United and Chase gave soft relaunches today to their Explorer and Club Infinite Cards, touting 2X on eligible food delivery services such as GrubHub, Caviar, Seamless, and DoorDash.
Plus, both cards received new welcome offers.
United Credit Card Welcome Offers
The United Club Infinite card‘s waived first-year annual fee deal is replaced: receive 100,000 bonus MileagePlus points when you spend $5000 in purchases within three months of being approved.
Imagine putting those 100,000 points towards a United redemption on an airline like Lufthansa, Singapore, or Air New Zealand, or something similar. Or whatever works best for your travel needs. The $525 annual fee takes effect during the first statement.
Meanwhile, the United Explorer card’s welcome bonus is now 60,000 points (up from 40,000) when you spend $3000 within the first three months of card membership. The card’s $95 annual fee is waived the first year.
2X on Food Delivery Purchases – New?
Before today, both cards awarded 2X on dining purchases. However, they added verbiage explicitly mentioning several food delivery services.
Each time (at least in recent memory) I’ve ordered from GrubHub and Uber Eats, those purchases all coded for dining or restaurant bonuses.
Because 98% of my flying is on Delta or Southwest, I don’t have a United credit card. So I can’t speak to whether or not food delivery purchases coded as dining/restaurants.
At the very least, it’s a smart marketing move by Chase and United.
But don’t get either of these cards just for those perks. For dining, you’re better off with the American Express Gold Card (4X), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3X), or even the Chase Sapphire Preferred (2X).
The outdoor deck at the United Club LAX (read my review)
The United Club Infinite Credit Card from Chase
The United Club Infinite card seems like a must for frequent United travelers. It includes:
- United Club Lounge Access
- Enjoy access to United Club locations and participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges worldwide when flying on United or a Star Alliance partner. (See this for more details)
- Hertz President’s Club Membership
- Assuming Hertz survives its little bankruptcy situation, this benefit is great for car renters.
- First TWO Checked Bags Free
- Most airline credit cards give cardholders their first checked bag for free when flying that airline. United doubles that benefit, making it worth up to $320 per roundtrip.
- TSA Pre√ or Global Entry Application Credit
- Really, are you even a travel credit card if you don’t include this benefit? 😉 Even if you already have this perk on one (or nine) of your cards, remember you can gift it to friends or family.
- 25% Back on United Inflight Purchases
- Stop paying full price (when you’re in coach) for premium drinks and snacks.
- Premier Access
- Priority check-in
- Priority security screening (where available)
- Priority boarding
- Priority baggage handling
- Points Earnings
The card carries a $525 annual fee.
Learn more about applying for the United Club Infinite card.
United Explorer Card
Not quite as benefit-packed as its (more expensive) United Club Infinite sibling, the United Explorer offers a decent suite of benefits for a card with a $95 annual fee — that’s waived the first year.
And this card might be worth that for even the occasional United flyer. If you travel on UA once or twice a year, here’s why the United Explorer should be on your radar. Heck, I know a certain airline rhyming with “Shmelta” whose basic Gold card costs four bucks more — and falls short on a couple of the below perks.
- Two One-Time Visit Passes to the United Club
- This kicks in during your second year of membership. This benefit alone is worth $100. So if you and a guest visit a lounge during a trip, you’re already earning back your annual fee and then some.
- First Checked Bag Free
- Worth up to $140 per roundtrip.
- TSA Pre√ or Global Entry Application Credit
- 25% Back on United Inflight Purchases
- Priority Boarding
- Points Earnings
As mentioned, the card’s $95 annual fee is waived the first year.
Learn more about applying for the United Explorer Card.
Final Approach
The United Explorer is a relatively impressive little card for just $95 a year. The 60,000 bonus points are a nice kicker, too.
The benefit-heavy United Club Infinite is a great option for frequent United flyers. The 100,000 point offer is pretty nice — especially to use on award bookings for Untied partners.
I’m not too excited by the 2X on food delivery services — there are better options available.
But even United’s leisure travels should give these cards a look.
— Chris
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