United Club Card overview
The United Club℠ Card is the ideal card for United Club lounge access — bar none. This card makes a lot of sense for avid United fans, but those who don’t fly the airline at least a few times a year will struggle to get positive value out of the annual fee. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Premium airline cards are becoming more common. United Airlines’ offering in this space, the United Club, has a $695 annual fee that might sound high until you factor in the United Club membership included with it. Membership normally costs $750 per year for nonelite members.
The United MileagePlus family of credit cards was refreshed in March of 2025. The refresh included new benefits and statement credits, as well as a dreaded annual fee increase. Despite the increase in cost, it’s still possible to get positive value out of this card year after year.
Most airline cards only offer 2 or 3 points or miles per dollar spent on airline purchases, but the United Club Card sets a new standard with its impressive earning rates. Plus, it offers a range of benefits that can help make your United experience, from security to landing, more enjoyable.
The recommended credit score for the United Club card is at least 740, but it may be possible to get approved with a lower credit score.
Let’s dive into the top-tier United Club Card to see if it makes sense for you.
United Club pros and cons
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United Club welcome offer
New United Club Card holders can earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. This offer ends May 7.
Based on TPG’s March 2025 valuation of United miles at 1.35 cents per mile, these bonus miles alone are worth a solid $1,283 toward flights.
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This is very close to the best-ever welcome offer we have seen for this card, making now a great time to apply. We haven’t seen an offer this high in roughly two years.
While this card is an entirely separate product from the United Club Card (which is no longer open to new applicants), you cannot have both cards at once.
Additionally, you’re only eligible for welcome bonuses for this card once every 24 months. Here are the exact eligibility terms:
“This card product is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new Cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.”
This is a Chase-issued card, which means it’s subject to the issuer’s infamous 5/24 rule. If you have opened five or more card accounts in the past 24 months (across all issuers, not just Chase), you will probably be denied for this one.
The information for the United Club Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best cards to get after you hit 5/24
United Club benefits
The United Club Card has an array of benefits, statement credits and travel protections that can help offset its eyebrow-raising annual fee.
United Club membership
The high point of the United Club Card is a United Club membership, which grants unlimited access to more than 45 United Club locations worldwide.
You’ll also be able to bring up one guest and any dependents under the age of 21. Considering this benefit costs up to $750 each year, this perk alone makes up for the card’s $695 annual fee. That said, this benefit doesn’t mean much if you aren’t going to visit a United Club at least a few times each year.
Cardholders can unlock United Club All Access membership by holding MileagePlus Premier Gold status or spending $50,000 on their card in a calendar year. United Club membership is split into two tiers, with All Access membership being the higher tier. A United Club All Access membership includes two complimentary guests and Star Alliance lounge access.
Additionally, if you earn United Club All Access membership and add an authorized user, you will be granted four one-time United Club passes. However, to use these passes, the primary cardholder or authorized user must be traveling with the guest.
For most, these one-time passes will be hard to use (unless you frequently travel with a large party) since you can already bring in two guests for free with a United Club All Access membership.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus application fee credit
If you don’t already have Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus, the United Club Card will refund your application fee (up to $120) once every four years. Travelers who already have the benefit can always gift this perk to a family member or friend.
Other statement credits
Cardholders will receive the following statement credits each year:
- Up to $200 for Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United cardmember bookings. By booking through this hotel collection, cardholders can enjoy exclusive benefits like a complimentary daily breakfast for two and room upgrades, if available. Cardholders must prepay for their booking to receive their statement credit.
- Up to $150 for ride-hailing purchases, doled out as $12 each month from January to November and $18 in December. Yearly activation is required.
- Up to $100 in United TravelBank cash for Avis and Budget car rentals booked through cars.united.com and paid for with this card and up to $50 in TravelBank cash per rental.
- Up to $200 in JSX statement credits when booking directly with JSX.
- Up to $240 in Instacart statement credits for purchases made directly through Instacart with this card, given as two $10 credits each month (through Dec. 31, 2027).
IHG Platinum Elite status
The primary United Club cardholder is eligible for complimentary Platinum Elite status with IHG One Rewards. Perks at this status level include complimentary room upgrades, extended checkout and bonus points on stays.
Related: The award travelers guide to IHG One Rewards
Elitelike perks
The card comes with the following flight-related perks:
- Two free checked bags (for the primary cardholder and one travel companion on the same reservation paid for with the card)
- Premier Access (which includes priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling where available)
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- Expanded award availability
These perks may not be as compelling if you have United elite status, but they are valuable for those who have yet to earn it.
Frequent United flyers, particularly those who live close to airports with a United Club and select Star Alliance lounges, can find value in the perks that go along with this card’s higher annual fee.
Elite status spending shortcut
United Club Card holders can earn up to 28,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year. You’ll also earn 1 PQP per $15 spent on your card. Of course, that will require spending a whopping $420,000 to fully maximize, but it still might be within reach for some.
Starting in 2026, cardholders will also get a bonus of 1,500 PQPs each year as a jump-start to earning United elite status.
10% mileage discount on United economy saver awards
The primary United Club Card member will also be able to book United economy saver awards on United flights within the continental U.S. and Canada for 10% fewer miles than awards available to the general public.
If you are a Club Card holder, you will see the mileage difference once logged in to your MileagePlus account. For example, a saver award may show as 5,000 miles when you are not signed in, but the same award will show as 4,500 miles if signed in to your account.
This supplements the existing perk of access to expanded award availability for all United cobranded cardholders. Keep in mind that the 10% mileage discount is available on cheaper United credit cards.
Award flight discounts
Cardholders can earn a 10,000-mile discount on award tickets after spending $20,000 each calendar year with their United Club card (valid up to two times per calendar year for 20,000 miles).
Travel and purchase protections
With this card, you’ll get various travel protection benefits, including:
Rental car privileges
Primary cardholders can sign up for a complimentary Avis President’s Club membership, which typically requires a significant amount of spending with Avis. President’s Club members receive complimentary upgrades of two car classes (subject to availability), guaranteed car availability when you book at least 24 hours in advance and expedited rental service.
DoorDash
Cardholders get a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which provides unlimited DoorDash and Caviar deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders, for one year. You must activate it by Dec. 31, 2027.
Instacart
Cardholders receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership, which includes unlimited delivery and $0 delivery fees on eligible orders.
Activation by Dec. 31, 2027, is required to take advantage of this benefit.
Related: Flights, credit cards and more: How to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program
Earning miles on the United Club
The earning rates on the United Club are part of what ultimately set it apart from other cobranded airline credit cards.
Cardholders accrue:
- 9 miles per dollar spent on United flights (5 miles earned as a MileagePlus member, plus 4 miles earned from having the Club Card)
- 5 miles per dollar spent on hotel stays booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts when you prepay for your booking
- 4 miles per dollar spent on all other United purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on all other travel purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on dining
- 1 mile per dollar spent on everything else
That’s an approximately 12.2% return on United flights (based on TPG’s March 2025 valuations), higher than any other cobranded airline credit card.
Since Chase is the issuer, this card’s travel and dining categories are broadly defined, just as they are with Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. That means you’ll have an easier and less stressful time figuring out when to use your card.
If you have either of those cards, you’ll want to use them for general travel and dining spending since, according to TPG’s March 2025 valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth more than United miles.
But if you don’t already have either of those cards, you’ll still be able to earn rewards on those purchases with the United Club Card.
Redeeming miles on the United Club
When you are ready to redeem miles, United does have some sweet spots in its MileagePlus program. United doesn’t publish an award chart, which means award redemption rates can be unpredictable.
However, there are other ways to find value in the program, such as utilizing the United Excursionist Perk or booking partner awards with United miles. United doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges on partner awards, so you can save hundreds of dollars per ticket when booking awards like first-class tickets on Lufthansa through United.
TPG senior cruise writer Ashley Kosciolek recently redeemed 28,500 United miles for a round-trip flight between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Miles aren’t just great for business-class international flights; they’re also very useful for domestic trips.
Which cards compete with the United Club?
There are a number of cards that are competitive with the United Club:
- If you want a lower annual fee: The United℠ Explorer Card is packed with useful perks such as a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus application fee statement credit, two annual one-time United Club passes and your first checked bag free — easily justifying its reasonable $150 annual fee, $0 intro fee for the first year. To learn more, read our full review of the United Explorer.
- If you want a more all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best known travel rewards credit cards. It earns bonus points on common spending categories like travel and dining. Plus, cardholders have access to Chase’s 14 transfer partners to maximize the value of their rewards. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want tons of perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards. As a cardmember, you’ll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive a number of annual statement credits each calendar year and enjoy access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply. To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best United travel cards and the best airline cards.
Related: Why you’ll want to pay the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Bottom line
If you fly on United flights multiple times each year, the United Club Card is worth considering despite its high annual fee. You’ll get great earning rates for a cobranded card, a strong lineup of perks and statement credits, United Club access and solid travel protections.
Make sure to take this opportunity to start stockpiling MileagePlus miles for your next dream destination with this elevated welcome offer.
Apply here: United Club Card