MileagePlus program for flights and upgrades.
- Different card versions have different annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and earning rates, so comparing them matters before you open an account.
- You earn miles on every purchase, including everyday spending like groceries and gas, not just United flights.
- The card comes with benefits like checked baggage waivers, priority boarding, and lounge access (on higher-tier cards), which you keep only while the card is open.
- Miles do not expire as long as you have at least one United credit card or take one United flight every 18 months.
How miles earning works on everyday purchases
When you use a United Airlines Credit Card for any purchase, you earn miles based on the card's earning rate. Most versions earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. Some cards offer bonus earning in specific categories like dining or gas, so check the terms of the specific card you are considering.
The miles post to your MileagePlus account within a few days of the transaction clearing. You can watch your balance grow in the United app or on the MileagePlus website. Unlike some airline cards that cap earning, there is no maximum number of miles you can earn per year — you can accumulate as much as you spend.
Sign-up bonuses are a major part of the value. When you open the card and meet the spending requirement (usually $1,000 to $5,000 in the first three months), you receive a large bonus of miles — often 50,000 to 100,000 miles depending on the card version. This bonus alone can cover a domestic round-trip flight or a good portion of an international ticket.
Annual fees and what they cover
Every United Airlines Credit Card has an annual fee, charged once per year on your card anniversary. The amount varies by card version. The United Gateway Card has the lowest fee. The United Explorer Card has a mid-range fee. The United Club Infinite Card has the highest fee because it includes premium benefits like lounge access.
The annual fee is not waived for the first year on most versions, so you pay it when ready after opening the card. However, the sign-up bonus is usually large enough that the net value in year one is positive — meaning the bonus miles are worth more than the fee you pay.
What you get for the fee depends on the card. All versions include a checked baggage waiver for you and one companion on United flights, priority boarding, and a free checked bag on your birthday month. Higher-tier cards add benefits like United Club lounge access, travel credits, and seat upgrade certificates. Read the full benefits list for the specific card before you open it, because these perks are only active while you hold the card.
How to redeem miles for flights and upgrades
To book a flight with miles, log into your MileagePlus account on the United website or app and search for award flights. You can filter by date, route, and cabin class (economy, business, first). The number of miles required depends on the route and how far in advance you book — domestic flights typically cost 15,000 to 50,000 miles, while international flights range from 50,000 to 150,000 miles or more.
You can also use miles to upgrade an existing ticket. If you have booked a flight in economy, you can bid miles to upgrade to a higher cabin, or use a free upgrade certificate (which some card versions provide) to move up without spending miles. Upgrade availability depends on how full the flight is and how far in advance you request it.
Miles can also be transferred to United's travel partners — hotels, car rental companies, and other airlines in the Star Alliance network — though the redemption rates and value vary. For most people, redeeming miles directly for United flights offers the clearest value.
Annual fees compared to the benefits you actually use
Whether the annual fee is worth it depends on how much you fly and how much you value the included benefits. If you take at least one United flight per year, the checked baggage waiver alone saves you $35 to $70 per round trip. Priority boarding and the birthday checked bag add more value. For people who fly United multiple times per year, the fee often pays for itself in savings.
If you rarely fly United, the card may not be worth keeping. You can close the card after the first year if the benefits do not match your travel patterns. Your miles stay in your MileagePlus account as long as you have another United card or take a United flight within 18 months, so closing one card does not erase your balance.
Some people keep the card open for the annual benefits even in years when they do not fly much, because the perks are valuable enough to justify the fee. Others open it for the sign-up bonus, use it for a year, and close it. Both approaches are common and neither is wrong — it depends on your travel plans.
What happens to your miles if you close the card
Your miles do not disappear when you close the card. They stay in your MileagePlus account indefinitely, as long as you maintain account activity. Activity means taking a United flight, earning miles through a United credit card, or earning miles through United's shopping partners or hotel and car rental programs.
If you close the card and do not fly United or earn miles any other way for 18 months, your account goes inactive and your miles may expire. To keep your account active without flying, you can open a different United credit card, use United's shopping portal, or book a hotel through United's travel partners. Many people keep a no-fee United card open just to preserve their miles balance.
The card benefits — checked baggage, priority boarding, lounge access — end when you close the card. But the miles themselves are yours to keep and redeem whenever you want, as long as your account stays active.
How to compare United card versions and choose the right one
Start by looking at the annual fee and sign-up bonus of each version. Calculate the net value in year one: take the sign-up bonus miles, estimate what they are worth to you (a rough rule is 1 cent per mile for economy flights), and subtract the annual fee. If the bonus is worth more than the fee, you come out ahead in year one.
Next, look at the ongoing benefits. If you fly United at least twice a year, the checked baggage waiver and priority boarding are valuable. If you fly more than four times per year, lounge access (on the premium card) may be worth the higher fee. If you rarely fly, a lower-fee card makes more sense.
Finally, consider the earning rate. If you spend a lot on dining or gas, a card with bonus categories in those areas will earn you more miles over time. If you spend mostly on everyday items, the base earning rate matters more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to fly United to make the card worth it?
No. You earn miles on every purchase, not just United flights. If you spend $10,000 per year on the card, you earn 10,000 miles even if you never fly. The sign-up bonus and benefits like checked baggage waivers are what make the card valuable for frequent flyers, but the earning rate itself is useful for anyone.
Can I transfer my miles to another airline?
You can transfer miles to Star Alliance partners (airlines like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and others) and to hotel and car rental programs. The transfer rate varies — sometimes you get a bonus when you transfer in bulk. Direct redemption on United flights is usually the clearest value, but transfers are an option if you prefer a different airline.
What if I have a balance on the card — do I still earn miles?
Yes. Miles are earned on every purchase regardless of whether you carry a balance. However, carrying a balance means you pay interest, which is expensive. It is better to pay the full statement balance each month and earn miles on top of that.
How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?
It depends on how much you spend and which flight you want. A domestic round-trip flight costs roughly 30,000 to 50,000 miles. If you spend $3,000 per month on the card at 1 mile per dollar, you earn 36,000 miles per year — enough for one domestic flight. The sign-up bonus can cover a flight when ready, so many people redeem within the first few months.
What happens if I miss a payment?
Missing a payment on a credit card can damage your credit score and trigger late fees and interest charges. It does not directly affect your miles balance, but it can affect your ability to use the card going forward. Pay at least the minimum by the due date to avoid these consequences.