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United Club vs JetBlue Plus: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The United Club℠ Card: This card is best for frequent United Airlines flyers who want premium perks like United Club lounge access and free checked bags.
- JetBlue Plus Card: This card is ideal for earning rewards on JetBlue flights as well as everyday spending at restaurants and grocery stores.
United Club Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down the key reasons why the United Club℠ Card stands out for frequent flyers.
- Despite its high annual fee, the card includes a complimentary United Club membership, granting access to an extensive network of airport lounges.
- Cardholders receive Premier Access® travel services, which provide priority check-in, security screening, and boarding to streamline the airport experience.
- With the United Club membership valued at up to $650, the card’s annual fee is nearly offset by this one benefit alone (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Enjoy free first and second checked bags for both the primary cardholder and a companion on the same reservation.
- Receive a statement credit for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
- Benefit from a suite of travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, and lost luggage reimbursement.
Cons
- The card comes with a substantial annual fee that requires frequent travel on United to justify.
- Its rewards and benefits are heavily skewed toward United, making it less appealing for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline or its partners.
- Offers limited bonus categories for earning miles outside of United purchases, which may slow down your rewards accumulation compared to other premium cards.
JetBlue Plus Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a breakdown of why we think the JetBlue Plus Card is a strong choice for travelers.
- The card offers a great rewards rate, earning 6X points on JetBlue purchases and 2X points at restaurants and eligible grocery stores.
- While it has an annual fee, the JetBlue Plus Card eliminates foreign transaction fees and provides a free first checked bag for you and up to three companions.
- Using the free checked bag benefit on just two round-trip flights can save you more than the card's annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Accelerated points earning on JetBlue purchases, plus bonus points on dining and grocery spending.
- Enjoy valuable travel perks like a free first checked bag for you and your companions, and an annual credit toward JetBlue Vacations packages.
- Receive a percentage of your points back after redeeming for flights, plus an annual bonus just for being a cardmember.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access, priority boarding, or credits for expedited security screening programs.
- The annual travel credit is restricted to JetBlue Vacations packages, which may not be useful for all cardholders.
- Does not grant automatic elite status, requiring significant annual spending to qualify.
JetBlue Plus vs United Club
Categories
Deciding which is better, the United Club℠ Card or the JetBlue Plus Card, comes down to your travel habits and airline loyalty. Each card is designed for a different type of flyer, offering unique benefits tailored to their respective airline's ecosystem.
- United Club℠ Card: This premium card is built for dedicated United Airlines loyalists and frequent flyers who prioritize comfort. It's best for travelers who can maximize United-specific benefits like lounge access and other premium travel services.
- JetBlue Plus Card: This card is ideal for casual to moderately frequent JetBlue flyers. It provides the core airline perks that enhance the travel experience without the high cost of a premium card.
Redemption
United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, giving you access to award flights on United and its extensive network of Star Alliance airline partners worldwide.
JetBlue Plus Card: Points are redeemed via JetBlue’s TrueBlue program, which can be used for any seat on any JetBlue flight without blackout dates, and you can even pool points with family.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card comes with a United Club membership, providing access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance partner lounges worldwide. The JetBlue Plus Card does not include lounge access.
- Checked Bags: Both cards offer a free first checked bag for the cardmember and at least one companion on the same reservation when flying their respective airlines.
- In-Flight Savings: Cardholders for both airlines receive a statement credit for eligible in-flight purchases, such as food and drinks.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel.
- Elite Status & Priority Services: The JetBlue Plus Card allows cardmembers to earn Mosaic elite status through spending. While the United Club℠ Card doesn't offer a direct spending path to status, it provides priority travel services like check-in, security screening, and boarding.
- Anniversary Bonus: JetBlue Plus cardmembers receive a bonus of TrueBlue points each year on their account anniversary. The United Club℠ Card does not offer an anniversary point bonus.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
If you're still unsure which card is right for you, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards based on your personal spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: The platform's Test Drive feature lets you simulate potential earnings from any card using your real spending data—without a hard credit pull or application.
- Personalized recommendations: Get data-driven card suggestions and see detailed approval odds based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Exclusive rewards: Members can earn extra rewards like a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding eligible cards to their Kudos Wallet or stack rewards by shopping with Kudos Boost.
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Who Should Choose the United Club?
The United Club℠ Card is an ideal choice for loyal United Airlines flyers who travel multiple times a year and can take full advantage of its premium benefits. These travelers will find immense value in the complimentary United Club membership, which provides access to a global network of airport lounges. For business travelers and those chasing MileagePlus Premier status, the card's perks like Premier Access® and the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points make it a compelling choice, as detailed in this in-depth look.
Who Should Choose the JetBlue Plus?
The JetBlue Plus Card is an excellent choice for casual or moderately frequent JetBlue flyers who want valuable perks for a reasonable annual fee. If you fly with the airline a couple of times a year, benefits like a free first checked bag and 5,000 anniversary bonus points can easily offset the $99 cost. It's the ideal card for travelers who want to elevate their experience without committing to a premium-tier annual fee.
Alternatives to Consider
If our United Club vs JetBlue Plus comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards to consider that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score to confirm you meet the typical requirements for premium travel cards.
- Review issuer application rules to understand any restrictions on earning a new welcome offer.
- Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer's minimum spend requirement.
Application Strategy
- Time your application to align with planned travel or large purchases.
- Understand family card rules that may impact welcome offer eligibility.
- Decline a lesser offer if you believe a better one is available.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring guests into the United Club with the United Club℠ Infinite Card?
Yes, as a primary United Club℠ Infinite Cardmember, you can bring up to two adult guests, or one adult and dependent children under 21, into the United Club with you.
Does the JetBlue Plus Card offer a free checked bag benefit?
The JetBlue Plus Card includes a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and up to three companions on the same reservation when booking JetBlue-operated flights.
Which card is better for earning elite status?
The JetBlue Plus Card helps you earn Mosaic status faster by providing a boost after meeting certain spending thresholds, while the United Club℠ Infinite Card does not offer a similar path to Premier status through card spending.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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