Personal United Credit Card Reviews

Chase offers 4 co-branded United Airlines personal credit cards. Each card has different benefits and earning structures. What they have in common is that they should all generally appeal to United frequent fliers. In our personal United credit card reviews we compare and review the:

• United Gateway℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Quest℠ Card
• United Club℠ Card

If you're a frequent United flyer, you should consider at least one of these cards for your wallet or the business version. In our United credit card reviews we will go over their offers, earning structure and card perks. 

Update 3/27/26: The elevated offers on the United Explorer and United Quest cards are ending soon.

United Gateway℠ Card‘s current offer:

• Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles. Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open and an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
• The Gateway card does not have an annual fee.
  • Quite frankly, the Gateway card's welcome offer is pretty weak and not worthy of taking up a 5/24 slot.

United℠ Explorer Card‘s current offer:

• Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles. Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open and an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
• The Explorer card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee.

United Quest℠ Card‘s current offer:

• Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles. Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open and an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
• The Quest card has a $350 annual fee, which is not waived for the first year.

United Club℠ Card‘s current offer:

• Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles. Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open and an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
• The Club card has a $695 annual fee, which is not waived the first year.

Application Rules

Like other Chase cards, each of the United co-branded cards is subject to Chase's 5/24 rule. This means Chase will not approve you for any of these cards if you have opened 5 or more personal credit cards with any bank during the last 24 months.

Also, you cannot open a United personal card if you already have that card open or have received a welcome offer for that card in the past 24 months. This means, for example, that you cannot open a United Quest℠ Card if you already have a Quest card or received a welcome offer for the Quest card in the last 24 months.

Earning Rates

Each of the personal United cards earn bonus miles per dollar on different categories. The cards also all earn 1x miles per dollar on all remaining eligible purchases not listed below. Here are the bonus categories for each card:

United Gateway℠ Card

• 2x on purchases from United
• 2x on
  • Gas stations
  • Local transit
  • Commuting

United℠ Explorer Card

• 2x on purchases from United
• 2x on dining, including eligible delivery services
• 2x on hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel

United Quest℠ Card

• 5x on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels & Resorts
• 3x on purchases from United
• 2x on all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride share services and tolls
• 2x dining, including eligible delivery services
• 2x on select streaming services

United Club℠ Card

• 5x on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels & Resorts
• 4x on purchases from United
• 2x on all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride share services and tolls
• 2x dining, including eligible delivery services

Despite the multiple bonus categories across these cards, cardholders are typically better off spending on other cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, instead of on the United cards, as we discuss below.

United Credit Card Reviews: Card Benefits

Benefits and perks vary among each of the 4 United cards. As expected, benefits differ depending on each card's annual fee. The United Gateway℠ Card offers very few perks, but has no annual fee. At the opposite end, the United Club℠ Card offers a slew of benefits. Here is a breakdown for each card.

United Gateway Benefits

The United Gateway℠ Card is pretty barebones, even for a no-annual fee card. Coupled with a small sign-up bonus, this card is not worth taking up one of your 5/24 slots. The card offers the following benefits:

• 25% back as a statement credit for United in-flight purchases including food, beverages, and WiFi purchases
• After you spend $10,000 in a calendar year, you receive the following:
  • expanded award availability
  • Save 10% or more on United Award Flights on United or United Express flights 
  • Two checked bags
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• No foreign transaction fees
• Member FDIC

United^SM Explorer Benefits

The United℠ Explorer Card‘s benefits include:

• Earn a 10,000 mile eligible award flight discount if you spend $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• United Hotels Credit
  • Get $50 back, up to 2 times each anniversary year, when you book hotels through United Hotels
• Rideshare credits
  • Get up $5 in statement credits each month you use your card for rideshare purchases. Enrollment required.
• Earn United TravelBank credit for select car rentals
  • Earn $25 in United TravelBank credit, up to $50 per cardmember year, for your 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget car rental.
  • Must be booked through cards.united.com and paid for with your United Club card.
• Complimentary 3 Month Instacart+ Membership (Terms Apply)
  • After 3 months you will be auto enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off (set a reminder if you don't want it long term) 
  •  Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Instacart credits (Terms Apply)
  • Receive up to $10 in Instacart credits monthly, up to $120 per calendar year.
  • Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Up To $100 in credits on JSX purchases each cardmember year
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year
• Free first checked bag (terms apply)
• Earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your Explorer Card. You can earn up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year.
• Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck every 4 years
• Expanded award availability, similar to what is available to United MileagePlus elites
• Save 10% or more on United Award Flights on United or United Express flights 
• Priority boarding (prior to general boarding) for the primary cardholders and companions on the same reservation
• Access to Chase's Luxury Hotel Collection
• Baggage delay reimbursement for essential purchases
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket
• Travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• One year of complimentary DashPass
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• 25% back as a statement credit for United in-flight purchases including food, beverages, and Wifi when you pay with your United card
• No foreign transaction fees
• Member FDIC

United Quest Benefits

The United Quest℠ Card‘s benefits include:

• Up to $200 in TravelBank cash each account anniversary 
• Get a 10,000 mile award flight discount starting with your first cardmember anniversary (2nd annual fee) and every year thereafter.
  • You can earn a 2nd one by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.
• Earn 2 global Economy Plus seat upgrades if you spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year
• Free first and second checked bag (terms apply)
• 1,000 PQP head start each qualification year starting in 2026, awarded within 8 weeks of February 1st
• Earn 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases with your card. You can earn up to 18,000 PQP per calendar year.
• Rideshare credits
  • Get up to $8 in statement credits each month (January – November) and up to $12 back in December when you use your card for rideshare purchases. Enrollment required.
• Earn United TravelBank credit for select car rentals
  • Earn $40 in United TravelBank credit, up to $80 per cardmember year, for your 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget car rental.
  • Must be booked through cards.united.com and paid for with your United Club card.
• Expanded award availability, similar to what is available to United MileagePlus elites
• Save 10% or more on United Award Flights on United or United Express flights 
• Complimentary 3 Month Instacart+ Membership (Terms Apply)
  • After 3 months you will be auto enrolled in Instacart+ at 50% off (set a reminder if you don't want it long term) 
  •  Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Instacart credits (Terms Apply)
  • Receive up to $10 & $5 in Instacart credits monthly, up to $180 per calendar year.
  • Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Up to $150 in credits for Renowned Hotels & Resorts each cardmember year.
  • Must pay directly with Renowned Hotels & Resorts
• Up To $150 in credits on JSX purchases each cardmember year
• Complimentary upgrades on award tickets for Premier members: the primary cardholder who is also a MileagePlus Premier member traveling on a domestic MileagePlus award ticket will be eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on eligible United-operated flights (when available)
• 25% back as a statement credit for United in-flight purchases
• Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck every 4 years
• Priority boarding (prior to general boarding) for the primary cardholders and companions on the same reservation
• Access to Chase's Luxury Hotel Collection
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Baggage delay reimbursement for essential purchases
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• No foreign transaction fees
• Member FDIC

United Club^SM Benefits

The United Club℠ Card‘s benefits include:

• United Club membership
  • Includes 1 adult guest and dependent children 
• United Club All Access Membership
  •  Get it by spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year or reaching Premier Gold status.
  • If you have United Club All Access membership, and your card has an authorized user, you will receive 4 United Club one-time passes each year on your account anniversary.
• Up to $200 in credits for Renowned Hotels & Resorts each cardmember year.
  • Must pay directly with Renowned Hotels & Resorts
• Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
• Earn United TravelBank credit for select car rentals
  • Earn $50 in United TravelBank credit, up to $100 per cardmember year, for your 1st and 2nd Avis or Budget car rental.
  • Must be booked through cards.united.com and paid for with your United Club card.
• Earn 1 Premier^® Qualifying Point (PQP) for every $15 spent on purchases with your Club^SM Card, up to 28,000 PQP per year.
• 1,500 PQP bonus each qualification year (starting in 2026)
• Rideshare credit
  • Earn up to $12 back as a statement credit each month from January to November. Get up to $18 in December when you pay for rideshare purchases using your United Club^SM Card. 
• Complimentary Instacart+ Membership (Terms Apply)
  •  Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Instacart credits (Terms Apply)
  • Receive two $10 Instacart credits monthly, up to $240 per calendar year.
  • Benefit ends 12/31/27
• Premier access travel services, including priority check-in, security lanes (where available), boarding and baggage handling
• Expanded award availability, similar to what is available to United MileagePlus elites
• IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status (registration required)
• Avis President's Club membership
• Save 10% or more on United Award Flights on United or United Express flights 
• Complimentary first and second checked bag (terms apply)
• Complimentary upgrades on award tickets for Premier members: the primary cardholder who is also a MileagePlus Premier member traveling on a domestic MileagePlus award ticket will be eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on eligible United-operated flights (when available)
• 25% back as a statement credit for United in-flight purchases
• Up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck every 4 years
• Access to Chase's Luxury Hotel Collection
• Emergency evacuation and transportation
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Baggage delay reimbursement for essential purchases
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• $125 United Travel Credit
  • Earn a $125 TravelBank credit after making 5 United flight purchases in a calendar year of $100 or more for each flight.
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• One year of complimentary DashPass
• Return protection
• No foreign transaction fees
• Member FDIC

United Credit Card Reviews: Our Analysis

With the exception of the no-annual fee Gateway card, each of the United personal cards more than make up for their annual fees. This is now more true than ever, with cardholders gaining access to additional United award space and a 10% or more discount on award flights. Generally, the cards' benefits will likely appeal more to frequent United flyers. These benefits include complimentary checked bag(s), priority boarding, and complimentary upgrades. It's interesting to see the Club^SM card offer some benefits that don't relate to United, such as complimentary status with IHG and Avis. In fact, the Chase IHG Rewards Club Premier card is the only other credit card that offers this status for free.

Since the perks vary among the 4 cards, travelers can actually benefit from holding more than one United card. Of course, we would not recommend using up multiple 5/24 slots on these cards if you have not already opened all of the UR-earning cards that you can. Here are some examples of why you may want to hold these cards:

• United Gateway℠ Card:
  • Since the card has no annual fee, you can product change from one of the other UA cards to this one if you want to save on annual fees.
  • Remember, to get the full perks of a United card (expanded award access and a 10% or more award flight discount) you must spend $10,000+ in a calendar year
• United℠ Explorer Card:
  • You can no longer give your 2 United Club one-time passes per year to family or friends (cardholder needs to be there). These two passes alone still more than cover the card's $95 annual fee though.
• United Quest℠ Card:
  • The $200 United TravelBank cash slashes the card's annual fee more than in half. 
• United Club℠ Card:
  • Take your pick. Complimentary United Club membership. The ability to earn up to extra PQP per year through spend. Premier access travel services. All of the credits etc.

Another consistent benefit across the cards is travel protection. The Gateway card offers only trip cancellation/interruption, which is already impressive for a no-annual fee card. But the remaining three cards offer robust travel protection. Some travel protection benefits are even comparable to that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The trip delay reimbursement kicks in after 12 hours and covers up to $500 per ticket, just like the Sapphire Preferred (CSP). So if you don't have a CSP or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Explorer, Quest, or Club cards could help you with travel protection.

For spending, cardholders will generally do better by using a different credit card instead of the United cards. Chase's UR-earning cards offer equal or better earning rates than each of the United cards, with the exception of the Club^SM card. The Club card does earn 5x on United purchases, but we would still prefer earning 4x URs on United purchases with a Chase Sapphire Reserve or another card that earns transferrable currencies. Since United is a Chase transfer partner, you are better off putting your spend on the CSP or another UR-earning credit card than on the United Explorer card.

United Credit Card Reviews: ToP Thoughts

Chase's United personal cards offer solid benefits for United flyers that offset their annual fees. The extent of each card's perks is consistent with their annual fees. Frequent United flyers could even benefit from holding more than one these cards long-term. But as always, make sure to consider your own needs every time the annual fee hits.

What do you think of Chase's co-branded United personal cards? Come share your thoughts in our Facebook group!