Best United Airlines Credit Card Offers

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card rental car insurance covers damage, theft, loss of use and towing charges for any rental car paid for with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. It's a free benefit that pays up to the actual cash value of a rented vehicle. 

It is worth noting that Bank of America does not directly provide the rental car insurance on its cards. However, Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card may offer rental car insurance as part of the Visa Signature benefits, but it is not guaranteed. So, make sure to check the guide to benefits that came with your card to see which perks are included.

Here's how the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rental car insurance works:

• How to use the coverage: The cardholder must decline the rental agency's insurance and pay for the entire rental with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. 
• Coverage amount: Up to the actual cash value of the rented vehicle.
• Coverage costs: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rental car insurance covers theft, damage, valid loss-of-use and reasonable towing charges.
• How long you're covered: The benefit covers domestic rentals up to 15 consecutive days.
• Coverage for rental vehicles in another country: Rental car insurance covers eligible cardholders for 31 days for rentals in another country. Coverage does not apply to vehicles rented in Israel, Jamaica, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
• Coverage exclusions: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rental car insurance does not cover certain types of vehicles and situations. It does not cover damage to other vehicles, property or personal injuries. Coverage also does not apply to cargo vans, trucks, motorcycles or several other types of vehicles. And you won't be covered for any damages caused by drunk or reckless driving, among other situations. 

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card Rental Car Insurance Claims

To file a Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card rental car insurance claim, call the Benefit Administrator (800) 348-8472. You will need to submit the claim form, along with any requested supporting documents within 90 days. You should receive payment from the Benefits Administrator within 15 days after receipt of all documents and the validation of your claim. 

You need 10,000+ miles for a free flight on United. The number of United miles needed for a free flight is determined by the distance. Flights less than 700 miles in distance only require 10,000 award miles. Flights longer than 700 miles will cost at least 12,500 miles. The mileage requirements are for one-way economy class flights. If you're looking to fly first class or business class, it'll cost approximately twice as many miles each way.

United Airlines has a travel awards chart that you can use to determine how many miles you need for various flights. Select your country of departure and destination, and you'll see the award mile requirement for each class of travel and award-type.

United divides the awards chart into two award types: One-way Saver Award and One-way Everyday Award. The award-type depends on the route and availability. Saver Award flights require fewer miles than the Everyday Award flights because they have less availability. So if your dates are flexible, you can benefit from a cheaper Saver Award flight.

How Many Miles You'll Need for a Free Flight on United:

• Domestic Flights: 10,000-12,500 (Saver), 32,500 (Everyday)
• U.S. to the Caribbean: 17,500 (Saver), 40,000 (Everyday)
• U.S. to Europe: 30,000 (Saver), 70,000 (Everyday)
• U.S. to Northern Africa: 40,000 (Saver), 90,000 (Everyday)
• U.S. to Central Asia: 42,500 (Saver), 95,000 (Everyday)

All of the mile-requirements above are for one-way economy class flights. United will no longer be publishing a travel award chart as of November 15th, 2019. They'll be introducing a broader range of award prices, so the miles you need for free flights will be changing.

For loyal United flyers, a United credit card can help you earn more miles and get free flights faster. Most offer initial rewards bonuses for spending a certain amount within a few months of opening an account. Such a bonus alone could get you a free flight or two. You will need at least good credit to get approved for a United credit card.

The only United Airlines credit card with no annual fee is the United Gateway℠ Credit Card. The United Explorer Credit Card also comes with a $0 annual fee, but only for the first 12 months. After that, the card's annual fee jumps to $95.

If you're willing to look outside of United Airlines branded cards, there are plenty of other good airline credit cards that have no annual fee. 

Best Airline Credit Cards With No Annual Fee in 2023

Generally, airline rewards cards charge an annual fee because some of the rewards and benefits these cards offer are not cheap. Charging an annual fee allows the issuer to recoup some of the costs of those perks.

However, if you're not a frequent traveler, or don't plan to make any big purchases over the course of a year, sticking with a United Airlines credit card with no annual fee is probably the safer bet.

The best United Explorer Credit Card benefits are baggage insurance, along with trip cancellation and interruption insurance. The United Explorer Credit Card also has rental car insurance and extended warranty, which are slightly more common perks.

In addition to its many benefits, the United Explorer Credit Card also offers extensive rewards. New cardholders get 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. In addition, the card also offers ongoing rewards: 2 miles per $1 spent with United, restaurants, hotels and eligible delivery services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

United Explorer Credit Card Benefits

• Rewards: Initial bonus of 50,000 miles; Ongoing rewards consisting of 2 miles per $1 spent with United, restaurants, hotels and eligible delivery services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases; discounts for inflight purchases and statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.
• Rental car insurance
• Roadside assistance
• Baggage Delay insurance
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Purchase protection
• Travel accident insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Concierge services

To view details for each of these benefits, including coverage information and how to claim them, consult your United Explorer Credit Card guide to benefits.

The United Explorer Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after, but its extensive rewards and benefits can offset this cost and bring added value. As long as you're a frequent United flyer and have good credit or better (a score of 700+), the United Explorer Credit Card is certainly a card to consider adding to your wallet.

A good credit score is needed for the United Explorer Credit Card. When processing your application, the issuer will also look at your income and existing debts, not only your score. Based on these and a couple of other factors, it will either deny or approve you for a new account.

You can get the United credit card 60,000 miles bonus miles offer with the United Quest℠ Card, after you spend a total of $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

It is also possible to get that initial bonus with the United Explorer Credit Card. More specifically, this card offers 50,000 miles for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. It's worth mentioning, though, that the United Club Infinite Credit Card has the highest welcome offer, giving 80,000 miles.

United Credit Cards Bonus Miles Offers

• United Club Infinite Credit Card: .
• United Quest℠ Card: .
• United Explorer Credit Card: .
• United Gateway℠ Credit Card: .

With United cards, it's not just about the bonus. Often, you'll get extra perks like free checked bags or priority boarding. And you'll always earn extra miles on United flights.

The best United Airlines business credit card is the United℠ Business Card because it gives an initial bonus of 75,000 miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months. Cardholders can also earn 1 - 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases.

The United Business Credit Card has an annual fee of $0 intro 1st yr, $99 after, and it also provides benefits such as a free checked bag for the cardholder and a companion under the same reservation on flights operated by United or United Express, an anniversary bonus, and United Club access.

Best United Airlines Business Credit Cards

Finally, if you want more flexibility when it comes to rewards, the best business credit card for travel expenses overall is the U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard®. This card offers a signup bonus of 60,000 points for spending $6,000 in the first 180 days. You'll also earn 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases. U.S. Bank Business Altitude™ Connect World Elite Mastercard® has an annual fee of $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after and requires at least good credit for approval.

The best United Airlines credit card promotion is 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months with the United Club Infinite Credit Card. You also get a complimentary United Club lounge membership. The card will cost you $525 per year, but as long as you're a frequent traveler, you should get your money's worth.

However, there are several other United credit cards that offer good initial bonuses and earn you extra miles for your United purchases. 

Best United Airlines Credit Card Promotions in 2023

Initial bonus: 80,000 miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 4 miles per $1 spent with United, 2 miles per $1 spent on travel, dining and eligible delivery services, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Other Promotions: Free United Club lounge membership; 25% statement credit on United in-flight food/beverage/Wi-Fi purchases; free checked bags; up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years.

Annual fee: $525

Initial bonus: 60,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 3 miles per $1 spent with United, 2 miles per $1 spent on travel, select streaming services and at restaurants, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

United Travel Credit: Up to $125 in statement credits each account anniversary year as reimbursement for United purchases. Plus, two 5,000-mile award flight credits back in your account after completing a United operated flight booked with your miles.

Other Promotions: Priority boarding; 25% statement credit on United in-flight food/beverage/Wi-Fi purchases; free checked bags; up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee every four years.

Annual fee: $250

Initial bonus: 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 2 miles per $1 spent with United, gas stations, local transit and commuting, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Other Promotions: 25% back as a statement credit on United inflight purchases.

Annual fee: $0

Initial bonus: Earn 75,000 miles for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months

Ongoing Rewards: 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, 2 miles per $1 at restaurants (including eligible delivery services), gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting, and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases

United Travel Credit: A $100 United travel credit after 7 United flight purchases of $100 or more each anniversary year.

Other Promotions: Free checked bags; priority boarding; 2 United Club one-time passes each year.

Annual fee: $0 intro 1st yr, $99 after

Even though most of these cards have high annual fees, they certainly offer a lot of perks. If you travel frequently and take advantage of all the perks these cards have to offer, you should more than make up for the fees. 

It is also worth noting that all these credit cards require at least good credit for approval. If you'd like to know where you stand, you can check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.

The United TravelBank is great because it has no annual fee. In addition to that, it has no foreign transaction fee and offers $150 in United airfare for spending $1,000 in the first three months.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards is another great no-annual-fee, no-foreign-transaction-fee option. On average, it rewards you with 1.5% back in the form of free travel. In other words, you get $150 in travel for every $1,000 you spend. The APR is on the higher end, so it's better suited for fairly low-spending Bank of America banking customers with a lot of cash saved.

So, if you frequently fly United, go with the TravelBank. If you want more versatility when it comes to rewards, get the Bank of America Travel Rewards.

The main United credit card benefits include trip cancellation insurance, rental car insurance, extended warranty protection, purchase protection, and Visa concierge service. These perks come standard on all United credit cards.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance reimburses the cost of your trip if it's cancelled or ended early by factors out of your control. Rental car insurance provides primary coverage for damage related to collision or theft. You can get reimbursed up to the cash value of the car. Purchase protection covers new purchases against damage and theft; coverage amounts vary by card. Extended warranty adds an additional year to the U.S. manufacturer's warranty. Visa concierge is customer-service line that operates 24/7 and helps you with special requests like finding tickets and making dinner reservations.

Some United credit cards have additional benefits. Examples include trip delay insurance, travel accident insurance and baggage insurance. They may also offer extended warranties on purchases and price protection. Some United cards even give free checked bags, priority boarding on United flights and/or complimentary airport lounge access.

It's also worth noting that all United credit cards are issued as Visa Signature or Visa Infinite cards. That means they all come with either Visa Signature or Visa Infinite benefits.