The United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a luxury co-branded airline credit card that lets you earn United miles on daily purchases and provides benefits such as free checked bags and United Club lounge membership. New cardholders can also score a solid welcome offer: Earn up to 90,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open. If you're a frequent United Airlines flyer who values access to United Club lounges then this premium travel credit card is a real contender for a place in your wallet.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the rewards, benefits and fees associated with the United Club℠ Card to decide if it's right for your needs.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered with this card delivers big value, allowing new cardholders to earn up to 90,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open. If you value United miles at a modest 1 cent per mile you'd end up with about $1,000 worth of travel from the bonus alone, and that's not even including the additional miles you'll earn from purchases made to get the bonus.
Compared to other travel credit cards this is one of the most lucrative welcome bonus offers available at the moment. Many are able to get more value from United miles as well, so this bonus could easily be worth way more depending on how you redeem your miles.
Keep in mind that you won't be able to get the welcome bonus if you already have another United Club card or you've already gotten a welcome bonus for another United Club card within the past 24 months.
Benefits and perks
The United Club℠ Card is packed with plenty of features for cardholders to take advantage of. If you're thinking of applying, it's important to think realistically about how many of the perks you'll actually use — and how often — to make sure it's worth your while.
Once approved for the card, you'll be able to enjoy the following benefits:
- Access to United Club (and participating Star Alliance™ affiliate) airport lounges worldwide
- Complimentary first and second checked bags when you fly with United, a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- Up to $120 statement credit every four years when you enroll in NEXUS, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
- 25% back on in-flight purchases such as Wi-Fi, food or beverages (as a statement credit)
- Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Premier Access travel services such as priority check-in and expedited security, boarding and baggage handling
- Comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancellation and interruption, baggage delay insurance, reimbursement for lost luggage and trip delays, travel accident insurance (including travel and emergency assistance services and emergency evacuation and transportation) and rental car coverage (collision damage waiver)
- Visa Infinite concierge services
By taking advantage of most or all of these benefits, you can easily justify the card's $695 annual fee. Even if you just get the card for United Club access for you and a guest, you'll be saving money since a membership costs $750 when you're purchasing directly from United.
How to earn and redeem United miles
Earning United MileagePlus miles
When you spend on the card, you'll earn:
- 11 miles per dollar total on eligible United flights
- 5 miles per dollar on all purchases from United® purchases, including in-flight services such as Wi-Fi, food and beverages, as well as tickets for flights
- 2 miles per dollar on all other travel purchases — flights, hotels, cruises, trains, rental cars, tolls, public transportation, taxis and ride-sharing services
- 2 miles per dollar on dining
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Select calculated how many miles the average American could potentially earn in a year by using their United Club℠ Card. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.
The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953). Here's what the average consumer would earn by using this credit card:
- Groceries: 5,174 United MileagePlus miles
- Gas: 2,218 United MileagePlus miles
- Dining out: 7,350 United MileagePlus miles
- Travel: 12,375 United MileagePlus miles (assuming all air travel dollars are spent with United Airlines)
- Utilities: 4,862 United MileagePlus miles
- General purchases: 3,953 United MileagePlus miles
With all spending considered, you could end up earning 32,533 United MileagePlus miles within the first year if you were to include the 90,000-mile welcome bonus — this type of spending would end up yielding a total of 122,533 United MileagePlus miles. Over a five-year period, cardholders could potentially earn 252, 665 United MileagePlus miles, although the total amount would depend more on an individual or business' annual spending habits.
Alternatively, if you're trying to rack up a large amounts of United MileagePlus miles in a hurry, consider earning rewards through credit cards with transferable rewards. Credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) let you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be transferred directly to United MileagePlus. These cards are some of the best travel credit cards because you have the flexibility to redeem your rewards in a variety of ways, including transferring them to United Airlines.
Redeeming United MileagePlus miles
Once you earn enough United MileagePlus miles, the fun part is redeeming them for free flights. Be aware that while the flight cost is covered by miles, you're still responsible for paying any applicable taxes and fees. For example, if you were to redeem them for a flight within the U.S., you will still have to pay $5.60 each way in taxes and fees.
To redeem MileagePlus miles, visit the United website and begin searching for your desired flight pattern. Before you hit the search button, click the "book with miles" box. From there, you will be able to look through any available flights and see how many miles it will cost for each seat class.
Keep in mind that you should really aim to get more than 1 cent per point in value for your United MileagePlus miles. Anything below that wouldn't be a great redemption, and you may be better off paying cash for the fare.
Lastly, if you're trying to book travel outside the United States, you may find yourself seeing different airlines on the United website. This is because of United's connection to Star Alliance, an airline alliance with 26 members. As a result, you'll be able to earn miles by flying with any one of them and can also redeem your MileagePlus for flights on any of United's partners. If you're searching for flights from New York to Singapore, for instance, you'll be shown flights with Singapore Airlines, while if you're interested in traveling to Germany, flights with SWISS Airlines or Lufthansa will appear in your search results.
In short, as you continue to earn United MileagePlus miles by spending with the United Club℠ Card, it's in your best interest to spend them as you earn them. If you were to instead hold onto a large amount of airline miles, you'd be susceptible to devaluation announcements from United Airlines or could potentially having them digitally stolen from you before you get to use them.
Rates and fees
The card has a $695 annual fee. It has no foreign transaction fees.
Late payment fees can be up to $40.
Card comparison
The United Club℠ Card is a solid option for someone who prefers luxury travel benefits when flying with United Airlines. But how does it stack up against other luxury travel credit cards? Select compared two other popular credit cards to see how it really matches up.
United Club℠ Card vs. American Express Platinum Card®
The American Express Platinum Card® is a value-packed luxury travel card that offers terrific benefits for both your travels and day-to-day necessities. You can also earn a ton of American Express Membership Rewards® points when you spend with the card.
To get you started, the card comes with a large welcome bonus: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. And as you spend on the card, you'll earn:
- 5X points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5X points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel®
- 1X points per dollar spent everywhere else
With the Amex Platinum you'll also have access to a long list of benefits, including:
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits. Enrollment required.
- Up to $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply. Enrollment required.
- Access to the Global Lounge Collection, which has over 1,550 airport lounges in more than 140 countries. Including access to Amex Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- A $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required. Enrollment required.
- A $155 Walmart+ statement credit to help you cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership after you pay for monthly Walmart+ service with your card. Plus Ups are excluded. Subject to auto-renewal. Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- A $300 credit per calendar year with Equinox. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID – this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Comprehensive travel insurance and complimentary American Express concierge services
Terms apply.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
The Platinum Card comes with a whopping $895 annual fee (see rates and fees), which can easily be made back in value by utilizing available spending credits and taking advantage of large earnings for booking travel.
When comparing the two cards, consider how often you fly and with which airline(s). If you tend to only fly with United Airlines and visit only United Club lounges, the United Club Card would be the better choice. If you're looking for more flexibility with credit card rewards, more spending credits and a much larger list of airline lounges you can access, the Amex Platinum Card may be your best bet. If you're primarily a Delta flyer you may be better suited with the Amex Platinum, as you get complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs when flying on Delta.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
United Club℠ Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another premium travel credit card that offers cardholders a wide variety of benefits. Once you're approved for the card, the current welcome bonus lets you earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you'll have access to valuable benefits, such as:
- A $300 travel credit
- Up to $120 statement credit every 4 years for enrolling in either TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS
- Access to airport lounges, including Priority Pass lounges
- Comprehensive travel insurance, purchase protection and return protection
- No foreign transaction fees
By spending with the card, you'll also be able to earn a large amount of Ultimate Rewards points through flexible spending categories:
- 8X points per dollar on Chase Travel℠ purchases (after spending $300 on travel)
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 4x points on flights & hotels booked direct (after spending $300 on travel)
- 1X point per dollar spent everywhere else
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a $795 annual fee.
If you're deciding between the two cards, it really comes down to which benefits you think you will use the most and if you wish to have more flexibility with your rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be transferred directly to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio, so you could potentially earn more miles by using the Chase Sapphire Reserve card than the United Club Card based on where you do most of your spending. Plus, you can transfer to your Chase points to over ten other partners or redeem them through Chase Travel℠ where you'll ultimately have more flexibility in redemption.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Who the United Club Card is best for
The United Club℠ Card is a solid choice for regular travelers with good to excellent credit who are loyal to United Airlines and its many Star Alliance partners. It's a great pick for anyone who can budget for the $695 annual fee, especially those who plan to take advantage of the many benefits it offers, such as complimentary United Club lounge access and up to two free checked bags.
Keep in mind that because this is a Chase card, you may end up having to deal with the infamous Chase 5/24 rule — in other words, you won't get approved for any new Chase cards if you've already gotten approved for five or more personal credit cards within the last 24 months.
Bottom line
The United Club℠ Card is a solid travel credit card, perfect for anyone who enjoys flying with United Airlines, spending time in United Club lounges and checking one or two bags when they fly. The card offers a lucrative 90,000-mile welcome bonus, flexible spending categories, a number of benefits to enhance your overall travel experience and comes with a sleek design.
Before you apply for a new credit card, be sure you have room in your budget for the annual fee and enough purchases coming up to get you past the $5,000 spending in 3 months threshold to get the welcome bonus. Without a sturdy budget, picking up a shiny new credit card could potentially lead to a financial disaster if you end up spending outside of your means.
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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
