As a general rule, if you’re looking for an airline-specific card, you’ll want to get a card with the airline you fly the most. If you won’t benefit from free checked bags and priority boarding—either because you already have status, because you don’t check bags or because you don’t fly a specific airline enough—you’ll benefit more from a flexible travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
In terms of the airline card that offers the best earnings potential, valuable points and additional useful benefits, the United Club Card comes out ahead.
Rewards: Earn 4 United miles per dollar spent on purchases from United, 2 miles per dollar spent on all other travel purchases and at restaurants (including takeout and delivery), and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee: $525
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The most prominent benefit of the United Club Card is access to United Club airport lounges and other Star Alliance Gold lounges. If you want access to United Clubs, this card is the most affordable way to get that access (yes, the annual fee is cheaper than paying for access directly). If this sounds like you, you’ll come out ahead right away. If you’re not at all interested in lounge access, this card isn’t likely to be the best choice.
If you are a regular United flyer, you’ll also benefit from two free checked bags for yourself and another person traveling on the same reservation, Premier Access, 25% back on in-flight purchases, expanded access to award flights and Premier Upgrades on award tickets if you have status.
The United Club℠ Infinite Card offers benefits not related to flying United, too. You’ll get up to $100 back to cover the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and Hertz President’s Circle status. You’ll also receive the following travel insurance coverage: trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost/damaged baggage, delayed baggage and primary auto rental collision damage.
This card offers other protections including purchase protection, return protection and extended warranty coverage.
If you want United benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding and expanded access to award availability, but you don’t want to pay the United Club Infinite Card’s annual fee, consider the United℠ Explorer Card.