United credit card changes bring new benefits, bigger annual fees

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The United® credit cards are being overhauled. Most of these Chase credit cards will now provide cardholders hundreds of dollars in new benefits — along with an increase in annual fees.

If you're currently a cardholder or are looking to pick up a United Airlines credit card, here's what you need to know about the changes. Keep in mind, outside of the noted changes, all other benefits and rewards for these cards remain the same.

Annual fee

United℠ Explorer Card will continue to have a $0 intro annual fee for the first year. After the first year, the annual fee will be $150, an increase of $55 from the previous $95 annual fee.

Added and updated benefits

• Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• Award flight discount: Earn an annual 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 on your card each calendar year.
• United® travel credits: Earn a $100 United travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases with your United℠ Explorer Card within a calendar year
• United prepaid hotel benefits: Up to $100 United® Hotels credit annually (up to $50 in statement credits for your first and second prepaid United Hotels bookings each card anniversary year). Earn 1X additional miles on prepaid hotels booked through United® Hotels for a total of 5X miles. Previously, you'd earn a total of 4X miles on these transactions.
• Rideshare credits: Up to $60 in rideshare credits annually (up to $5 in statement credits every month when you pay with your card; enrollment required; yearly opt-in is required).
• Rental car credits: Up to $50 in United® TravelBank credit for Avis or Budget purchases annually (Earn $25 in United TravelBank cash on your first and second Avis or Budget rentals booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Explorer card).
• Charter flight credit: Up to $100 in JSX credit every card anniversary year when you book directly with JSX (a semi-private charter flight service) and pay with your United Explorer card.
• Instacart benefits: Three months of complimentary Instacart+ membership, then you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the yearly rate (benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027; terms apply). You'll also receive up to $120 in Instacart+ credits annually (Up to $10 Instacart+ credit per month when you purchase directly through Instacart and pay with your United Explorer card; terms apply).

Lost benefits

• Award upgrades: The benefit that grants United elite members the opportunity to receive an upgrade on award tickets ends after Aug. 1, 2025.
• Club pass restrictions: Cardholders can no longer share their two annual United Club one-time passes. You can still use the passes for guests, but an authorized user or the primary cardholder must be present.

Annual fee

The United Quest℠ Card's annual fee is $350, a $100 hike from the previous $250 annual fee.

Added and updated benefits

• Welcome bonus: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• United® travel credits: Receive a $200 United^® travel credit and 10,000-mile eligible award flight discount on each account anniversary (terms apply)
• Award flight discounts: Receive an annual 10,000-mile eligible award flight discount starting with your first anniversary and every anniversary after that. You can earn an additional 10,000-mile award flight discount each calendar year to use toward an eligible award flight after making $20,000 in purchases with your United Quest Card.
• Seat upgrades: Earn two global Economy Plus® seat upgrades each calendar year after making $40,000 in purchases with your United Quest Card.
• Hotel benefits: Earn up to $150 in statement credits for prepaid bookings you make with Renowned Hotels and Resorts every anniversary year and pay with your United Quest Card. Plus, you'll earn 5X miles on prepaid hotels booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts and paid for with your United Quest Card.
• Rideshare credits: Earn up to $100 in rideshare credits every year (up to $8 back per month from Jan. to Nov., up to $12 back in Dec.; enrollment required; yearly opt-in required).
• Rental car credits: Receive up to $80 in United TravelBank credits every anniversary year for Avis and Budget purchases. You'll receive up to $40 in United TravelBank cash for your first and second Avis or Budget car rentals booked through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Quest Card.
• Charter flight credit: Receive up to $150 in statement credits every anniversary year for flights booked directly with JSX (a semi-private charter flight service) and paid for with your United Quest Card.
• Instacart benefits: Three months of complimentary Instacart+ membership, then you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 50% off the yearly rate. You'll also receive up to $180 in Instacart+ credits annually (one $10 Instacart+ credit each month and one $5 Instacart credit each month when you purchase directly through Instacart and pay with your United Quest Card; terms apply; benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027).
• Elite status boost: Earn 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for every $20 you spend (up to 18,000 PQP every year, previously the annual PQP cap was 9,000). Plus, starting in 2026, you'll receive a 1,000-point PQP bonus after Feb. 1 of each year (your card must be opened by Dec. 31 of the prior year to qualify for this benefit).

Lost benefits

• Annual United statement credit: Previously, you could earn up to $125 in credits every year for United purchases you made with your card. This benefit is being replaced by the $200 annual TravelBank credit, which is more restrictive.
• Award rebates: Previously, cardholders received two 5,000-mile award flight rebates per year (starting with your first account anniversary). This is being replaced by an annual one-time 10,000-mile award flight discount. A discount is better than a rebate because it helps you book awards you otherwise may not have the miles to book, plus you can earn a second 10,000-mile discount every year after spending $20,000 on your United Quest Card.

Annual fee

The United Gateway℠ Card will continue to have no annual fee.

Added and updated benefits

• Welcome offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.
• Free checked bags: Receive two complimentary checked bags on United flights after you spend $10,000 on your card in a calendar year.

Lost benefits

• Special award prices: You'll need to spend $10,000 on your card in a calendar year to qualify for reduced award prices on select flights. Previously, there was no spending requirement to receive this benefit.

Annual fee

The United Club℠ Card's annual fee is increasing from $525 to $695, a $170 hike.

Added and updated benefits

• Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Award flight discounts: You can earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in purchases to use toward an eligible award flight - up to two times each calendar year.
• United Club access: You'll receive a United Club membership that grants unlimited United Club airport lounge access for you, one adult guest and any dependent children. You can also qualify for a United Club℠ All Access membership after achieving United Premier Gold status or by spending $50,000 on your United Club Card in a calendar year. With an All Access membership, you can bring two adult guests or one adult guest and dependent children under 18. Also, your lounge access benefits will extend to participating Star Alliance member lounges, and you receive four one-time United Club passes for authorized users.
• Hotel benefits: Earn up to $200 in statement credits for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts bookings every anniversary year when you pay with your United Club Card. Plus, you'll earn 5X miles on prepaid hotels booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts and paid for with your United Club Card.
• Rideshare credits: Earn up to $150 in rideshare credits every year when paying with your United Club Card (up to $12 back per month from Jan. to Nov., up to $18 back in Dec.; enrollment required; yearly opt-in required).
• Rental car credits: Receive up to $100 in United TravelBank credits every anniversary year for Avis and Budget purchases. You'll receive up to $50 in United TravelBank cash for your first and second Avis or Budget car rentals booked through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Club Card.
• Charter flight credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits every anniversary year for flights booked directly with JSX (a semi-private charter flight service) and paid for with your United Club Card.
• Instacart benefits: Receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership and up to $240 in Instacart+ credits annually (up to two $10 in Instacart+ credits each month when you purchase directly through Instacart and pay with your United Club Card; terms apply; benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027).
• Elite status boost: Earn 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for every $15 you spend (up to 28,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) every year, previously the annual PQP cap was 15,000). Plus, starting in 2026, you'll receive a 1,500-point PQP bonus after Feb. 1 of each year (your card must be opened by Dec. 31 of the prior year to qualify for this benefit).

Lost benefits

• United Club guest access: Previously, United Club Card members could bring two adult guests or one adult guest and dependent children under 21 years old along to any United Club. Now, you're limited to bringing one adult guest and dependent children under 18 unless you qualify for an All Access membership.
• Star Alliance lounge access: You'll no longer receive Star Alliance lounge access with a United Club membership, unless you qualify for an All Access membership.

Annual fee

The United℠ Business Card now has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee.

Added and updated benefits

• Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• TravelBank credit: Earn $125 in United TravelBank cash every calendar year after making five United flight purchases of $100+ with your United Business Card. Previously, you would earn a $100 TravelBank credit after making seven purchases of $100+ in an account anniversary year.
• Seat upgrades: Earn two continental Economy Plus® seat upgrades each calendar year after making $25,000 in purchases with your United Business Card.
• United FareLock credits: Receive up to $25 back every anniversary year after you use your United Business Card to pay for United's FareLock service, which allows you to hold a ticket at a fixed price for three to 14 days.
• United prepaid hotel benefits: Up to $100 United® Hotels credits annually (up to $50 in statement credit for your first and second prepaid United Hotels bookings each card anniversary year). Earn 1X additional miles on prepaid hotels booked through United® Hotels for a total of 5X miles. Previously, you'd earn a total of 4X miles on these transactions.
• Rideshare credits: Up to $100 in rideshare credits annually (up to $8 in statement credits every month from Jan. to Nov. and up to $12 back in Dec. when you pay with your United Business card; enrollment required; yearly opt-in is required).
• Rental car credits: Up to $50 in United® TravelBank credits for Avis or Budget purchases annually. (Earn $25 in United TravelBank cash on your first and second Avis or Budget rentals booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Business card.)
• Charter flight credit: Up to $100 in JSX credits every card anniversary year when you book directly with JSX (a semi-private charter flight service) and pay with your United Business Card.
• Elite status boost: Earn 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for every $20 you spend (up to 4,000 PQP every year, previously, the annual PQP cap was 1,000).
• Instacart benefits: Three months of complimentary Instacart+ membership, then you're automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the yearly rate (benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027; terms apply). You'll also receive up to $120 in Instacart+ credits annually (Up to $10 in Instacart+ credits per month when you purchase directly through Instacart and pay with your United Business Card; terms apply).

Lost benefits

• Club pass restrictions: Cardholders can no longer share their two annual United Club one-time passes. You can still use the passes for guests, but an authorized user or the primary cardholder must be present.

Annual fee

The New United Club℠ Business Card's annual fee is increasing from $450 to $695, a hike of $245.

Added and updated benefits

• Limited-time welcome offer: Earn 125,000 United miles after spending $5,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• United FareLock credits: Receive up to $50 back every anniversary year after you use your United Club Business Card to pay for United's FareLock service on a United - or United Express^® - operated flight.
• Seat upgrades: Earn two global Economy Plus® seat upgrades each calendar year after making $40,000 in purchases with your United Club Business Card.
• United Club access: You'll receive a United Club membership that grants unlimited United Club airport lounge access for you and one adult guest and dependent children. You can qualify for a United Club℠ All Access membership after achieving United Premier Gold status or by spending $50,000 on your United Club Business Card in a calendar year. With an All Access membership, you can bring two adult guests or one adult guest and dependent children under 18. Also, your lounge access benefits extend to participating Star Alliance member lounges, and you receive four one-time United Club passes for authorized users.
• Hotel benefits: Earn up to $200 in statement credits for prepaid Renowned Hotels and Resorts bookings every anniversary year when you pay with your United Club Business Card. Plus, you'll earn 5X miles on prepaid hotels booked through Renowned Hotels and Resorts and paid for with your United Club Business Card.
• Rideshare credits: Earn up to $150 in rideshare credits every year when paying with your United Club Business Card (up to $12 back per month from Jan. to Nov. and up to $18 back in Dec.; enrollment required; yearly opt-in required).
• Rental car credits: Receive up to $100 in United TravelBank credits every anniversary year for Avis and Budget purchases. You'll receive up to $50 in United TravelBank cash for your first and second Avis or Budget car rentals booked through cars.united.com and paid for with your United Club Business Card.
• Charter flight credit: Receive up to $200 in statement credits every anniversary year for flights booked directly with JSX (a semi-private charter flight service) and paid for with your United Club Business Card.
• Instacart benefits: Receive a complimentary Instacart+ membership and up to $240 in Instacart+ credits annually (up to two $10 in Instacart+ credits each month when you purchase directly through Instacart and pay with your United Club Business Card; terms apply; benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027).
• Elite status boost: Earn 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for every $15 you spend (up to 28,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) every year, previously the annual PQP cap was 15,000).

Lost benefits

• United Club guest access: Previously, United Club Business Card members could bring two adult guests or one adult guest and dependent children under 21 years old along to any United Club. Now you're limited to bringing one adult guest and dependent children under 18 unless you qualify for an All Access membership.
• Star Alliance lounge access: You no longer receive Star Alliance lounge access with a United Club membership, unless you qualify for (or pay for) an All Access membership.

Looking at the numbers, these changes are a net positive because the potential value of the benefits outweighs the annual fee increase in every case. However, the key word is potential, and many of these benefits are complicated or may apply to purchases you'll never make with your card.

Winners

With these changes, you can earn more PQP from credit card spending and many cards have added perks for users who can hit the high spending requirements. Anyone who is working hard to earn United Premier status or spends heavily on their United Airlines credit card will appreciate these changes.

If you regularly fly with United and tend to use a United credit card for most of your travel purchases, you're more likely to come out ahead. And now you'll have added benefits with certain rental car and hotel bookings.

Losers

If you prefer straightforward benefits that don't require a lot of thinking, these changes may come as a disappointment. Many of the credits are doled out in monthly increments or split over multiple purchases, and other perks are only unlocked after meeting a high spending requirement.

People who picked up a United card for airport lounge access may also take issue with some of these changes. To receive complimentary access for two adult guests and dependent children, you'll now need to pay for (or earn through credit card spending) a high-tier All Access United Club membership. The guest limits for lounge access won't impact solo travelers, but it's a big hit if you count on your card to bring an additional adult into United Club airport lounges.

Although airport lounge access is more restricted for cardholders, they're still coming out ahead of people paying for a standard United Club membership without a card, who will no longer be able to bring any guest for free. However, the United Club membership you receive with a United Club℠ Business Card or United Club℠ Card allows you to bring one adult and dependent children under 18 for no additional cost.

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