Higher Annual Fees On United Airlines Credit Cards, But New Statement Credits: A Detailed Breakdown

Annual fees on the entire collection of United Airlines-Chase co-branded credit cards are rising, with new benefits added (and some reduced or eliminated). Let’s take a look at these changes.

United Airlines Overhauls Credit Card Portfolio – A Rundown On The Changes

I’m going to unpack the big changes in the portfolio of Chase’s co-branded United Airlines cards. Rather than being a deep dive into each card, I just want to highlight what’s new and then offer my thoughts on each card product.

United Gateway Card

This remains a no annual fee entry-level card and now offers:

• 2 free checked bag coupons after spending $10,000 (in one calendar year)
• 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases

United Explorer Card

The annual fees on United’s base personal premium card jumps from $95 to $150 and now offers:

• Up to $60 in rideshare credits per year ($5 per month)
• Up to $100 in statement credits on United Hotels purchases ($50 credit every six months)
• Up to $100 in statement credits on JSX flights (per cardholder) anniversary year
• Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually ($10 per month)
  • Complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership also included
• $100 United Travel Bank credit after spending $10,000 on the card (in one calendar year)
• 10,000 mile award discount for a future ticket after spending $20,000 on the card (in one calendar year)
• 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $20 spent (up to 1,000 PQPs per calendar year)
• Two United Club passes (no longer fully transferable – guest must travel with cardholder)
• One free checked bag
• Premier upgrades on award tickets on Complimentary Premier Upggrade (CPU) routes no longer available effective August 1, 2025

The last point is a big devaluation…I don’t know why United cannot just generally offer Premier upgrades on award tickets, especially as award tickets are now treated like revenue tickets in terms of PQP earning.

United Quest Card

The annual fees on United’s mid-level card jumps from $250 to $350 and now offers:

• $200 in annual United Travel Bank credit
• 10,000 mile award discount for a future ticket (each anniversary year)
  • A second 10,000 mile award discount can be earned for spending $20,000 on the card (in one calendar year)
• Up to $100 in rideshare credits per year ($8 per month credit  except for December which offers $12 credit)
• Up to $150 in statement credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts purchases
• Up to $150 in statement credits on JSX flights (each anniversary year)
• Up to $180 in Instacart credits annually ($10 + $5 monthly credit, thus two transactions required)
  • Complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership also included
• 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $20 spent (up to 18,000 PQPs per calendar year)
• Head start of 1,000 PQPs per year (starting in 2026)
• Two free checked bags
• 2 global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 (in one calendar year)
• Premier upgrades on award tickets on Complimentary Premier Upggrade (CPU)

Of the card products, the Quest card strikes me as the sweet spot for frequent United flyers who do not need lounge access.

United Club Card

The annual fees on United’s premium personal card jumps from $525 to $695 and now offers:

• Up to $150 in rideshare credits per year ($12 monthly credit except for $18 credit in December)
• Up to $200 in statement credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts purchases
• Up to $200 in statement credits on JSX flights (each anniversary year)
• Up to $240 in Instacart credits annually (two $10 monthly credits)
• Complimentary Instacart+ membership
• Two free checked bags
• A 10,000 mile award discount for a future ticket after spending $20,000 on the card (in one calendar year) and a second one after spending $40,000
• 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $15 spent (up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year)
• Head start of 1,500 PQPs per year, starting in 2026
• United Club access for one guest plus dependents 18 years and younger
• Premier upgrades on award tickets on Complimentary Premier Upggrade (CPU)

More United Club access details here, including how to gain an “All Access” membership.

United Business Card

The annual fees on United’s base business card jumps from $95 to $150 and now offers:

• Up to $100 in rideshare credits per year ($8 monthly credit with $12 credit in December)
• Up to $100 in statement credits on United Hotels purchases ($50 credit every six months)
  • 5 miles per dollar on hotels booked through United
• Up to $100 in statement credits on JSX flights (each anniversary year)
• Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually ($10 monthly credit)
  • Complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership
• $125 United Travel Bank credit (after spending $100 or more on five purchases with United in one calendar year)
• $25 in statement credits when you buy United FareLock
• One free checked bag
• Two United Club passes (no longer fully transferable – guest must travel with cardholder)
• 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $20 spent, up to 4,000 PQPs per calendar year
• 2 Continental US Economy Plus upgrades (after spending $25,000 in one calendar year)
• Premier upgrades on award tickets on Complimentary Premier Upggrade (CPU)

The Travel bank credit essentially erases the annual fee on this card.

United Club Business Card

The annual fees on United’s premium business card jumps from $450 to $695 and now offers:

• Up to $150 in rideshare credits per year ($12 monthly credit plus $18 credit in December)
• Up to $200 in statement credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts purchases
• Up to $200 in statement credits on JSX flights (each anniversary year)
• Up to $240 in Instacart credits annually (two $10 monthly credits)
• Complimentary Instacart+ membership
• 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $15 spent (up to 28,000 PQPs per calendar year)
• Two free checked bags
• United Club access for one guest plus dependents 18 years and younger
• Premier upgrades on award tickets on Complimentary Premier Upggrade (CPU)

More United Club access details here, including how to gain an “All Access” membership.

Is It Worthwhile To Keep Cards?

Whether you should keep cards or not is a personal question…I generally prefer lower annual fees with lower “coupon book” savings because it takes time and effort to use credits like Uber and Instacart. I may not have flown JSX, but having that $100-200 credit would likely make me give it a try…that’s the point of these rebates.

Richard Nunn, The CEO of MileagePlus, defended the annual fee increases (of course he did…):

“Yes, there are fee increases but we were very, very cognizant of ensuring that the value increments and the benefits that are delivered outweigh any increase in the cost of those cards.”

Here’s the genius move here: I don’t think anyone is going to cut up their United cards on account of these changes. In fact, these changes smartly create more “sticky” customers (to borrow the words of CEO Scott Kirby) and will have the intended effect of driving more purchases on these cards.

I still don’t recommend putting much spending on it: I think using a cash-back card or a flexible currency card still makes more sense. But for any frequent United flyer, having at least one of these cards in your wallet makes a lot of sense.

You can review United’s card products here and I thank you in advance for supporting Live And Let’s Fly by signing up for your card via my affiliate link.

CONCLUSION

United’s cards now come with more benefits but higher annual fees. I’d call this an evolution, not a revolution, and note that these changes make perfect sense in terms of United serving its top customer: Chase.

Will these changes influence the way in which you use your United co-branded credit cards?