United Airlines has made updates to its co-branded credit cards, including higher annual fees and a range of what they consider benefits, many of which have a spending incentive tied to them. So in my book, they really aren’t “benefits”. If you can find use for them, or are using your cards to help you with status anyway, I guess that these “benefits” could offset the increased fees, but I am glad I just have the free version of this card and I will not be taking advantage of these new “benefits” that Chase is touting! Here’s a breakdown of some of the main changes:
United Explorer Card
- New Annual Fee: $150 (previously $95)
- New Benefits:
- $60 in Annual Rideshare Credits – Receive $5 in statement credits per month when using services like Uber and Lyft and paying with your card.
- $100 Annual United Travel Credit – Earned after spending $10,000 on the card each calendar year. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- 10,000-Mile Award Flight Discount – Earned after spending $20,000 on the card each calendar year. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- Up to $120 in Instacart Credits – Includes a 3-month free Instacart+ membership plus up to $120 in statement credits ($10 per month) for grocery delivery.
- $50 United Travel Credit for Avis & Budget Rentals – Earn a $50 credit annually when renting a car through Avis or Budget through cars.united.com and paid for with your card.
- $100 Credit + 5x Miles on United Hotels Stays – Earn 5x total miles on United Hotels bookings and receive a $100 annual credit for United Hotels purchases directly through United Hotels with your United Explorer Card.
United Quest Card
- New Annual Fee: $350 (previously $250)
- New Benefits:
- $100 in annual rideshare credits ($8 per month and $12 in December) when using services like Uber and Lyft and paying with your card.
- $200 in annual United travel credit on your account anniversary.
- Two complimentary upgrades to Economy Plus (extra legroom seating) after spending $40,000 in purchases each calendar year. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- 10,000-Mile Award Flight Discount – Automatically provided each year and expires on your following account anniversary if not used.
- ANOTHER 10,000-Mile Award Flight Discount – Earned after spending $20,000 on the card each calendar year. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- Up to $180 in Instacart Credits – Includes a 3-month free Instacart+ membership plus up to $120 in statement credits ($10 and $5 per month) for grocery delivery.
- $80 United Travel Credit for Avis & Budget Rentals – Earn a $80 credit annually when renting a car through Avis or Budget through cars.united.com and paid for with your card.
- 1,000 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP)-Start each program year with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP after February 1 each year, starting in 2026.
- MORE PQP-You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases with your card, up to 18,000 PQP in a calendar year. This used to have a lower PQP cap.
United Club Infinite Card and the Business version
- New Annual Fee: $695 (previously $525)
- New Benefits:
- $100 in annual rideshare credits ($12 per month and $18 in December) when using services like Uber and Lyft and paying with your card.
- Ability to earn Premier 1K status through card spending and bonus qualifying points (BQP)
- 10,000-Mile Award Flight Discount – Earned after spending $20,000 on the card each calendar year up to 2x. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- Up to $240 in Instacart Credits – Includes a free Instacart+ membership plus up to $240 in statement credits ($10 and $10 per month) for grocery delivery.
- $100 United Travel Credit for Avis & Budget Rentals – Earn a $100 credit annually when renting a car through Avis or Budget through cars.united.com and paid for with your card.
- 1,500 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP)-Start each program year with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP after February 1 each year, starting in 2026.
- MORE PQP-You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases with your card, up to 28,000 PQP in a calendar year. This used to have a lower PQP cap.
United Gateway Card (No Annual Fee)-we have this one, so I will tell you what we will do here.
- New Benefits:
- Earn Certificates for 2 Checked Bags – After spending $10,000 per calendar year, receive certificates for two free checked bags on United- or United Express-operated flights—worth up to $80. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
- Personally, I would not throw $10k on this card and forego spending with other cards just for $80 baggage credit (not to mention, I could always use an airline statement credit for bags that I get with my other, better cards).
- Cardmember Award Pricing – With this free version, you used to have access to United’s expanded award availability (that provided access to more saver-level awards). But starting August 1, 2025, you will have spend $10,000 in a calendar year for this benefit.
- If this is something you have taken advantage of often in the past (we haven’t), you can consider spending the $10k to keep this benefit intact. Then by default, you will have the 2 bag certificates as well.
- Earn Certificates for 2 Checked Bags – After spending $10,000 per calendar year, receive certificates for two free checked bags on United- or United Express-operated flights—worth up to $80. (Spending begins counting toward this perk on January 1, 2025).
United Business Card
- New Annual Fee: $150 (previously $99)
- New Benefits:
- $100 in Annual Rideshare Credits –($12 per month and $18 in December) when using services like Uber and Lyft and paying with your card.
- $125 United Travel Credit – Earned after making 5 United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your card
- Up to $120 in Instacart Credits – Includes a 3-month free Instacart+ membership plus up to $120 in statement credits ($10 per month) for grocery delivery.
- $50 United Travel Credit for Avis & Budget Rentals – Receive a $50 annual credit for car rentals through cars.united.com and paid for with your card.
Best Airline Card? Look no further
The Points Mom’s Got It!
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