What are the best United Airlines business credit cards?

The best United credit card is the United MileagePlus Explorer card because it rewards new cardholders with 65,000 miles for spending $2,000 in the first 3 months and provides priority boarding plus at least 1 free checked bag on all United flights. The United Explorer card also gives 2 one-time United Club passes after account opening and every account anniversary. The card has no annual fee for the first year, but charges $95 after that.… read full answer

Another good option is the United MileagePlus Club Card, which provides unlimited access to United Club lounges worldwide. It also offers two free checked bags and priority boarding on United flights. Its initial bonus is 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. And it has a $450 annual fee.

But you don’t have to get a co-branded United card to get the best value on United purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred offers an even bigger initial bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. And through an ongoing partnership with United, you can transfer points to a United rewards account at a 1:1 ratio. The Preferred card has a $95 annual fee.

If you’re a frequent United flyer, you could combine the initial bonuses from multiple cards, like Sapphire Preferred and the United Explorer card, to earn a lot of free flights. It’s best to not apply for a more than one new card at a time, though – better to wait at least a few months between applications. Plus, each of the best United Airlines credit cards has an annual fee, so you have to take the cost into account as well.

Airline credit cards can be worth it if you travel frequently with a certain airline. You’ll often get extra rewards for buying your tickets from that airline and may receive special perks like early boarding or free checked bags. You can also get general miles cards that aren’t partnered with any specific airline. Those cards often provide more versatility and better overall value than airline-branded cards. Let’s look at some examples of both types.… read full answer

Here are airline credit cards that are worth it:

• Frontier Airlines: 40,000 mile bonus when you spend $500 in the first 90 days. 2 miles per dollar on purchases from FlyFrontier.com and 1 mile per dollar on everything else. $100 voucher every year on your account anniversary if you spent at least $2,500. $69 annual fee. Good credit necessary for approval.
• Lufthansa: 20,000 mile bonus when you make one purchase and pay the annual fee of $89. 30,000 additional bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first 90 days. 2 miles per dollar on all Miles & More airline partners, 1 mile per dollar on everything else. One companion ticket and two business lounge vouchers per year. Good credit necessary.
• AeroMexico Visa: 5,000 bonus points and companion ticket when you make your first purchase. 2 miles per dollar on gas and groceries, one mile per dollar on everything else. Free checked baggage on AeroMexico flights. Can get with bad credit; this is a secured card so you’ll have to make a security deposit. $25 annual fee waived the first year.
• Barclaycard Arrival Plus: 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first 90 days. 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. $89 annual fee waived the first year. Good credit necessary.
• Capital One Venture: 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all purchases. No foreign transaction fees. Complimentary travel insurance and concierge service. $95 annual fee waived the first year. Good credit necessary.

A lot of airline cards will also have other travel-related perks. You might get insurance for travel accidents, trip cancellation, lost baggage, and/or rental cars. Read through your card’s terms and conditions to see all the benefits, and shop around to find the best airline card for you.