United Airlines Debit Card
You might be familiar with United Airlines' portfolio of co-branded credit cards that allow you to earn miles on your spending. Now, the Chicago-based carrier has added a United Airlines miles-earning debit card to its portfolio: The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Visa Card.
United isn't the first major U.S. airline to offer a debit card option to its most loyal flyers. Southwest Airlines also recently unveiled a new debit card that earns points. Debit cards provide an additional option for travelers who want to earn more miles, but perhaps don't want another credit card or have bad credit, as there's no credit check required to open an account.
About The United Debit Card
With the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card, you'll earn United MileagePlus miles on purchases made with your debit card in exchange for a monthly $4 fee. That monthly fee is waived if your average monthly account balance is over $2,000.
Unlike its credit cards, which are issued by Chase, the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Visa card is issued by Sunrise Banks . It's powered by Galileo Financial Technologies, SoFi's technology platform. Accounts are FDIC-insured through Sunrise Banks up to $250,000.
Welcome Offer Details
United's new debit card does come with a sign-up bonus. Currently, new applicants can earn 10,000 bonus miles when they open an account and spend $500 in the first four months.
Earning Structure
With the United debit card, you'll earn the following:
- Earn one mile per $1 spent on United purchases including flights, bags, onboard snacks, and more.
- Earn one mile per $2 spent on all other eligible purchases
- Cardholders will also earn 2,500 bonus miles each calendar year after spending $10,000 with your United debit card
Compared to United's credit cards, the United debit card offers a worse return on your spending. With the United debit card, you're effectively getting 0.5 miles for every $1 spent on most purchases. Even United's no-annual-fee card has better rates. The United Gateway℠ Card earns two miles per $1 spent with United and one mile per $1 on all other purchases.
But the United debit card also awards bonus miles on your monthly account balance, up to 70,000 miles annually. The more money in your account, the more bonus miles you'll earn. For example, if your account balance averages $10,000 during a month, you'd earn an additional 1,250 miles for that month.
Here's a breakdown of the bonus miles you can earn on your account balance. Divide the annual rate for each tier by 12 to get the number of bonus miles you'd earn for that average monthly account balance.
Beyond earning miles, the United debit card doesn't come with any additional perks when flying United. By comparison, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Debit Card offers some modest perks including an annual Southwest Companion Pass points bonus and a $35 statement credit.
United Debit Card: ToP Thoughts
The United debit card is an interesting new option for loyal United flyers to earn miles on both their spending and saving. But you'd be better served with one of United's personal credit cards. They offer a better earning rate plus perks when flying United. Still, the United debit card makes sense for those who can't get approved for a credit card — or don't want one. We wouldn't be surprised to see more airlines follow suit with miles-earning debit cards of their own. It's yet another way to get more customers into an airline's ecosystem.
Are you considering opening a United debit card? Let us know in the ToP Facebook group!
