The United Airlines card process starts with an online form on the issuer's website

United Airlines credit cards are issued by Chase. You fill out an online form on Chase's website or the United Airlines website, provide personal and financial information, and receive a decision within minutes to a few days. If approved, the card ships to your address within 7 to 10 business days. The entire process is digital — there is no paper process or visit to a branch required.

The specific card you choose matters because United offers several versions: the United Club Infinite Card, the United Business Card, the United Explorer Card, and the United Gateway Card. Each has different annual fees, sign-up bonuses, and benefits. Your decision depends on your spending patterns, whether you travel for business or leisure, and whether you want lounge access.

Before you start the form, have your Social Security number, current income, and employment information ready. Chase will pull your credit report, so your credit score affects whether you are approved and what interest rate you receive. If you have been denied before, waiting 30 to 90 days and reapplying sometimes succeeds, though Chase does not publish exact waiting periods.

Key Takeaways

  • You explore directly through Chase or United's website using an online form that takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
  • Chase pulls your credit report and makes a decision within minutes to a few days; approved cards ship within 7 to 10 business days.
  • United offers four main card versions with different fees and benefits, so choose based on your travel frequency and spending habits.
  • You need your Social Security number, current income, and employment details before starting the form.
  • If denied, you can reapply after 30 to 90 days, though Chase does not may provide approval on a second attempt.

What information Chase asks for on the form

The process form requests your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, current address, and phone number. You will also enter your annual household income, employment status, and employer name. Chase uses this to verify your identity and assess your creditworthiness.

You will see questions about existing Chase accounts and whether you have opened other credit cards in the past 30 days. Chase tracks this because opening multiple cards in a short window can lower your credit score and signal risk to the issuer. If you have opened two or more cards in the last month, mentioning it on the form does not hurt your chances, but Chase will see it anyway when they pull your credit report.

The form also asks whether you want a personal or business card (if explore for the United Business Card). Business cards require an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your Social Security number as the business identifier. If you are a sole proprietor, you can use your Social Security number.

How credit score and history affect approval

Chase typically approves personal United cards for applicants with a credit score of 700 or higher, though approval is possible below that range. Business cards sometimes have slightly different thresholds. Your credit history matters as much as your score — recent missed payments, high credit utilization, or collections accounts make approval less likely even with a decent score.

Chase also looks at how many credit inquiries appear on your report in the last six months. Multiple inquiries suggest you have been seeking credit recently, which can lower approval odds. Hard inquiries from credit card applications stay on your report for two years but matter most in the first few months.

If you are denied, Chase sends a letter explaining the reason — usually credit score, insufficient credit history, or too many recent inquiries. You can call Chase reconsideration at the number on the denial letter and ask them to review your process again, though they rarely overturn a decision without new information.

Comparing the four United card options

The United Club Infinite Card costs $650 per year and includes United Club lounge access, a $100 annual United travel credit, and a $75 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years. The sign-up bonus is typically 50,000 to 60,000 miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. This card suits frequent business travelers who value lounge access and use the travel credit to offset the annual fee.

The United Explorer Card costs $325 per year and offers a $100 annual United travel credit, United Club passes (one per year), and no foreign transaction fees. The sign-up bonus ranges from 50,000 to 75,000 miles depending on the promotion. This card works for leisure travelers who fly United several times a year and want benefits without the Club Infinite price.

The United Business Card costs $325 per year and is designed for business owners and self-employed people. It earns bonus miles on United purchases and business categories like internet and phone bills. The sign-up bonus is typically 50,000 to 75,000 miles. You need a business tax ID or Social Security number to explore.

The United Gateway Card has no annual fee and earns 1 mile per dollar on all purchases. It has no sign-up bonus and no travel credits. This card suits occasional United flyers who want to earn miles without paying an annual fee.

What happens after you are approved

Once Chase approves your process, you receive a confirmation number and an estimated delivery date for your physical card. You can usually set up the card online or by phone before it arrives. Some cardholders can add the card to their digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) when ready and use it for purchases while waiting for the physical card.

Your credit limit appears in your Chase online account within 24 hours of approval. You can request a credit limit increase after 61 days of account opening. Requesting an increase may trigger a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.

The sign-up bonus miles post to your United MileagePlus account after you meet the spending requirement (usually $5,000 in the first three months). Miles typically appear within one to two billing cycles after you hit the threshold. You can check your MileagePlus account online to see when the bonus posts.

Timing and strategy for the process

Chase limits how often you can open new cards with them. The general rule is no more than one Chase card every 30 days and no more than five Chase cards in any 24-month period. These are not hard rules — Chase sometimes approves outside these windows — but they are the most common limits people encounter.

If you want multiple United cards (for example, a personal card and a business card), space them at least 30 days apart. explore for both on the same day usually results in one approval and one denial.

The sign-up bonus is the largest source of miles from a new card, so timing your process around a spending need makes sense. If you have a $5,000 purchase planned in the next three months, explore now lets you meet the bonus requirement and earn the miles. If you have no planned spending, waiting until you do prevents you from wasting the bonus.

What to do if you are denied

A denial does not mean you can never get the card. Chase denies applications for specific reasons: credit score too low, insufficient credit history, too many recent inquiries, or existing negative marks on your report. The denial letter states the reason.

If your score is the issue, waiting 30 to 90 days and reapplying sometimes works, especially if you have paid down credit card balances or resolved a collections account in the meantime. If too many recent inquiries are the problem, waiting six months for older inquiries to fall off your report helps.

You can also call Chase reconsideration at the number on your denial letter and ask a representative to review your process. Reconsideration rarely changes the outcome, but it costs nothing to try. Have your income and employment details ready if you call.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to hear back after I submit the form?

Most decisions come within minutes to a few hours. Some applications go to manual review and take up to a few days. You can check your status online using your Social Security number and date of birth, or call Chase at the number on the process confirmation.

Can I explore if I have no credit history?

Chase typically requires some credit history — at least one open credit account and a few months of payment history. If you have no history, building it with a secured card or becoming an authorized user on someone else's account first makes approval more likely.

What is the difference between a hard inquiry and a soft inquiry?

A hard inquiry (from a credit card process) lowers your score by a few points and stays on your report for two years. A soft inquiry (from checking your own credit or a pre-approval offer) does not affect your score. Only hard inquiries count toward Chase's process limits.

Can I use the sign-up bonus miles right away?

Miles post after you meet the spending requirement, usually within one to two billing cycles. You can book a flight when ready once the miles appear in your MileagePlus account. You cannot use the bonus before it posts, even if you have already spent the required amount.

What happens to my annual fee if I close the card?

If you close the card within 30 days of the annual fee posting, Chase usually refunds it. After 30 days, the fee is non-refundable. You can downgrade to a no-annual-fee United card instead of closing the account, which preserves your credit history and avoids the fee going forward.