When Delta made big changes on its cobranded Amex credit cards — first restricting lounge visits, then hiking annual fees — loyal flyers weren’t happy. United is hoping to avoid a similar fate by “relaunching” its six credit cards, adding more travel credits and higher annual fees. Do the changes math out for United travelers?
- The annual fees on United’s cards are rising by 29-52%, depending on which card you have — most of the fee increases are offset by new United travel and hotel credits.
- The refreshed lineup still includes perks like free checked bags, Premier Access, and other inflight discounts — some cardholders will gain monthly ride-hailing, car rental, and Instacart credits.
United encourages a spend-a-thon: Emphasizing the importance of credit cards in their loyalty program, United nearly doubled the amount of Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) that can be earned across their various credit card products. PQPs can help United flyers qualify for status faster. Further, there are now some spend-based restrictions on Star Alliance lounge access, a handful of card perks, and gifting of United Club passes. If you have a specific United card and want to see the changes in store, check out The Points Guy’s full analysis — as well as their take on whether these updates are worth it. And if you don’t have a United card, Chase and United are offering new limited-time sign-up bonuses that might be worth a look, especially if you have a dream trip in mind.
