You’re about to buy a flight and you have a credit card with that airline’s name stamped on the front. That’s the best card to use for this purchase, right? Or would you be better served if you used some other credit card?
You have options for earning extra points and miles when you pay. Conversely, there are options for enjoying additional perks during your flight. And some credit cards can give a mix of both.
Let’s take a look at the best credit card to use for United flights so you can see your options.
Comparing credit cards for United Airlines flights
Aside from using a United Airlines credit card, you could also pay using an all-around travel rewards card that earns transferable points on travel purchases, including your next flight reservation with United Airlines. Here are some cards you might pay with and what you could get when using these cards:
| Card name | Earning rate on United flights | Value of the rewards earned* | United-related benefits from the card | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Club Infinite Card | 4 miles per dollar | 4.4 cents | Visit lounges regardless of what cabin you’re flying in (but you must be on a same-day flight with United or a partner)
Premier Access with check-in, security, boarding and checked baggage delivery wherever these services are available First and second checked bags free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit) 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club 10% discount on saver award redemptions for economy seats on United and United Express flights in the continental U.S. or between the continental U.S. and Canada 500 Premier qualifying points (PQPs) for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 8,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K) |
$525 |
| United Quest Card | 3 miles per dollar | 3.3 cents | Up to $125 in statement credits to reimburse United purchases each cardmember year
5,000 miles back in your United MileagePlus account (starting after the first cardmember anniversary) if you make an award reservation with United or United Express — available up to two times each account anniversary year First and second checked bags free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit) 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club 500 PQPs for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 6,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K) |
$250 |
| United Explorer Card | 2 miles per dollar | 2.2 cents | Two one-time passes to the United Club each cardmember year
First checked bag free for you and a traveling companion (but you must pay for the flights with this card to receive the benefit) 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club 500 PQPs for each $12,000 spent on the card (up to 1,000 PQPs in total; only valid up to Premier 1K) |
$0 introductory annual fee, then $95 |
| United Gateway Card | 2 miles per dollar | 2.2 cents | 25% back on inflight purchases and premium drink purchases in the United Club | $0 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 5 points per dollar (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) | 10 cents | None, but you can choose United as your preferred airline to cover up to $200 per year in airline incidental credits for things like checked baggage or preferred seat fees (enrollment is required) | $695 (see rates and fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 3 points per dollar (or 5 points per dollar if booked via the Chase travel portal) | 6 cents (or 10 cents) | None | $550 |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar | 6 cents | None | $150 (see rates and fees) |
| Citi Premier® Card | 3 points per dollar | 5.4 cents | None | $95 (see rates and fees) |
| 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) | None | $395 (see rates and fees) |
* Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer.
Which card should you use for United Airlines flights?
Typically, earning transferable points (which you can use in many ways, not just with United) is probably your best approach. And if you use a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points — such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — you would be able to transfer these points to United Airlines later on if you want to make a redemption through the MileagePlus program.
But what if you need to check a bag? Do you get free checked luggage in some other way, due to flying in a premium cabin or having status with United? If not, paying with a United card might make sense.
Unlike holding a Delta Air Lines credit card — where the checked baggage benefit is attached to your loyalty program number — you must pay for your United flight with your United credit card to use the free checked baggage benefit. Simply having the United Club Infinite card or United Explorer card in your wallet doesn’t confer this benefit.
There are other benefits that require paying with your United credit card. These include earning bonus PQPs through credit card spending, receiving 25% back (as a statement credit) for inflight purchases with United Airlines and getting up to $125 in statement credits each year for United purchases made with the Quest card.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
Related: United Airlines baggage fees and how to avoid paying them
A credit card that has annual travel credits can also help to offset your checked bag fees. If you don’t need to check a suitcase, consider whether you’re losing out on other benefits. Have you used your Quest card’s $125 in United credits so far this year, for example? If you aren’t losing out on benefits like this, aim for the card that will give you the best return on your spending through miles and points.
If you choose to pay with your Amex Platinum Card to earn 5 Membership Rewards points for each dollar, you’ll earn more value (in terms of rewards) on the money you spend but won’t get free checked bags — even if you have a United credit card in your wallet.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning elite status with United cards
Some benefits exist regardless of which credit card you actually use to pay for your flights. These include eligible visits to the United Club lounges, priority boarding and priority check-in benefits, getting 5,000 miles back in your account if you make an eligible mileage award redemption while holding the Quest card, and gaining access to saver award bookings with a 10% discount thanks to the Club Infinite card.
Related: United changes how it shows saver awards online — how to tell if flights are bookable with a partner
Another benefit available to all cardholders — and also available to those with United Airlines elite status — is access to additional award space when redeeming miles for United flights. Plus, those who both have elite status with United and have a United credit card can receive complimentary upgrades to first class when using miles for award flights. That can make holding a United credit card worthwhile even if you also receive numerous benefits as an elite member.
Related: The single reason I’d open a MileagePlus credit card as a United elite
Bottom line
TPG values United miles at 1.1 cents apiece. Even the best-earning option for United credit cards yields just 4.4 cents in value for each dollar spent on United purchases, yet more general travel rewards credit cards can earn at a higher rate. But, you need to pay with your United credit card to take advantage of certain benefits, such as free checked bags and statement credits toward eligible purchases.
Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets
Evaluate whether you would be sacrificing benefits to earn more valuable rewards and how important this is to you. Earning fewer points but keeping more cash in your pocket will make sense for most people. For those who don’t need to check a bag, you’re probably free to use whichever credit card has the best earnings on your next United purchase.
And whenever the planned Star Alliance credit card is released, we’ll see if that changes any of these considerations.
Editor’s note: “Points of View” is a series evaluating decisions on which credit card to use. If you’re facing a dilemma about which card is best for an upcoming payment, email us at [email protected].
Also in this series:
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox.
Source: thepointsguy.com