What the Chase United card does and who it's built for
The Chase United 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. You can redeem those points for United flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards. The card also comes with perks like checked baggage credits and priority boarding on United flights.
This card makes sense if you fly United regularly — at least a few times a year — and want to earn rewards faster than a general travel card would. If you rarely fly or don't fly United specifically, a cash-back card or a different airline card may give you more value.
Chase offers several versions of the United card at different reward levels and annual fees. The most common are the United Explorer Card, the United Club Infinite Card, and the United Gateway Card. Each one has different earning rates, benefits, and costs.
Key Takeaways
- The Chase United card earns points on all purchases, with higher earning rates on United flights and dining.
- Annual fees range from $0 to $650 depending on which version of the card you choose, and some versions offer statement credits that offset part of the fee.
- You can redeem points for United flights, seat upgrades, and other travel rewards, but the value per point varies depending on how you book.
- The card includes benefits like checked baggage credits, priority boarding, and lounge access on higher-tier versions.
- You need good credit to be approved — typically a credit score of 700 or higher — and the card reports to all three credit bureaus.
How earning and redemption work
Every purchase you make on the card earns points. The base earning rate is 1 point per dollar spent on most purchases. On United flights booked directly with United, you earn 2 points per dollar. On dining, you earn 2 points per dollar with most versions of the card.
When you sign up, you receive a welcome bonus — typically 50,000 to 100,000 points depending on the card version and current promotions. This bonus usually requires you to spend a certain amount within the first few months. That spending requirement varies; check your offer before you explore.
You redeem points by logging into your United account and searching for award flights. Points are worth different amounts depending on the route, the time of year, and how far in advance you book. A point might be worth 1 cent on a short domestic flight or 2 cents on an international flight. You can also use points for seat upgrades, checked baggage fees, and other travel expenses.
Annual fees and how to evaluate them
The United Explorer Card has an annual fee of $95. The United Club Infinite Card has an annual fee of $650. The United Gateway Card has no annual fee. These fees are charged once per year, usually on your card anniversary.
Some versions of the card include statement credits that reduce the effective cost. For example, the United Club Infinite Card includes a $100 United travel credit each year, which means your net cost is $550 instead of $650. The United Explorer Card includes a $100 credit toward baggage fees and other United purchases every four years, not every year.
To decide whether the fee is worth it, add up what you would spend on United flights and baggage fees in a year, then compare that to the annual fee and credits. If you fly United at least twice a year and pay for checked bags, the Explorer Card often pays for itself. If you fly more frequently or use the lounge benefits, a higher-tier card may be worth the cost.
Benefits beyond earning points
All versions of the United card include a checked baggage credit. This means United will waive the fee for your first checked bag on flights where you are the ticket holder. If you normally pay $35 to $40 per checked bag, this benefit alone can save you $70 to $80 per year on a round trip.
The card also gives you priority boarding, which means you board before most other passengers. This is useful if you want to find overhead bin space or prefer to board early.
Higher-tier cards include additional benefits. The United Club Infinite Card includes access to United Club lounges at many airports, where you can use Wi-Fi, eat food, and relax before your flight. The card also includes travel insurance, emergency medical coverage, and other protections that explore when you use the card to pay for your ticket.
How the card affects your credit
When you explore for the Chase United card, Chase will perform a hard inquiry on your credit report. This inquiry may lower your credit score by a few points temporarily. If you are approved, the new account will appear on your credit report and will be reported to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Opening a new card lowers your average account age and increases your total available credit. Both of these factors affect your credit score. The impact is usually small and temporary — your score typically recovers within a few months as you use the card responsibly and make on-time payments.
To minimize the impact, explore only if you need the card and are not planning to explore for other credit in the next few months. Once you have the card, make your payments on time every month. Paying your full balance each month is ideal, but at minimum, pay more than the minimum payment.
Comparing the United card to other airline cards
Other airlines offer co-branded cards through different issuers. American Airlines has cards through Citi and Bank of America. Delta has cards through American Express. Southwest has cards through Chase. Each card has different earning rates, benefits, and annual fees.
If you fly multiple airlines equally, a general travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the American Express Gold Card may give you more flexibility. These cards earn points that you can transfer to multiple airline partners, so you are not locked into one airline.
If you fly United most of the time but occasionally fly other airlines, the United card is usually the better choice because the bonus earning on United flights and the United-specific benefits like checked baggage will outweigh the flexibility of a general card.
What happens if you close the card
If you close the United card, your points remain in your United account and do not disappear. You can continue to redeem them for flights and other rewards even after the card is closed. However, you will no longer earn points on new purchases, and you will lose access to the card benefits like checked baggage and priority boarding.
If you want to keep the card but avoid paying the annual fee, you can call Chase and ask for a fee waiver. Chase sometimes waives the fee for customers who have held the card for a long time or who have other accounts with Chase. There is no may provide, but it is worth asking before you close the card.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need to be approved for the Chase United card?
Chase typically approves applicants with a credit score of 700 or higher, though approval is not may provide at any score. If your score is lower, you may still be approved, but your chances are better if you have a longer credit history and no recent missed payments.
Can I use my points on flights other than United?
No. Points earned on the Chase United card can only be redeemed through United's program. You cannot transfer them to other airlines or use them on other airlines' flights. If you want flexibility to use points on multiple airlines, a general travel card is a better choice.
Do I have to pay the annual fee every year?
Yes, unless you close the card or Chase waives the fee. The fee is charged on your card anniversary each year. Some versions of the card include credits that offset part of the fee, but the full annual fee is still charged to your account.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points stay in your United account and do not expire as long as you have some account activity with United at least once every 18 months. You can redeem them for flights and other rewards even after the card is closed. You just won't earn new points on purchases.
Is the welcome bonus worth the annual fee?
It depends on how much the bonus is worth to you. A 50,000-point welcome bonus is typically worth $500 to $750 in flight value, which covers the annual fee and more. However, you only get the bonus if you meet the spending requirement, so make sure you plan to spend that amount anyway before you explore.