Chase United Club Infinite Card Review 2024

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is Chase’s high-end United co-branded personal card. It offers perks such as United Club and Star Alliance Lounge access, free first and second checked bags on United flights, up to a $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit and more.

Alongside priority travel benefits and discounts on eligible inflight purchases, it includes certain travel insurance and purchase protections.

If you fly United often and want it to be as comfortable as possible, the United Club℠ Infinite Card is worth considering if you can stomach the annual fee.

• $525 annual fee
• United Club and Star Alliance Lounge access
• Free first and second checked bags on United when you use your card to book your flight
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points, 25 PQP per $500 spent on your card each calendar year
• Expanded award availability when using miles to book United-operated flights; 10% discount on economy saver tickets
• Earn 4 miles per dollar on United® purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, on dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
• $0 foreign transaction fees
• Eligibility for Platinum Elite status with the IHG One Rewards program
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit
• 25% back on United inflight purchases and on premium drinks in United Clubs when using your card
• Travel protections such as cancellation, delay and lost and late luggage insurance
• Purchase, return and warranty protections

Earning Rewards

With a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, the United Club℠ Infinite Card can be a great deal if you’re interested in its other benefits. If you’re mainly looking to increase your United MileagePlus balance after that initial new cardholder offer, you’ll be disappointed.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card earns 4 miles per dollar on United® purchases, 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, on dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Although the 4 points per dollar spent multiplier is currently the best way to earn MileagePlus miles when buying United tickets, you can earn more rewards with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®* which earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Since Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to United, you’re better off putting your travel and dining expenses on a Sapphire Reserve Card and transferring the rewards earned from that card to your United MileagePlus account.

Redeeming Rewards

The rewards earned with the United Club Infinite are United MileagePlus miles and can only be redeemed through United.

However, MileagePlus miles can be used to book award travel on not only United-operated flights but also flights with any Star Alliance carrier or other United partner. Miles can also be used to pay for upgrades, inflight Wi-Fi, hotel stays and car rentals.

Finally, you can use MileagePlus miles to purchase merchandise, gift cards and access to exclusive events.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card, like all United co-branded cards, opens up expanded award availability when you use miles to book any United-operated flight. This only applies to the primary cardholder’s MileagePlus account and does not open expanded availability on any of United’s partner airlines.

Rewards Potential

Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across several categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $$118,438 annually and has $39,337 in credit card spending.

• Avis President’s Club. Enroll in a complimentary Avis President’s Club membership which includes two-car class upgrades, guaranteed car availability, expedited rental service and more.
• IHG Platinum status and a $75 IHG credit. The primary cardmember is eligible for Platinum Elite status in IHG One Rewards, plus up to $75 in statement credits as reimbursement for IHG® Hotels and Resorts purchases charged to your card from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
• Premier Access. Receive priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding and baggage handling privileges to make your time at the airport easier.
• CLEAR® Plus membership perks. Get a $40 discount on a CLEAR® Plus annual membership.
• Access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. Room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, early check-in, late check-out and other amenities at more than 1,000 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.
• Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance. Reimbursement of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short by illness, severe weather or other covered situations.
• Baggage delay insurance. If your bags are delayed for over six hours by a passenger carrier, you are reimbursed for essentials like clothing and toiletries, up to $100 per day for up to three days.
• Lost luggage reimbursement. Coverage of up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry-on luggage damaged or lost by the carrier.
• Trip delay reimbursement. If your travel is delayed by the carrier for 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, up to $500 per ticket in meals, lodging and other necessary expenses will be covered.
• Visa Concierge. Around-the-clock Visa Infinite Concierge Service.
• Purchase protection. Coverage of new purchases for 120 days, against damage or theft. Limits of $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
• Return protection. Within 90 days of purchase, reimbursement for items not taken back as a return by the store. Limits of $500 per item and $1,000 per year.
• Extended warranty protection. On eligible warranties of three years or less, extended coverage of one additional year.

Interest Rates

• APR: 21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Fees

• Annual fee: $525
• Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
• Foreign purchase transaction fee: $0

If you want to earn United MileagePlus miles through a credit card, a co-branded Chase United card is your only option. Besides the United Club Infinite Card, Chase has several other cards that earn either United miles or Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to United at a 1:1 ratio.

United Club℠ Infinite Card vs. United℠ Explorer Card

The United℠ Explorer Card has a lower annual fee compared to the United Club℠ Infinite Card.

The United Explorer Card also earns a welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. Additionally, it earns 2 miles per dollar on dining including eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United® purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

But it falls short on other benefits compared to the United Club Infinite card. It earns less per dollar spent on United purchases and only provides two one-time passes to a United Club each year on your account anniversary.

If you are looking to earn a bunch of miles quickly, the United℠ Explorer Card may do the trick. But you’ll sacrifice perks such as full United Club and Star Alliance Lounge access, a second free checked bag and priority check-in, screening and baggage handling.

United Club℠ Infinite Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card* has a $95 annual fee, but it comes with a generous welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Those points have the added flexibility of being transferrable not only to United but to any of Chase’s other airline or hotel partners.

Cardholders will earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. It also comes with similar travel benefits, though it does not offer lounge access.

United Club℠ Infinite Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®*

The Chase Sapphire Reserve®* comes closest in overall value to the United Club℠ Infinite Card, but like the Sapphire Preferred, lacks United-specific benefits. It does, however, earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The $550 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®* is partially offset each year by a $300 travel credit. And receiving the welcome bonus (60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening) means you will quickly have a solid points balance.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns Ultimate Rewards points, so you gain the flexibility of being able to transfer to Chase’s airline or hotel partners. Points can also be redeemed at a value of 1.5 cents per point through the Chase Travel Portal. Additionally, the card grants access to Priority Pass lounges upon enrollment and comes with other useful perks.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is best reserved for loyal United customers. If you value United Club and Star Alliance Lounge access, free first and second checked bags and book award travel on United often, this card should definitely be in your wallet for at least the first year.

On the other hand, if you are simply looking to earn MileagePlus miles for everyday spending, there are better options. Most of the benefits of the United Club Infinite—aside from the United-specific ones—can be found on other credit cards.

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors including:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus offers
• Ongoing earning rates
• Value of individual points or miles
• Included travel or merchant credits
• Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

Read more. How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards