United credit cards increase welcome bonus: New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 miles (2024)

Some offers mentioned below are no longer available.

Chase is boosting the welcome bonuses on many of its United Airlines' co-branded credit cards — with several increased offers being extended and two new limited-time intro bonuses worth up to 100,000 miles.

These personal and small business credit cards all have bigger intro bonuses:

• United Quest℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Gateway℠ Card
• United Club℠ Business Card
• United℠ Business Card

These cards also come with a handful of benefits that are great for frequent United flyers, like extra miles on United purchases and access to more award seats on United when booking flights with miles.

The United credit cards fall underChase's 5/24 rule, which means you aren't likely to be approved for one if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months. For instance, if you've opened two Citi credit cards, two Amex cards and one Chase credit card within the past 24 months, then you will likely be denied a new Chase card until your 5/24 count decreases.

You also won't be eligible for a second version of a card (and its welcome bonus) if you currently have it or received it during the last 24 months. For example, if you received a bonus for the United Explorer Card during the last 24 months, you will not be eligible for a new bonus on the Explorer card. But if you had signed up for the Explorer Card in the last 24 months and were applying for the United Business Card or United Gateway Card now, you would be able to receive a bonus on either of those cards.

This offer is being extended through Mar. 13, 2024, and new United Quest℠ Card members can earn 70,000 miles and 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening the account.

The United Quest Card is a good fit for anyone who frequently flies with United. Every year, you'll receive up to $125 in statement credits for United purchases. You can also receive up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits every anniversary year. You'll earn that rebate by getting 5,000 miles back on up to two United flights you book with miles per anniversary year.

New United℠ Explorer Card cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, it has a $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $95. This offer is being extended through Mar. 13, 2024

This is a respectable bonus, especially since you don't have to pay the annual fee during the first year. If you don't anticipate earning United Elite status this year, this card's perks can fill in for some of those missing benefits. For example, you and a companion will get your first checked bag free when you pay for the flight with this card. You'll also get priority boarding and two United Club passes each year.

With the United Gateway℠ Card, new cardholders can earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. This offer is being extended through Mar. 13, 2024.

This is a good option for those who don't want to pay an annual fee but still want to collect United miles. Plus, cardholders get access to expanded United award availability and 25% back on United Club premium drink purchases and inflight food, beverage or Wi-Fi purchases.

The United Club℠ Business Card has an increased welcome bonus of 75,000 miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying points(PQP), which you'll earn after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening the account. This offer ends Apr. 3, 2024.

This card is a great option for anyone interested in United Club airport lounge access. A United Club membership costs $550 to $650 ( or 75,000 to 85,000 miles) depending on your level of United elite status. With this card, you'll get a United Club membership and only have to pay its $450 annual fee.

Through Apr. 3, 2024, you can earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months after opening a United℠ Business Card. This is an excellent offer that's worth double the previous bonus.

Cardholders receive two United Club passes per year, a free checked bag for you and a companion and priority boarding. If you also have a personal United credit card, you'll earn a 5,000-mile bonus every card anniversary.

United miles can be used for a variety of things like car rentals and hotels, but you'll get the best value when using them to book flights on United or with its Star Alliance partners (including Air Canada, Avianca, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and more). United no longer has an award chart, so award prices are subject to dynamic pricing and can increase at any time.

One smart way to use these miles is to book flights within the U.S. in economy class for as little as 5,000 miles for shorter one-way flights. If you want to venture a little further from home, flights to Caribbean destinations can start at 15,00 miles one-way in economy and 35,000 to 40,000 miles one-way in business class. And economy flights to Europe, the South Pacific or Asia generally cost around 40,000 to 60,000 miles one-way.

If you're looking for a travel credit card but want more flexibility with your points, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which is currently offering a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. You can transfer Chase points to United (or one of its other transfer partners) at a 1:1 ratio, meaning you could have 60,000 United miles after earning that welcome bonus.

If you use those 60,000 Chase points with Chase Travel℠, get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.

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