Is the United MileagePlus Club Card Worth the Annual Fee?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
While premium credit cards have become all the rage in recent years, the United MileagePlus Club Card has actually been around for quite a while. The card was first introduced in 2012 — which is forever in credit card years — and remains a popular option with folks who fly regularly on United and for whom lounge access is important.
But is the card worth it? Its $450 annual fee isn't trivial, so it's an important question to answer before you decide whether to apply. Let's take a look at four key benefits of the United Club card and see whether they add up to a card that deserves a place in your credit card inventory.
United Lounge Access
If you want a membership to the United Club network, then the United MileagePlus Club Card is a no-brainer. Buying a club membership directly costs $550 per year for everyone except United Premier Platinum and Premier 1K elites (who pay $500 and $450, respectively).
Unless you're a high-level United elite, you're scoring a $100 discount by getting this credit card versus paying outright for the membership, and that's if you never use the card for anything else. Also, the United Club card comes with a full membership, not a "complimentary access" membership like the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, which you can only use when flying Delta. And with a full United Club membership, you'll also get access to Star Alliance business lounges when departing on a Star Alliance airline.
The only reason not to get the United Club card instead of buying a club membership directly is if your credit isn't solid enough to qualify, or you can't get it under Chase's 5/24 rule. Otherwise, if a United Club membership is important to you, then this card is absolutely worth the annual fee.
Current Sign-Up Bonus
Historically the United Club card hasn't come with a major sign-up bonus — in fact, it's often had no sign-up bonus at all. So the current offer for 50,000 United miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first three months is a major improvement. In fact, it's the highest publicly available bonus we've ever seen on this card.
In TPG's most recent points valuations, he estimates United miles are worth 1.5 cents apiece. That makes these 50,000 miles worth $750, which would more than offset the $450 annual fee in the first year. So if you wanted to try the card out for a year and see if it fits your traveling style, this is the time to do it, since you're getting more value from the miles than you're paying in the annual fee.
Everyday Earning Rate
Another solid feature of the United Club card is the earning rate — the card earns 1.5 United miles per dollar spent on all purchases. That's better than either the American or Delta co-branded premium card offerings and not a bad choice to keep in your wallet as an everyday card. It's especially useful when you consider that United MileagePlus miles are the most valuable of the three legacy airline loyalty currencies, thanks partially to United being a member of the Star Alliance, the largest of the three major airline alliances.
Given TPG's valuation of 1.5 cents for United miles, that means this card has an effective rewards return rate of 2.25 cents per dollar spent (1.5 miles per dollar x 1.5 cents each = 2.25 cents). To be fair, you'd need to put a high amount of yearly spend on this card to make the extra rewards worth the $450 all by themselves without any of the other card benefits. But if you're a high spender, that extra bonus on all your spend can add up, plus when you spend over $25,000 on this card in a calendar year, your Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQD) requirement for elite status is waived for all tiers except Premier 1K.
Booking and Baggage Fees
Normally if you book a United award ticket within 21 days of departure, the airline will charge you a close-in booking fee — typically $75 per ticket. But that close-in fee is waived for all awards you redeem if you're a United Club Card holder. That means if you tend to book your United awards in that 21-day window, you should seriously consider getting this card, because just six of those waived $75 fees will make up for the card's $450 annual fee.
Another benefit that can quickly add up is the waived checked baggage fees — with this card, you and your companion will get both a first and a second bag for free on all United operated flights. United charges $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second, so if you routinely check two bags, that's $60 per trip (and remember, that's in each direction). If your companion also checks two bags, that's a total of $240 saved between the both of you on a round-trip — two trips like that and you've easily covered the cost of the card.
Bottom Line
There are several other perks of this card — such as World of Hyatt Discoverist status and access to Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resorts Collection — that are cool but don't necessarily add up to $450. You'll also get several benefits with this card like expanded award availability and upgrades on award tickets for elites that are also available in similar form on its less expensive sister card, the United MileagePlus Explorer Card.
But when it comes to unique features, one or more of the four listed above may very well be valuable enough to you to spend $450 of your hard earned cash on the annual fee. So determine your travel priorities and then decide if the United MileagePlus Club Card is worth it to you.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.