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Earn 50,000 Miles With the United MileagePlus Club Card

Oct. 10, 2017
3 min read
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Earn 50,000 Miles With the United MileagePlus Club Card
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Most United flyers looking for an airline credit card will opt for the United MileagePlus Explorer Card — it's a great option, especially for infrequent travelers who won't have an opportunity to earn elite status. But if you frequently fly United, or often find yourself near a United Club, the United MileagePlus Club Card is hard to beat.

The card carries a significant $450 annual fee, but it comes along with an unbeatable perk: unlimited access to the United Club, regardless of the cabin or even airline you're flying. I didn't hesitate to sign up for the card a couple years ago, and it wasn't even offering a sign-up bonus at the time.

Today's offer makes the card even more appealing — currently, Chase is offering an opportunity to earn 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months with the United MileagePlus Club Card — if I didn't already have an account, I'd certainly be signing up today.

Cardholders get a full United Club membership, worth at least $450 per year, depending on your elite status level.

This card even makes sense for existing United Club members — United will prorate your membership fee, reimbursing the balance.

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As a Premier 1K, I'd pay the same $450 to get the membership directly through United, but the card let me avoid the $50 initiation fee and comes along with other perks as well, including:

  • Access to any Star Alliance member business lounge around the world when departing on a member airline, with one guest
  • Premier Access, with priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling
  • Free first and second checked bags for the cardholder and one companion when you purchase flights using your card
  • Hertz President's Circle status
  • Access to Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resorts Collection
  • No close-in booking fee for last-minute awards
  • Expanded award availability with access to the XN fare class
  • Complimentary upgrades on award tickets for United elites

In addition, you'll earn 1.5 miles for every dollar spent with the card, and 2 miles per dollar spent with United. There are no foreign transaction fees and your miles won't expire as long as you're a cardholder.

Bottom Line

$450 per year is an awful lot to spend on a credit card. That said, the 50,000-mile sign-up bonus more than offsets the first year's fee — we value United miles at 1.5 cents each, making the bonus offer worth $750.

If you're able to take full advantage of the United Club membership, keeping the card beyond the first year makes sense, too, and if you're already a full member, it's helpful to know that United will prorate your dues and issue a refund if you decide to add the United MileagePlus Club Card to your wallet.

TPG featured card

Rewards rate
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Earn up to 125,000 Bonus Miles
Annual fee
$650
Regular APR
19.49%-28.49% Variable
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
Excellent to Good

Pros

  • Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
  • Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
  • Ability to earn MQDs through spending
  • Various statement credits for eligible purchases

Cons

  • Steep annual fee of $650
  • Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
  • Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
  • Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
  • $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
  • Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees