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United Club Infinite Card review: A deluxe airline card with a pricey annual fee

7 min read

United Airlines is one of the most popular airlines in the country. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, United was fourth in terms of domestic market share in 2023, making up about 16% of the market.

For frequent travelers who prefer to fly on United Airlines and who are part of United's MileagePlus loyalty program, the United Club? Infinite Card may be a useful addition to their wallets. Although this travel credit card has a steep annual fee, it has valuable rewards and benefits that you may find justifies the cost.

  • Annual fee
    $525
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.99% - 28.99% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 4x miles per $1 spent on United? purchases
    • 2x miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
    • 1x mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • Free first and second checked bags and Premier Access travel services
    • 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
    • Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)

More details: United Club membership; statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS membership; 25% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi

The United Club Infinite Card is a good fit for those who fly often on United Airlines, and you maximize your rewards by using your card to purchase your airline tickets, inflight food and beverages and internet service. On United purchases, you'll earn four miles per $1 spent.

For other travel expenses, including hotel stays and rental cars, you'll earn two miles for every $1 you spend, so using your card for your vacation costs can help you build rewards.

According to Pacaso, a vacation for two people will typically cost about $3,800 for a week's trip. If you spent that amount and used your United Club Infinite Card to cover the full cost of your vacation, here's how much you could earn in rewards:

Expense

Cost

Rewards Rate

Total Rewards

Airline Tickets

$1,400

4x miles per $1

5,600 miles

Rental car

$300

2x miles per $1

600 miles

Hotel stay

$1,500

2x miles per $1

3,000 miles

Restaurant meals

$600

2x miles per $1

1,200 miles

TOTAL

10,400 miles

Depending on how you redeemed those rewards later, your miles could be worth anywhere from $93.60 to $156.

You can redeem your miles by visiting United.com/MileagePlus or by calling 800-421-4655. You can choose from the following options:

  • Flights

  • Hotel stays

  • Car rentals

  • Cruises

  • Gift cards

  • Charitable donations

Unlike other cards, the United Club Infinite Card doesn't have a fixed value for its miles, so the value of your rewards can fluctuate. In general, each mile you earn is worth anywhere from $0.009 to $0.015 depending on your redemption method.

Typically, redeeming your miles for flights on United Airlines or one of United's airline partners. gives you the most value for each mile.

The United Club Infinite Card has a strong rewards program, but it stands out from competitor cards because of the lengthy list of travel benefits and luxurious perks it provides:

  • United Club membership lounge access: Your card provides you with free United Club membership access. You can access United Club and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges at airports all over the world and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks.

  • Free first and second checked bags: Your first and second checked bags — for you and a companion — are free on qualifying flights.

  • $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Save time by signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to breeze through security lines. Your card entitles you to a $100 statement credit every four years.

  • No foreign transaction fees: The United Club Infinite Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, so you won't pay an added fee to use the card outside of the U.S.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If your trip is interrupted or canceled due to illness, severe weather or another covered reason, the card will reimburse you for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in non-refundable expenses.

  • Baggage delay insurance: If you're traveling and your luggage is delayed by six hours or more, the United Club Infinite Card will reimburse you up to $100 per day, for ip to three days, to purchase toiletries, clothes and other replacement items.

  • Lost luggage reimbursement: If you're traveling via a common carrier and they lose your luggage, you're covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

  • Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip is delayed by 12 hours or more, you're covered up to $500 per ticket for meals, hotel stays and other expenses.

  • Auto rental damage collision waiver: The United Club Infinite Card provides primary protection against damages or theft of a rental car, as long as you decline the rental company's collision insurance and pay for the entire rental with your card.

  • Purchase protection: New purchases are covered against damages or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

  • Return protection: If you purchase an item and the merchant won't take it back, you're backed by return protection. It reimburses you up to $500 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per year.

  • Extended warranty protection: Extended warranty protection extends the warranties of three years or less by one year.

  • Visa Infinite Concierge: The Visa Infinite Concierge is a 24/7 service that can help you secure hard-to-get reservations, concert tickets and more.

The United Club Infinite Card is best for frequent travelers who prefer United Airlines and airport lounge access. With this card, you'll earn four miles per $1 spent on United tickets and other purchases, and you'll receive complimentary United Club membership at locations worldwide.

  • No foreign transaction fees: Unlike many cards, the United Club Infinite Card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. That feature makes it an especially useful credit card to take with you when you travel outside of the U.S.

  • Includes travel insurance: The United Club Infinite Card provides robust travel insurance protection, including coverage for rental cars and trip delays.

  • Attainable new cardmember offer: Compared to some cards, which have steep spending requirements, the United Club Infinite Card's welcome offer is more attainable. The card's welcome offer requires you to spend at least $5,000 over three months. If you use your card for routine purchases — including groceries, utility bills, insurance payments or gas — you could easily reach that spending requirement.

  • No introductory APR: The United Club Infinite Card doesn't have a promotional APR offer for purchases or balance transfers, so you'll always pay the normal APR for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.

  • Steep annual fee: At $525, the United Club Infinite Card has an expensive annual fee. Unless you frequently fly on United Airlines, you may not earn enough rewards or use the card's other benefits enough to justify the fee.

  • Less flexibility with rewards: When you earn your rewards, you get the most value by redeeming them for United Airlines flights or by transferring them to an airline partner. Other redemption methods, such as gift cards, will give you less value for your points.

The United Club Infinite Card is a co-branded card issued by Chase. You can make payments on the United Club Infinite Card through the Chase mobile app, sending a check in the mail or by calling customer support.

  • Online

  • Mobile app

  • Phone: 1-800-432-3117

  • Mail:
    Chase Cardmember Services
    P.O. Box 6294
    Carol Stream, IL 60197-6294

Chase is well-known for its customer service. In fact, J.D. Power ranked Chase fifth out of 16 credit card issuers in its 2023 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

  • Customer service availability info:

    • Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST

    • Weekends: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST

  • Phone number: 1-800-432-3117

  • United Club Infinite Card login page

If you prefer to fly on other airlines or want a card with a lower annual fee, consider these options:

  • Annual fee
    $325
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards? points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months, plus 20% back on restaurant spending worldwide (up to $100 in statement credits) for new cardmembers through November 6, 2024
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Rewards
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x)
    • 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
    • 2x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
    • 1x Membership Rewards points on all other eligible purchases
  • Benefits
    • NEW: Five Guys is now eligible for $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits each month when you pay with your American Express Gold Card at Five Guys, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com (enrollment required)
    • NEW: Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) when you use your American Express Gold Card on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com
    • NEW: Up to $84 per year ($7/month) in statement credits after using your American Express Gold Card to pay at more than 9,000 Dunkin’? locations nationwide

Why we like it: The American Express Gold Card has a strong rewards program and added rewards, but it has a more modest annual fee than the United Club Infinite Card. You'll also earn a higher rewards rate on restaurants, grocery store purchases, and flights booked directly through airlines or through Amextravel.com, giving you more flexibility in choosing an airline.

  • Annual fee
    $149
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 in first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel, Airline
  • Ongoing Purchases APR
    21.49% - 28.49% Variable
  • Recommended credit score
    Excellent/Good
  • Rewards rate
    • 3x on Southwest purchases
    • 2x on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
    • 2x on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
    • 2x on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming
    • 1x on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • 7,500 bonus points after your Cardmember anniversary
    • $75 Southwest travel credit each year

Why we like it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card has a much more modest fee than the United Club Infinite Card and you'll earn a higher rewards rate on all Southwest purchases, rideshare services, internet or streaming services. Plus, the card includes perks like free checked bags.

  • Annual fee
    $0
  • Welcome offer
    Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first 3 months
  • Card type(s)
    Travel
  • Purchase APR
    19.99% - 29.99% variable
  • Introductory APR
    0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then variable 19.99% - 29.99% APR
  • Recommended credit score
    Good, Excellent
  • Rewards rate
    • 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
    • 1.25x miles on all other purchases
  • Benefits
    • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
    • Transfer your miles to more than 15 travel partners
    • Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad

Why we like it: For those who want a more general travel rewards card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards card is a standout choice. Notably, it has a promotional APR offer, which could be useful for large purchases or balance transfers.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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