Best United Cards for Earning MileagePlus Miles

United Airlines is one of the top airlines in the U.S., and with its partners, has an expansive, global reach to destinations all around the world. The United cards have always been solid if you're a true United loyalist—from basic to elite benefits and perks. Plus, the point transferability of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve to United's program makes them strong contenders on this list as well. Plus, any card that you see on this list that isn't a United card will transfer its point to the United program for continued travel benefits!

Personal Cards

🏆 Best for Frequent United flyers

United℠ Explorer Card

Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee in the first year, then $150

Up to 60,000Bonus Miles

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.

The United Explorer Card is a co-branded airline credit card designed for individuals who frequently travel with United Airlines. It offers United MileagePlus miles for spending, a free checked bag, and other travel benefits, making it a suitable choice for those who want to earn rewards and enjoy perks when flying with United.

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🏆 Best for United Loyalists

United Club℠ Card

Annual Fee: $695

Up to 90,000 bonus miles Bonus Miles

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.

The United Club℠ Card is a premium co-branded airline credit card for United Airlines fans. It offers exclusive United Club membership, United MileagePlus miles for spending, and other travel perks making it a solid choice for frequent United Airlines flyers who want luxury and premium travel experiences.

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🏆 Best Entry-Level United Card

United Gateway℠ Card

Annual Fee: $0

Up to 40,000Bonus Miles

Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.

The United Gateway Card is a no-annual-fee co-branded airline credit card for individuals who prefer to fly with United Airlines. It offers United MileagePlus miles for spending and provides some basic travel benefits, making it a cost-effective choice for occasional United Airlines travelers looking to earn rewards.

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🏆 Best Mid-Tier United Card

United Quest℠ Card

Annual Fee: $350

Up to 70k bonus miles and 500 PQPBonus Miles

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles when you add an authorized user in the first 3 months your account is open.

The United Quest Card blends solid travel perks, award flight discounts and elite status acceleration, making it one of the most well-rounded mid-tier cards for United fans.

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Business Cards

🏆 Best Intro United Business Card

United℠ Business Card

Annual Fee: $150

Up to 110,000Bonus Miles

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles when you add an employee card in the first 3 months your account is open.

The United℠ Business Card packs valuable travel perks and big mileage bonuses into a low-friction business card designed for regular United flyers. It offers various travel benefits, including United MileagePlus miles for business spending, two United Club passes annually and priority boarding, making it a valuable choice for business owners who frequently fly with United Airlines.

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Which Card is Right for You?

Choosing the right United card depends on your travel habits. If you’re a frequent United flyer, a premium card with perks like United Club access and free checked bags might offer great value. For occasional travelers, a card with a lower annual fee could still provide valuable rewards and travel benefits without the extra cost.

Other Ways to Earn

In addition to using a United credit card, you can earn miles by flying with United and itsStar Alliance partners, shopping through the MileagePlus Shopping portal, dining out with MileagePlus Dining, and booking hotels or car rentals with participating partners. You can also earn miles by transferring points from select hotel loyalty programs into United Miles, giving you more flexibility.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Earn miles on every purchase, getting you closer to free flights, upgrades, and more with United Airlines

Enjoy travel perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and discounts on inflight purchases

Access to exclusive United travel offers and priority access to award flights

Cons

United Miles are most valuable if you frequently fly with United and aren't as flexible if you prefer other airlines

FAQs

Do United credit cards have annual fees?

Yes, some United cards have annual fees, which vary depending on the level of benefits offered. Options range from no-annual-fee cards to premium cards with higher fees and extra perks.

Can I earn elite status with a United Airlines credit card?

Some United Airlines credit cards offer opportunities to earn Premier qualifying points (PQPs) or credits toward elite status through your spending, helping you achieve Premier Silver, Gold, or higher levels faster.

Can I use United MileagePlus miles for things other than flights?

Yes, United MileagePlus miles can be redeemed for hotel stays, car rentals, gift cards, and even experiences, in addition to flights.

Do United MileagePlus miles expire?

Nope! United miles stick with you for life.

Why Trust Daily Drop?

At Daily Drop, our editorial team is made up of seasoned travel and credit card experts who have spent years mastering travel rewards and testing the best strategies firsthand. Founder Nate Buchanan, of Kara and Nate, has personally earned and redeemed millions of points and miles over the past 10+ years, saving tens of thousands of dollars on travel. Our team shares similar hands-on experience, ensuring our recommendations are practical, tested, and built on real-world knowledge. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.

Our independent reviews break down rewards, perks, fees, and overall value to help you make informed decisions. We also analyze audience data, considering reader engagement and trends, so our recommendations reflect what actually matters to you.

While we may earn a commission if you apply for a card through our site, our opinions are our own — based solely on expert analysis and firsthand experience, not influenced by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Our goal is simple: helping you maximize your rewards and travel smarter.

Read our full methodology for more information.

Authors

Written by: McKay Moffitt

Writer

Edited by: Tiffany Eastham

Writer & Editor

Updated:Mar 6, 2025