What the Chase United Airlines Card Does

The Chase United Airlines credit card is a co-branded card issued by Chase and United Airlines. It earns points on every purchase, with bonus points on United flights and United-related spending. The card comes with a sign-up bonus, annual United Club passes or credits, and other perks tied to United travel.

This card is designed for people who fly United regularly or want to accumulate points toward United tickets and upgrades. You earn miles (United's name for points) whether you book through United or not, but you earn more when you do. The card itself costs money each year — there is an annual fee — so the math only works if you use the benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns bonus miles on United purchases and a standard rate on everything else, with a sign-up bonus after you spend a set amount in the first few months.
  • You pay an annual fee, usually between $450 and $550 depending on which version of the card you choose, though some versions include statement credits that offset part of it.
  • The card includes annual United Club passes or a statement credit toward Club membership, which has real value if you use airport lounges.
  • Miles earned on this card do not expire as long as your account stays open and you have account activity at least once every 24 months.
  • You can use miles to book United flights directly, upgrade existing tickets, or transfer miles to United's airline partners.

The Different Versions and Their Annual Fees

Chase offers multiple versions of the United card, and the annual fee and benefits change between them. The most common are the United Explorer Card and the United Club Infinite Card. The Explorer Card typically costs $450 per year and includes one United Club pass annually. The Club Infinite Card costs $550 per year and includes a United Club membership or a statement credit toward one.

There is also a United Gateway Card with a lower annual fee (usually $95) and fewer benefits, designed for people who do not fly United as often. Before you open any version, check the current offer on Chase's website, because sign-up bonuses and benefits change throughout the year.

The annual fee hits your account every year on the anniversary of when you opened the card. Some versions include statement credits for things like baggage fees or seat upgrades that can offset part of the annual cost if you use them.

How to Earn and Use Miles

When you use the card, you earn miles at different rates depending on what you buy. United purchases — flights, seat upgrades, baggage fees paid to United — earn the most miles per dollar, often 2 to 4 miles per dollar depending on the card version. Everything else earns a lower rate, usually 1 mile per dollar.

You can use miles to book United flights on United's website by selecting "Book with miles" instead of paying with cash. You can also use miles to upgrade an existing ticket from economy to a higher cabin, or to pay for baggage fees and seat selections. Miles can be transferred to United's airline partners — airlines that have agreements with United — though transfers usually happen at a 1-to-1 rate and take a few days to process.

Miles do not expire as long as your United account stays active. Activity means earning or spending miles, or having a United credit card open. If your account goes 24 months with no activity, United can close it and you lose the miles.

The Sign-Up Bonus and How It Works

When you open a Chase United card, you get a sign-up bonus — usually 50,000 to 100,000 miles, though this changes. To get the bonus, you have to spend a certain amount on the card within a set timeframe, usually $3,000 to $5,000 in the first three months. The bonus posts to your United account a few weeks after you meet the spending requirement.

The sign-up bonus is the biggest chunk of miles most people earn in the first year, so it is worth factoring into whether the annual fee makes sense for you. If the bonus is 75,000 miles and you value United miles at 1 cent each (a common estimate), that is $750 in value before you earn anything else.

You can only get the sign-up bonus once every 24 months per card version. If you have opened a United card before, you may not be may be able to access for the bonus on that same version again for two years.

Annual Benefits Beyond the Sign-Up Bonus

The card includes benefits that repeat every year, not just the sign-up bonus. The most valuable is usually the annual United Club pass or Club membership credit. United Club is an airport lounge where you can sit, eat, drink, and work while you wait for your flight. If you fly United multiple times a year, lounge access can be worth $600 or more annually.

Some versions include a statement credit for baggage fees — usually $100 per year — which covers the cost of checking a bag on United flights. Others include credits toward seat upgrades or Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fees. These credits post once per year, usually on your card anniversary, and you have to use them within the year or they disappear.

Read the benefits page for the specific card version you are considering, because these perks change and vary by card tier.

What Happens When You Close the Card

If you close the card, you keep the miles in your United account — closing the card does not erase them. However, your miles can expire if you do not have any United account activity for 24 months. Activity includes flying United, earning miles through other means, or having another United credit card open.

Many people keep the card open even in years they do not use it much, just to keep the miles from expiring. The annual fee is the cost of that insurance. If you decide to close the card, call Chase and ask them to close it after the annual fee posts, so you get one more year of benefits before you pay.

how the process works and What to Expect

You can explore for the Chase United card on Chase's website. You will need your Social Security number, income information, and current address. Chase will do a hard credit inquiry, which temporarily lowers your credit score by a few points.

You will get a decision within minutes or a few days. If approved, your card arrives in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Once you have it, set up it through Chase's website or app, then set up your United account or link your existing one to the card so miles post correctly.

The sign-up bonus usually posts within a few weeks of meeting the spending requirement, but sometimes takes longer. You can check your United account online to see your current mile balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a United frequent flyer member to get the card?

No. You can open the card without a United account. However, you should create a United account or link your existing one to the card so miles post to the right place. If you do not link them, you may have trouble accessing your miles later.

Can I use miles on airlines other than United?

Yes, but only through United's airline partners. United has partnerships with airlines like Air Canada, Lufthansa, and others. You can transfer miles to a partner airline's program, though the transfer takes a few days and you cannot undo it. Booking through United's website on partner airlines is usually easier than transferring.

What is the difference between the Explorer Card and the Club Infinite Card?

The Club Infinite Card costs $100 more per year and includes a full United Club membership instead of just one annual pass. If you fly frequently and want lounge access on every trip, the Club Infinite makes sense. The Explorer Card is better if you fly a few times a year and do not need constant lounge access.

Do miles expire?

Miles do not expire as long as your United account has activity within 24 months. Activity includes flying, earning miles through the credit card, or having a United credit card open. If your account goes inactive for 24 months, United can close it and you lose the miles.

What if I do not spend enough to get the sign-up bonus?

If you do not meet the spending requirement within the timeframe, you do not get the bonus. You still have the card and can earn miles at the regular rate, but you miss out on the large upfront bonus. Some people close the card after a few months if they realize they will not hit the spending target.