What the United MileagePlus Credit Card Does

The United MileagePlus Credit Card is a co-branded rewards card issued by Chase that earns miles in United Airlines' frequent flyer program. Every purchase you make on the card adds miles to your MileagePlus account, which you can redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits through United. The card comes with a sign-up bonus—typically 50,000 to 70,000 miles after you spend a set amount in the first few months—plus an annual fee that ranges from $0 to $450 depending on which version of the card you choose.

United offers several versions of this card at different reward levels and price points. The basic version has no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar on most purchases. The mid-tier card costs $95 per year and earns bonus miles on United purchases and dining. The premium card costs $450 per year and includes perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding, and a $100 United travel credit each year. Which card makes sense depends on how often you fly United and how much you spend on dining and travel.

Key Takeaways

  • The United MileagePlus Credit Card earns miles that you redeem through United Airlines, and the sign-up bonus typically covers the cost of one domestic flight for new cardholders.
  • You can choose between a no-annual-fee version, a $95-per-year card, or a $450-per-year premium card, each with different earning rates and travel perks.
  • Miles expire if your MileagePlus account is inactive for 18 months, so you need to use your account or card regularly to keep them.
  • The card earns bonus miles on United flights, dining at participating restaurants, and hotel stays, but earns just 1 mile per dollar on everyday purchases with the basic version.

How Miles Earning Works on Each Card Version

The no-annual-fee version earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. That means a $100 grocery bill gives you 100 miles. This card is straightforward but offers no bonus categories, so you earn at the same rate whether you are buying gas or booking a flight.

The $95-per-year card earns 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and dining at restaurants, and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. If you eat out regularly or fly United frequently, this card's bonus categories can offset the annual fee within a few months of normal spending. The premium $450-per-year card earns the same 2 miles per dollar on United and dining, plus it includes a $100 annual United travel credit and a free checked bag on United flights, which can save you $35 to $70 per round trip if you fly even once a year.

All versions earn a sign-up bonus after you meet a spending threshold—usually $3,000 to $5,000 in the first three months. The bonus ranges from 50,000 to 70,000 miles depending on the card version and the current offer. At United's typical redemption rates, 50,000 miles is worth roughly $500 to $750 in flight value, though the actual value depends on the route and how far in advance you book.

What Happens After You Open the Card

Once Chase approves your process, you receive the physical card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can request a temporary card number to start earning miles when ready while you wait for the plastic card to arrive. Your new card is automatically linked to your MileagePlus account—if you already have one—or Chase will create a new MileagePlus account for you during the process process.

The sign-up bonus posts to your account after you meet the spending requirement, usually within one billing cycle. You can then log into your MileagePlus account online or through the United app to see your miles balance and begin redeeming them. Miles never expire as long as your MileagePlus account remains active, but accounts go inactive after 18 months with no account activity—that means no flights booked, no miles earned, and no miles redeemed. If your account becomes inactive, United will close it and you lose any miles you have not used.

To keep your account active, you can use the credit card to make purchases, book a United flight, or even just log into your MileagePlus account online. Many cardholders set a calendar reminder to use their miles or make a small purchase on the card every 18 months to prevent inactivity.

Annual Fees and When They Are Worth It

The no-annual-fee card has no yearly cost, making it a good choice if you fly United occasionally but do not want to pay for premium benefits. You earn miles at a slower rate, but you also have no fee to justify.

The $95 annual fee on the mid-tier card is worth it if you spend at least $5,000 per year on dining or United flights combined. At 2 miles per dollar on those categories, you earn 10,000 bonus miles per $5,000 spent compared to the no-fee card—that is roughly $100 to $150 in extra value, which covers the fee. If you spend less than $5,000 annually on those categories, the no-fee card is the better choice.

The $450 annual fee on the premium card includes a $100 United travel credit each year, which effectively reduces your net cost to $350. You also get a free checked bag on United flights, worth $35 to $70 per round trip. If you take even one round trip on United per year, the checked bag benefit alone saves you $70 to $140, which covers most of the fee. The premium card makes sense if you fly United at least twice a year or spend heavily on dining and travel.

How to Redeem Your Miles

You redeem miles through your MileagePlus account on United's website or mobile app. Search for your desired flight, and the system will show you the mile cost alongside the cash price. Domestic flights typically cost between 12,500 and 50,000 miles depending on the route and how far in advance you book. International flights range from 30,000 to 150,000 miles or more.

Miles are worth more when you book premium cabin seats or long-haul international flights. A business class seat to Europe might cost 100,000 miles but be worth $3,000 to $5,000 in cash value. A short domestic flight in economy might cost 12,500 miles but be worth only $150 to $200 in cash value. Savvy cardholders save their miles for premium redemptions rather than using them on cheap domestic flights.

You can also use miles for seat upgrades, hotel stays through United's partners, car rentals, and gift cards, though flights typically offer the best value. Some cardholders transfer their miles to United's airline partners, though this usually results in lower redemption value unless you are targeting a specific partner airline.

Things That Can Disqualify You or Limit Your Rewards

Chase reviews your credit report and account history before approving a new credit card. If you have missed payments on other accounts, have very high credit card balances, or have opened many new accounts recently, Chase may deny your process or offer you a lower credit limit. There is no minimum credit score published by Chase, but most cardholders approved for the United card have a score of 670 or higher.

If you already have a United MileagePlus card from Chase, you may not be able to open another one when ready. Chase typically limits you to one new card of the same type per year, though this rule can vary. You can hold multiple versions of the card—for example, the no-fee card and the premium card at the same time—but opening a second card of the exact same version within 12 months may result in denial.

Your miles earning stops if your account becomes inactive for 18 months. Additionally, if you close the credit card, you do not lose your miles, but you also stop earning miles from card purchases. Your miles remain in your MileagePlus account as long as the account itself stays active through other means, like booking a flight or using miles.

Comparing the United Card to Other Airline Cards

Other airlines offer co-branded credit cards with similar structures. American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest all have cards that earn miles or points in their respective programs. The main difference is which airline you fly most often—your card should match your primary airline to maximize the value of bonus categories and perks.

If you do not have a strong preference for one airline, a general travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Gold Card may offer more flexibility. These cards earn points that you can transfer to multiple airline partners or redeem for cash back, rather than locking you into one airline's program. The trade-off is that airline cards typically offer higher earning rates on flights with that specific airline, so frequent flyers of one airline usually come out ahead with the co-branded card.

The United card's sign-up bonus is competitive with other airline cards, typically ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 miles. Compare the current offer on the United card to the current offers on American, Delta, and Southwest cards to see which bonus is largest relative to the spending requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my United MileagePlus miles to book flights on other airlines?

No, United miles can only be redeemed for United flights or transferred to United's airline partners like Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. You cannot use United miles on American, Delta, Southwest, or other airlines outside United's alliance. If you want flexibility to book any airline, a general travel rewards card is a better choice.

What happens to my miles if I close the credit card?

Your miles do not disappear when you close the card. They remain in your MileagePlus account as long as the account stays active. However, you stop earning miles from credit card purchases once the card is closed. To keep your account active, you need to use it through flights, transfers, or other MileagePlus activity at least once every 18 months.

How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?

The sign-up bonus alone—typically 50,000 to 70,000 miles—is usually enough for a domestic round-trip flight. If you are starting from zero miles, the sign-up bonus gets you most of the way there. After that, earning additional miles depends on your spending. At 1 mile per dollar on the no-fee card, you would need to spend $12,500 to earn 12,500 miles for a short domestic flight, or $50,000 to earn 50,000 miles for a longer flight or premium cabin.

Do I need to have a United frequent flyer account before I explore for the card?

No, you do not need an existing MileagePlus account. Chase will create one for you during the process process and link it to your new credit card. If you already have a MileagePlus account, make sure you provide your frequent flyer number during the process so your miles go to the correct account.

Is the annual fee waived for the first year?

No, the annual fee is charged in the first year and every year after that. The $95 and $450 annual fees are not waived for new cardholders. However, the sign-up bonus is typically large enough to offset the first year's fee in terms of total value, so many cardholders break even or come out ahead in year one.