United Airlines Credit Card Updates: Higher Annual Fees and New Perks

United Airlines credit card updates - New card offers, higher annual fees, and added benefits and perks

United Airlines is overhauling its Chase co-branded personal and business credit cards, raising annual fees across the board and adding new benefits. The changes apply immediately for existing cardholders and new applicants. For existing cardholders: most card renewals will see fee increases starting on August 1, 2025, with United Explorer cards adjusting on January 1, 2026.

The refresh impacts all Chase United cards, including United Gateway℠, United℠ Explorer, United Quest℠, United Club℠, United℠ Business, and United Club℠ Business. We’ll break down the key changes, covering welcome bonuses, fees, earning rates, and primary benefits for each card.

Comparison: New United Personal Cards

United Gateway	United Explorer	United Quest	United Club
30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 within 3 months	80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within 3 months	90,000 bonus miles + 500 PQP after you spend $4,000 within 3 months	95,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 within 3 months
$0 annual fee	~~$95~~ $150 annual fee (waived 1st year)	~~$250~~ $350 annual fee	~~$525~~ $695 annual fee
2x on United purchases 2x on Local transit 2x on Gas	2x on United purchases 2x on Hotels 2x on Dining	3x on United purchases 2x on All other travel 2x on Dining 2x on Select streaming	4x on United purchases 2x on All other travel 2x on Dining
0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months 25% back on United inflight purchases	2 annual United Club one-time passes Free 1st checked bag Priority boarding $120 TSA pre-check/Global Entry credit 25% back on United inflight purchases New – Up to $60 annual rideshare credits New – 3-month Instacart+ membership with up to $120 in credits annually New – Up to $100 annual JSX credits	$200 annual United travel credit Free 1st and 2nd checked bags Priority boarding $120 TSA pre-check/Global Entry credit 25% back on United inflight purchases New – Up to $100 annual rideshare credits New – 3-month Instacart+ membership with up to $180 in credits annually New – Up to $150 annual JSX credits New – 1,000 card bonus PQP each year (starting 2026) 10,000-mile award flight discount annually	United Club lounge membership Free 1st and 2nd checked bags Premier Access® travel services $120 TSA pre-check/Global Entry credit 25% back on United inflight purchases New – Up to $150 annual rideshare credits New – Instacart+ membership with up to $240 in credits annually New – Up to $200 annual JSX credits New – 1,500 card bonus PQP each year (starting 2026) 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards IHG One Rewards Platinum Status and Avis Presidents Club Status
Learn more or apply	Learn more or apply	Learn more or apply	Learn more or apply

Terms apply. Offers subject to change. Refer to card issuer for full details.

Comparison: New United Business Credit Cards

United Business	United Club Business
125,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 within 3 months	125,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 within 3 months
~~$99~~ $150 annual fee	~~$450~~ $695 annual fee
2x on United purchases 2x on Dining 2x on Gas 2x on Office supply 2x on Local transit	2x on United purchases 1.5x on All other purchases
2 annual United Club one-time passes Free 1st checked bag Priority boarding 25% back on United inflight purchases New – Up to $100 annual rideshare credits New – 3-month Instacart+ membership with up to $240 in credits annually New – Up to $100 annual JSX credits	United Club lounge membership Free 1st and 2nd checked bags Premier Access® travel services 25% back on United inflight purchases New – Up to $150 annual rideshare credits New – Instacart+ membership with up to $240 in credits annually New – Up to $200 annual JSX credits Avis President’s Club Status
Learn more or apply	Learn more or apply

Tip: When you hold a United business card and a United personal card, you can earn a 5,000-mile bonus each card anniversary.

Terms apply. Offers subject to change. Refer to card issuer for full details.

The Bottom Line: Chase United Airlines Credit Card Updates

United is revamping its credit cards with new annual fees and perks. The lineup now includes monthly and yearly credits similar to the “coupon book” made popular by Amex. All annual fee cards still offer some form of free checked bags and priority boarding, with 25% back on in-flight purchases. The key differences are in lounge access (United Club membership vs limited United Club passes), earning rates on United purchases (above the standard 2x miles), and tiered credits for rideshare, Instacart, and JSX.

As always, consider the welcome bonus, earning rates, benefits, and annual credits you get from the card. You can use our first year value calculator to help. The key is making sure the card’s value for you outweighs its annual fee.

Read more articles related to the United Airlines credit card updates:

Which United Card is best? – Frequent Miler
United Airlines is relaunching its credit cards – Yahoo Finance
Chase Raises Annual Fees on United Airlines Credit Cards – 10x travel

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