United Cards Get a Makeover: Bigger Bonuses, New Credits & Higher Annual Fees

United Airlines and Chase are raising annual fees on nearly all their co-branded credit cards while adding a series of new, “money-saving” credits for Instacart, rideshares, and hotels and rental cars purchased through United.

In a move that can be best summarized as United telling Delta to “hold my beer,” the airline and Chase took a page straight out of Amex’s playbook by hiking annual fees while adding “value” … albeit, with plenty of hoops to jump through.

Here’s what you’ll have to pay for a United credit card going forward:

• *united explorer* with benefits like free checked baggage will jump from $99 a year to $150 a year – aside from a $0 introductory fee for the first year
• *united quest* jumps from its current $250 annual price tag to $350 a year
• *united club infinite* will move from $525 a year all the way up to $695 annually

United’s line of small business credit cards will see nearly identical annual fee increases and benefits. Only the no-annual fee *united gateway* escaped unscathed, though it also gets a new perk: You can earn two free checked bags … after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.

These fee increases apply to new applicants immediately and existing cardholders with renewals from Aug. 1 onwards – Jan. 1, 2026, for United Explorer cardholders. That means if your United card is set to renew before the end of July, you won’t pay the higher fees until sometime in 2026. 

While this price hike undoubtedly stings, it’s not all bad news: United is adding a slew of new perks to these cards while improving some existing benefits — especially for its top-tier United Club cardholders. Let’s dive into all the changes: annual fee hikes, new and improved benefits, and more.

Higher Fees But New (& Improved) Perks

Nobody likes paying annual fees on credit cards, and nobody likes paying even more of them.

From a $55-a-year hike on the United Explorer to even bigger increases on United’s top two cards, here’s how it all shakes out.

Existing cardholders won’t pay these higher fees until their next renewal. So if you’ve got a United Explorer, Quest, or Club Card set to renew in the near future, expect a bit of sticker shock when the statement arrives.

At the same time, the airline is trying to soften the blow by rolling out bigger welcome bonus offers and an array of new benefits you can take advantage of immediately – even before paying these higher fees. That includes:

• Up to $100 in statement credits each year (broken up into two $50 credits) for hotels booked via United® Hotels on both *united explorer* and *United Business*
• Up to $150 in rideshare credits (broken up into monthly allotments) for all cards. The total credit amount varies depending on the card. 
• Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget rental car purchases annually for all cards. The total credit amount varies depending on the card.
• Up to $200 in credits for JSX (the increasingly popular “private” airline) purchases
• *united quest* and *united club infinite* also get up to $240 in Instacart credits (broken up into monthly allotments)
• Increased Premier Qualifying Point-earning (PQP) limits through spending on the Quest and United Club cards. You can now earn up to Platinum status with the Quest Card and Premier 1K with the United Club Card.

United Quest cardholders get a few extra perks – some automatically and some earned after spending a certain amount each calendar year. For starters, you’ll get a $200 United travel credit each year just for holding the card. This benefit replaces the old $125 discount that used to be applied annually to a United flight purchase and is a clear win.

You’ll also get a 10,000-mile award flight discount every anniversary year and can earn a second one by spending $20,000 in a calendar year. Previously, the card came with two, 5,000-mile award flight discounts, so getting it all in one fell swoop isn’t exactly a bad thing. You’ll also receive up to $150 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United cardmembers with your Quest Card.

Finally, you can earn two global United Economy Plus upgrades after spending $40,000 on the Quest Card in a calendar year. And you’ll also receive a 1,000 PQP bonus just for holding the card, beginning in 2026. 

Top-tier United Club Infinite cardholders are also getting a few extras. Cardholders can earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount by spending $20,000 in a calendar year and even get a second one after spending an additional $20,000. You’ll also receive up to $200 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United cardmembers with your Club Infinite Card.

Much like the Quest Card, Club Infinite cardholders will be getting a 1,500 PQP bonus beginning in 2026.

Unfortunately, the Club access you get automatically with the card is getting a little less valuable. Instead of getting two adult guests or one adult guest and dependents under the age of 18 in for free, you’ll now need to earn a United Club℠ All Access membership by spending a whopping $50,000 in a calendar year for that same kind of access. When you do, you’ll also get four one-time Club passes for an authorized user each year.

Finally, Club Infinite cardholders also get a complimentary Instacart+ membership, which otherwise costs $99 per year. Meanwhile, United Explorer and Quest cardholders get a free three-month trial membership. 

Here’s a deeper, card-by-card look at what’s changing with the United credit cards – and what’s not.

United℠ Explorer Card

The airline’s most-popular *united explorer* isn’t just getting a higher annual fee in year two and beyond; it’s getting a slew of new credits (some travel, some not) to help offset that bigger price tag.

A few of these new or improved perks could outweigh that annual cost, and best of all, some of the most important benefits on this card aren’t going anywhere.

What’s New?

• bonus_miles_full
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then pay $150 a year. Existing cardholders will pay that higher fee upon their next renewal.
• Earn 5x miles on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels: Earn 2x miles per $1 spent as a MileagePlus member, 2x miles per $1 spent with your card, plus an additional 1x mile per $1 spent from United when you prepay through United Hotels.
• Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your United℠ Explorer Card.
• Up to $100 in United Hotel credits: Receive $50 back as a statement credit on both your first and second prepaid hotel stays purchased directly through United Hotels, up to $100 each anniversary year.
• Up to $60 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $5 back as a statement credit each month on rideshare purchases when you pay with your  Explorer Card, up to $60 each calendar year. 
• Up to $50 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $25 in United TravelBank cash, up to $50 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Explorer Card.
• Up to $120 in Instacart credits: Receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Explorer Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
• Up to $100 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $100 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Explorer Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
• 3-Month Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you’re automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.

What’s Not Changing?

• Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on United purchases, including tickets, in-flight food and Wi-Fi and baggage service charges, hotels, and dining.
• Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• First checked bag free on United flights
• Priority boarding
• Get two one-time passes to the United Club each year on your cardmember anniversary (these are now non-transferable)
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights
• No foreign transaction fees

Learn more about *united explorer*

United Quest℠ Card

*united quest* is the mid-tier choice for more-frequent United flyers. Its annual fee is going from $250 a year to $350. Ouch.

But that increase also comes with some upside: Use up all the new benefits added to the card, and there’s an extra $390 a year in value now on the table. Oh, and the card’s single-best benefit is getting even better.

What’s New

• bonus_miles_full
• $350 annual fee, up from the previous $250 a year. Existing cardholders will pay that higher fee upon their next renewal.
• Earn 5x miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United® Cardmembers: Earn 5x miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts using your Quest Card.
• $200 annual United travel credit: Automatically receive $200 in United TravelBank cash after account opening and annually on your account anniversary, for a future United- or United Express-operated flight.
• Annual 10,000-mile award flight discount: Starting with your first anniversary and every anniversary thereafter, you’ll get a 10,000-mile discount to use toward an eligible award flight. This used to be broken up into two separate 5,000-mile discounts. 
• Earn a second 10,000-mile award flight discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Quest Card.
• Earn two global Economy Plus seat upgrades: Receive two global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Quest Card.
• Up to $150 in credits for Renowned Hotels and Resorts: Receive up to $150 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts with your Quest Card.
• Up to $100 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $8 back as a statement credit each month and $12 in December on rideshare purchases when you pay with your Quest Card, up to $100 each calendar year. 
• Up to $80 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $40 in United TravelBank cash, up to $80 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Quest Card.
• Up to $180 in Instacart credits: Receive one $10 Instacart credit and one $5 Instacart credit monthly, up to $180 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Quest Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
• Up to $150 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $150 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Quest Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
• 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each qualification year, starting in 2026: Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP) each year. Your Card Bonus PQP will be applied to your MileagePlus account within six to eight weeks after Feb. 1 each year, starting in 2026. Your Quest Card must be open as of Dec. 31 of the prior year and must be open when PQP are applied.
• Earn up to 18,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP): You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases with your Quest Card, up to 18,000 PQP in a calendar year.
• 3-Month Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. After that, you’re automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate. This benefit ends Dec. 31, 2027.

What’s Not Changing?

• Earn 3x miles per dollar spent on United purchases, including tickets, in-flight food and Wi-Fi and baggage service charges
• Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel
• Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• First and second checked bags are free on United flights
• Priority boarding
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights
• No foreign transaction fees

Learn more about *united quest*

United Club℠ Infinite Card

United’s priciest, premium travel card is getting even pricier.

The annual fee on *united club infinite* is jumping from $525 up to $695 – a higher price point than any other top-tier airline credit card. With that hike comes even more valuable money-saving credits than you’ll now see on cheaper United cards. 

What’s New

• bonus_miles_full
• $695 annual fee, up from the previous $525 a year. Existing cardholders will pay that higher fee upon their next renewal.
• Earn 5x miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts or United Hotels: Earn 5x miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts or United Hotels using your Club Card.
• United Club membership: Primary cardholders receive unlimited complimentary access to United Clubs for themselves and eligible travel companions, including one adult guest and dependent children. Guest access used to include two adults or one adult and dependent children. 
• United Club All Access membership: You can unlock a United Club All Access membership after reaching Premier Gold status or by spending $50,000 on purchases each calendar year with your United Club Card. In addition to your usual benefits, you will be able to bring in two adult guests, or one adult guest plus your dependent children under the age of 18, to all United Club lounges. This includes access to participating Star Alliance lounges for you and your eligible travel companions, plus four one-time Club passes for your authorized users each year.
• Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts: Receive one 10,000-mile discount after spending $20,000 on purchases each calendar year with your Club Card and another after spending an additional $20,000.
• Up to $200 in credits for Renowned Hotels and Resorts: Receive up to $200 back in statement credits each anniversary year on hotel accommodations when you prepay directly through Renowned Hotels and Resorts with your Club Card.
• Up to $150 in credits on rideshare purchases: Enroll (and opt-in yearly) to receive up to $12 back as a statement credit each month and $18 in December on rideshare purchases when you pay with your Club Card, up to $100 each calendar year. 
• Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases: Receive $50 in United TravelBank cash, up to $100 each anniversary year, for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked directly through cars.united.com and paid for with your Club Card.
• Up to $240 in Instacart credits: Receive two $10 Instacart credits monthly, up to $240 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your Quest Card. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
• Up to $200 in credits on JSX purchases: Get up to $200 back as a statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX using your Club Card. JSX is a hop-on jet service that offers a semiprivate flying experience at commercial fares.
• 1,500 Card Bonus PQP each qualification year, starting in 2026: Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,500 Card Bonus Premier qualifying points (PQP) each year. Your Card Bonus PQP will be applied to your MileagePlus account within six to eight weeks after Feb. 1 each year, starting in 2026. Your Club Card must be open as of Dec. 31 of the prior year and must be open when PQP are applied.
• Earn up to 128,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP): You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases with your Club Card, up to 28,000 PQP in a calendar year.
• Complimentary Instacart+ Membership: Get complimentary Instacart+ Membership for three months, including unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees on eligible orders. This benefit ends on Dec. 31, 2027.

What’s Not Changing?

• Earn 4x miles per dollar spent on United purchases, including tickets, in-flight food, and Wi-Fi and baggage service charges
• Earn 2x miles per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases
• Earn 1x miles on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 credit to cover enrollment in Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS
• First and second checked bags are free on United flights
• Priority boarding
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights
• No foreign transaction fees

Learn more about *united club infinite*

Our Analysis

There’s a lot to digest here. If your head hurts just reading this, just imagine how I felt dissecting it all! 

My biggest takeaway is that even at $150 per year, the United Explorer Card remains a solid choice for most casual United flyers. With several new statement credits – some easier to use than others – there should be enough new benefits here to offset the increased annual fee. If you take an Uber or Lyft a half-dozen times per year and occasionally order groceries from Instacart, you should have no problem offsetting the fee increase and all the other new benefits are just a bonus. 

Meanwhile, the United Quest Card went from mostly forgettable to decent with these changes. The 10,000-mile discount on award flights is useful (though not entirely new), and the additional $200 in United TravelBank cash will no doubt be valuable. You’ll also get even more monthly rideshare and Instacart credits, plus you’ll have a head start on earning status (beginning in 2026) with the 1,000 PQP bonus. Even at $350 per year, this card could make sense for more regular United flyers. 

Finally, the United Club Infinite Card remains a good choice for ultra frequent United flyers. Unlimited United Club access (that changed slightly) is still the card’s biggest selling point, but it also comes with a handful of new credits and the ability to unlock more perks by spending big (really big) on the card. Much like the United Quest Card, you’ll also get a leg up on earning status with an even bigger 1,500 PQP bonus beginning in 2026. 

While no one likes seeing annual fees increase, these changes could be a net win for some and the bigger, limited-time welcome offers on all the cards no doubt make them worth a look … at least for the first year. 

Bottom Line

Death, taxes, and higher annual fees on travel credit cards. Those are the certainties in life, and now it appears that United and Chase are happy to follow in Delta and Amex’s footsteps.

While there are plenty of new money-saving credits and improving benefits in tandem with this increase, putting all of them to use each year – or even each month – can be a serious chore.

So what say you, travelers? Are you keeping or canceling your United cards with these changes?