Jan 5, 2015, 11:45 pm
Last edit by: narvik
Previous thread -- Presidential Plus Card Changes
Related thread - General Questions re: MileagePlus Flex PQM
This legacy Chase credit card is not taking new applications. Compiled below is a comparison of current card-derived vs. status-derived benefits.
Overall, the current benefits of the PP and the replacement Club card are nearly identical. The key trade-off is increased redeemable mile (RDM) earnings with the Club card vs. FPQM with the PP card. Basically, the Club card earns an incremental 0.5 RDM / $1 vs. the PP cards 0.2 PQM / $1. This sets a 2.5 RDM : $1 PQM ratio, which puts a price on PQMs earned this way at $0.025 to $0.050. Given that PQMs cost atleast $0.08 or more each if purchased early in the year via award accelerator, this is a pretty good deal for those who anticipate falling short of the upcoming years desired Silver / Gold / Platinum threshold.
Benefits unique to the PP card:
- 1000 FPQM per $5,000 spend (or 0.2 / $1)
- FPQMs are only valid for Premier Silver / Gold / Platinum status, expire 3 years after earning
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend (x2 hotel & rental cars for personal card, x2 restaurants, gas, office supplies for business card)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) waiver (no minimum card spend, doesnt apply to 1K)
Benefits unique to the Club card:
- 1.5 RDM / $1 card spend
- PQD waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend, doesnt apply to 1K)
Benefits shared between PP and Club cards:
- $395 annual fee
- United club membership (vs. $450 1K/GS, $500 Platinum, $550 Gold, $550 Silver, $550 GM, +$550 with spouse)
-Waiver of 4 segment on United flights for Premier qualification (removed in 2020)
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- 2 free checked bags (vs. 1 Silver, 2 Gold, 3 Platinum)
- Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
- Hertz Hertz President's Circle status (vs. Five Star for Premier Silver / Gold) (expiring 31 January 2023)
- CPU on award tickets
- No <21 day award booking fees (vs. $50 Silver, $25 Gold, $0 Platinum)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Concierge service
Benefits compared to Explorer card:
- only $95 annual fee
- only 1 free bag for cardholder and 1 companion
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend, +10,000 bonus after $25,000 card spend)
- 2 single-use club passes
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend)
Sources (accessed Jan 1, 2015):
Chase United Card Benefits
https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...ravel-benefits
United Premier Status Benefits
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil.../benefits.html
United Premier Status Qualification Requirements
Premier status qualification requirements
Prior FlyerTalk thread on Presidential Plus card changes
Presidential Plus Card Changes
Based on post by pstrasma
(edit: December 20, 2025: updated the Chase PresidentialPlus card benefit link)
Related thread - General Questions re: MileagePlus Flex PQM
This legacy Chase credit card is not taking new applications. Compiled below is a comparison of current card-derived vs. status-derived benefits.
Overall, the current benefits of the PP and the replacement Club card are nearly identical. The key trade-off is increased redeemable mile (RDM) earnings with the Club card vs. FPQM with the PP card. Basically, the Club card earns an incremental 0.5 RDM / $1 vs. the PP cards 0.2 PQM / $1. This sets a 2.5 RDM : $1 PQM ratio, which puts a price on PQMs earned this way at $0.025 to $0.050. Given that PQMs cost atleast $0.08 or more each if purchased early in the year via award accelerator, this is a pretty good deal for those who anticipate falling short of the upcoming years desired Silver / Gold / Platinum threshold.
Benefits unique to the PP card:
- 1000 FPQM per $5,000 spend (or 0.2 / $1)
- FPQMs are only valid for Premier Silver / Gold / Platinum status, expire 3 years after earning
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend (x2 hotel & rental cars for personal card, x2 restaurants, gas, office supplies for business card)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) waiver (no minimum card spend, doesnt apply to 1K)
Benefits unique to the Club card:
- 1.5 RDM / $1 card spend
- PQD waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend, doesnt apply to 1K)
Benefits shared between PP and Club cards:
- $395 annual fee
- United club membership (vs. $450 1K/GS, $500 Platinum, $550 Gold, $550 Silver, $550 GM, +$550 with spouse)
-
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- 2 free checked bags (vs. 1 Silver, 2 Gold, 3 Platinum)
- Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
- Hertz Hertz President's Circle status (vs. Five Star for Premier Silver / Gold) (expiring 31 January 2023)
- CPU on award tickets
- No <21 day award booking fees (vs. $50 Silver, $25 Gold, $0 Platinum)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Concierge service
Benefits compared to Explorer card:
- only $95 annual fee
- only 1 free bag for cardholder and 1 companion
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend, +10,000 bonus after $25,000 card spend)
- 2 single-use club passes
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend)
Sources (accessed Jan 1, 2015):
Chase United Card Benefits
https://www.chase.com/personal/credi...ravel-benefits
United Premier Status Benefits
https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil.../benefits.html
United Premier Status Qualification Requirements
Premier status qualification requirements
Prior FlyerTalk thread on Presidential Plus card changes
Presidential Plus Card Changes
Based on post by pstrasma
(edit: December 20, 2025: updated the Chase PresidentialPlus card benefit link)
PresidentialPlus credit card - Benefits, Q&A, ....
Nov 2, 2024 | 6:20 am
#1366
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: TUS
Programs: MP Premier Silver, Hilton Honors Diamond, Avis Presidents Club, Hertz Gold + Five Star
Posts: 156
It's all a matter of perceived value of United Premier status and the incidental card benefits for the annual fee paid (my PP annual fee is grandfathered at $375 a year). I mostly fly ANA operated trans-Pacific flights using United codeshares for my employer, so I don't get MM credits for those flights. I don't fly that much, so MM status is probably out of reach for me anyway.
Having Star Alliance Gold status is useful to check-in with ANA's first and business class. Star Alliance Gold status also gets admission to ANA Lounges which are almost always far superior to United Clubs. I haven't dropped below Premier Gold for years so I haven't had to rely solely on my United Club membership to access an ANA Lounge.
I'm currently a Premier Platinum and recently completed a domestic trip on United for business which gave me the four required United operated PQFs to requalify as a Premier Gold for 2025. Two of my segments were United Express operated without a first class section, but on the United operated 777-200 flights, I managed to get as high as #6 on the upgrade list, but even 1Ks were sitting in Economy Plus with me on those flights.
My Avis President's Club status which comes with the PP card got me a free upgrade from an intermediate car to an SUV on my recent trip, which was nice, but I was traveling by myself so it wasn't a big deal. With the new levels announced for 2025 qualification for 2026 status, between earned PQPs for flying and spend PQPs plus the anticipated occasional Chase quarterly PQP spend bonuses (I just received a 675 PQP bonus for July - September), I should be able to make Premier Gold again, but I don't see the benefit to me in the higher monthly fees for the United Infinite card with only a few extra spend PQPs earned being worth it.
The value proposition calculus is different for each individual. I assume United is trying to coax as many of us as they can to switch to the higher annual fee Infinite card so they can kill off the PP card, but so far, there is not enough incentive for me to do so. I plan to retire from full time work within a few years anyway, so switching to a much higher annual fee card is not appealing to me. The current benefits of the PP card for the annual fee I pay are sufficient for me, although the loss of earning new Flex PQPs was certainly a downgrade in the benefits of this card.
Having Star Alliance Gold status is useful to check-in with ANA's first and business class. Star Alliance Gold status also gets admission to ANA Lounges which are almost always far superior to United Clubs. I haven't dropped below Premier Gold for years so I haven't had to rely solely on my United Club membership to access an ANA Lounge.
I'm currently a Premier Platinum and recently completed a domestic trip on United for business which gave me the four required United operated PQFs to requalify as a Premier Gold for 2025. Two of my segments were United Express operated without a first class section, but on the United operated 777-200 flights, I managed to get as high as #6 on the upgrade list, but even 1Ks were sitting in Economy Plus with me on those flights.
My Avis President's Club status which comes with the PP card got me a free upgrade from an intermediate car to an SUV on my recent trip, which was nice, but I was traveling by myself so it wasn't a big deal. With the new levels announced for 2025 qualification for 2026 status, between earned PQPs for flying and spend PQPs plus the anticipated occasional Chase quarterly PQP spend bonuses (I just received a 675 PQP bonus for July - September), I should be able to make Premier Gold again, but I don't see the benefit to me in the higher monthly fees for the United Infinite card with only a few extra spend PQPs earned being worth it.
The value proposition calculus is different for each individual. I assume United is trying to coax as many of us as they can to switch to the higher annual fee Infinite card so they can kill off the PP card, but so far, there is not enough incentive for me to do so. I plan to retire from full time work within a few years anyway, so switching to a much higher annual fee card is not appealing to me. The current benefits of the PP card for the annual fee I pay are sufficient for me, although the loss of earning new Flex PQPs was certainly a downgrade in the benefits of this card.
Nov 5, 2024 | 3:16 pm
#1367
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: UA Platinum Marriott Platinum
Posts: 279
Apologize in advance if this is an easy answer like I thought, but someone on the phone wasn't sure so I wanted to double check.
Have had the PresidentialPlus card since 2011 mostly as I did a ton of CC spend and would use flex miles to fill in the gap each year from where I was to next highest status.
Obviously they got rid of that, and my flying has been less so been heavily relying on PQP spend to get to Gold each year as I probably fly only 1500 or so PQP a year. Rest is Presidential Plus PQP.
Just confirming, I am better off getting the infinite card going forward versus PP as the rate of miles per $ is better there? Am I correct?
Am I missing something as a reason to keep PP?
The infinite card came today and before I activate and cancel PP (which I never thought I would do) figured I would double check my logic is in fact correct.
Thanks in advance!
Have had the PresidentialPlus card since 2011 mostly as I did a ton of CC spend and would use flex miles to fill in the gap each year from where I was to next highest status.
Obviously they got rid of that, and my flying has been less so been heavily relying on PQP spend to get to Gold each year as I probably fly only 1500 or so PQP a year. Rest is Presidential Plus PQP.
Just confirming, I am better off getting the infinite card going forward versus PP as the rate of miles per $ is better there? Am I correct?
Am I missing something as a reason to keep PP?
The infinite card came today and before I activate and cancel PP (which I never thought I would do) figured I would double check my logic is in fact correct.
Thanks in advance!
Nov 5, 2024 | 3:47 pm
#1368
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,033
As has been suggested in recent posts in this thread, consider instead of closing the PresPlus, changing it to a free card (Gateway) or lower cost Explorer card. This has less impact on your credit history and gives you a backup card,
Nov 5, 2024 | 4:00 pm
#1369
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 12
Apologize in advance if this is an easy answer like I thought, but someone on the phone wasn't sure so I wanted to double check.
Have had the PresidentialPlus card since 2011 mostly as I did a ton of CC spend and would use flex miles to fill in the gap each year from where I was to next highest status.
Obviously they got rid of that, and my flying has been less so been heavily relying on PQP spend to get to Gold each year as I probably fly only 1500 or so PQP a year. Rest is Presidential Plus PQP.
Just confirming, I am better off getting the infinite card going forward versus PP as the rate of miles per $ is better there? Am I correct?
Am I missing something as a reason to keep PP?
The infinite card came today and before I activate and cancel PP (which I never thought I would do) figured I would double check my logic is in fact correct.
Thanks in advance!
Have had the PresidentialPlus card since 2011 mostly as I did a ton of CC spend and would use flex miles to fill in the gap each year from where I was to next highest status.
Obviously they got rid of that, and my flying has been less so been heavily relying on PQP spend to get to Gold each year as I probably fly only 1500 or so PQP a year. Rest is Presidential Plus PQP.
Just confirming, I am better off getting the infinite card going forward versus PP as the rate of miles per $ is better there? Am I correct?
Am I missing something as a reason to keep PP?
The infinite card came today and before I activate and cancel PP (which I never thought I would do) figured I would double check my logic is in fact correct.
Thanks in advance!
Nov 5, 2024 | 4:04 pm
#1370
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: UA Platinum Marriott Platinum
Posts: 279
Nov 5, 2024 | 4:35 pm
#1371
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,033
Nov 5, 2024 | 6:14 pm
#1372
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,314
Will defer to others on best way to manage credit score impacts , but one minor thing I noticed was the trip insurance protection was much less on the Infinite card than Pres Plus. (I think $2k versus $10k). I think probably only matters to 1 percent of card members but it is a lower benefit it seems when you switch. I have never filed a trip insurance claim in my life , but due to the nature of my travel I have a bunch of pre-paid non refundable vacation dollars out there at any given time (I dont mean United airfare). Given that travel agents are always pushing it and I am always declining I thought maybe the Pres Plus would kick in if I ever cancelled due to a health issue or other covered event. Like is said , probably irrelevant to 99 percent of people . Given I have never filed a claim I may not even be reading the coverage correctly . Just passing along FWIW
- Club Infinite: If your trip is cancelled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
- Presidential Plus: If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses made with your United Presidential Plus Card, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
Nov 5, 2024 | 6:15 pm
#1373
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,314
Is this a sure thing with Chase that converting from PP (which I have had forever) to a free card (Gateway) would result in no loss of credit history? I know people have always said this, but it would be good to know with 100% certainty that this would be the case with Chase in this situation.
Nov 5, 2024 | 6:22 pm
#1374
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 73,033
Is this a sure thing with Chase that converting from PP (which I have had forever) to a free card (Gateway) would result in no loss of credit history? I know people have always said this, but it would be good to know with 100% certainty that this would be the case with Chase in this situation.
Such as Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2023-)
Originally Posted by wiki
Will a product change count as a new card?
No, you will keep your same "opened on" date, credit line, automatic payment arrangements, etc. A product change does not count against Chase's 5/24 limitations on new cards.
No, you will keep your same "opened on" date, credit line, automatic payment arrangements, etc. A product change does not count against Chase's 5/24 limitations on new cards.
Nov 5, 2024 | 7:23 pm
#1375
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 12
Are you sure about this. Looking at the web sites now. I see this:
- Club Infinite: If your trip is cancelled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
- Presidential Plus: If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses made with your United Presidential Plus Card, including passenger fares, tours and hotels.
that’s not what I see when I google the card and drop down to trip cancellation / trip interruption under Travel and Purchase coverage
https://creditcards.chase.com/travel.../club-infinite
talks about $1500 per person
Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance
You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.**About to close cabin door Thanks for double checking me (regardless of who winds up finding the right info )
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Nov 5, 2024 at 8:49 pm Reason: repaired
Nov 5, 2024 | 8:32 pm
#1377
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 44
The best experts on this are in the Chase | Ultimate Rewards forum
Such as Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2023-)
Such as Chase Product Change/Card Conversion: Downgrade, Upgrade, Keep or Cancel? (2023-)
Is this a sure thing with Chase that converting from PP (which I have had forever) to a free card (Gateway) would result in no loss of credit history? I know people have always said this, but it would be good to know with 100% certainty that this would be the case with Chase in this situation.
Nov 6, 2024 | 12:04 am
#1378
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 12
weird , my link and your link appear to be for the same card with different terms . Not sure what is up with that . Your link is from United and mine is from Chase but both United Club Infinite Card . Your terms probably make more sensemaybe someone did a bad cut and paste on Chase site.
Nov 6, 2024 | 7:48 am
#1379
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 1,314
Nov 6, 2024 | 7:55 am
#1380
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus. Eurobonus Millionaire
Posts: 38,640
I'm beginning to feel that soon the only ones left with this card will be th
se of us who have it at the $100/yr rate.
se of us who have it at the $100/yr rate.