Designing a Credit Card for United Elites
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,839
As a reminder, the Select still offers 10,000 PQM/year (5,000 for united.com purchases and 5,000 PQM for the $35,000 purchase threshold), so it is a good card for those who are dollar-rich but PQM-poor. And those are unrestricted PQMs (i.e. they count toward 1K).
But the card is, of course, only for those grandfathered in.
But the card is, of course, only for those grandfathered in.
Old thread from 2009 when the Select card was introduced:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...dit-cards.html
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat Pro, VS Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 838
As far as I know, the Select Visa does not award 5k PQM for $35k spend. That was a feature of the even older Visa Platinum card. I recall switching from the Platinum card to the Select card when it came out because I determined that the Select card was better for my needs (low AF, 3X UA RDM, 5000 RDM bonus).
Old thread from 2009 when the Select card was introduced:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...dit-cards.html
Old thread from 2009 when the Select card was introduced:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...dit-cards.html
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
But the Chase travel insurance benefits are much better, so I keep my fingers crossed nothing goes wrong on the AMEX ticketed-flights.
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
#20
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
#21
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,235
Wouldn't Chase have to agree on the benefits of a new card, since they're paying UA for those benefits? Or would they just pay whatever they're paying for the RDM's and the rest is at UA's discretion?
#22
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
I signed up for the Amex before the CSR came out and Amex offered Starpoints my way to retain me so I obliged. I also don't mind building a nice Starpoint balance because like UR, it is a valuable currency (at least through the end of this year).
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
Its also valuable to have a diversified set of points, even if some are more useful than others. I've had a time or two when even SkyPesos were immensely useful booking premium awards on AF and AZ for the exact times I needed.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 83
The fact that any united card has less than 5mi/$ for united purchases is ridiculous. Using MPX and or a shopping portal it's not uncommon to get 15-20mi/$ for tons of stores. A paltry 2-3 miles per dollar for the cards namesake is just stupid - and it's not just united
I'd love to see a mid level visa signature card from united that included the following
5mi/$ on united purchases
2mi/$ on travel
1mi/$ on everything else
5 x 1 hour Inflight Internet Passes Annually
5 x One Time Club Passes Annually (Non transferable, tied to MP #)
Access to additional inventory (same as Explorer and Club Card)
Board in Group 2, but no priority baggage handling
$50 Annual Inflight Travel Credit
Annual free should be about $250
I'd love to see a mid level visa signature card from united that included the following
5mi/$ on united purchases
2mi/$ on travel
1mi/$ on everything else
5 x 1 hour Inflight Internet Passes Annually
5 x One Time Club Passes Annually (Non transferable, tied to MP #)
Access to additional inventory (same as Explorer and Club Card)
Board in Group 2, but no priority baggage handling
$50 Annual Inflight Travel Credit
Annual free should be about $250
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,448
The fact that some retailers are currently willing to bonus higher tells you something about (a) retail margins, and (b) the relative desperation of the brick & mortar retail chains.
#26
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt LT DM, Wyndham DM, Hertz PC, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,038
Seems that way. I use Amex Platinum on actual DL purchases at 5x points. I use the DL Amex Plat to get MQM/Miles Boosts when all of that stuff is 1x on both anyways.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 11,513
As far as I know, the Select Visa does not award 5k PQM for $35k spend. That was a feature of the even older Visa Platinum card. I recall switching from the Platinum card to the Select card when it came out because I determined that the Select card was better for my needs (low AF, 3X UA RDM, 5000 RDM bonus).
Old thread from 2009 when the Select card was introduced:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...dit-cards.html
Old thread from 2009 when the Select card was introduced:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...dit-cards.html
#28
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AC 25K, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 436
I'm a 1K member with both the Club Card and the Select Card. To me the greatest FF benefit is upgrades, which as we all know are much harder to get these days, even with RPUs/GPUs. UA still takes cash for upgrades, but it only makes sense if you can get an agent to waive the change fee per GG BUYUP.
I've honestly been thinking about cancelling these cards and getting an ordinary cash back card, and then using the cash back to pay for my upgrades.
Theoretically you can redeem miles for $0.01 each via the Choices program, but it only applies to united.com purchases. I don't think it applies to buyups where you have to call the 1K desk, which is often the case for me, since for some reason united.com rarely offers me a cash upgrade ("online upgrade not available").
So there you have it - the only way to get upgrades with a credit card may be to forget Chase/United cards and just get good, old-fashioned cash back.
I've honestly been thinking about cancelling these cards and getting an ordinary cash back card, and then using the cash back to pay for my upgrades.
Theoretically you can redeem miles for $0.01 each via the Choices program, but it only applies to united.com purchases. I don't think it applies to buyups where you have to call the 1K desk, which is often the case for me, since for some reason united.com rarely offers me a cash upgrade ("online upgrade not available").
So there you have it - the only way to get upgrades with a credit card may be to forget Chase/United cards and just get good, old-fashioned cash back.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
The fact that any united card has less than 5mi/$ for united purchases is ridiculous. Using MPX and or a shopping portal it's not uncommon to get 15-20mi/$ for tons of stores. A paltry 2-3 miles per dollar for the cards namesake is just stupid - and it's not just united
I'd love to see a mid level visa signature card from united that included the following
5mi/$ on united purchases
2mi/$ on travel
1mi/$ on everything else
5 x 1 hour Inflight Internet Passes Annually
5 x One Time Club Passes Annually (Non transferable, tied to MP #)
Access to additional inventory (same as Explorer and Club Card)
Board in Group 2, but no priority baggage handling
$50 Annual Inflight Travel Credit
Annual free should be about $250
I'd love to see a mid level visa signature card from united that included the following
5mi/$ on united purchases
2mi/$ on travel
1mi/$ on everything else
5 x 1 hour Inflight Internet Passes Annually
5 x One Time Club Passes Annually (Non transferable, tied to MP #)
Access to additional inventory (same as Explorer and Club Card)
Board in Group 2, but no priority baggage handling
$50 Annual Inflight Travel Credit
Annual free should be about $250