Is the United Club Infinite Card worth it?

If you regularly fly with United Airlines, you might be interested in Chase’s premium United Club℠ Infinite Card – a high-rewards travel credit card with a lofty $525 annual fee to match.

With the United Club Infinite Card, you get what you pay for. You’ll receive full United Club membership, which can be worth up to $650 per year, and have the opportunity to earn an 100,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 in the first three months. Add in additional travel benefits – like a first and second checked bag for free, United Premier Access, 25% back on in-flight United purchases and more – and this card could be very valuable for frequent flyers of the airline.

But, overall, is the United Club Infinite Card right for you? Let’s take a closer look at whether it’s worth applying for.

When is the United Club Infinite Card worth it?

The United Club Infinite Card offers a high-level package of rewards and benefits designed to appeal to United Airlines frequent travelers. You’ll have the opportunity to earn plenty of United MileagePlus miles:

• 4X miles on United purchases
• 2X miles on all other travel
• 2X miles on dining (including eligible delivery services like GrubHub, Caviar, Seamless and DoorDash)
• 1X miles on all other purchases

Plus, as noted above, if you spend $5,000 in the first three months of card ownership, you’ll receive a sign-up bonus of 100,000 bonus miles. According to recent valuations from The Points Guy, United MileagePlus miles can be worth up to 1.21 cents apiece toward United transfer partner travel – meaning your bonus miles could be worth up to $1,210.

The United Club Infinite Card also offers a number of additional benefits for travelers, including full United Club membership, which comes with access to United Club lounges and is worth up to $650 per year. You’ll also get United Premier Access – which allows you to take advantage of designated check-in lines and priority baggage handling – among other perks. Plus, you get your first and second checked bags free, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, 25% back on in-flight United purchases and more – all of which can help you save money as you travel and help offset the cost of the that hefty annual fee.

If you’re a frequent flyer who prefers United, wants to take advantage of high-level travel rewards and has time to visit United Club lounges before your flights, applying for the United Club Infinite Card is a smart decision. Yes, the $525 annual fee is a tad steep compared to other airline credit cards, but the value of this its many benefits – not to mention the excellent sign-up bonus – can this card more than worth it.

When is the United Club Infinite Card not worth it?

The United Club Infinite Card is designed specifically for travelers who frequently fly with United. If that’s you, the United Club Infinite Card might be worth the $525 annual fee – but if not, you may be better off considering general travel credit cards.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card and The Platinum Card® from American Express both have steep annual fees as well, but they offer rewards that you can redeem for different kinds of travel purchases or transfer to a good number of travel loyalty programs – which may be more beneficial if you’re not a dedicated United traveler.

On the other hand, if you do fly with United often, consider taking a look at your flight history and determining how many miles you’ve earned through those flights. If you evaluate your previous United spending and still decide the United Club Infinite Card might not be worth the cost, you might consider the United Explorer Card instead.

The United Explorer Card also earns MileagePlus miles – 2X miles on hotels, restaurants and directly purchased United tickets as well as 1X miles on general purchases – and comes with its own sign-up bonus and travel perks. With no annual fee the first year and $95 per year thereafter, it could be an affordable and rewarding alternative.

Should you get the United Club Infinite Card?

While the United Club Infinite Card has a significantly high annual fee, it’s still on par with many premium travel cards on the market. If you’re a frequent United flyer and value comfort when you travel, consider opting the United Club Infinite. Its rewards and benefits help offset its high annual fee and bring frequent United flyers plenty of value.

You’ll also have access to an impressive rewards rate of 4X miles on United purchases, pay no foreign transaction fees, be eligible for a solid first-year bonus and get United Club membership (worth up to $650 per year, depending on how much lounge access you’re able to take advantage of).

Bottom line

Despite its expensive annual fee, the United Club Infinite Card’s rewards structure and benefits can easily justify it for the airline’s loyalists.

Before you apply, be sure to check out other United Airlines credit cards: There may be another option that better suits your spending style or preferred perks.