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United Club℠ Infinite Card Review
February 6, 2025
Are you a frequent United Airlines flyer looking to elevate your travel experience? The United Club℠ Infinite Card offers premium travel benefits that could transform how you fly. With access to exclusive United Club lounges worldwide, generous rewards on United purchases, and a suite of travel protections, this premium travel card aims to make your journeys more comfortable and rewarding.
But is the United Club℠ Infinite Card worth its substantial annual fee? Let's dive into this comprehensive review to help you decide if this premium travel card deserves a spot in your wallet.
What Is the United Club℠ Infinite Card?
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is Chase's premium co-branded credit card offering with United Airlines. This Visa Infinite card stands at the top of United's credit card lineup, providing cardholders with complimentary United Club membership and a robust set of travel benefits.
When you first open the card, you can earn up to 80,000 bonus miles after meeting qualifying purchases requirements. These MileagePlus rewards can be redeemed for award travel on United Airlines and its Star Alliance partners, giving you flexible options for both domestic and international travel.
Beyond the welcome bonus, the card offers substantial earning potential:
- 4X miles on United purchases, including United flights, in-flight purchases, and other United-related expenses
- 2X miles on all other travel and dining purchases
- 1X miles on all other purchases
The United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with a $525 annual fee, placing it firmly in the premium card category. While this fee isn't waived the first year, the value of the included benefits can potentially outweigh the cost for frequent United flyers.
United Club℠ Infinite Card Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Complimentary United Club membership: Access to more than 45 United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide (valued at up to $650)
- First and second checked bags free: For you and one companion on the same reservation (worth up to $320 per roundtrip)
- 80,000 bonus miles opportunity: After meeting spending requirements upon account opening
- Premier Access® travel services: Includes priority check-in, security screening, boarding privileges, and baggage handling privileges
- 25% back on inflight purchases: Including food, beverages, and WiFi
- No foreign transaction fees: Ideal for international travel
- Enhanced travel protections: Including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and baggage delay insurance
- Purchase protections: Extended warranty protection and purchase protection for eligible items
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS credit: Up to $100 statement credit every four years
- Premier upgrades on award tickets: For MileagePlus Premier members
Cons:
- High annual fee: $525, which may be difficult to justify if you don't regularly use United Club lounges
- Limited appeal to non-United flyers: Benefits are heavily skewed toward United Airlines loyalty
- No introductory APR offer: Unlike some other travel cards, there's no 0% intro APR period
- Limited bonus categories: Aside from United purchases, the card offers fewer bonus categories than some competitor premium cards
- Premier Qualifying Points limitations: While you can earn PQPs toward status, there's a cap to how much you can earn through card spending
Who Is the United Club℠ Infinite Card For?
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is ideally suited for:
- Frequent United flyers: If you fly with United several times per year, the lounge access, free checked bags, and priority services can significantly enhance your travel experience.
- Business travelers: Those who regularly travel for work on United can maximize the card's benefits like United Club access, priority boarding, and accelerated mile earning.
- International travelers: With no foreign transaction fees, Star Alliance lounge access, and robust travel insurance benefits, this card serves global travelers well.
- Airport comfort seekers: If you value airport lounge access and prioritize comfort during travel days, the included United Club membership provides a quiet space to relax or work before flights.
- MileagePlus status chasers: Cardmembers can earn Premier Qualifying Points through spending, helping to achieve or maintain MileagePlus Premier status.
This card is less suitable for:
- Infrequent travelers
- Budget-conscious consumers who may struggle to offset the annual fee
- Travelers who rarely fly United or Star Alliance airlines
- Those seeking maximum flexibility in rewards currencies
Comparing the United Club℠ Infinite Card with Other Credit Cards
When considering the United Club℠ Infinite Card, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the premium travel card category:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (rates & fees):
- Annual fee: $695
- Welcome offer: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- Standout feature: Extensive airport lounge access and hotel elite status
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.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees):
- Annual fee: $395
- Sign-up bonus: Large miles bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 10X miles on hotels and rental cars, 5X on vacation rentals and flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Standout feature: Annual travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary
- Annual fee: $550
- Sign-up bonus: Substantial points bonus after meeting spending requirements
- Key rewards: 3X points on travel and dining
- Standout feature: $300 annual travel credit and 50% more value when redeeming points for travel through Chase TravelSM
Each card offers unique benefits tailored to different spending habits and preferences. Consider your personal financial goals when choosing the best card for you.
Key Takeaways:
- United Club℠ Infinite Card excels in providing cardholders with complimentary United Club membership and a robust set of travel benefits
- The Platinum Card® from American Express offers premium travel perks
- Capital One Venture X provides high rewards on travel bookings
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® features flexible travel credits and point redemptions
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Consider Using Kudos
While the United Club℠ Infinite Card offers excellent benefits for United loyalists, savvy travelers know the importance of maximizing every purchase. This is where Kudos comes in—a free AI-powered browser extension that helps you get the most out of your credit cards whenever you shop online.
Kudos works alongside your United Club℠ Infinite Card to ensure you're always using the optimal card for each purchase. For example, while your United card excels for airline purchases, Kudos might recommend another card in your wallet for categories where you could earn higher rewards.
With Kudos' personalized credit card recommendations, you'll never miss out on bonus categories or special promotions. The extension works with over 15,000 stores and can help multiply your rewards up to 5X during exclusive "Flash Boost" events. Plus, Kudos can help you discover complementary credit cards that pair well with your United Club℠ Infinite Card for a comprehensive rewards strategy.
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Our Expert Takeaway
The United Club℠ Infinite Card delivers exceptional value for frequent United Airlines travelers who can take advantage of its premium benefits. The complimentary United Club membership alone covers most of the annual fee if you regularly visit lounges.
For travelers who fly United at least 5-6 times per year, check bags, and value airport lounge access, this card can provide substantial value despite its premium price point. The additional travel protections, absence of foreign transaction fees, and accelerated earning on United purchases further enhance its appeal.
However, casual travelers or those not loyal to United should carefully calculate whether they can extract sufficient value to offset the annual fee. For these individuals, a more flexible premium travel card or the less expensive United Explorer Card might be more appropriate.
Ultimately, the United Club℠ Infinite Card excels at what it's designed to do: enhance the travel experience for dedicated United flyers willing to pay for premium benefits.
United Club℠ Infinite Card FAQ
What credit score do I need for the United Club℠ Infinite Card?
You'll typically need an excellent credit score (740+) to qualify for the United Club℠ Infinite Card. As a premium travel card, approval standards tend to be stringent.
How do I redeem miles earned with the United Club℠ Infinite Card?
Miles can be redeemed through the MileagePlus program for flights on United and Star Alliance partners, upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, gift cards, and experiences. Flight redemptions typically offer the best value.
Does the United Club℠ Infinite Card offer lounge access at all airports?
The card provides access to all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide when flying on a same-day Star Alliance ticket. Coverage is extensive but not universal, so check lounge availability at your frequent airports.
Can authorized users access United Club lounges?
Yes, authorized users added to your United Club℠ Infinite Card can access United Club lounges, but they must present their card and same-day boarding pass. Adding authorized users incurs an additional annual fee.
How does the free checked bag benefit work?
The primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation receive their first and second checked bags free on United-operated flights when purchasing tickets with the United Club℠ Infinite Card. This can save up to $320 per roundtrip.
What are Premier Access® travel services?
Premier Access includes priority check-in, expedited security screening (where available), priority boarding, and priority baggage handling at check-in and upon arrival. These services help streamline your airport experience.
How do I use the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit?
Simply charge the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS to your United Club℠ Infinite Card, and you'll automatically receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years.
What travel insurance benefits come with the card?
The card includes trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and auto rental collision damage waiver. Coverage details and exclusions apply, so review your benefits guide.
Does the United Club℠ Infinite Card offer Avis benefits?
Yes, cardholders receive complimentary Avis President's Club status, which includes benefits at Avis preferred locations such as guaranteed vehicle availability, double upgrades when available, and exclusive Avis President's Club program perks.
Can I earn MileagePlus Premier status with the card?
While the card itself doesn't grant automatic elite status, you can earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) for every $12,000 in card spending, up to 4,000 PQPs per calendar year. These PQPs help you progress toward MileagePlus Premier status.
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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.
