Whether you're an occasional United flyer or a diehard chasing top-tier 1K status, Chase's lineup of co-branded United credit cards offers something for everyone. And with big changes – even bigger bonus offers – rolling out today, there's never been a better time to give them a fresh look.

Let's start with the new limited-time bonus offers: You can earn up to 100,000 MileagePlus miles and 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), depending on which version of the card you choose. Plus, you can get an additional 10,000 miles by adding an authorized user in the first three months your account is open. Add it all up and there's as much as 110,000 miles at stake with the current offers. 

These limited-time offers end May 20, 2026! 

While it may seem like United miles don't go as far as they used to, there are still deals out there – you just have to know where to look! From economy flights to Mexico for under 15,000 miles roundtrip to business class flights to Australia for 100,000 miles each way, there's still plenty of value to be had with United's MileagePlus program.

The other big news? United’s recent MileagePlus overhaul is now live – and it makes one thing clear: Having a United credit card is quickly becoming essential. Cardholders will earn far more miles (while non-cardholders earn less – or none at all on basic economy tickets), get at least 10% off award redemptions, and retain access to better award space. While this news is mostly good, the bigger shift is strategic: United is doubling down on rewarding cardholders and frequent spenders, following a path Delta pioneered.

Let's take a closer look at these cards, including their new perks and bonus offers, to see what each has to offer.

Like many others on the market, United cards are now loaded with use-them-or-lose-them credits. Keep tabs on everything with our free credit card tracking tool!

 

In this post

United℠ Explorer Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Earn 3x miles on United flights and other eligible United purchases
  • Earn 2x miles on dining and hotels, and 1x on all other purchases.
  • Save 10% on United award tickets: Cardholders get a 10% discount (15% discount with Premier status) on United flights booked with miles
  • Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your United℠ Explorer Card.
  • Up to $100 in United Hotel credits: Receive $50 back as a statement credit on both your first and second prepaid hotel stays purchased directly through United Hotels, up to $100 each anniversary year.
  • Up to $60 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $5 back as a statement credit each month on rideshare purchases when you pay with your  Explorer Card, up to $60 each calendar year. 
  • Up to $50 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $25 in United TravelBank cash, up to $50 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Explorer Card.
  • Up to $120 in Instacart credits: Receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Explorer Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to $100 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $100 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Explorer Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
  • 3-Month Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to a $120 statement credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
  • First checked bag free on United flights
  • Get two, one-time passes to the United Club each year on your cardmember anniversary
  • Annual fee: annual_fees

 

*united explorer*

 

Learn more about the *united explorer*

 

United Quest℠ Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Earn 4x miles per dollar spent on United® purchases
  • Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel, and 1x on all other purchases
  • Save 10% on United award tickets: Cardholders get a 10% discount (15% discount with Premier status) on United flights booked with miles
  • $200 annual United travel credit: Automatically receive $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.
  • Annual 10,000-mile award flight discount: Starting with your first anniversary and every anniversary thereafter, you'll get a 10,000-mile discount to use toward an eligible award flight. This used to be broken up into two separate 5,000-mile discounts. 
  • Earn a second 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Quest Card.
  • Earn two global Economy Plus seat upgrades: Receive two global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Quest Card.
  • Up to $150 in credits for Renowned Hotels and Resorts: Receive up to $150 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts with your Quest Card.
  • Up to $100 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $8 back as a statement credit each month and $12 in December on rideshare purchases when you pay with your Quest Card, up to $100 each calendar year. 
  • Up to $80 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $40 in United TravelBank cash, up to $80 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Quest Card.
  • Up to $180 in Instacart credits: Receive one $10 Instacart credit and one $5 Instacart credit monthly, up to $180 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Quest Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to $150 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $150 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Quest Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
  • 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each qualification year, starting in 2026: Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP) each year. Your Card Bonus PQP will be applied to your MileagePlus account within six to eight weeks after Feb. 1 each year, starting in 2026. Your Quest Card must be open as of Dec. 31 of the prior year and must be open when PQP are applied.
  • Earn up to 18,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP): You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases with your Quest Card, up to 18,000 PQP in a calendar year.
  • 3-Month Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate. This benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to a $120 statement credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
  • First and second checked bags are free on United flights
  • Annual fee: annual_fees

 

*united quest*
Learn more about the *united quest*

 

United Club℠ Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Earn 5x miles on United flights and other eligible United purchases
  • Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on dining and all other travel, and 1x on all other purchases
  • Save 10% on United award tickets: Cardholders get a 10% discount (15% discount with Premier status) on United flights booked with miles
  • United Club membership: Primary cardholders receive unlimited complimentary access to United Clubs for themselves and eligible travel companions, including one adult guest and dependent children. Guest access used to include two adults or one adult and dependent children. 
  • United Club All Access membership: You can unlock a United Club All Access membership after reaching Premier Gold status or by spending $50,000 on purchases each calendar year with your United Club Card. In addition to your usual benefits, you will be able to bring in two adult guests, or one adult guest plus your dependent children under the age of 18, to all United Club lounges. This includes access to participating Star Alliance lounges for you and your eligible travel companions, plus four one-time Club passes for your authorized users each year.
  • Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts: Receive one 10,000-mile discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Club Card and another after spending an additional $20,000.
  • Up to $200 in credits for Renowned Hotels and Resorts: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts with your Club Card.
  • Up to $150 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $12 back as a statement credit each month and $18 in December on rideshare purchases when you pay with your Club Card, up to $100 each calendar year. 
  • Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to $100 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Club Card.
  • Up to $240 in Instacart credits: Receive two $10 Instacart credits monthly, up to $240 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Quest Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to $200 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $200 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Club Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
  • 1,500 Card Bonus PQP each qualification year, starting in 2026: Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,500 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP) each year. Your Card Bonus PQP will be applied to your MileagePlus account within six to eight weeks after Feb. 1 each year, starting in 2026. Your Club Card must be open as of Dec. 31 of the prior year and must be open when PQP are applied.
  • Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP): You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases with your Club Card, up to 28,000 PQP in a calendar year.
  • Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get a complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
  • Up to a $120 statement credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
  • First and second checked bags are free on United flights
  • Annual fee: annual_fees

 

*United Club*

 

Learn more about the *united club*

 

United Gateway℠ Card

  • bonus_miles_full
  • Earn 3x miles on United flights and other eligible United purchases
  • Earn 2x miles at gas stations and on local transit and commuting costs (including mass transit, tolls, ride share services, and more)
  • Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
  • Save 10% on United award tickets: After spending $10,000 in a calendar year, you'll save 10% on flights booked with miles
  • Earn two free checked bags after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
  • 25% back as a statement credit on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases
  • No annual fee

 

*united gateway*

 

Learn more about the *united gateway*

 

United Cards Are Critical to Scoring the Best Deals

If you're already sitting on a stash of United miles (or will be soon with one of these big bonuses), having a United co-branded card is the key to getting the best deal when you go to redeem. Especially now, with the new 10% cardholder discount.

When searching for MileagePlus award flights, travelers will see special “Cardmembers pay” banners on flights that offer a lower price to United co-branded cardholders. In some cases, the savings can be quite substantial, like this 128,000-mile discount on a business class award from Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) to London (LHR). 

 

United Cardmembers Pay Discount ORD-LHR business class for 72,000 miles

 

With the new 10% discount for cardholders, you'll save 4,000 or 5,000 miles on economy and premium economy redemptions, too.

These cardholder discounts aren't exactly new. United has offered increased “saver” award availability to cardmembers (and elites) for years, while Delta implemented a 15% cardholder discount on SkyMiles awards a few years back. But United's new system is arguably better, offering both discounts and expanded availability to book flights at lower rates.

 

 

While carrying a United card won't always save you 100,000 miles like the example above, it's clear that having one of these cards in your wallet is increasingly important for anyone trying to get good value out of their United miles. And if that means saving 10,000 miles, 50,000 miles, or occasionally even more, it can be well worth it. 

Related reading: The 7 Best Deals We've Found for United MileagePlus Miles

 

Earn Status Faster with Credit Card Spend

Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) are the critical building block of earning status with United … and with a threshold of 6,000 PQPs for even low-level Silver, you need a lot of them to earn status.

But recent changes make them easier to earn with a couple of these credit cards:

  • You'll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on the top-tier *united club*, up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year
  • You'll earn 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on the *united quest*, up to 18,000 PQPs per calendar year

To help you get started, United even gives these cardholders bonus PQPs after Feb. 1, each year:

  • United Quest cardholders get a 1,000 PQP head start
  • United Club cardholders get a 1,500 PQP head start

And with the United Quest card's current limited time offer, you'll get an additional 3,000 PQPs after meeting the card's minimum spending requirement. That, combined with the annual PQP boost, means you'll be just 2,000 PQPs short of Premier Silver status right out of the gate. You can close the gap by spending on United flights or making a whopping $40,000 in purchases on your card. 

 

Should You Apply?

It depends. There are plenty of considerations to keep in mind.

Like all Chase credit cards, the entire portfolio of United Airlines credit cards are subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. That means if you have been approved for five or more credit cards – from any bank not just Chase – in the last 24-month period, you will automatically be declined for any of these cards regardless of your credit score or history with Chase bank.

That's the big reason we always suggest starting your travel rewards credit card journey with Chase credit cards. They're simply harder to get later on down the line. And that alone makes it important to consider these offers.

Assuming you already have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve and one of the Chase Freedom Cards, one of these United cards could make a ton of sense for filling a Chase 5/24 spot.

Chase allows you to hold more than one of the United personal cards at the same time. But if you've earned a bonus on any of the United personal cards in the last 24 months, you won't be eligible. 

Read more: Master Guide to Credit Card Applications & All the Rules You Need to Know, Bank by Bank

 

Bottom Line

The entire suite of United Airlines co-branded credit cards is out with big bonus offers of up to 100,000 MileagePlus miles, depending on which version of the card you choose. You can even earn an additional 10,000 miles by adding an authorized user to your card in the first three months.

If you've got a good use for United Miles – and there still are – take advantage of these bigger offers before they disappear on May 20!