• Earn 2 continental U.S. Economy Plus® seat upgrades each year
• Up to $25 in credits on United FareLock purchases annually
• Up to $100 in credits on United® Hotels purchases annually
• Up to $100 in credits on rideshare purchases annually
• Up to $50 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases annually
• Up to $100 in credits on JSX purchases annually
• 3-Month Complimentary Instacart+ Membership. Terms apply.
• Up to $120 in Instacart credits annually. Terms apply.
• Earn $125 in United travel credits (i.e., TravelBank cash) after making 5 United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year
• Earn up to 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) at a rate of 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases
• Two United Club℠ one-time passes per year when primary cardmember or authorized user is traveling (cardmember or authorized user must be present when redeemed)
  

[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Using United miles for merchandise or gift cards [.dontreco]

The redemption value here is low, so our advice is to stick to travel. These options usually give you less than 1 cent per mile, which is far below what your points are worth when redeemed for flights.

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[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Booking United economy flights with miles [.sometimesreco]

Not always the best value, but helpful when flights are priced low in miles, and you get award credits to sweeten the deal. This can be especially useful for short domestic trips or when cash fares are unusually high.

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[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Booking Star Alliance partner flights in premium cabins [.alwaysreco]

United miles can go a long way on airlines like ANA, Lufthansa and Turkish for international redemptions. These redemptions often offer the best cents-per-mile value and unlock a much more "fun" flying experience.

United miles aren’t transferable to other programs, but you can use them to book flights on 25+ Star Alliance and partner airlines, including: Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss and others. Check out our Transfer Partners Cheat Sheet to see the full list of transfer options.

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1. The Small Business Traveler

If you travel for work and fly United a few times a year, the United Business Card offers great value without a premium annual fee. You’ll get perks like free first checked bags, priority boarding and two United Club passes each year, all of which help offset the small fee. The card also helps you earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward elite status, giving you a faster track to United’s loyalty tiers. With solid earning rates on common business purchases like office supplies, restaurants and gas stations, your everyday expenses are working for you. All in all, this one is agreat choice for business owners.

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2. The Budget-Friendly Flyer

At a lower cost than premium travel cards, the United Business Card still gives you two United Club passes per year, access to complimentary seat upgrades on award tickets (if you have United elite status) and valuable statement credits like a $125 United travel credit (i.e., TravelBank cash) after making 5 United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year. You’ll also have access to increased award availability and priority boarding.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: You probably shouldn’t own a credit card if you: (1) have a bad credit score, (2) are a non-U.S. resident (for this particular card), and (3) cannot control your spending. If your credit score is below 700, you'll need to improve it before applying for travel credit cards, as approval for the best ones, like the United Business Card, is unlikely. Be honest with yourself: if a new credit card will tempt you to overspend, it's best to avoid it. Credit cards are crucial for earning miles and points, but they require responsible use.

The recommended credit score for the United Business Card is 670-850 (Good — Excellent). But again, if you’re in a solid place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. We’ve known several people to be rejected on their first application, call Chase to please their case, and be granted the United Business Card.