The
United Club℠ Infinite Card is a good credit card for high-spending frequent travelers with
excellent credit. In return for a whopping
$525 annual fee, cardholders can enjoy a large initial bonus,
4 miles / $1 spent with United, and perks such as free checked bags, in-flight discounts, and airport lounge access. You can also get a credit to cover the cost of applying for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS for faster airport screening.
However, the
United Club℠ Infinite Card is too expensive for the average person who travels only occasionally. In addition to its high annual fee, the card has a high APR that would make carrying a balance from month to month quite expensive.
Below, you can find more information to help you decide whether or not to apply for the
United Club℠ Infinite Card.
United Club℠ Infinite Card Review Highlights
80,000-Mile Initial Bonus
As long as you don’t currently have a United Club card and you haven’t earned an initial bonus on one in the past two years, spending
$5,000 in the first
3 months you have the
United Club℠ Infinite Card will get you
80,000 miles. Those bonus miles are worth roughly
$992 in United airfare, according to WalletHub research.
For some added context, this bonus is well above average among rewards cards right now. The average initial bonus among current credit card offers is
30,381 points/miles or
$242 cash back.
By the way, the Premier Qualifying Points that you get in addition to the initial bonus miles help you earn elite status in the
United MileagePlus loyalty program. You also get 25 PQPs for every $500 you charge to the card. You can get up to 10,000 PQPs in a calendar year this way.
1 - 4 miles per $1 Spent on Purchases
As you might expect,
United Club Infinite Card users get the highest rewards rate,
4 miles / $1 spent, on United purchases. Eligible purchases include airfare, seat upgrades, Economy Plus®, baggage charges and other fees, plus in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi.
In addition, cardholders earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services) and on non-United travel expenses. All other purchases produce 1 mile per $1 spent. You can find better cards for purchases in the 1-2 point categories.
United Club Lounge Access
Getting approved for the
United Club℠ Infinite Card automatically gets you a United Club airport lounge membership, good for entry into more than 50 United Club and partner lounge locations. You will be able to enjoy amenities such as free drinks, snacks, Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating.
Without the card, membership costs as much as $650 per year. But you have to use this benefit regularly for the practical value to approach that figure.
Free Checked Bags
The cardholder and a companion each get their first and second checked bags free on United flights. This is a fairly standard feature among airline credit cards, and it probably won’t be the main reason you apply for the
United Club℠ Infinite Card, but it can save you some money. Baggage fees for a couple on a round-trip United flight can amount to $320.
In-Flight Discounts
Cardholders get 25% back on food, drinks and Wi-Fi purchased on flights operated by United or United Express. The same deal applies to premium drink purchases in United Club lounges.
Various Other Perks
Additional benefits include elite status in the Avis and IHG loyalty programs, one year of DashPass from DoorDash for free, luxury hotel access, and travel insurance. Refer to the card’s benefits guide for the full scoop.
$525 Annual Fee
The
United Club℠ Infinite Card’s annual fee is
$525. Most airline credit cards charge just a fraction of that, and the average credit card offer on the market has a
$21.58 annual fee.
Needless to say, you really need to be confident that you’ll get your money’s worth before you apply for the
United Club℠ Infinite Card. Otherwise, you might want to consider one of the cheaper
United credit cards.
21.99% - 28.99% (V) APR
Like most airline credit cards, the
United Club℠ Infinite Card does not offer a low APR, not even a low promotional rate for a limited time. Its interest rate is
21.99% to 28.99% (V), depending on your overall creditworthiness. As a result, you should set up automatic monthly payments for your full statement balance so you can avoid interest charges, if you decide to apply.
750+ Credit Score Recommended
The
United Club℠ Infinite Card requires
excellent credit for approval, which means you will need a credit score of
750 or higher to have good odds. You can
check your credit score for free, right here on WalletHub.