After Major United Card Shakeup, Which Card Should You Have?

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Last week, United overhauled their credit card portfolio and announced new limited time card offers:

• The New United Gateway℠ Card: Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in 3 months, plus 12 months 0% APR on purchases.
• The New United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000, plus $0 intro annual fee.
• The New United Quest℠ Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles+500 PQPs after spending $4,000 in 3 months.
• The New United Club℠ Card: Earn 95,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months.
• The New United℠ Business Card: Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months.
• The New United Business Club Card (Click on apply now to reach this card application), Earn 125,000 miles after spending $5,000 in 3 months.

Will the refreshed portfolio change what United card you should have? That depends on what you need from the cards.

• If you want 1 free checked bag with the lowest annual fee and highest benefits:
  • If you just want your first checked bag for free, your options are The New United℠ Explorer Card or The New United℠ Business Card. Both cards now carry a $150 annual fee, which you can make back after you and a companion check a single round-trip, as those can cost $40-$100 each way. Both cards offer the same checked bag benefit, a free checked bag worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares. Advantage: Tie
  • Signup bonus and annual fee: The United Consumer Explorer Card comes with an 80K signup bonus for spending $3,000 in 3 months and the $150 annual fee is waived for the first year. The United Business Card comes with an 125K signup bonus for spending $5,000 in 3 months and the $150 annual fee is not waived for the first year. Chase tells us that paying yourself back for the updated annual fee will range between 1.35-1.5 cents per mile, so covering the $150 annual fee will cost between 10,000-11,111 miles. Thanks to the higher signup bonus, that means the business card is better than the consumer card, even without the waived annual fee. Advantage: Business card.
  • Rideshare benefits: The United Consumer Explorer Card comes with a $5 monthly rideshare credit. The United Business Card comes with an $8 monthly ($12 in December) rideshare credit. Advantage: Business card.
  • Avis/Budget benefit: Both cards offer $25 United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year for Avis/Budget rentals. Advantage: Tie
  • Farelock benefit: The United Business Card offers $25 in annual statement credits when you buy United FareLock, the consumer card has no FareLock benefit. Advantage: Business card.
  • Companion card benefit: The United Business Card offers 5,000 bonus miles annually if you also have a United Consumer card, the consumer card has no companion card benefit. Advantage: Business card.
  • JSX benefit: Both cards offer $100 in annual statement credits for JSX flights. Advantage: Tie
  • Instacart benefit: Both cards offer 3 months of Instacart+ and $10 in monthly credits for Instacart purchases. Advantage: Tie
  • Elite award upgrade benefit: The United Business Card offers elites the ability to get upgraded on CPU eligible award flights, the consumer card has no upgrade benefit. Advantage: Business card.
  • Miles per dollar spent: The United Consumer Explorer Card offers 1 mile per dollar spent everywhere, plus 2 miles per dollar on hotels and dining as well as on United purchases. The United Business Card offers 1 mile per dollar spent everywhere, plus 2 miles per dollar on restaurants, gas stations, office supply stores, local transit, taxis, tolls, mass transit, and ride share services, as well as on United purchases. Advantage: Business card.
  • PQP benefits: The United Consumer Explorer Card offers 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs for $20,000 spending. The United Business Card offers 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 4,000 PQPs for $80,000 spending. Advantage: Business card.
  • Flight purchase benefit: The United Business Card offers $125 in United TravelBank cash when you buy 5 $100+ United flights in a calendar year, the consumer card has no purchase benefit. Advantage: Business card.
  • TravelBank benefit: The United Consumer Explorer Card offers $100 United TravelBank cash after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, the business card has no Travelbank benefit for general spending. Advantage: Consumer card.
  • Award discount benefit: The United Consumer Explorer Card offers a 10,000 miles award discount after spending $20,000 in a calendar year, the business card has no award discount benefit. Advantage: Consumer card.
  • Economy Plus benefit: The United Business Card offers 2 continental US Economy Plus upgrades after spending $25,000 in a calendar year, the consumer card has no purchase benefit. Advantage: Business card.
  • Roadside Assistance: The United Business Card offers 4 free Roadside assistance incidents per year, the consumer card has no Roadside assistance. Advantage: Business card.
  • Both cards offer: Discounted award pricing and expanded saver award availability, 2 free United Club passes every year for being a cardmember, valid when the primary or secondary card user is present. Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS for free. 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash. Primary rental car CDW insurance in every country (domestic rental coverage is secondary for NY residents). A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares. Priority boarding for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares. 25% statement credit for food, beverage, and WiFi purchases on United flights. No foreign transaction fees. Baggage delay insurance. Lost Baggage Insurance. Trip delay insurance. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Extended warranty. Purchase protection.

That’s 10 wins for the United Business Card and 2 wins for the United Consumer Explorer Card, making this question a no-brainer.

• If you want 2 free checked bags, and/or Club access, and/or PQPs for high tier elite status:
  • If you just want your first 2 checked bags for free, your options are The New United Quest℠ Card or The New United Club℠ Card or The New United Business Club Card (Click on apply now to reach this card application). All 3 of these cards offer the same checked bag benefit, 2 free checked bags worldwide for the cardholder and a companion, even on basic economy fares. Advantage: Tie
  • Signup bonus: The United Quest Consumer Card comes with a 90K signup bonus, plus 500 PQPs, for spending $4,000 in 3 months. The United Club Consumer Card comes with a 95K signup bonus for spending $5,000 in 3 months. The United Club Business Card comes with a 125K signup bonus for spending $5,000 in 3 months. Advantage: Club Business card.
  • Annual fee: The United Quest Consumer Card has a $350 annual fee. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card have a $695 annual fee. Chase tells us that paying yourself back for the updated annual fee will range between 1.35-1.5 cents per mile, so covering the $350 annual fee will cost between 23,000-25,925 miles and covering the $695 annual fee will cost between 46,333-51,481 miles. Advantage: Quest card. 
  • TravelBank credit: The United Quest Consumer Card comes with $200 in annual United TravelBank credits. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card have no TravelBank credits. Advantage: Quest card.
  • Club membership: The United Quest Consumer Card has no club membership or passes. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card come with a United Club membership and can bring 1 free adult guest plus all dependent kids under 18 to United Clubs. Spend $50K annually or have United Gold or higher to bring in 2 guests to United Clubs and have Star Alliance lounge access, plus get 4 Club passes with an additional user card. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Award discount benefits: The United Quest Consumer Card offers a 10K award discount automatically upon card anniversary and a bonus 10K award discount for spending $20K in a calendar year. The United Club Consumer Card offers a 10K award discount for spending $20K in a calendar year and another 10K award discount for spending $40K in a calendar year. The United Club Business Card offers no award discount. Advantage: Club Consumer and Quest, with Quest taking the win overall.
  • Saver award discounts: The United Club Consumer Card offers 10% off saver award tickets in the US49 and Canada. The United Quest Consumer Card and United Club Business Card do not offer this discount. Advantage: Club Consumer
  • Renowned Hotels and Resorts benefits: The United Quest Consumer Card comes with a $150 annual Renowned Hotels and Resorts statement credit. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card come with a $200 annual Renowned Hotels and Resorts statement credit. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Rideshare benefits: The United Quest Consumer Card comes with an $8 monthly ($12 in December) rideshare credit. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card come with a $12 monthly ($18 in December) rideshare credit. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Avis/Budget benefit: The United Quest Consumer Card offers $40 United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year for Avis/Budget rentals. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offer $50 United TravelBank cash, up to twice per year for Avis/Budget rentals. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Farelock benefit: The United Club Business Card offers $50 in annual statement credits when you buy United FareLock, the consumer cards have no FareLock benefit. Advantage: Club Business card.
  • Companion card benefit: The United Club Business Card offers 5,000 bonus miles annually if you also have a United Consumer card, the consumer cards have no companion card benefit. Advantage: Club Business card.
  • JSX benefit: The United Quest Consumer Card offers $150 in annual statement credits for JSX flights. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offer $200 in annual statement credits for JSX flights. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Instacart benefit: The United Quest Consumer Card offers 6 months of Instacart+ and $15 in monthly credits for Instacart purchases. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offer free Instacart+ through 2027 and $20 in monthly credits for Instacart purchases. flights. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Elite award upgrade benefit: All of these cards offer elites the ability to get upgraded on CPU eligible award flights. Advantage: Tie.
  • Miles per dollar spent: The United Quest Consumer Card offers 1 mile per dollar spent everywhere, plus 2 miles per dollar on travel, dining, and streaming, and 3 miles per dollar on United purchases. The United Club Consumer Card offers 1 mile per dollar spent everywhere, plus 2 miles per dollar on travel and dining, and 4 miles per dollar on United purchases. The United Club Business Card offers 1.5 miles per dollar spent everywhere, plus 2 miles per dollar on United purchases. Advantage: Club Business card for spending overall, though Quest and Club Consumer have some category advantages.
  • Starter PQP benefits: The United Quest Consumer Card offers 1,000 starter PQPs annually, starting in 2026. The United Club Consumer Card offers 1,500 starter PQPs annually, starting in 2026. The United Club Business Card offers no starter PQPs. Advantage: Quest, with Club Consumer taking the win overall.
  • PQP benefits: The United Quest Consumer Card offers 1 PQPs for every $20 spent, up to a maximum of 18,000 PQPs for $360,000 spending. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offers 1 PQPs for every $15 spent, up to a maximum of 28,000 PQPs for $420,000 spending. Advantage: Club cards, but combined with 50% bonus miles on everyday spending, Club Business takes the win overall.
  • IHG Platinum Status: The United Club Consumer Card offers IHG Platinum status. The United Quest Consumer Card and United Club Business Card do not offer IHG status. Advantage: Club Consumer
  • Avis Presidents Club Status: The United Club Consumer Card and United Club Business Card offer Avis Presidents Club Status. The United Quest Consumer Card does not offer Avis Presidents Club Status. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Primary rental car CDW insurance: The United Quest Consumer Card and United Club Consumer Card offers this in every country (domestic rental coverage is secondary for NY residents). The United Club Business Card offers primary CDW in the US only if the rental is primarily for business purposes, but coverage is primary outside of the US on all rentals. Advantage: Quest and Club Consumer.
  • Economy Plus benefit: The United Club Business Card offers 2 Global Economy Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year, the consumer cards have no purchase benefit. Advantage: Club Business card.
  • Premier Access benefit: The United Quest Consumer Card offers priority boarding. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offer Premier Access checking, baggage handling, security, and boarding. Advantage: Club cards.
  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: The United Quest Consumer Card offers $1,500 of coverage per person, up to $6K per trip. The United Club Consumer Card and the United Club Business Card offers $10,000 of coverage per person, up to $20K per trip. Advantage: Club cards.
  • All cards offer: Discounted award pricing and expanded saver award availability, Global Entry/PreCheck/NEXUS for free. Roadside assistance. 1 year free DoorDash membership, plus $10 off quarterly on grocery, convenience, or other non-restaurant orders from DoorDash. A free carry-on bag for the cardholder and companions, even on basic economy fares. 25% statement credit for food, beverage, and WiFi purchases on United flights. No foreign transaction fees. Baggage delay insurance. Lost Baggage Insurance. Trip delay insurance. Extended warranty. Purchase protection.

That’s 16 wins for the United Club Business Card, 15 wins for the United Club Consumer Card and 5 wins for the United Quest Consumer Card.

Which should you get?

• If you just care about the 2 free bags and don’t care about Club access, the Quest card is a great choice.
• If you want Club access and don’t plan on spending on the card, you’ll probably want the United Club Consumer Card.
• If you want Club access and plan on spending on the card or going for elite status via spending, you’ll probably want the United Club Business Card.

If you have a grandfathered Presidential Plus card, you still have the cheapest Club access at $600 per year, though without any of the benefits of the other Club cards. You may want to consider changing to a Club card product if you value any of the new perks or want to earn elite status, or may want to stick with the card if you just want the lowest cost Club access.

If you have a United Business or Business Club card, you may also want to get the United Gateway℠ Card. You can also downgrade a United consumer card to that card after having one for 12 months. That card has no annual fee and is losing its main benefit of discounted award tickets and expanded saver award availability, but it will still trigger 5,000 annual bonus miles for having that card and a United business card.

Which United cards will you keep, add, or cancel from your card portfolio?