In This Review..
The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a super premium travel cards for frequent United flyers. Not only can you earn 4x miles on United Airlines purchases, 2x miles on all other travel purchases, dining and eligible delivery services and 1x miles on all other purchases, you can also earn a sign up bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
While this card is tailored for frequent United travelers, it is nice that you can boost your mile balance with other travel purchases. In addition, you can enjoy many premium perks such as TSA PreCheck or global entry fee reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees, free check bags and more.
However, you should make sure to cover the high annual fee, which is $525.
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Reimbursement
- Trip Cancellation Coverage
CONS
- Limited Non United Flight Redemptions
- Annual Fee
APR
20.99% - 27.99% variable
Annual Fee
$525
Balance Transfer Fee
$5 or 5% (whichever is greater)
Credit Requirements
Good - Excellent
Benefits
- IHG Rewards Platinum Elite
Primary cardmembers can earn elite status, which entitles them to complimentary room upgrades, extended check-out times, and other travel benefits.
There is also up to $75 in statement credits for IHG purchases charged to your card throughout 2022.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
If your trip is canceled or cut short due to illness, severe weather, or other covered circumstances, you can receive reimbursement for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
- Baggage Insurance
If your bags are delayed for more than six hours by your passenger carrier, you can claim reimbursement for essential purchases for up to three days at a maximum of $100 per day.
There is also insurance for up to $3,000 per passenger if your carry-on or checked bags are lost or damaged by your carrier.
- Luxury Hotels & Resorts Collection
You can gain access to the Luxury Hotels & Resorts collection, which provides room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, early check in and late check out, and other amenities at 1,000+ luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Reimbursement
If you charge your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee to your card, you'll receive a $100 statement credit every four years as reimbursement.
- Trip Delay Coverage
If you experience a common carrier travel delay of 12 hours or more, you can make a claim for unreimbursed expenses such as lodging and meals, up to $500 per ticket.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
If you use your card outside of the United States, you will not be charged any foreign transaction fees.
Additional Perks
- Membership in the United Club: This is a great feature for travelers because it provides a place to relax or work before flying, as well as complimentary beverages and snacks. You and your eligible travel companions can visit places all over the world.
- Premier Access: If available, you will also be eligible for Premium Access Travel Services, which provide preferential airport treatment such as priority security screening, check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.
Inflight Purchase Credit: For purchases made on United-operated flights, you will receive 25% back in statement credit. This includes purchases of drinks, food, WiFi, and other items. - Free Check Bags: You and your travel companion will receive free first and second standard check bags if you use the same reservation. This could be worth up to $320 for each round trip.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: If you charge your entire car rental to your card and decline the collision cover offered by the rental company, you can benefit from the collision damage and theft coverage on your card. This is valid for most rental cars in the United States and abroad.
- Purchase Protections: When you charge items to your card, you have a number of purchase protections available to you. This includes theft and damage coverage for new purchases for 120 days (up to $50,000 per year), reimbursement for eligible items that the store will not accept as a return within 90 days of purchase (maximum $500 per item and $1,000 per year), and warranty extension for an additional year on eligible items.
- Chase United Card Events: You can use this portal to purchase curated, private experiences ranging from celebrity meet-and-greets to sporting events.
Visa Infinite Concierge Services: You'll have free access to concierge services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you make restaurant reservations, find tickets, or send gifts. - One-Year DashPass: Cardholders can get a one-year DashPass that waives delivery fees and lowers service fees on eligible orders. You must, however, activate before March 31, 2022.
- CLEAR Membership: You can get a $70 discount on CLEAR membership fees if you charge them to your credit card. You will also receive 10,000 miles if you sign up before the end of June 2022.
Drawbacks
- Limited Non United Flight Redemptions
Although this card does offer some great reward options for United flyers, if you want more flexible rewards, you may find it a little lacking.
- Annual Fee
This a premium card and accordingly – the annual fee is quite high, $525.
Simulate Your Rewards: How Much You Earn?
It's difficult to understand the actual reward potential without a scenario comparison.
While cardholders earn above-average rewards, the benefits are not as valuable. The true value of the card stems from the luxury perks they offer, such as global entry or TSA PreCheck, statement credit for in-flight purchases, trip delay reimbursement, and so on; more on this in the section that follows.
Remember that the figures should be adjusted to your regular spending categories, which may vary, so the exact calculation is dependent on your personal habits.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | United Club℠ Infinite |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 15,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| 10,000 miles |
$5,000 – Airline | 20,000 miles |
$4,000 – Hotels | 8,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 4,000 miles |
Total Miles/Points | 57,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value (Flights) | 1 mile = ~1.5 cents |
Estimated Annual Value | $855 |
Redemption Offers
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper You can use the miles from this and other Chase cards in a variety of ways.
However, if you want the best redemption rates, you must book United flights or flights operated by one of its 35+ partner airlines.
This redemption method has an average value per mile of about 2 cents. If you prefer, you can redeem your miles for rental cars, hotel stays, event and show tickets, retail gift cards, or merchandise.
How to Maximize Benefits?
Because the redemption rate for United Club miles can vary greatly, if you want to maximize the benefits of this card, you should be prepared to conduct extensive research on your flight options.
If you simply book any flight, you may only receive a value of one cent per mile. However, if you do some research on your flight options, especially if your travel dates are flexible, you may be able to get a rate of two cents or more per mile.
If you want to maximize your United Club Infinite rewards, you must thoroughly research your United flight options. If you simply use the miles to book any trip, you might only get a 1 cent per mile rate. However, if you do your research and are flexible with your travel dates, you can get a much better redemption rate.
What Customers Think?
Borrowers who are pleased with the premium rewards package that comes with this card are overjoyed. There are numerous travel perks that can be beneficial to frequent travelers.
Negative reviews complain about the inability to obtain assistance in order to qualify for United Premier elite status.
Bottom Line: When You Should Consider It?
- You want to increase your earnings: The United Club Infinite offers up to four miles per dollar, which is more than many other travel cards, but you can also earn two miles for dining and one mile for everything else. As a result, you can increase your mileage balance even if you are not a member of United.
- You Use WiFi While Flying: While Citi offers discounts on on-board purchases, the United Club card includes WiFi purchases in its offer, which could save you a lot of money if you fly frequently and use the on-board WiFi services.
- You're looking for the following premium travel benefits: The United Club Infinite card provides comprehensive insurance coverage, including trip interruption, baggage insurance, and trip delay coverage. So, if there are any unforeseen events that cause your trip to be delayed or disrupted, you can be reimbursed.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for an airline credit card with premium travel rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to explore:
|
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Citi Premier® Card | |
Annual Fee | $695. See Rates & Fees | $550 | $95 |
Rewards |
1X – 5X
5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
|
1X – 10X
5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases
|
1X – 3X
3X points per dollar on restaurant, supermarket, gas station, hotel and air travel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
80,000 points
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
60,000 points
60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | 0%. See Rates & Fees. | 0% | None
|
Purchase APR | 20.49% – 27.49% Variable | 21.49% – 28.49% variable APR | 20.49% – 28.49% (Variable) |
FAQ
United has over 30 airline partners, with which you can spend your miles. Of course, you will get preferential redemption rates if you choose a United operated flight, but it is still possible to use your miles with airlines including Lufthansa, SkyWest, Air Canada, Trans States, Aer Lingus, and GoJet.
Chase does not typically have pre approval for the United Club Infinite card. When you apply online, Chase will pull a hard credit search.
The United Club Infinite card does have auto rental collision insurance if you pay for the rental with your card and decline the car rental company’s optional coverage.
The United Club Infinite does have trip interruption/cancellation insurance that allows you to have pre paid, non refundable charges reimbursed. So, if your flight is canceled and you incur non reimbursed charges, you could recover them on your insurance.
The United Club Infinite card requires excellent credit. Your income will be used to determine your credit limit once approved.
The United Club Infinite miles have no expiry date.
The average redemption value for United Club miles is about two cents per mile, depending on your redemption method. This means that 10,000 miles could be worth $200 with the United Club Infinite.
Chase offers approved United Club Infinite customers a minimum credit limit of $5,000.
The United Club Infinite is heavily weighted towards United purchases, so if you’re not a frequent United flier, this is not the card for you.
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