United Announces New Credit Card Bonuses – Is It Worth It?

Although flyers aren’t necessarily taking to the skies, United Airlines is still hoping to hook customers in with their latest credit card offers. The airline has increased bonus miles for their credit card, offering up to 100,000 miles on their top-tier card.

In an attempt to keep flyers engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, United Airlines announced two new bonuses for new credit card holders. CNBC Select reports the new bonuses offer up to 100,000 United MileagePlus points for qualified applicants.

United Explorer, United Club Cards Get Upgraded Bonus Treatments

Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, new applicants for both the United Explorer Card and United Club Card can get more bonus points by meeting a minimum spend requirement. The new offers are 60,000 MileagePlus miles with the United Explorer Card, and 100,000 MileagePlus miles on the United Club Infinite card.

However, both come with hefty minimum spend requirements. Up from a previous bonus offer of 40,000 MileagePlus miles, the new United Explorer Card bonus is available after new cardholders make $3,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The upgraded United Club Infinite card offers even more benefit for new users, if they can meet the hefty spend requirement. Approved cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus miles after making $5,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Considered the mid-tier card for United flyers, The United Explorer Card offers two miles per $1 spent on United purchases, as well as two miles per $1 spent on restaurants and food delivery services. The high-end United Club Infinite card comes with United Club lounge membership, and offers four miles per $1 spent on United purchases. The card also offers two miles per $1 on dining and food delivery services, alongside all other travel.

Both cards come with an annual fee. The United Explorer Card comes with a $95 annual fee, while the United Club Infinite Card comes with a $525 annual fee – but is less than the $650 for United Club membership.

FlyerTalker’s Take on The Card Bonuses

FlyerTalk’s membership keeps up-to-date on all the bonuses, and their take on the new bonuses aren’t necessarily positive. Although the 60,000-mile offer is the biggest in recent memory, FlyerTalkers say that mileage devaluation hurts the bonus offer.

“Although 60,000 may be above average in absolute terms for what Chase has historically offered on this card, with the amount of devaluation that [United] has been doing with MileagePlus, they really need to up their offer to 75-80,000 to make this card enticing,” opines FlyterTalker econ on the United MileagePlus forums.

Meanwhile, FlyerTalkers are much more bullish on the United Club Infinite card. Even though United Clubs are limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, frequent travelers say the value is in the 100,000 bonus mile offer.

“if you were not inclined to get the card and thought we’ll be on planes and in airports soon, it would be an option,” writes Happy Traveling Consultant on the FlyerTalk forums. “I just wanted the 100,000 miles myself – easily worth .525 cents each, no matter how massive the devaluations are.”

What’s your take on the card bonuses? Share your opinion on the FlyerTalk Forums!