United VISA Signature Card - still worth the annual fee?
Dec 13, 2018, 4:07 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
United VISA Signature Card - still worth the annual fee?
United used to offer 1K-elite $60 toward VISA signature annul fees. This benefit was abolished many years ago. Are you still using the VISA signature card with the heavy annual fees? Which one are you using now? Every anniversary I tried to cancel the card, every year the agent convinced me to continue with the card. Now comes to another renewal next month. I appreciate in advance for your valuable advices or suggestions.
Dec 13, 2018, 4:56 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,475
I'm on the fence about it. I called recently to fish for a retention offer and was flatly declined, which was disappointing. At the end of the day though, it's the balance between the fact that even one single XN CPU is probably worth the $95 AF, and every great once in a while I use the lounge pass.
So far I have never paid the AF (one year on, one off, etc. with FYF signups covering the on years).
So far I have never paid the AF (one year on, one off, etc. with FYF signups covering the on years).
Dec 13, 2018, 5:30 pm
#3
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: 16,933
United used to offer 1K-elite $60 toward VISA signature annul fees. This benefit was abolished many years ago. Are you still using the VISA signature card with the heavy annual fees? Which one are you using now? Every anniversary I tried to cancel the card, every year the agent convinced me to continue with the card. Now comes to another renewal next month. I appreciate in advance for your valuable advices or suggestions.
Dec 13, 2018, 6:12 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
United used to pay AF for 1K to get free Signature Card, then $60 to offset AF and finally abolished all subsidiary and 1K was on their own for the card. Signature Card had currently an AF of $140, too much for any standard when there are some many cards without AF.
Dec 13, 2018, 6:16 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: YUL
Programs: UA 1K, MR Bonvoy Bonzaiiiii, National EE
Posts: 622
I'm probably going to not renew mine next year. Got it earlier in the year when I dropped to Silver, and now that I've made it to 1K, there's no real benefit for me. I don't really use the lounge domestically (can also use Priority Pass a lot), and don't really book domestic award flights.
Dec 13, 2018, 8:45 pm
#6
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: 16,933
What card is that? The predecessor of the Select card, which I think was called the Platinum card? I switched to the Select card when it became available because it seemed like te better choice for me; the primary benefits loss was the 5000 EQM for $35k spend, but there were cheaper ways to get those 5k EQM.
Last edited by notquiteaff; Dec 14, 2018 at 12:37 am Reason: $25k -> $35k
Dec 13, 2018, 10:53 pm
#8
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Hey, slightly off topic. I am somewhat confused...Seems like different names for the same card. I have the legacy card you can’t get anymore...I think it was once called the United Visa Signature—I think.
It’s the card that still comes with an annual companion cert (which I just received). I get 1 PQM per $ spent at united.com along with 2 RDM. I do not get an anniversary 5,000 RDM bonus. My question is, whatever this card is, there’s also a bonus 5000 PQMs once you hit a certain spend. Does anyone know for sure what it is? I’m thinking it’s $30,000 or $35,000. I can’t seem to find it anywhere, and want to make sure it is indeed still offered before I switch my primary payment in the new year.
Thanks!
It’s the card that still comes with an annual companion cert (which I just received). I get 1 PQM per $ spent at united.com along with 2 RDM. I do not get an anniversary 5,000 RDM bonus. My question is, whatever this card is, there’s also a bonus 5000 PQMs once you hit a certain spend. Does anyone know for sure what it is? I’m thinking it’s $30,000 or $35,000. I can’t seem to find it anywhere, and want to make sure it is indeed still offered before I switch my primary payment in the new year.
Thanks!
Dec 13, 2018, 11:10 pm
#9
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,967
Hey, slightly off topic. I am somewhat confused...Seems like different names for the same card. I have the legacy card you can’t get anymore...I think it was once called the United Visa Signature—I think.
It’s the card that still comes with an annual companion cert (which I just received). I get 1 PQM per $ spent at united.com along with 2 RDM. I do not get an anniversary 5,000 RDM bonus. My question is, whatever this card is, there’s also a bonus 5000 PQMs once you hit a certain spend. Does anyone know for sure what it is? I’m thinking it’s $30,000 or $35,000. I can’t seem to find it anywhere, and want to make sure it is indeed still offered before I switch my primary payment in the new year.
Thanks!
It’s the card that still comes with an annual companion cert (which I just received). I get 1 PQM per $ spent at united.com along with 2 RDM. I do not get an anniversary 5,000 RDM bonus. My question is, whatever this card is, there’s also a bonus 5000 PQMs once you hit a certain spend. Does anyone know for sure what it is? I’m thinking it’s $30,000 or $35,000. I can’t seem to find it anywhere, and want to make sure it is indeed still offered before I switch my primary payment in the new year.
Thanks!
If you go to tour Chase card account and look for "Redeem rewards See details", select "See details" and then select
"View Reward Program Rules and Regulations (PDF)" and you get the following PDF
Dec 14, 2018, 11:34 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
Yes, It was called (or termed) Legacy Card initially (at least by flyertalk community). It did still come with companion-free tickets for US travels. It's no longer offered and I was always told (by the agent) the best card offered when I called to cancel in last 3 or 4 years. Had always been bought in by the sale pitch.
Thanks, WineCountryUA. I always appreciated your insights. Does Platinum Card also have $140 AF price tag?
also just check the PDF and it mentioned 'Credit cards without AF, the accrued miles on United will expire' (thought share here, although for most people, just make another trip on United, will extend another 18 months.).
Thanks, WineCountryUA. I always appreciated your insights. Does Platinum Card also have $140 AF price tag?
also just check the PDF and it mentioned 'Credit cards without AF, the accrued miles on United will expire' (thought share here, although for most people, just make another trip on United, will extend another 18 months.).
Last edited by Row3Acer; Dec 14, 2018 at 11:46 am
Dec 14, 2018, 12:16 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,562
Signature? I have the old Select VISA card - the last one that allows you to earn some EQMs. $95 AF. Now that I don’t care about the EQMs anymore, I am always debating whether to close it. The 5000 annual RDMs at renewal time sort of cover the AF and I use it for groceries, home improvement and gas (all 2X), so I think it is basically cost neutral for me. The UA 3X spend was great until I got the CSR, and I should probably get a better card for grocery spend.
Dec 14, 2018, 3:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Chicagoland/ORD
Programs: UA Million Miler (Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,458
The old signature card I have comes with a free companion cert and 1 PQM per $ spent, up to 5,000 miles per year. I'm keeping the card until I hit 1MM in 2-3 years because those extra miles help me get/keep status.
Dec 14, 2018, 4:28 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
I always saw some mystery PQMs showing up on my account, now I know what it was (the card did not have $spent requirement for the bonus).
Does anybody know if we need to reach 1K for free companion-free tickets with the VISA card? [had been 1K every year, I wasn't sure if it's a requirement).
Last edited by Row3Acer; Dec 14, 2018 at 4:38 pm
Dec 14, 2018, 7:36 pm
#15
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Sounds like the Chase MP Visa Platinum card and the spend bonus 5K PQMs is at $35K
If you go to tour Chase card account and look for "Redeem rewards See details", select "See details" and then select
"View Reward Program Rules and Regulations (PDF)" and you get the following PDF
If you go to tour Chase card account and look for "Redeem rewards See details", select "See details" and then select
"View Reward Program Rules and Regulations (PDF)" and you get the following PDF
You need not be 1K to get the companion cert. It’s a legacy benefit of the card, and status is irrelevant.