The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers of 2021

This post contains links to products from our advertisers, and we may be compensated when you click on these links. Our recommendations and advice are ours alone, and have not been reviewed by any issuers listed. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers:

United flyers are spoiled for choice when it comes to credit cards that offer perks with the airline - even more so now, with the launch of the New United Quest℠ Card. United's co-branded Chase cards include perks like lounge access, free checked bags, and priority boarding, as well as earning bonus miles on everyday purchases.

Looking beyond just United-branded cards, however, the ability to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program means that cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card are also strong contenders thanks to great earning rates and strong travel protections.

The best card for your needs depends on the benefits you will value and use the most, and which card's earning rates you'll be able to maximize with your typical travel and spending activity.

Best if you're not loyal to United: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Although it's not a United co-branded card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card presents a few compelling reasons for United flyers to carry it. It earns Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer instantly at a 1:1 ratio to United MileagePlus miles, so your purchase activity can easily earn you award travel on the airline.

These points also transfer to several other airlines including Southwest and JetBlue, so you'll gain flexibility by earning Ultimate Rewards points instead of just United miles.

Read more: 5 best ways to use the Chase Sapphire Preferred's sky-high 100,000-point welcome bonus

The card earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and 2 points on all other travel purchases, including airline tickets. That means you can rack up extra points not just on United tickets and at hotels like with the United℠ Explorer Card, but on all airline purchases, as well as on things like train tickets, parking, rideshares, and more.

If you're a very frequent traveler, you could also consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. It's now harder to recommend this card to everyone since the annual fee increased to Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but it still offers some great benefits, including 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® (after earning the $300 travel credit), 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2022, 3x points on other travel and dining, and up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases each year.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve: How to choose the best travel rewards credit card for you

Chase has also added annual statement credits for DoorDash food delivery, as well as a complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership.

Best for non-elite United flyers: United℠ Explorer Card

If you fly United a few times a year but don't have elite status, the United℠ Explorer Card is probably your best all-around option.

Read more: United Explorer credit card review

That's because the card offers elite-style perks like a free checked bag for the cardholders and a companion on the same reservation (when you pay with the card), priority boarding, and a 25% discount on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases. Cardholders also receive two one-time United Club passes each anniversary year, which can help lighten day-of-travel stress on the occasional trip.

The card is a good earner in general, accruing 2x miles not just on United purchases, but also on dining and hotel stays. It earns 1 mile per dollar on everything else. When it comes time to put those miles to use, cardholders can also access expanded award ticket availability, which can save tens of thousands of miles on some trips.

Best for travelers who check bags: New United Quest℠ Card

United charges $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for the second, so if you check bags frequently, these fees can put a big dent in your travel budget. The New United Quest℠ Card is the least expensive United co-branded card that offers a free first and second checked bag, making it ideal for those who check multiple bags.

Read more: United Quest credit card review

Although the card has a New United Quest℠ Card annual fee, taking advantage of this benefit can more than offset the yearly cost. Cardholders receive the first and second checked bag free for themselves and one companion on the same reservation (though you do need to use the card to pay for your ticket, or the taxes and fees on an award ticket). On a single round-trip itinerary, two people could save a total of $320 if they each check two bags.

The New United Quest℠ Card offers a welcome bonus of New United Quest℠ Card. Cardholders also receive priority boarding, up to $125 annually in statement credits toward United purchases, up to two 5,000-mile award flight credits per year after the first card anniversary, and valuable travel and purchase protections including primary car rental insurance.

Best for business travelers: United℠ Business Card

If you already carry a United personal credit card, or are simply looking for a small-business credit card for your work needs, the United℠ Business Card is a great choice for a number of reasons.

Read more: United Business Card review

First and foremost, it's currently offering new cardholders 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. This card carries an annual fee of $99, waived the first year. It also fields some interesting bonus earning opportunities, racking up 2 miles per dollar on United purchases as well as at restaurants, gas stations, local transit and commuting, and office-supply stores.

Cardholders and a companion can check a bag for free when traveling on United, and receive priority boarding privileges. They also get two one-time United Club passes each anniversary year.

Best for United Club airport lounge access: United Club℠ Infinite Card

If you're a frequent United flyer and value access to the airline's United Clubs, then this is the best card for you. Its annual fee is United Club℠ Infinite Card, but that's still less than what most travelers would pay for United Club membership each year. The other thing worth noting is that it is full club membership, not just access, so cardholders can bring in guests.

Read more: United Club Infinite Card review

Cardholders and a companion on the same reservation can check up to two bags for free and enjoy Premier Access priority check-in, security screening, and boarding. The card earns 4 miles per dollar on United purchases, which is pretty stellar.

Best for budget travelers: United Gateway℠ Card

If you prefer to avoid an annual fee, the United Gateway℠ Card could be the first option for you. It doesn't offer much in the way of extra perks, but it does earn 2x miles on United purchases, and on gas stations, and local transit.

Read more: United Gateway Card review

Though you won't get free checked bags or priority boarding, the card does offer 25% savings on inflight food, beverage, and Wi-Fi purchases. It also waives foreign transaction fees, and having this card gets you access to expanded award availability, just like other United cards with an annual fee.

Best for road warriors: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns Ultimate Rewards points that you can transfer to United MileagePlus, among other airline and hotel programs.

Read more: Ink Business Preferred credit card review

Not only is it offering a welcome bonus of Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, but it also racks up a phenomenal 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 total spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising on social media sites and search engines each account year (then 1x).

In short, if you're a small-business owner whose spending habits fit into these categories, you could make a killing on points and then transfer them to United for award travel.

Aside from that, you can also just redeem Ultimate Rewards points earned with this card directly for reservations made through the Chase travel portal at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece, which could make sense for some cheap airline tickets on United. The card also waives foreign transaction fees and comes with primary insurance on car rentals for business purposes.

Read more: 5 ways to use 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the Ink Business Preferred credit card

Best for fancy flyers: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Ostensibly, The Platinum Card® from American Express does not offer any direct benefits for United flyers. But if you look beyond its obvious perks, there are plenty of reasons to consider it.

Although American Express Membership Rewards points don't transfer to United MileagePlus, they do convert to miles with Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, all of which you can redeem for award travel on United (and often at better rates than United MileagePlus itself offers).

The public welcome offer for this card is currently 60,000 points after your spend at least $5,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. (Note: New Platinum Card® cardmembers can earn 10x points on eligible purchases at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during the first 6 months of card membership).

Read more: Amex Platinum Card review

The Platinum Card accrues 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (starting January 1, 2021, earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), which makes it the top earner in this category. It also includes up to $200 per year in statement credits toward airline incidentals** like checked bags, seat assignments, and club lounge passes, so for occasional United flyers without elite status, this is a big benefit.

Although it won't get you into United Clubs, it does grant access to Priority Pass lounges around the world** as well as Amex's own Centurion Lounges, so you can usually find a quiet place to work or relax before flights no matter where you travel. Those are just a few of the card's benefits, but there are plenty more to take advantage of.