What a United MileagePlus card does

A United MileagePlus credit card earns you miles toward United flights and other rewards when you spend money. You get miles for every dollar charged, bonus miles when you first open the card, and sometimes extra miles on United purchases or specific categories like dining. The card itself does not give you a seat on a plane — the miles do that, once you have enough to book a flight.

United operates the MileagePlus program, which is the airline's own rewards system. When you hold a MileagePlus card, you are a cardholder in that program, and the card issuer (usually Chase) handles the credit account. The two are separate: your credit score affects whether you get approved for the card, but your miles balance does not affect your credit.

The main trade-off is the annual fee. Most United MileagePlus cards charge between $95 and $450 per year, depending on which version you choose. In return, you get a certain number of bonus miles each year, sometimes a free checked bag, and other perks that may or may not be worth the fee to you personally.

Key Takeaways

  • United MileagePlus cards earn miles on every purchase, with higher earning rates on United flights and sometimes on dining or gas.
  • You pay an annual fee ranging from $95 to $450, and the card issuer (usually Chase) is the one you pay and contact about your account.
  • Bonus miles offered when you open the card are the biggest source of miles for most people, but they come with a spending requirement you must meet within a set time frame.
  • Miles expire if your account goes inactive for 18 months, so you need to use your card or account at least once every year and a half.
  • You can use miles to book United flights directly through the MileagePlus website, or transfer them to United's partner airlines and hotels.

How to earn miles with a United MileagePlus card

Every dollar you spend on the card earns a set number of miles — usually 1 mile per dollar on most purchases, but higher rates on certain categories. A United card might earn 2 miles per dollar on United flights booked directly with the airline, 2 miles per dollar on dining, or 1 mile per dollar on everything else. The exact earning structure depends on which card version you hold.

The biggest miles boost comes from the sign-up bonus. When you open a new United MileagePlus card, you typically receive a large number of bonus miles if you spend a certain amount within a set time frame — often $3,000 to $5,000 in the first three months. If you meet that spending requirement, you get the bonus miles added to your account automatically. If you do not meet it, you do not receive the bonus.

Beyond the sign-up bonus and everyday spending, some cards offer an annual bonus of miles just for keeping the card open and paying the annual fee. A few cards also give you bonus miles on your birthday or anniversary with the program.

Annual fees and what they cover

United MileagePlus cards charge an annual fee every year you hold the card. The fee is charged to your credit account, usually on the anniversary of when you opened the card. Common annual fees are $95 for entry-level cards, $250 for mid-tier cards, and $450 for premium cards.

What you get for that fee varies by card. Most cards include a certain number of bonus miles each year (sometimes 50,000 miles or more), a free checked bag on United flights, priority boarding, or discounts on United purchases like seat upgrades. Some premium cards add lounge access or travel credits. Read the card's benefits guide to see exactly what comes with your annual fee.

The annual fee is separate from your credit card interest rate and minimum payment. You pay it whether you use the card that month or not. If you close the card, the fee stops, but any miles you have earned stay in your MileagePlus account as long as the account remains active.

How miles expire and how to keep them alive

United miles expire if your MileagePlus account goes inactive for 18 consecutive months. "Inactive" means you have not earned or redeemed any miles in that time. The simplest way to keep your miles alive is to use your United MileagePlus card at least once every 18 months — even a small purchase counts.

You can also keep your account active by booking a United flight, transferring miles to a partner program, or redeeming miles for a non-flight reward. If you have not used your account in a while, log into MileagePlus online to check your last activity date. If you are close to the 18-month mark, make a small purchase on your card to reset the clock.

If your miles do expire, United will notify you before it happens. Once they are gone, you cannot get them back, so the 18-month rule is worth remembering if you hold the card but do not fly often.

Booking flights and redeeming miles

To book a United flight with miles, log into your MileagePlus account on United's website and search for flights the same way you would search for paid tickets. You will see how many miles each flight costs. The price in miles varies based on demand — a popular flight on a Friday might cost more miles than the same route on a Tuesday. This is called dynamic pricing.

You can also use miles to book flights on United's partner airlines, including Air Canada, Lufthansa, and others. Partner bookings sometimes offer better value in miles, though they can be harder to find and may have different change or cancellation rules. You book partner flights through the MileagePlus website, and United handles the reservation.

Miles can also be redeemed for seat upgrades on United flights, hotel stays through United's hotel partners, car rentals, or gift cards. The value you get per mile varies widely depending on what you redeem for — a flight redemption might give you 1 cent per mile in value, while a gift card might give you 0.5 cents per mile.

Credit approval and what happens next

explore for a United MileagePlus card works like explore for any credit card. You provide your name, address, income, and Social Security number. Chase (or whichever bank issues the card) checks your credit report and decides whether to approve you, deny you, or ask for more information.

Your credit score matters most. If your score is below 670, approval is unlikely. If it is between 670 and 740, you may be approved but might receive a lower credit limit. Above 740, approval is more likely. Chase also looks at your income, existing debts, and how many credit applications you have made recently.

If you are approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You set up it, set up your PIN, and link it to your MileagePlus account (or create one if you do not have one yet). Once the card is active, any spending on it starts earning miles when ready.

Comparing United MileagePlus card versions

United offers several versions of its MileagePlus card, each with different annual fees and benefits. The entry-level card (usually called the United Card) has a lower annual fee and is designed for people who fly United occasionally. Mid-tier cards (like the United Plus Card) cost more but include perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding. Premium cards (like the United Infinite Card) have the highest annual fee but add benefits like lounge access and travel credits.

The right card depends on how often you fly United and whether the perks are worth the annual fee to you. If you fly United once or twice a year, an entry-level card might make sense. If you fly monthly and value lounge access, a premium card might pay for itself. If you rarely fly United, the annual fee may not be worth it at all.

You can also downgrade from one card to another without closing your account. If you have a premium card but decide the fee is too high, you can ask Chase to downgrade you to a lower-tier card. Your miles stay in your account, and you keep your MileagePlus membership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to fly United to use the miles?

No. You can transfer miles to United's partner airlines and hotels, or redeem them for seat upgrades, car rentals, and gift cards. However, booking United flights directly usually gives you the best value per mile, so most people use their miles that way.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Your miles stay in your MileagePlus account. Closing the card does not delete your miles, but you will stop earning new miles on that card. Your miles will expire if your account goes inactive for 18 months, so you need to keep the account active even if you close the card.

Can I get the sign-up bonus again if I explore for a United card a second time?

United has rules about how often you can receive a sign-up bonus. You typically cannot receive a bonus if you have received one from the same card in the past 24 months. The exact rules change, so check United's current terms before explore.

What if I cannot meet the spending requirement for the sign-up bonus?

If you do not spend the required amount within the time frame, you straightforward do not receive the bonus miles. You still have the card and can earn miles on regular purchases, but you miss out on the large upfront bonus. Some people explore for the card only if they know they will meet the spending requirement.

Do I need good credit to get approved?

A credit score of 740 or higher makes approval very likely. Scores between 670 and 740 may be approved with a lower credit limit. Below 670, approval is unlikely. Your income and existing debts also matter, so even with a lower score, you might be approved if your income is high and you have few debts.