20 cards ranked
Best credit card to use at United Airlines.
AirlinesTravel
United Airlines is one of the three U.S. legacy carriers and runs the MileagePlus loyalty program. United tickets code as airfare on every card we track. The Chase co-branded ladder ranges from no-fee Gateway to the $525 Club Infinite with United Club lounge membership; mid-tier Explorer adds free checked bag and 2 club passes, and Quest adds an annual flight credit. General travel cards often outperform on cash-equivalent value, but United co-brands waive close-in award fees and add status-credit boosts that frequent flyers value.
- #16.0%5x points
- #2American Express5x points on airlines (up to $500,000/year, then 1%)Booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, up to $500,000 per calendar year6.0%5x points
- #35.0%4x points
- #45.0%4x points
- #5FNBO5x points on travelAirlines, hotels, car rental, cruise lines, travel agencies, transit, taxis, tolls, and timeshares by merchant category code5.0%5x points
- #6US Bank Business Essentials Plusif it’s your top categoryU.S. Bank5% on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycle (up to $200,000/year, then 2%)Automatically on your top eligible spend category each month from 8 eligible (accounting & tax services, airlines, cell phone service providers, dining, entertainment, office supply stores, postal & shipping services, utilities), up to $200,000 a year5%
- #74.8%4x points
- #84.0%4x points
- #9PenFed Credit Union4x points on travel4x with PenFed Honors Advantage (military or Access America checking); 3x otherwise4.0%4x points
- #104.0%4x points
- #114.0%4x points
- #124.0%2x points
- #134.0%4x points
- #144.0%4x points
- #15World of Hyatt Businessif it’s your top categoryChase2x points on airlines if it's your top eligible spend category that cycleAutomatically 2x total in your top three spend categories each calendar quarter, from dining, shipping, airline tickets bought directly with the airline, local transit and commuting, social media and search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations, and internet/cable/phone services4.0%2x points
- #16Chase3x points on travel (up to $150,000/year, then 1%)Travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, advertising on search engines and social media (combined $150,000/yr cap)3.8%3x points
- #173.6%3x points
- #183.6%3x points
- #19American Express7x points on airlinesFlights booked directly with airlines or through AmexTravel.com3.5%7x points
- #203%
Last updated October 23, 2026