The best United credit card for most flyers is the United Explorer ($0 the first year, then $150): a free first checked bag for you and 1 companion, and 2 United Club passes a year. Chase issues 6 United cards in all, 4 personal (Gateway $0, Explorer, Quest $350, Club $695) and 2 business ($150 and $695). The best one depends on how often you fly United: the Explorer adds a free checked bag and 2 United Club passes for most flyers, the Quest adds a $200 TravelBank credit and 2 free bags, and the Club Card includes United Club membership. Figures are as of October 2026; confirm current terms and any welcome offer at Chase.
The best United cards, compared
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Gateway | $0 | 2x United, gas and local transit; 2 free checked bags after $10,000 in calendar-year spend | A no-fee way to earn United miles |
| United Explorer | $0 first year, then $150 | 3x United, 2x dining and hotels; free first checked bag; 2 United Club passes | Most United flyers |
| United Business Card | $150 | 2x United and common business categories; free first checked bag | Business owners who fly United |
| United Quest | $350 | 4x United; $200 TravelBank credit; free first and second checked bags | Frequent United flyers who check bags |
| United Club Card | $695 | 5x United; United Club membership; free first and second checked bags | United loyalists who want lounge access |
| United Club Business Card | $695 | United Club membership on a business card; 5,000 bonus miles each anniversary when paired with a personal United card | Business owners who want lounge access |
All 6 are Visa cards: the Club Card is Visa Infinite and the others Visa Signature. Fees from Chase’s United card page, checked October 22, 2026.
Top pick: United Explorer
For most United flyers the free first checked bag and United Club passes cover the $150 fee. Figures are current as of 2026. Confirm the current welcome offer at the issuer before you apply.
Which card fits you
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Pick the Explorer if you fly United a few times a year; the free first checked bag alone can cover the $150 fee for a couple or family.
Pick the Quest for the $200 TravelBank credit and two free bags, and the United Club Card if you want United Club membership. The no-fee Gateway holds United earning without a fee.
Who it fits and who it does not
These cards fit United loyalists. If you fly several airlines, transferable Chase points are more flexible, since Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United at 1 to 1.
What the Club Card adds
| Benefit | United Club Card, October 22, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Checked bags | First and second bag free for you and 1 companion on the same reservation |
| United Club | Membership, with 1 adult guest plus children |
| Status from spending (2026) | 1 PQP per $15, up to 28,000 PQP a year, plus 1,500 bonus PQP |
| Instacart | Up to $240 a year in credits, through December 31, 2027 |
| Rideshare | Up to $150 a year, after you opt in |
| Awards | 10% off United award flights |
From the Club Card page at theexplorercard.com. The 2027 PQP cap rises to 32,000; see United status in 2027 below.
Best card for earning United miles
On United purchases, the Club Card earns 5x, the Quest 4x, the Explorer 3x and the Gateway 2x. For everyday spending, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to United at 1:1, so a Sapphire or Ink card can feed the same MileagePlus account and keep the option to move points elsewhere. A worked example: $20,000 a year of non-United spending on a 1x United card earns 20,000 miles; the same spending on a card earning 2x Ultimate Rewards points earns 40,000 points that transfer to United at 1:1.
United status in 2027
Per United’s MileagePlus update of October 13, 2026, Premier status in 2027 is earned with Premier qualifying points (PQP) only: Silver 6,000, Gold 12,000, Platinum 18,000 and 1K 32,000 (up from 28,000), plus at least 4 United or United Express flights. Qualifying flights (PQF) no longer count.
The cards matter more under these rules. Card spending earns PQP up to a yearly cap: 1,000 on the Explorer, 18,000 on the Quest (Platinum on its own) and 32,000 on the United Club Card (1K on its own). Holding an eligible United card by December 31, 2026 and qualifying for 2027 status adds starter PQP worth 5% of your tier: 300, 600, 900 or 1,600. PlusPoints upgrades move to dynamic pricing for travel from February 1, 2027.
Risk and eligibility
United cards are issued by Chase and count toward Chase 5/24, so plan your application order. Fees rose with Chase’s March 24, 2025 refresh, including the Explorer to $150 and the United Club Card to $695 for new cardmembers, with existing Explorer cardmembers moving to $150 at renewals from January 1, 2026, so confirm the current fee at the issuer before you apply.
More best-card guides
FAQ
What is the best United credit card?
For most United flyers the United Explorer, because the free first checked bag and two United Club passes usually cover the $150 fee. Frequent flyers who want lounge access lean toward the $695 United Club Card. Confirm current terms at the issuer.
Is there a no-fee United credit card?
Yes, the United Gateway Card has no annual fee and earns miles on United, gas, and transit, and adds 2 free checked bags once you spend $10,000 in a calendar year. Confirm current terms at Chase.
Which United card gives a free checked bag?
The Explorer, Quest, and United Club Card give a free first checked bag; the Quest and United Club Card add a free second bag. The no-fee Gateway adds 2 free bags only after $10,000 in calendar-year spending. Confirm current baggage terms at United.
Do United credit cards count toward Chase 5/24?
The personal United cards do. The United Business and Club Business cards do not add to your 5/24 count, but Chase still expects you to be under 5/24 to approve them, so plan your application order.
Are United credit cards Visa?
Yes. All 6 United cards from Chase are Visa: the United Club Card is Visa Infinite and the rest are Visa Signature.
Which card earns the most United miles?
On United purchases, the United Club Card at 5x, then the Quest at 4x and the Explorer at 3x. For everyday spending, a Chase card earning Ultimate Rewards often does better, because the points transfer to United at 1:1.
Last reviewed October 2026. We verify every rule, ratio, and figure against issuer terms and current reporting, and date each one. See our editorial standards for how we research and correct guides.
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