5 Reasons Why I Keep Both a United Personal and Business Card

If you fly on a specific airline, even a few times a year, having its branded credit card can be a smart move. Perks such as priority boarding, a free checked bag, discounted in-flight purchases, and faster mileage earning can all add real value.

It’s common to have separate branded cards for airlines you fly frequently. However, having multiple cards with the same airline doesn’t always provide greater value. That question has been on my mind recently.

Since I’ve had both personal and business United-branded credit cards for several years, I decided it was time to evaluate whether I was getting enough value from keeping both. Here’s what I found after reviewing the value these cards provide me — and why I ultimately decided to keep them.

My United-Branded Credit Cards

Here are quick snapshots of the 2 United cards currently in my wallet: the United℠ Explorer Card and the United℠ Business Card.

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Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United℠ Explorer Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

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United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 70,000 United MileagePlus^® bonus miles after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first three months of opening an account, plus $0 annual fee for the first year.

50,000 70,000 bonus miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$840

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x total miles per $1 on hotel stays through United Hotels
• 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
• 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Does not earn transferable rewards

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Card Highlights

• Earn 70,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• 2x miles on United^® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
• Priority boarding on United^® flights
• 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
• Over $500 in partner credits each year
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS fee credit
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

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United℠ Business Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Business Card

A business card from Chase for United loyalists with benefits such as free checked bags and discounts on inflight purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

100,000 miles + 2,000 PQP

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The United℠ Business Card is a compelling option for traveling business owners that are also frequent United flyers. Not only will this Chase business card help you earn more United miles, but it also offers great perks such as free checked bags, priority boarding, a discount on inflight purchases, and much more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on dining
• 2x miles per $1 at gas stations and office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting

Cons

• Doesn’t earn transferable rewards
• Other United cards are more rewarding for United purchases

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Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $150 Annual Fee.
• 2x miles on United^® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
• 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
• Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United^® credit card.
• Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
• Receive a $125 United travel credit after making 5 United^® flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United℠ Business Card.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Individually, both cards provide useful perks, but the real value for me comes from how the benefits stack when I carry both.

1. I Receive 5,000 MileagePlus Bonus Miles Annually

Having both a United personal and a business card qualifies me for the “Better Together” bonus. Each year, after renewing my United Business card, I receive 5,000 bonus miles deposited into my MileagePlus account.

I conservatively value 5,000 miles at about $50, although they can be worth much more depending on how they’re redeemed.

2. I Get More United Club Passes

Both my United Explorer card and United Business card come with 2 single-use passes to the United Club each year, giving me 4 United Club passes annually.

There have been reports of crowded United Clubs occasionally refusing day passes, but I haven’t run into that issue yet and have successfully used my passes when needed.

I typically save the passes for long connections, when I would normally need to purchase a $59 day pass. For simplicity’s sake, I value the 4 passes at roughly $200.

3. Up to $200 in Annual Hotel Credits

Once I realized how easy it was to use the hotel credits for stays booked through United Hotels, I quickly came to appreciate this benefit.

I have booked through United Hotels 3 different times, all for international stays, and the process has been smooth each time — including hotel check-in.

To receive the $50 statement credit, I booked the 1-night stay through United Hotels and used my United card to pay at checkout. After receiving an immediate confirmation, the credit appeared on my statement once the purchase was processed.

The $50 hotel credit is now one of my favorite United card perks because it provides a clear, immediate benefit.

4. Earning United TravelBank Cash

The United TravelBank is a cash balance tied to your United MileagePlus frequent flyer account that can be funded in several ways, then used to purchase United flights. There are 2 ways I can earn United TravelBank cash through spending on my United cards.

If I spend $10,000 on my United Explorer card in a calendar year, I will receive $100 in United TravelBank cash. That’s not enough of an incentive for me to put $10,000 of spending on the card.

However, if I spend $100 or more on each of 5 separate United flights with my United business card in a calendar year, I receive $125 in United TravelBank cash. That’s a milestone I can easily reach.

I regularly purchase short 35-minute positioning flights each year from my small town airport to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) when I’m not redeeming miles.

If I time these flight purchases correctly, I can double-dip on other United promotions while also working toward earning TravelBank cash.

I value this benefit at roughly $125. While I don’t expect to spend $10,000 on my United Explorer card, I do plan to spend $100 on 5 flights with my United Business card to earn $125 in TravelBank cash.

5. Expanded Earning Opportunities

The United Explorer card and United Business card share several bonus categories, including:

• 2x miles on United purchases
• 2x miles on dining (including eligible delivery)
• 5x miles on prepaid hotel stays booked through United Hotels

However, each card also has unique bonus categories.

The United Explorer card earns 2x miles on hotel stays purchased directly with the hotel. The United Business card earns 2x miles at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. All other purchases earn 1x miles when using either card.

Realistically, I may earn more miles with the business card at gas stations, office supply stores, or transit and commuting, but I have cards better suited for those purchases.

I estimate the additional earnings are worth roughly 2,500 miles, or $25 in value.

Summary of the Value

The annual fee on the United Explorer card is $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150, while the United Business card charges $150 annually. Together, I pay $300 in annual fees by keeping both cards.

Based on the benefits I consistently use, I estimate I receive about $600 in annual value:

• 5,000 bonus miles: $50
• United Club passes: $200
• Hotel credits: $200
• TravelBank credits: $125
• Additional earnings: $25

Since I regularly use all of these benefits, keeping both cards still makes financial sense for me. Plus, there are several other benefits of these cards that I have access to.

Bottom Line:

I’ve found $600 in valuable benefits on my United Explorer card and United Business card, including 5,000 bonus miles at card renewal, 4 United Club passes annually, up to $200 in annual hotel credits, $125 in United TravelBank cash, and additional spending category earnings because I carry both cards.

Additional Benefits of my United Cards

Beyond the perks listed above, both cards provide several other useful benefits:

• The ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward elite status
• Priority boarding and a free checked bag
• Access to expanded award inventory and discounted Saver award fares
• Up to $50 in TravelBank cash each card anniversary year ($25 in United TravelBank cash, up to $50 each anniversary year, for the first and second Avis or Budget car rental you book with cars.united.com and pay for with your card)

Additionally, the United Explorer card includes:

• $10 Instacart credit monthly (up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly with Instacart using the United Explorer card, through December 31, 2027)
• Up to $60 in ride-share service credits annually, plus up to $5 in monthly statement credits for ride-share service purchases made with the card (enrollment required annually)

The United Business card offers up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year for ride-share service purchases made with the card, up to $8 in monthly statement credits from January through November, and up to $12 in December (enrollment required annually).

The benefits listed in this article are not a complete list of everything these cards offer, but they represent the perks that add the most value for me.

Final Thoughts

After reviewing the numbers, I’m happy with my decision to keep both my United Explorer card and United Business card. Between the Better Together bonus, lounge access, hotel credits, TravelBank cash, and additional earnings, I estimate I receive about $600 in annual.

Still, I review the value each year when the annual fees post to ensure keeping both cards makes sense.