You’re about to buy a flight and you have a credit card stamped with that airline’s name on the front. That’s the best card to use for this purchase, isn’t it? Or would you be better served if you used some other credit card?
You have options to earn extra points and miles at checkout. On the contrary, there are options to enjoy additional perks during your flight. Some credit cards may combine the two.
Let’s take a look at the best credit cards to use on United flights so you can see your options.
Compare credit cards for United Airlines flights
In addition to using United Airlines credit cardyou can also pay using travel bonus card earn Points are transferable when purchasing travel, including booking your next flight with United Airlines. Here are some cards you can pay for and what you can get with them:
| Name card | Earning rate on United flights | Reward Value Earned * | United-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Club Infinite Card | 4 miles a dollar. | 4.84 cents. | United Club membership allows you to visit these lounges regardless of which cabin you’re flying in (but you must be on a same-day flight as United or a partner).
Premier Access offers priority check-in, security, boarding, and checked baggage wherever these services are available. First and second checked baggage is free for you and your travel companions (but you must pay for flights with this card to receive benefits; benefits are not tied to loyalty accounts your). 25% cashback on in-flight purchases and premium beverages at United Club. 10% off redemption rewards for economy class seats on United and United Express flights within the continental US or between the continental US and Canada. Earn up to 4,000 Premium qualifying score to gain status by earning 500 PQP for every $12,000 spent on the card. This benefit is valid up to Premier 1K status level. |
$525. |
| United Quest Thẻ Card | 3 miles a dollar. | 3.63 cents. | Statement credits up to $125 to reimburse United purchases every five months.
Your 5,000 miles back United MileagePlus account (starting after the first membership anniversary) if you pre-book rewards with United or United Express – available up to twice per account anniversary year. First and second checked baggage is free for you and your travel companions (but you must pay for flights with this card to receive benefits; benefits are not tied to loyalty accounts your). 25% cashback on in-flight purchases and premium beverages at United Club. Earn up to 3,000 Premier qualifying points for status by earning PQP 500 for every $12,000 spent on the card. This benefit is valid up to Premier 1K status level. |
$250. |
| United Explorer card | 2 miles a dollar. | 2.42 cents. | Two transfers to United Club every five months.
First checked baggage is free for you and one traveling companion (but you must pay for flights with this card to receive benefits; benefits are not tied to your loyalty account ). 25% cashback on in-flight purchases and premium beverages at United Club. Earn up to 1,000 Premier-eligible points for status by earning PQP 500 for every $12,000 spent on the card. This benefit is valid up to Premier 1K status level. |
$0 intro annual fee, then $95. |
| United Gateway Card | 2 miles a dollar. | 2.42 cents. | 25% cashback on in-flight purchases and premium beverages at United Club. | $0. |
| Platinum Card® from American Express | 5 points per dollar (up to $500,000 for these purchases per calendar year.) | 10 CEN coins. | No, but you can choose United as your preferred airline up to $200 per year in airline incidental credits for things like checked baggage or priority seat fees. | $695 (see rates and fees). |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked through the Chase travel portal). | 6 cents (or 10 cents). | Not available. | $550. |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar. | 6 cents. | Not available. | $150 (see rates and fees). |
| Citi Premier® Card | 3 points per dollar. | 5.4 cents. | Not available. | 95 dollars. |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar (or 5 miles per dollar if booked in the Capital One Travel portal). | 3.7 cents (or 9.25 cents). | Not available. | $395. |
*Bonus value is an estimated value in TPG and not the card issuer.
Information about the Amex green card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Which card should you use for United Airlines flights?
Usually, income Points are transferable (which you can use in many ways, not just with United) is probably your best approach. And if you use the card earn money Final bonus points – such as Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – you will be able to transfer these points to United Airlines later if you want to change to MileagePlus Program.
But what if you need to check a bag? Did you get free checked baggage in some other way, by flying in premium or having a United status? Otherwise, paying with a United card might make sense.
Consider the checked baggage benefit available on United credit cards. It’s not like keeping a Delta Air Lines credit card – when the checked baggage benefit is tied to your loyalty program number – you must pay for the flight to United with your United credit card to use the free checked baggage benefit. Simply have United Club Infinite Card or United Explorer card in your wallet does not provide this benefit.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
There are other benefits that require paying with your United credit card. These include earning PQP bonuses through credit card spending, getting 25% back (as statement credits) on in-flight purchases with United Airlines, and getting up to $125 in credits statements each year for United purchases made in Mission card.
Related: United Airlines baggage fees and how to avoid them
One credit card with annual travel credit may also help offset your checked baggage fees. If you don’t need to check your suitcase, consider whether you’re losing out on other benefits. For example, have you used $125 of your Quest card in United credits so far this year? If you don’t lose out on benefits like this, aim for the card that will give you the best return on spending through miles and points.
If you choose to pay with Amex Platinum Card earn 5 Membership Rewards For every dollar, you’ll earn more value (in terms of rewards) on the money you spend, but won’t get a free bag of checks – even if you have a United credit card in your wallet.
Related: The ultimate guide to elite status with the United card
Some benefits exist regardless of which credit card you actually use to pay for your flights. These include qualified visits to United Club Loungepriority boarding and priority check-in, get 5,000 miles back in your account if you redeem a qualifying mileage bonus while holding a Quest card and get access to savings rewards bookings with 10% discount thanks to the Club Infinite card.
Another benefit available to all cardholders – and also available to those with United Airlines Elite Status – is access to additional bonus space when redeeming miles for United flights. In addition, people who have both elite status with United and have a United credit card can receive it Free Premier Upgrade when using miles for award flights. That can make owning a United credit card worthwhile even if you also get the many benefits of being an elite member.
Related: The only reason I want to open a MileagePlus credit card as a United elite
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
Key point
TPG . Value United miles at 1.21 cents per person. Even the best earning option for a United credit card offers a value of only 4.84 cents per dollar spent on United purchases, but the more general travel rewards that credit cards have can be obtained at a higher rate. However, you need to pay with your United credit card to take advantage of certain benefits, such as free checked baggage and statement credits for eligible purchases.
Related: Best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets
Assess whether you are sacrificing benefits to earn more valuable rewards and how important this is to you. Earning less points but keeping more money in your pocket makes sense for most people. For those of you who don’t need to check your pockets, feel free to use whichever credit card gives you the best return on your next United purchase.
And whenever Star Alliance credit card planned released, we’ll see if that changes any of these considerations.
Editor’s note: “View Scores” is a series of reviews of decisions about which credit card to use. If you are facing a dilemma about which card is best for an upcoming payment, email us at [email protected].
Also in this series:
For Amex Platinum card rates and fees, click here.
For Amex green card rates and fees, click here.
