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United travelers can earn extra miles from an elevated welcome bonus offer right now on four popular consumer credit cards.
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United’s raising welcome offer rewards by 10,000 MileagePlus miles apiece on four popular credit cards.
The high-end United Club℠ Infinite Card – Product Name Only offers lounge access and United Club℠ Infinite Card – Intro Bonus.
The no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card – Product Name Only has United Gateway℠ Card – Intro APR, followed by United Gateway℠ Card – Regular APR.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a United credit card, now is the time to do it. United just boosted introductory offers on four popular credit cards, increasing each sign-up bonus by 10,000 additional United MileagePlus miles from its current rate.
Here’s what you can now earn on the following personal credit cards after approval and completing qualifying activities:
United Club℠ Infinite Card – Product Name Only: United Club℠ Infinite Card – Intro Bonus
United Quest℠ Card – Product Name Only: United Quest℠ Card – Intro Bonus
United℠ Explorer Card – Product Name Only: United℠ Explorer Card – Intro Bonus
United Gateway℠ Card – Product Name Only: United Gateway℠ Card – Intro Bonus
Here’s a quick overview of each card and its benefits, as well as the value of the increased sign-up bonus.
Choosing between the Club, Quest, Explorer and Gateway cards
United currently offers four credit cards for personal use, each with a specific benefit. Here’s a quick comparison table for easy reference:
United Club℠ Infinite Card – Product Name OnlyUnited Quest℠ Card – Product Name OnlyUnited℠ Explorer Card – Product Name OnlyUnited Gateway℠ Card – Product Name OnlyWelcome bonus:United Club℠ Infinite Card – Intro BonusUnited Quest℠ Card – Intro BonusUnited℠ Explorer Card – Intro BonusUnited Gateway℠ Card – Intro BonusAnnual fee: United Club℠ Infinite Card – Annual FeeUnited Quest℠ Card – Annual FeeUnited℠ Explorer Card – Annual FeeUnited Gateway℠ Card – Annual FeeEarning rate:
4x miles on United purchases
2x miles on dining and all other travel
3x miles on United purchases
2x miles on dining, all other travel and select streaming services
2x miles on United purchases
2x miles on dining and hotels
2x miles on United purchases
2x miles on gas, local transit and commuting
Additional benefits
United Club membership
Free first and second checked bags
Up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points
Up to $100 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
$125 annual United purchase credit
Two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits
Free first and second checked bags
Up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points
Up to $100 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
Free first checked bag
2 United Club one-time passes per year
Up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points
Up to $100 Global Entry® or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
United Gateway℠ Card – Intro APR, then United Gateway℠ Card – Regular APR
What is the cash value of each bonus?
The value of United MileagePlus miles is 1.3 cents apiece on average, according to Insider calculations, with poorer redemptions averaging closer to 1.1 cents per mile and strong redemptions up to 1.6 cents per mile. This means that the current sign-up bonuses could get you anywhere from United Gateway℠ Card – Featured Reward Value to United Club℠ Infinite Card – Featured Reward Value, depending on the sign-up bonus earned and the rate at which you redeem your miles.
Beyond the monetary value of each card, don’t forget to factor in the “soft” perks of each card. The United Club℠ Infinite Card – Product Name Only card offers strong benefits for frequent Star Alliance travelers, with worldwide access to the airline’s network of airport lounges, as well as expedited airport security benefits and free checked bags.
Meanwhile, the United Gateway℠ Card – Product Name Only doesn’t offer much by way of elevated spend categories or travel perks, but comes with a long intro APR period that could help you out of a financial pinch. The United Quest℠ Card – Product Name Only card comes with a higher annual fee, but includes a $125 annual travel credit, plus free checked bags and flight credits that can easily offset the cost for the right traveler.
Finally, the tried-and-true United℠ Explorer Card – Product Name Only comes with two Club passes per year, one free checked bag per flight, and a few other lesser benefits to go with its modest United℠ Explorer Card – Annual Fee annual fee.
