How to choose the best United credit card
There are a lot of United credit cards. So how do you choose the best one? It comes down to identifying which perks you value from travel credit cards, and which you can do without. Here are a few basic questions to ask yourself to figure out what you want your United card to offer.
How often would you use United Club lounges?
The main factor that sets the most expensive United cards apart is the United Club membership. The United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Club℠ Business Card both offer complimentary United Club membership. This gives you, and up to two guests, unlimited access to United Club airport lounges when you fly with United or eligible partners.
If you fly United (or Star Alliance airlines) multiple times a year, membership could be well worth the cost. One-day lounge passes cost over $50 apiece, so eight to 10 visits a year could pay your card's annual fee. If you regularly fly with a spouse or partner, this could be met in just four or five flights.
If you aren't sure about paying a premium for a full United Club membership, you still have options. All of the United credit cards -- except the no annual fee United Gateway℠ Card -- offer two United Club day passes each year. This perk could easily cover the annual fee of the United℠ Explorer Card, making the other benefits all profit for you.
Do you regularly check luggage?
Whether you check bags -- and how many you tend to check -- is an important part of choosing a United credit card. For example, if you never check luggage, you may not get as much value from the mid-tier cards like the United℠ Explorer Card. If you always check multiple bags, then the United Quest℠ Card, which lets you check two bags for free, may be worth the extra cost.
Can you pay an annual fee?
You need to decide if you'll get enough value from your United card to make up for the annual fee. You also need to make sure you can fork over that fee in the first place. You may be eyeing the big perks of the costly United Club℠ Infinite Card, but is that annual fee really in your budget? Annual fees, unless waived the first year, tend to come due shortly after you open your account.
What kind of purchase rewards do you want?
All of the United credit cards earn United miles on purchases. But how many credit card miles they earn, and on which types of purchases, varies from card to card. The United Club℠ Infinite Card, for instance, earns a much better rate on eligible purchases with United than the base-level United Gateway℠ Card.
Each card also has its own bonus categories, like dining or gas, which may or may not suit your spending habits. The more miles you earn, the more free flights you can score, so choose wisely here.
Are you a business owner?
You can find both consumer and business credit card options from United. If you own a business and fly for work, a small business card might be a good fit. If you don't own a business or solely travel for pleasure, you may want to stick with consumer cards.
RELATED: Best Business Credit Cards for Travel
