For you and one traveling companion on the same itinerary.
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The New United Club℠ Card Review: Top Airline Perks — at a Premium Price
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review
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Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rewards Rate
4x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining and all other travel and 1x mile on all other purchases.
Travel Benefits
Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
Key takeaway
The New United Club℠ Card is a great choice for frequent United flyers who value a long list of premium travel benefits like lounge access. But if you’re an occasional traveler who won’t use the card’s travel perks, you should opt for a different card — this one comes with a high $695 annual fee.
Pros and cons of the The New United Club℠ Card
Pros
- Valuable sign-up bonus
- High earning rate
- United Club membership (at least a $750 value per year)
- Excellent travel benefits like lounge access and free checked bags
- Top travel and purchase coverages
- IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status
- $0 foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $695 annual fee
- Requires excellent credit
- Lacking in annual travel credits
- Card benefits are limited to United
Is The New United Club℠ Card worth it?
If you’re willing to pay the high $695 annual fee, The New United Club℠ Card is packed with value that’ll make up for it. This card is especially worthwhile if you’re a frequent United flyer looking for a luxury experience. You’ll get complimentary United Club lounge access (worth at least $750); a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit (worth up to $120); free checked bags; excellent travel protections and more.
But while this card offers the most value of any United credit card, it’s also the most expensive to own. If you can’t justify paying the annual fee, you might prefer a United credit card with a lower annual fee or a general rewards credit card.
Overall first year value: $1,652*
First year rewards value: $877*
Ongoing value: $417*
First year rewards value: $877*
Ongoing value: $417*
*Based on LendingTree’s value methodology
Quick facts
Recommended credit: Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion Excellent
Rewards Rate: 1X - 4X miles
- Earn 4x miles on United® purchases
- Earn 2x miles on dining and all other travel
- Earn 1x mile on all other purchases
Welcome offer: 80,000 miles
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Rates
- Intro purchase APR: N/A
- Regular purchase APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
- Intro balance transfer APR: N/A
- Regular balance transfer APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
- Regular cash advance APR: 28.99% Variable
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99%
Fees
- Annual fee: $695
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
- Foreign exchange fee: $0
Other benefits
- United Club membership
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
- MileagePlus program benefits
- First and second checked bag free
- Up to $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
- 25% back on United in-flight and Club premium drink purchases
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Avis President’s Club
- Trip cancellation/interruption and baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage and trip delay reimbursements
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Purchase, return and extended warranty protections
- Visa Infinite® Concierge Services
The New United Club℠ Card benefits
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Valuable sign-up bonus
The New United Club℠ Card offers one of the highest sign-up bonuses you can earn for a United Airlines credit card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Since we value United miles at 1.3 cents per mile, we estimate this bonus to be worth around $1,040 in United airfare.
Who is eligible to earn this sign-up bonus?
You’ll be eligible for this card if you don’t currently own any United Club card and haven’t received a sign-up bonus for any United Club card within the past 24 months. -
High earning rate
The New United Club℠ Card offers a strong earning rate on United Airlines purchases with other useful spending categories like travel and dining. You’ll earn 4x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining and all other travel and 1x mile on all other purchases. United miles are worth about 1.3 cents each, which is more valuable than other airlines (for example, Delta miles are only worth about 1.1 cents per mile). This means you’ll get a high return for each dollar spent compared to other cards.
Many airline credit card cards only have limited spending categories, ones that only give bonus miles for spending with the airline. The New United Club℠ Card differentiates itself from the pack with expanded spending categories that let you stack up miles on travel and dining, on top of United purchases.
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Rewards are easy to redeem through the MileagePlus Program
United miles are easy to redeem through United’s MileagePlus program. We currently rank MileagePlus as the most user-friendly of major airline miles programs: That’s because United offers a large flight network with a large number of Star Alliance partners, excellent award availability, a relatively easy booking experience and miles that don’t expire.
Usability overall score = 3.91 out of 5 (Good) Miles expiration 5 out of 5 Flight network 4.5 out of 5 Award availability 4.37 out of 5 Ease of booking 5 out of 5 Complexity 1 out of 5 When redeeming miles for free flights on United or one of United’s Star Alliance airline partners, you’ll see two levels of awards for each cabin class — Saver and Everyday. While Saver Awards are more limited than Everyday Awards, you can score a free Saver Award flight with a relatively low amount of miles. For example, Economy Saver Award prices from San Francisco to Los Angeles run as low as 5,100 miles.
On the other hand, award flights with United can be expensive if you don’t have the flexibility to book Saver Awards. A first-class Everyday Award from San Francisco to Los Angeles can cost around 30,000 miles, while international Business Class flights can range over 300,000 miles.
According to a LendingTree survey, nearly 70% of rewards credit cardholders are sitting on unused cash back, points or miles. That’s why it’s important to find a rewards program that makes it easy to redeem miles.United is part of the Star Alliance, meaning you can use your United miles to book flights with any of their 25 partnering airlines.
Star Alliance partners include the following:
- Aegean
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Egypt Air
- Ethiopian
- EVA Air
- LOT
- Lufthansa
- SAS
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
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United Club and Star Alliance lounge access
One of the main reasons to apply for The New United Club℠ Card is its lounge access benefit, especially if you travel frequently through an airport with a United Club lounge. You’ll get access to more than 45 United Club lounges and participating Star Alliance lounges around the globe. So if you’re loyal to United Airlines, this is a great value because a United Club membership is usually $750 annually.
But if you’re looking for a wider variety of lounge options, you’re better off with another travel card. For example, the American Express Platinum Card® offers access to the Global Lounge Collection®.
Airport lounges vary in their amenities, but many of them have complimentary food, drinks, showers, Wi-Fi, play areas for children and more. It’s a great way to escape the stressful environment of an airport terminal.
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Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and NEXUS can save you time, energy and stress when you’re at the airport, allowing you to breeze through security and customs when reentering the U.S. The New United Club℠ Card offers a statement credit worth up to $120 every four years, and can be used to cover your full application fee for any of these three programs. (Your membership will last for five years.)
Many premium travel credit cards come with a similar credit, which is a nice way to get your membership for free.
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IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status and IHG Credit
The New United Club℠ Card cardholders get Platinum Elite status with IHG Rewards. This benefit offers complimentary room upgrades and extended checkout, where available, when you stay at IHG properties. You can also earn IHG points at a higher rate on IHG hotel stays.
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Other travel benefits
The New United Club℠ Card comes with a long list of other valuable travel benefits for United loyalists, including free checked bags, free upgrades and an elite status boost. However, outside of the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit, this card is lacking when it comes to travel credits.
Similar cards with high annual fees offer travel credits that can help offset the cost of an annual fee. For example, The New United Quest℠ Card comes with an annual $200 United travel credit. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual travel credit that applies to almost any type of travel. The American Express Platinum Card® offers credits worth more than $2,000.
Easy access through the airport with priority check-in and security screening where available, as well as boarding and baggage handling privileges.
Can be used on food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on United flights.
For you and one companion on the same reservation, subject to availability. This benefit can save you hundreds of dollars on a round-trip flight.
Complimentary two-car class upgrades, expedited rental car service, guaranteed car availability and more (must enroll in Avis President’s Club).
You can purchase private, specially curated experiences. These events could include exclusive culinary events at the world’s best restaurants, meeting sporting legends and more.
Within the continental U.S. and Canada.
Premier qualifying points (PQPs) can help you earn MileagePlus Premier® status. You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases with your card (up to 28,000 per calendar year).
24/7 assistance for items like travel planning, restaurant reservations, sports tickets and more, available year round from home or abroad.
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Top travel and purchase coverages
The New United Club℠ Card offers excellent travel and purchase coverages that compare well with other top travel credit cards. The New United Club℠ Card has many of the same travel and purchase coverages as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which is the top travel insurance card. For example, both The New United Club℠ Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® have primary rental car insurance that allows you to report loss or damages directly to your issuer, while most cards only offer secondary coverage.
Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
Up to $100 reimbursement per day for three days for baggage delays over six hours.
For luggage lost or damaged by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
If your trip is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you can get an up to $500 reimbursement per ticket.
Primary car rental insurance when you decline the insurance with the rental company and charge the full cost to your card.
Coverage against damage or theft for new purchases made on your card for 120 days. You can get up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
If the store won’t take back an item within 90 days of purchase, you can be reimbursed up to $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
Cardholders can have the U.S, manufacturer’s warranty extended by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.
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No foreign transaction fees
The New United Club℠ Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on purchases outside the United States. This is an important benefit for travel credit cards, as it will save you money on every purchase made abroad.
Alternatives to The New United Club℠ Card
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The New United Club℠ Card*
|
$695 | 1X - 4X miles
| 80,000 miles
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| ||
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
 Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
$95 | 1X - 5X points
| 75,000 points
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
|
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
The New United℠ Explorer Card*
|
$150 | 1X - 2X miles
| 60,000 miles
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| ||
American Express Platinum Card®
|
$895 | 5X points
| As high as 175,000 points
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
|
*The information related to the The New United Club℠ Card and The New United℠ Explorer Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms Apply.
The New United Club℠ Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Verdict: Rewards and luxury at a reasonable cost
If you book United flights regularly, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be a better option. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns miles that you can transfer to United and other loyalty programs, but for a much smaller fee.
In fact, we rate it as one of the best travel credit cards because it offers great rewards and travel benefits for a modest $95 annual fee. The card lets you enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also allows the flexibility of transferring points to other airlines programs at a 1:1 ratio or redeeming through Chase’s travel portal for up to a 75% bonus.
The New United Club℠ Card vs. The New United℠ Explorer Card
*The information related to the The New United℠ Explorer Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply
Verdict: Rewards and luxury at a reasonable cost
The New United℠ Explorer Card is better for semi-frequent travelers who don’t care about airport lounge access. It comes with a much lower annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150.
The card grants you a free checked bag on United flights, which can easily make up for the fee each year. Plus, you’ll get other valuable benefits like a $120 credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry, two United Club one-time passes each card anniversary and primary car rental insurance.
The New United Club℠ Card vs. American Express Platinum Card®
Verdict: Better features and rewards, but doesn’t include United
The American Express Platinum Card® is an excellent card for someone interested in luxury travel benefits and more flexible rewards. The card rewards you with American Express Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to a variety of travel partners, including Delta and JetBlue. And while United is not in this list of partners, a few of the airlines on the list belong to Star Alliance. As such, you can transfer your points to any of these programs to book United flights.
It comes with a larger lounge network — including access to Amex Centurion lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required) and Delta Sky Clubs (subject to visit limitations) when flying eligible Delta flights — and also offers a multitude of travel and shopping credits. These benefits can more than make up for the card’s $895 annual fee, if you can take advantage of them.
*To see rates & fees for American Express Platinum Card®, please click here.
Should you get The New United Club℠ Card?
With benefits like United Club access, comprehensive travel insurance and lucrative spending categories, The New United Club℠ Card is a great card if you’re looking to earn United miles and enjoy luxurious benefits. However, it does come with a high $695 annual fee, which could be a deterrent for some.
The most valuable benefit of The New United Club℠ Card is the United Club airport lounge access. But if you aren’t interested in this benefit, you should opt for a United Airlines credit card with a lower annual fee. The New United℠ Explorer Card comes with many of the same benefits minus lounge access, for a much lower $150 annual fee.
And if you aren’t planning to fly exclusively with United Airlines and would rather choose a travel rewards card that isn’t co-branded, there are plenty of excellent options to pick from as well.
Frequently asked questions
The New United Club℠ Card requires excellent credit for approval. You should check your credit score ahead of time to see if you fit the card’s recommended credit range to increase your chances of acceptance.
The New United Club℠ Card isn’t metal, but there are several other top travel credit cards that are made out of metal.
You can add an authorized user to your The New United Club℠ Card. However, authorized users don’t get United Club membership, Premier Access or free checked bag unless they’re on the same reservation as the primary cardholder.
Authorized users will, however, be able to earn miles by making purchases and qualify for 25% back on in-flight food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
The information related to the The New United Club℠ Card, The New United Quest℠ Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The New United℠ Explorer Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.