{"id":121180,"date":"2024-08-27T14:00:34","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/27\/the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-united-flights-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2024-08-27T14:00:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T14:00:34","slug":"the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-united-flights-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/27\/the-best-credit-cards-to-use-for-united-flights-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"The best credit cards to use for United flights – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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You’re about to buy a flight, and you have a credit card with that airline’s name stamped on the front. That’s the best card to use for this purchase, right? Or would you be better served if you used some other credit card<\/a>?<\/p>\n

You have options for earning extra points and miles when you pay. Conversely, there are options for enjoying additional perks<\/a> during your flight. Some credit cards can give a mix of both.<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at the best credit card to use for United flights so you can see your options.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Comparing cards for United Airlines flights<\/h2>\n

Aside from using a United Airlines credit card<\/a>, you could also pay using an all-around travel rewards card<\/a> that earns transferable points<\/a> on travel purchases, including your next flight reservation with United Airlines<\/a>. Here are some cards you might pay with and what you could get when using these cards:<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card name<\/strong><\/th>\nEarning rate on United flights<\/strong><\/th>\nValue of the rewards earned*<\/strong><\/th>\nUnited-related benefits from the card<\/strong><\/th>\nAnnual fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
United Club\u2120 Infinite Card<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n4 miles per dollar<\/td>\n5.4 cents<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Visit United Club lounges regardless of what cabin you’re flying in (but you must be on a same-day flight with United or a partner)<\/li>\n
  • Premier Access with check-in, security, boarding and checked baggage delivery wherever these services are available<\/li>\n
  • First and second-checked bags are free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)<\/li>\n
  • 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club<\/li>\n
  • 10% discount on saver award redemptions for economy seats on United and United Express flights in the continental U.S. or between the continental U.S. and Canada<\/li>\n
  • 25 Premier qualifying points<\/a> (PQPs) for each $500 spent on the card (up to 10,000 PQPs in total)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$525<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
United Quest\u2120 Card<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n3 miles per dollar<\/td>\n4.05 cents<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Up to $125 in statement credits to reimburse United purchases each cardmember year<\/li>\n
  • 5,000 miles back in your United MileagePlus account (starting after the first cardmember anniversary) if you make an award reservation with United or United Express \u2014 available up to two times each account anniversary year<\/li>\n
  • First and second-checked bags are free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)<\/li>\n
  • 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club<\/li>\n
  • 25 PQPs for each $500 spent on the card (up to 6,000 PQPs in total)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
United\u2120 Explorer Card<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar<\/td>\n2.7 cents<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Two one-time passes to the United Club each cardmember year<\/li>\n
  • First checked bag free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit)<\/li>\n
  • 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club<\/li>\n
  • 25 PQPs for each $500 spent on the card (up to 1,000 PQPs in total)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$0 introductory annual fee, then $95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
United Gateway\u2120 Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar<\/td>\n2.7 cents<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Platinum Card\u00ae from American Express<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)<\/span><\/td>\n10 cents<\/td>\n\n$695 (see rates and fees<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked via Chase Travel\u2120)<\/span><\/td>\n6.15 cents (or 10.25 cents)<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • $300 travel credit each year; this credit can be applied toward airfare<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$550<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
American Express\u00ae Green Card<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n3 points per dollar<\/span><\/td>\n6 cents<\/td>\n\n$150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2 miles per dollar (or 5 miles per dollar if booked in the Capital One Travel portal)<\/td>\n3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents)<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Up to $300 travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings; this credit could be applied toward a United flight booked through the portal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
$395 (see rates and fees)<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

* Bonus value is estimated based on TPG’s August 2024 valuations<\/a> and not the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Which card should you use for United Airlines flights?<\/h2>\n

Typically, earning transferable points<\/a> (which you can use in many ways, not just with United) is probably your best approach. And if you use a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points<\/a> \u2014 such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve<\/a> or the Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card<\/a> \u2014 you would be able to transfer these points to United Airlines<\/a> later on if you want to make a redemption through the MileagePlus program.<\/p>\n

But what if you need to check a bag? Do you get free checked luggage in some other way due to flying in a premium cabin or having status with United? If not, paying with a United card might make sense.<\/p>\n

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