A deluxe airline card with a pricey annual fee #CashNews.co

United Airlines is one of the most popular airlines in the country. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, United was fourth in terms of domestic market share in 2023, making up about 16% of the market.

For frequent travelers who prefer to fly on United Airlines and who are part of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program, the United Club℠ Infinite Card may be a useful addition to their wallets. Although this travel credit card has a steep annual fee, it has valuable rewards and benefits that you may find justifies the cost.

How to earn rewards

The United Club Infinite Card is a good fit for those who fly often on United Airlines, and you maximize your rewards by using your card to purchase your airline tickets, inflight food and beverages and internet service. On United purchases, you’ll earn four miles per $1 spent.

For other travel expenses, including hotel stays and rental cars, you’ll earn two miles for every $1 you spend, so using your card for your vacation costs can help you build rewards.

According to Pacaso, a vacation for two people will typically cost about $3,800 for a week’s trip. If you spent that amount and used your United Club Infinite Card to cover the full cost of your vacation, here’s how much you could earn in rewards:

Depending on how you redeemed those rewards later, your miles could be worth anywhere from $93.60 to $156.

How to redeem rewards

You can redeem your miles by visiting United.com/MileagePlus or by calling 800-421-4655. You can choose from the following options:

• Flights

• Hotel stays

• Car rentals

• Cruises

• Gift cards

• Charitable donations

Unlike other cards, the United Club Infinite Card doesn’t have a fixed value for its miles, so the value of your rewards can fluctuate. In general, each mile you earn is worth anywhere from $0.009 to $0.015 depending on your redemption method.

Typically, redeeming your miles for flights on United Airlines or one of United’s airline partners. gives you the most value for each mile.

Additional benefits

The United Club Infinite Card has a strong rewards program, but it stands out from competitor cards because of the lengthy list of travel benefits and luxurious perks it provides:

• United Club membership lounge access: Your card provides you with free United Club membership access. You can access United Club and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges at airports all over the world and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks.

• Free first and second checked bags: Your first and second checked bags — for you and a companion — are free on qualifying flights.

• $100 statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry: Save time by signing up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to breeze through security lines. Your card entitles you to a $100 statement credit every four years.

• No foreign transaction fees: The United Club Infinite Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, so you won’t pay an added fee to use the card outside of the U.S.

• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: If your trip is interrupted or canceled due to illness, severe weather or another covered reason, the card will reimburse you for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip in non-refundable expenses.

• Baggage delay insurance: If you’re traveling and your luggage is delayed by six hours or more, the United Club Infinite Card will reimburse you up to $100 per day, for ip to three days, to purchase toiletries, clothes and other replacement items.

• Lost luggage reimbursement: If you’re traveling via a common carrier and they lose your luggage, you’re covered up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip is delayed by 12 hours or more, you’re covered up to $500 per ticket for meals, hotel stays and other expenses.

• Auto rental damage collision waiver: The United Club Infinite Card provides primary protection against damages or theft of a rental car, as long as you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and pay for the entire rental with your card.

• Purchase protection: New purchases are covered against damages or theft, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

• Return protection: If you purchase an item and the merchant won’t take it back, you’re backed by return protection. It reimburses you up to $500 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per year.

• Extended warranty protection: Extended warranty protection extends the warranties of three years or less by one year.

• Visa Infinite Concierge: The Visa Infinite Concierge is a 24/7 service that can help you secure hard-to-get reservations, concert tickets and more.

Who is the United Club Infinite Card best for?

The United Club Infinite Card is best for frequent travelers who prefer United Airlines and airport lounge access. With this card, you’ll earn four miles per $1 spent on United tickets and other purchases, and you’ll receive complimentary United Club membership at locations worldwide.

United Club Infinite Card pros

• No foreign transaction fees: Unlike many cards, the United Club Infinite Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. That feature makes it an especially useful credit card to take with you when you travel outside of the U.S.

• Includes travel insurance: The United Club Infinite Card provides robust travel insurance protection, including coverage for rental cars and trip delays.

• Attainable new cardmember offer: Compared to some cards, which have steep spending requirements, the United Club Infinite Card’s welcome offer is more attainable. The card’s welcome offer requires you to spend at least $5,000 over three months. If you use your card for routine purchases — including groceries, utility bills, insurance payments or gas — you could easily reach that spending requirement.

United Club Infinite Card cons

• No introductory APR: The United Club Infinite Card doesn’t have a promotional APR offer for purchases or balance transfers, so you’ll always pay the normal APR for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.

• Steep annual fee: At $525, the United Club Infinite Card has an expensive annual fee. Unless you frequently fly on United Airlines, you may not earn enough rewards or use the card’s other benefits enough to justify the fee.

• Less flexibility with rewards: When you earn your rewards, you get the most value by redeeming them for United Airlines flights or by transferring them to an airline partner. Other redemption methods, such as gift cards, will give you less value for your points.

How to make a United Club Infinite Card payment

The United Club Infinite Card is a co-branded card issued by Chase. You can make payments on the United Club Infinite Card through the Chase mobile app, sending a check in the mail or by calling customer support.

United Club Infinite Card customer service info

Chase is well-known for its customer service. In fact, J.D. Power ranked Chase fifth out of 16 credit card issuers in its 2023 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

Alternative cards to consider

If you prefer to fly on other airlines or want a card with a lower annual fee, consider these options:

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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