Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.

United Club℠ Card
Up to 90,000 bonus miles Bonus Miles
Our Mission
At Daily Drop, our mission is simple: to help you explore the world affordably and experience life-changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Rating Methodology
Here at Daily Drop, we score credit cards using a proprietary formula based on dozens of metrics across six key categories: annual fee, welcome offer, rewards rates, redemption value, benefits & perks, and travel protections. Higher scores indicate better overall value.
We net the annual fee against statement credits you'll likely use and focus on a welcome offer's true return on spending (ROI) rather than just the headline number. We value rewards by their actual worth in cents per point, which is why flexible, transferable points typically score highest. APR is not a standalone scoring category because we recommend paying in full to maximize points and miles, but an intro 0% APR counts as a perk.
Our reviews are editorial and experience-driven. Our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and tested these cards around the world. After all, we would not be Daily Drop if we were not practicing what we preach.
Read our full methodology for more information.
Our Take
The United Club℠ Card is made for serious United fans who want elite perks, premium lounge access and an accelerated path to status. The higher annual fee may seem steep, but the United Club membership alone nearly covers the cost. Plus, with travel credits, award flight discounts, and rideshare perks there are plenty of ways to offset that fee. If you fly United often and want a card that makes for a great travel companion, look no further. And, the ability to earn Premier 1K status faster makes it especially valuable for those wanting United perks.
Comparable Cards

United℠ Explorer Card
Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee in the first year, then $150
Pros & Cons
Pros
Generous welcome offer
United Club membership offering premium lounge access
New travel credits (award flights, rideshares, hotels car rentals) help offset costs
Miles back on Renowned Hotels & Resorts stays
Cons
Pretty steep annual fee
Limited lounge access, with partner lounges requiring $50K in spend or Premier Gold status
Rewards Summary
11x total miles on eligible United flights (6x miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a mileage plus member, plus 5x miles on United purchases)
5x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
5x miles on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers
2x miles on dining and all other travel
1x mile on all other purchases
Additional Benefits
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services.
- NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Up to $150 in credits on rideshare purchases annually
- Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases annually
- Up to $200 in credits on JSX purchases annually
- 1,500 Card Bonus PQP each qualification year, starting in 2026
- Complimentary Instacart+ Membership. Terms apply.
- Up to $240 in Instacart credits annually. Terms apply.
- Up to $200 in credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers annually
- Unlimited United ClubSM access for you and a guest - a $750+ value per year
- Member FDIC
How to make the most of your United Club℠ Card
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Using miles for merchandise or gift cards [.dontreco]
United miles lose significant value when used for non-travel redemptions. Stick to flights.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking United flights directly with miles [.sometimesreco]
It’s a solid redemption option, but United’s dynamic pricing means some flights may not offer the best value. Always check before booking.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using miles for premium cabins on Star Alliance partners [.alwaysreco]
Booking business and first-class seats on airlines like Lufthansa or ANA often provides the best value per mile. And, even if you're not booking premium, using these miles for award flights is where you'll get the best bang for your buck.
Transfer Partners
While United miles can’t be transferred to other airlines, they can be used to book Star Alliance flights, including: Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, ANA and more. This is where you'll get high-value award redemptions, particularly in premium cabins.
Offer History
- Current Offer since May 2026Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Apr 2026 through May 2026Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Nov 2025 through Apr 2026Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Jul 2025 through Nov 2025Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- May 2025 through Jul 2025Limited-Time Offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Mar 2025 through May 2025Earn 95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Jan 2025 through Mar 2025Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Nov 2024 through Jan 2025Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Aug 2024 through Nov 2024Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Jun 2024 through Aug 2024Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Jan 2024 through Jun 2024Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Who Should Get The United Club℠ Card?
1. The United Loyalist
If United is your go-to airline, the United Club Card offers the most comprehensive set of benefits out there. You’ll get complimentary access to United Club lounges, priority boarding, free checked bags (terms apply) and Premier Access, making your airport experience that much better. You’ll earn extra miles on United purchases and have access to expanded award availability when booking flights. For frequent United flyers, these perks can add up to major time and money savings.
2. The Elite Status Chaser
If you're working toward United Premier 1K status, this is the best card to help you get there faster. The United Club Card is the only United credit card that can earn up to 28,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) per year. That’s some major help toward reaching elite status, which comes with valuable perks like complimentary upgrades and waived fees. You’ll also get priority services at the airport and better availability when booking award flights. For frequent flyers focused on elite benefits, this card is a solid option.
Who Should Not Get The United Club℠ Card?
Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is low, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the United Club, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.
Recommended Credit
The recommended credit score for the United Club is good to excellent. But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, call Chase to please their case, and be granted the United Club.
Daily Drop credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you get priority boarding with the United Club Card?
Yes, United Club cardholders get Group 1 boarding on United flights (where available).
Does my United Club Card get me into Polaris Lounge?
No, the United Club Card does not guarantee access to the United Polaris Lounges. They are reserved for Polaris business class passengers only.
Do you get upgrades with the United Club Card?
You do not get automatic upgrades with the United Club Card, but you can earn up to 28,000 PQP annually to help qualify for Premier status.
Does the United Club Card have lounge access?
Yes, the United Club Card includes United Club membership, but partner lounge access requires $50K in spend or Premier Gold status.
Editorial disclaimer: opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Information was last updated Jul 3, 2026.





