United's New Card Lineup: More Perks, Higher Fees – What's the Real Deal for Your Wallet?

Hey fellow travelers! If you've got a United Airlines credit card from Chase, or if you've been eyeing one, listen up. United and Chase rolled out a significant refresh to their co-branded card family back in March 2025.1 We're talking new benefits, different ways to earn those coveted elite status points (PQPs), and yes, for most of these cards, a bump in the annual fee.2 The new perks kicked in right away, but if you're an existing cardholder, you'll see those higher fees on your renewal date on or after August 1, 2025 (or a bit later, January 1, 2026, if you have the United Explorer card).3

Now, this isn't just United shaking things up for fun. It feels like a broader trend where credit card companies are trying to pack in more value – or at least, what they hope feels like more value – to justify those higher price tags. United’s talking about "unmatched value," with some cards supposedly offering benefits that add up to hundreds, even over a thousand dollars a year.4 But here’s the thing: these cards are definitely leaning into what folks are calling the "coupon book" style.6 Think lots of little credits for specific things, which means you, the traveler, have to be a bit more strategic to make sure you’re actually getting your money's worth.

So, the big question for us U.S. travelers is: are these revamped United cards a smart move for our wallets, or just a more complicated way to fly? Let's dig in.

What’s the Big Deal? A Quick Look at the Changes

The main shift here is that these cards are trying to be more than just a way to earn miles and get a free checked bag. They've woven in a whole bunch of statement credits for services you might use, like rideshares to the airport, Instacart for groceries (a bit random for a travel card, but okay!), and even for booking hotels through specific United portals.1

This means you can't just set it and forget it. To really get the value, you’ll need to be more of an active manager of your card benefits. And let's be real, if you don't use those specific services, or if you forget to jump through the hoops to get the credits, that "value" disappears pretty quickly.6

Zooming In on the Cards: What’s New for You?

Let's break down what’s changed for some of the most popular United cards.

The United℠ Explorer Card: Still Your Go-To for a Few Trips a Year?

This card has always been a solid pick for folks who fly United occasionally.

The Fee: It’s $0 for the first year, then $150. That’s up from the old $95 (after the first year).9

New Perks to Note:

• A $100 United Travel Credit if you spend $10,000 on the card in a year (this comes as TravelBank cash, which has some rules).8
• A 10,000-mile discount on an award flight if you spend $20,000 in a year.10
• Credits for United Hotels (up to $100 a year), rideshares (up to $60 a year), and Instacart (up to $120 a year).11

Chasing Status (PQP): You’ll earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for every $20 you spend, capped at 1,000 PQPs a year.6 It’s a small boost if you’re aiming for United Premier status.

Heads Up on Changes:

• Those two United Club one-time passes are still around, but now you (or an authorized user) actually have to be there to use them. So, gifting them just got trickier.7
• If you have elite status, the perk of getting Premier upgrades on award tickets is going away after August 1, 2025.14 That’s a bummer for some.

The United Quest℠ Card: Stepping Up Your United Game?

For more frequent United flyers, the Quest card got a refresh too.

The Fee: Now $350, up from $250.14

New/Improved Goodies:

• The annual United purchase credit is now $200, but it’s TravelBank cash (which expires in a year) instead of a more flexible statement credit.6
• You get one 10,000-mile award flight discount each year, and can earn a second one if you spend $20,000.14
• Credits for Renowned Hotels & Resorts (up to $150), rideshares (up to $100), and Instacart (up to $180).14

Serious PQP Power: You get a 1,000 PQP bonus each year (starting in 2026) and can earn up to 18,000 PQPs from spending (1 PQP per $20 spent).16 This is a significant jump if status is your aim.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card: For the Ultimate United Loyalist?

This is United's top-tier personal card, and it saw the biggest fee increase.

The Fee: A hefty $695, up from $525.17

Premium Perks:

• You can earn up to two 10,000-mile award flight discounts a year (each needs $20,000 in spending).14
• Credits for Renowned Hotels & Resorts (up to $200), rideshares (up to $150), and a complimentary Instacart+ membership plus up to $240 in Instacart credits.17

Top-Tier PQP Earning: A 1,500 PQP bonus annually (from 2026), a faster earn rate of 1 PQP for every $15 spent, and a huge annual cap of 28,000 PQPs.16

United Club Access Nuances: You still get your United Club membership. But, if you want the "All Access Membership" (which gets you into Star Alliance partner lounges and lets you bring two guests instead of one), you now need Premier Gold status or higher, or you have to spend a cool $50,000 on the card each year.17

A Quick Mention for Business Travelers: The United℠ Business Card

This card also saw its fee go up to $150 (after the first year, which is $0) from $99.20 It gained some similar credits for TravelBank cash, hotels, rideshares, and Instacart, plus a boosted PQP earning cap of 4,000 PQPs a year.20

The Upsides: Where These Cards Might Still Make Sense

If you're laser-focused on climbing the United Premier status ladder, the beefed-up PQP earning on these cards is genuinely attractive, especially since United is making status harder to get in 2025.16 The Club Infinite and Quest cards, in particular, can give you a serious leg up.16

And those new statement credits? They can save you real cash, but the big "if" is whether they match how you already spend your money. If you’re an Instacart devotee or always take an Uber to the airport, then great, you’ll likely see some benefit.21

The Downsides: Navigating the "Coupon Book"

Here’s where it gets tricky. The sheer number and complexity of these credits can be a headache.6 Many aren't automatic – you might need to enroll, or they’re doled out in small monthly chunks that don’t roll over.6 If you’re not diligent, it’s easy to miss out on using them, and then that "value" is just theoretical.6

Using the hotel credits often means booking through United's specific hotel portals, which might not always have the best prices or could prevent you from earning hotel loyalty points or using your existing hotel elite perks.7

Plus, some old reliable perks have been watered down, like the Explorer card’s Club passes being harder to gift 7 or the Quest card’s travel credit becoming less flexible TravelBank cash.6

Making Them Work for You (If You Decide To)

If you’re a die-hard United fan and one of these cards still calls to you, here’s the game plan:

PQP Strategy: If status is your main goal, focus your spending on your United card. But do the math – it takes a LOT of spending to hit high PQP levels this way.16

Credit Conquest: Get organized! Set reminders for monthly credits. Understand the fine print for each one. For hotel credits, always compare prices before booking through United’s portals.6

These cards now seem best for:

• Explorer: Occasional United flyers who value bags/boarding and can use enough credits to make the $150 fee worth it.9
• Quest: Frequent United flyers chasing status who can maximize the TravelBank cash and other credits to justify $350.25
• Club Infinite: The ultimate United loyalist who lives in the lounge, aims for top status via massive spend, and can juggle all the premium credits to make the $695 fee pay off.27

What About Other Travel Cards?

It’s worth remembering that cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® are still out there. You can transfer its points 1:1 to United 3, it often has huge welcome offers (like the recent 100,000 points) 29, earns well on general travel and dining 3, and has a simpler $95 annual fee. For many, the flexibility and straightforward value of a card like this might outweigh the complicated perks of the new United lineup.

So, What's the Verdict for Your Wallet?

This United card refresh is a mixed bag. More potential value? Sure, if you’re willing to work for it.4 But it comes with higher fees and a lot more mental gymnastics.7

Before you apply or decide to keep your current United card, ask yourself:

• Will I really use these specific credits without changing how I normally spend?
• How loyal am I really to United?
• Could a simpler, more flexible travel card be a better fit for me?

The days of United cards being a simple choice are probably over. They now require a good, hard look to see if they match your travel style and how much effort you want to put into managing your rewards. Choose wisely, and happy travels!