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United Airlines, together with Chase, offers a range of credit cards that allow customers to earn miles, enjoy travel perks, and access exclusive benefits. However, before applying for a United credit card, it's important to understand the credit score requirements.
Your credit score plays a critical role in determining whether you're approved for a credit card, as well as the interest rate and credit limit you receive.
In this article, we'll explore the credit score requirements for United credit cards and provide tips on how to improve your eligibility for approval.
What Cards Do United Offer?
Here are the different United credit cards and the types of customers they may be a good fit for, as well as some of the main perks they offer:
United℠ Explorer Card: This card is a good fit for United Airlines customers who travel frequently and want to earn miles on their everyday purchases. The card offers perks such as priority boarding, two one-time United Club℠ passes per year, and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. There are also no foreign transaction fees, making it a good option for international travel.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: This high tier, premium card is geared towards frequent United Airlines travelers who value lounge access and other premium perks. The card offers United Club℠ membership, Premier Access® travel services, free first and second-checked bags and up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
United Gateway℠ Card: This no-annual-fee card is a good fit for budget-conscious travelers who want to earn United miles on their purchases. The card offers perks such as 25% back on United inflight purchases and no foreign transaction fees.
United Business℠ Card: This card is designed for small business owners who want to earn United miles and take advantage of business-specific perks. The card offers business-specific perks such as employee cards with customizable spending limits and purchase tracking tools.
United Quest℠ Card: This mid-high tier card is geared towards United Airlines customers who want to earn the most miles possible and take advantage of premium perks. The card offers perks such as $125 annual United purchase credit, two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits and Free first and second checked bags
Card | Rewards | Bonus | Annual Fee |
| Up to 4x miles
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
| 90,000 miles
90,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
| $525 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 3x miles
3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
| 60,000 miles
Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
| $250 | |
| 1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 20,000 miles
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.
| $0 | |
| United℠ Business Card | 1X – 2X
2X per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting and 1X on all other purchases
| 75,000 miles
Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| $99 |
| 1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| 50,000 miles
50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| $95 ($0 first year) |
What Score is Required To Get Approved For United Cards?
The credit score needed for approval on United credit cards can vary based on the card and Chase's policies. Typically, a good to excellent score (around 670 or higher) is required. However, premium cards that offer more rewards and benefits may need a higher score, often in the 720+ range.
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United Explorer And Gateway Cards: 660 Score May Be Enough
The United Gateway card is a low-mid-tier card, while the Explorer card is a mid-level card. However, the Explorer card is more popular and offers decent perks and rewards for the average user.
When it comes to the credit score required, you can get approved if your score is higher than 680, and in many cases – 660 may be enough as well, especially if you have a previous experience with Chase.
Here are some examples of approved applicants:
- This person decided to apply for a co-branded Chase United Explorer card despite being over 5/24 and having a high utilization rate on their credit file with a score of 672 on Experian. Chase pulled only Experian credit reports and they were approved for a credit limit of $10,600.
- The person who applied for the Chase Explorer card was instantly approved for a credit limit of $15,000. Their credit score on Experian was 684.
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United Quest And Infinite Cards: At Least 690 Score Is Needed
Both United Quest and Infinite cards offer premium perks, while the Infinite card is the most luxurious card between them. Its annual fee is higher, as well as the benefits cardholders get, including a higher credit limit.
When it comes to the credit score you need to get approved, both cards require you to have a good to excellent credit score. Usually, you'll need a minimum score of 690, and it will be challenging to get it with a lower score. (despite it may be possible in rare cases or when you have a history with Chase cards).
Here are some examples of approved applicants:
- This guy had been trying to get a United card for several years and finally reached 4/24. His credit score on Experian 8 was 779, with only one inquiry in the past 12 months. He was approved for a credit limit of $23,100 at a 24.24% APR.
- The person held off on applying for the United card because they had been approved for three other Chase cards in the past 7-8 months, making this their fourth in that timeframe. Despite this, they were able to get auto-approved for a credit limit of $31.9k at 16.74% APR. At the time of application, they were 3/24, had a credit score of 771 on Experian with a single pull, had 9 inquiries, and had a utilization rate of 8%.
What Else Can Help Me Get Approved For United Cards?
In addition to the general requirements and factors such as low utilization and previous history with Chase, there are several other things that can help you get approved for a United credit card:
Stable income: Lenders want to see that you have a stable income and the ability to repay your debts. Having a steady job, regular income, and a reasonable debt-to-income ratio can increase your chances of approval.
Limited recent credit inquiries: Applying for too many credit products in a short period of time can signal to lenders that you may be taking on too much debt. Limiting recent credit inquiries can help show lenders that you are a responsible borrower.
Existing Chase relationship: If you already have a checking or savings account with Chase, or if you hold other Chase credit cards, it may improve your chances of getting approved for a United credit card. Chase may view you as a valuable customer and be more willing to extend you credit.
- Low Credit Utilization: Low utilization means that you are not using a significant portion of your available credit limit, which can be a positive factor in your creditworthiness.
Don't Forget The Chase 5/24 Rule
The Chase 5/24 rule can definitely affect your chances of getting approved for a United credit card or any other Chase credit card. The rule states that if you have opened five or more credit card accounts (from any issuer) within the past 24 months, you will likely be automatically declined for most Chase credit cards, including United credit cards.
This means that if you have a history of opening multiple credit card accounts within a short period of time, you may not be eligible for a United credit card, even if you meet all of the other requirements and have a strong credit score and income. You can also check your score with Chase.
If you're thinking about applying for a United credit card and have opened several credit card accounts in the past 24 months, it might be a good idea to wait until you have fewer open accounts. Alternatively, you could explore other credit cards that aren't subject to the 5/24 rule.
How To Apply For A United Card?
To apply for a United credit card issued by Chase, you can follow these steps:
Visit the Chase website: Go to the Chase website and navigate to the United credit cards section. You can also search for “United credit cards Chase” on your preferred search engine.
Choose the card you want: Review the different United credit cards that Chase offers and choose the one that best fits your needs.
Check eligibility: Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the card, including credit score, income, and other requirements. You can review the card's terms and conditions to confirm your eligibility.
Apply online: Once you have selected a card and confirmed your eligibility, click the “Apply Now” button to start the application process. You will be asked to provide personal information, such as your name, address, and Social Security number, as well as information about your income and employment.
Submit application: After filling out the application, review it carefully to ensure that all information is accurate and complete. Then, submit the application and wait for a decision from Chase. In some cases, you may be approved instantly, while in other cases, Chase may need to review your application further.
If you are approved, you should receive your United credit card in the mail within a few weeks. You can activate the card and start using it to earn rewards and take advantage of the card's benefits.
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