The (see rates and fees) is a strong fit for frequent United Airlines flyers thanks to its complimentary United Club lounge membership, valuable airline perks and elevated earning rates on United purchases. However, its high annual fee will be difficult to justify if you only fly United occasionally. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
United Club Card: The basics
The is United Airlines’ top-tier consumer credit card. It carries a $695 annual fee and includes a United Club membership (that otherwise costs at least $750 per year).
This card is geared toward loyal United travelers who want a more premium airport experience and can take advantage of the airline-specific benefits it offers.
Here’s what you need to know at a glance:
- Annual fee: $695
- Rewards: Bonus United MileagePlus miles for United purchases, plus travel and dining purchases
- Key perk: Complimentary United Club membership
- Best for: Frequent United flyers who regularly visit airports with United Clubs
Like other Chase-issued cards, the United Club Card is also subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all issuers in the past 24 months, your application will likely be denied.
United Club Card pros and cons
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United Club Card benefits
The has a long list of benefits aimed squarely at frequent United travelers. While some perks are easy to use, others require more effort to fully maximize.
United Club membership
The biggest reason to get this card is the included United Club membership.
Cardholders receive unlimited access to more than 45 United Club lounges worldwide when flying United or a partner airline. You can also bring in one adult guest and dependent children under 18.
If you regularly pass through United hubs like Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark or San Francisco, this benefit alone can justify the card’s annual fee.
I’ve found United Clubs in Houston especially useful during long layovers and delayed flights. Having a quiet place to work, grab a snack and recharge devices can make a stressful travel day feel much more manageable.
The card also includes built-in travel protections like trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation coverage, baggage delay insurance and primary rental car coverage.
Award discounts and expanded availability
United rewards customers who hold a cobranded credit card, and the United Club Card is no exception. Cardholders receive:
These benefits became even more valuable after recent MileagePlus program changes, which shifted more award savings and mileage-earning opportunities toward cardholders.
Related: How to pay your United credit card’s annual fee with miles
How to earn and use your rewards
The stands out among airline cards for its earning rates on United purchases, which are genuinely competitive.
Earning United miles
Cardholders earn:
- At least 11 total miles per dollar spent on eligible United flights
- 5 miles per dollar spent on other eligible United purchases
- 5 miles per dollar spent on prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts bookings
- 2 miles per dollar spent on travel purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on dining purchases
- 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
Redeeming United miles
United miles can provide strong value for premium-cabin awards, including flights on Star Alliance partners.
One thing I consistently like about MileagePlus is that United doesn’t pass along fuel surcharges on partner award bookings. That can save you hundreds of dollars compared to booking the same flights through another program.
Earlier this year, I used 12,500 United MileagePlus miles (plus $12 in taxes and fees) to fly one-way from Valencia, Spain, to Vienna to attend the Eurovision Song Contest. Cash fares for that trip were quite expensive, so redeeming miles was a good choice.
I also regularly find solid value using United miles for last-minute flights when cash fares are expensive.
If you hold the United Club Card, your miles can stretch even further thanks to the automatic award discounts available to cardholders.
Related: Delta and United cards offer cheaper award flights — will other airlines follow?
Downsides to consider about the United Club Card
The biggest drawback is obvious: the $695 annual fee. Even though the included lounge membership is valuable, you still need to actually use it consistently to justify the cost.
I also think some of the statement credits feel overly complicated. Monthly ride-hailing credits and partner-specific benefits can create coupon book fatigue, especially if you already juggle several premium travel rewards cards.
Another downside is that United miles aren’t as flexible as transferable rewards currencies. If your travel habits change and you stop flying United frequently, the card becomes much harder to justify in the long term.
United Club Card vs. United Quest Card
If the feels too expensive, the (see rates and fees) is worth considering.
The Quest Card carries a much lower annual fee while still offering strong United-specific perks, including free checked bags, award flight discounts and useful statement credits. However, you’ll miss out on the biggest differentiator of the United Club Card: a United Club membership.
If you want United perks without paying for lounge access, the Quest is likely the better fit. Choose the Club Card if you’ll visit United Clubs often enough to justify the higher fee.
Related: Is the United Club Card annual fee worth it?
When to apply for the United Club Card
The current offer on the is sizable and meets our standards for when to apply.
New applicants can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening. Based on our October 2026 valuations, this offer is worth up to $1,200 (including the miles from adding an authorized user).
If you’ve been considering this card and can meet the spending requirement responsibly, now may be a good time to apply.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the United Club Card
If the doesn’t feel like the right fit, here are a few alternatives worth considering.
- If you want a lower annual fee: The (see rates and fees) offers similar United perks for a much lower annual fee. To learn more, read our full review of the United Explorer.
- If you want flexible rewards: The remains one of my favorite all-around travel cards because of its strong earning rates and valuable transfer partners. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want premium lounge access beyond United: The offers access to a much broader lounge network, including Centurion and Priority Pass lounges. To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best United cards and the best airline cards.
Bottom line
The United Club Card is a strong premium airline credit card for travelers who are deeply invested in the United ecosystem. Between the included United Club membership, its valuable airline perks and its strong MileagePlus earning rates for cardholders, there’s real long-term value here for frequent United flyers.
This card makes the most sense if United is your primary airline and you’ll regularly use the lounge access and travel perks. Otherwise, a lower-fee United card — or a more flexible travel rewards card — may be a better fit.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thepointsguy.com
