Richest Signup Bonus Ever For The Chase United Club Card With Club Membership, 2 Free Checked Bags, And Waived Close-In Fees!

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The United Club card is the premium version of the United Explorer card. However until now I’ve never seen it offer any bonus miles for signing up. In the past Chase has felt that the card benefits were rich enough that they didn’t need to offer a signup bonus for the card. But for a limited time only you can get 50,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 within 3 months on the card!

You can get this card even if you currently have a United Explorer card and even if you received a bonus on the Explorer card in the past 24 months as this is a different product.

 

You can view credit card offers by hovering over the “Credit Cards” tab. You can click on “Top Credit Card Offers“ and then hover over “Card Type” to find card offers from the bank you’re looking for.

 

A short-haul United domestic award under 700 miles in distance is just 10,000 miles.  That’s more than the BA 7.5K short-haul, but availability is much better, it allows for a longer flight distance, and you are allowed to have connections for the same rate, something that BA doesn’t allow.

Best of all United never charges any fuel surcharges. Other airlines like American collect massive fuel surcharges to fly on British Airways. Delta charges fuel surcharges to fly on some partners and if you originate in Europe and other regions. United will never collect a fuel surcharge and they have access to awards on 40 partner airlines which means better availability on more awards.

United also allows free open-jaws and “Excursionist-perk” stopovers.

The United Club card costs a whopping $450 per year. In the past that was a trade-off against the benefits, but now the 50K signup bonus is worth much more than the fee. The card comes loaded with excellent benefits:

  • Full United Club membership:
    This membership normally costs $550 per year plus a $50 initiation fee for non-elites. A full United Club membership allows your entire family, or you and 2 guests, to enter hundreds of United and partner lounges worldwide, regardless of which airline you are flying.
    Here is a dreadfully incomplete list of lounges. For example I’ve used my United membership card in Tel Aviv but they’re not listed as accepting a United Club membership.
  • 2 Free Checked Bags:
    You and one companion automatically get 2 free checked bags on United worldwide. If you bring 2 bags each that’s a savings of $240 domestically or a savings of $400 to most international destinations (China, Europe, Israel, etc) on a round-trip. Additional cards are free, and although they don’t automatically get 2 free bags like the primary cardholder, they may be able to at the checkin counter by showing the agent their United Club card if you purchase their ticket using the United Club card. This has worked for my additional users, but it’s a YMMV (your mileage may vary) situation as its up to the checkin agent. For a family of 4 with 8 checked bags you can split your itinerary into 2 after purchasing it, and then with 1 primary card and 1 additional card all 8 checked bags may be free, a savings of $480 domestically or $800 to most international destinations on a round-trip.
  • Waived Award Close-In Fees:
    If you are a primary United Club cardholder you can book awards with the pesky $75 per passenger fee for booking an award ticket within 21 days. Not coincidentally, that’s exactly when the best award availability starts to open up. This benefit is more valuable than before thanks to United closing the loophole of avoiding the close-in fee online, though some phone agents still waive the expedite fee that way for everyone. Either way, it’s a lot easier when you have a Club card and can book online with the fees automatically waived.
  • Premier Access and Boarding:
    You’ll get priority check-in, priority baggage handling (your bags will arrive ahead of the non-priority baggage), priority security line access, and priority boarding.
  • 1.5 United Miles per dollar spent everywhere
    This benefit was more valuable before the Freedom Unlimited started offering 1.5 points per dollar everywhere. There are some advantages though. The United card has no foreign transaction fees vs the 3% fee on the Freedom Unlimited card. The Freedom Unlimited card also requires having a premium card with an annual fee to transfer points into miles. It’s not hard at all to get at least 1.7 cents value per mile, but at that rate it’s a 2.55% rebate on everything you buy. Considering you can pay your federal income taxes for a 1.87% fee, you will be able to load up on miles the next time you pay taxes and be excited about getting a discounted vacation out of it!  It would come out to a cost of just 1.22 cents per United mile, which is an incredible bargain, plus you may even be able to deduct the 1.87% fee!
  • World of Hyatt Discoverist status
    Hyatt Discoverists get 10% bonus points, preferred room upgrades, free WiFi, free bottled water, and 2pm late checkout.
  • Hertz President’s Circle status
    Hertz President’s Circle elites get 25% bonus points,.confirmed upgrades, confirmed vehicles when sold out, and more.
  • No foreign Transaction fees:
    Get the best rates and pay no exchange rate fees.

As with the Explorer card, you also get these benefits:

  • Expanded award ticket availability:
    Cardholders have access to expanded saver coach award availability (XN class), last seat standard coach award availability (YN class), and last seat standard business/first class award availability (JN class). It’s not just slightly expanded. There is a world of difference between the availability that cardholders can access and the availability for non-cardholders. You can read more about expanded availability and its minutiae in this post or in this post. As you have better access to saver coach awards you’ll also have better ability to do Plan B awards. Plan B allows you to redeem for saver business and first class awards when there’s only saver coach available. Read more about Plan B in this post.
  • Basic Economy restrictions avoidance:
    Premier members and their companions can take advantage of priority boarding, free checked baggage, and free carry-on baggage, even when flying on a basic economy fare.
  • Primary CDW Rental Car Insurance:
    Many credit cards only offer secondary CDW rental car insurance, meaning that you must first file a claim with your personal insurance which will affect your rates. The United cards will cover accidents without the need to make any claim with your personal insurance in every country in the world.
  • Premier upgrades on award tickets:
    Premier members will be eligible for upgrades by being a United cardholder.
  • Non-expiring miles:
    As long as you’re a United cardholder your miles will never expire.
  • PQD Waiver:
    Spend $25K in a calendar year and United will waive the flight spend requirement to earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status. More info in this post.

You can view credit card offers by hovering over the “Credit Cards” tab. You can then click on “Credit Cards From All Banks“ to find card offers via the logo of the bank you’re looking for.

Will you signup for a United Club card?

HT: myi, via DDF

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65 Comments On "Richest Signup Bonus Ever For The Chase United Club Card With Club Membership, 2 Free Checked Bags, And Waived Close-In Fees!"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

esteban

sign up link?

Sam

any Chance this card dosent fall under the 5/24 rule?

d

I might sign up just for the better mileage availability…
If it’s not as good as you make it seem, can I cancel the card and have my annual fee prorated?

yoni

Is this still recommended if you have the reserve? (or would the explorer card suffice)?

Al

I got this card when it was free for the first year. Not worth $450!

Ah

Can I upgrade my explorer card for this one?

ELIYAHU KUGEL

Till when is this promo going to be available? Thank you!

Rivkah

Is this card the same as united presidential

E

5/24?

Sam

You can not get this card If your over 5/24 and it will also count for your 5/24

Ben g

Does the added bag work with air canada as I booked a trip to israel newark-tlv air canada, tlv-newak united

Debra

Can you get this card as busniess card like the Explorer? Or just personal?

Sam

Just signed up for explorer card about a month ago. Going to Vegas in November from ewr. Dan, correct me if I’m wrong but I believe if you get basic economy fair ticket with explorer card you can’t pick your seats. Which is a hassle if your flying with a spouse.

HMP

If I already purchased a United Club membership for this year . Does the card fee roll over to the following year or can I get a prorated refund on this year’s club fee ?

Eliezer

Is there a way to book an economy seat w extra legroom or premium economy with miles? It always shows just economy and business

yankel

how does it compare to the chase reserve? and which points are worth more?

Curious

1 UR > 1 United Point , UR transfers to United AND to other airlines.

Curious

To get the free bags, do you have to make the purchase on United and with the Club card, or is putting your FFN on the reservation enough? TIA

Paul

Gutten moed Dan if I’m in Israel now and I’m trying to get back right after sukkos after flying air Berlin the way there and there telling me they won’t rebook me for the way back only partial refund for leg I didn’t fly and I booked this on a csr is there a way I can book a one way on priceline and have chase cover it under some travel insurance thing ? Because I’m stuck here after sukkos and one way tickets are very expensive thank you for your help

Rachel

Do Authorized Users also get club lounge access?

Curious

No

Jo

Is there a yearly travel credit like the reserve has? (300)

Curious

No

Ben

If I sign up for the card, will my spouse get club access without me being there (not traveling with her)?

Tzvi

Is there any expanded availability for the club card versus the explorer card? For premier status? Also Is there anyway to get premier status without actually flying 25,000 miles? These have to be paid miles and if I’m always flying for free it doesn’t count.

Dov

Expanded is nice
But I am not paying $450
And to buy miles for $450? Really?

Sam

You can downgrade this to a free card and get back the 450.

SHAGY

DO YOU HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO GET THE PRESIDENTS CIRCLE OR COMES WITH THE CARD

yoni

Is there a difference in expanded award ticket availability between the millageplus club card and the milage explorer card?

Abepin

Hi Dan,

I currently have an offer for this card through my United online account with the annual fee waived for the first year, is it still going to give me the 50K bonus miles?

Thank you.

Joseph

@Dan, I know you said you were able to access the Dan lounge in TLV using the United Club card. Are you sure that’s still possible? I just checked the Lounge Access policy for united on Star Alliance contract lounges (the Dan lounge at TLV is a Star Alliance contract lounge) and apparently only star alliance gold members have access, whereas paid lounge membership (such as United Club) are not granted access to contract lounges, only to star alliance lounges.

Is it possible this changed since you last accessed it, or is it possible you were granted access due to being star alliance gold?

Dave

Hi Dan – if I get this card and I’m flying with my wife and children, will they all get Premier Access and Priority Boarding along with me? Thanks Dan!

Explorer_card

Dan – I am looking for a link on your website to get the explorer card so you can get a referral fee…can’t find one. Can you send one my way?

Eli

Do additional card holders also get the waived close in fees?

MOSHE

You can view credit card offers by hovering over the “Credit Cards” tab. You can then click on “Credit Cards From All Banks“ to find card offers via the logo of the bank you’re looking for.

THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR ME. I ONLY SEE THESE OPTIONS

Top Credit Card Offers
Limited Time Credit Card Offers
Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Business Credit Cards
Hotel Credit Cards
Cash Back Credit Cards
Student Credit Cards
0% APR Credit Cards
0% Foreign Transaction Fee Cards
No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Sam

The United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card has a similar signup bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. It doesn’t have the extras, like 2 free bags, etc., but the annual fee is only $95, and it’s waived for the first year. What’s your feeling about that package?

Jane

is the close in fee waived for any tickets booked out of the mileage plus account or only for the cardholder?

Boaz

Hi Dan. If I sign up for this card and then purchase a saver award ticket on United’s site between Israel and Newark, but the flight is through one of their partners (I’ve never personally seen super saver tickets on United), will I still get the free luggage? Or it HAS to be on a United flight?

Also, do I understand correctly that if we spend $25k on this card, we automatically attain Platinum status without having to do anything else? Thanks!

Jane

I believe you still have to fly a certain amount of segments or miles for the status you are aiming for – you just don’t have to spend a required minimum on the flights.

Paul

I am a perennially United Gold member and I looking at the United Club Card as an alternative to the United Plus explorer Card. I do not see the value of paying 450 dollars annual fee. Am I missing something ?

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