United Club vs Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card a compelling option.

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• This card comes with a suite of premium travel perks, including complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge access and a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, though it does carry an annual fee.
• Cardholders can earn unlimited 2 points per dollar on travel and dining and 1.5 points on all other purchases, with bonuses of 25%-75% available for Preferred Rewards members.
• You can offset a significant portion of the annual fee by taking full advantage of the up to $300 airline incidental credit and the up to $150 lifestyle credit each year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Comes with a host of premium travel benefits, including complimentary airport lounge access, special perks at luxury hotels, and status upgrades with major car rental agencies.
• Offers valuable annual statement credits for airline incidentals and lifestyle purchases, plus bonus rewards for Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members.

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Cons

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• Unlike many competing premium travel cards, points cannot be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
• Carries a high annual fee, and maximizing point value often requires booking through Bank of America’s travel portal, which limits flexibility.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite, comes down to your specific travel habits and airline loyalty.

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• The United Club℠ Card is built for dedicated United Airlines flyers who want premium travel benefits like lounge access and priority airport services.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is geared toward frequent travelers who value luxury perks and is especially rewarding for those already in the Bank of America ecosystem.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed primarily within the United Airlines ecosystem for things like flights, upgrades, and other travel-related purchases.

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Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card: Points offer flexible redemption options, including travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, statement credits, or cash back deposited into an eligible account.

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Travel Perks

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• Lounge Access: The United Club℠ Card includes a United Club membership, granting access to its lounges and participating partner lounges. The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers access to a broad network of airport lounges worldwide through a separate lounge program membership.
• Travel Ecosystem: The United Club℠ Card is centered on the United Airlines ecosystem, which is ideal for travelers loyal to the airline. In contrast, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card uses the Bank of America Travel Center, providing flexibility to book travel across various carriers and hotel brands.
• Travel Credits & Perks: The Bank of America card provides annual credits for airline incidentals and certain lifestyle purchases. The United card’s perks are more deeply integrated with the airline, offering benefits like free first and second checked bags on United flights.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside of the United States.
• Expedited Security Screening: Both cards typically provide a statement credit to cover the application fee for either TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a financial technology platform that helps you compare top-rated cards and maximize rewards based on your personal spending habits.

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• Test Drive Feature: You can test drive credit cards by simulating potential earnings using your real spending data before applying, all without a hard credit pull.
• Comprehensive Comparison: The tool evaluates nearly 3,000 credit cards, providing personalized recommendations based on your transaction history.
• Approval Odds: Get a detailed analysis based on your credit report to better understand your chances of approval before you apply.
• Welcome Offer Guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, the platform will match it.
• Kudos Boost: Earn additional rewards on top of your credit card’s rewards when you shop with Kudos.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The United Club℠ Card is tailor-made for the dedicated United Airlines loyalist who travels frequently, whether for business or leisure. These cardholders will find significant value in the complimentary United Club membership, which provides access to a global network of lounges, and in the generous free checked bag allowance for themselves and a companion. Additionally, travelers seeking to enhance their airport experience with priority services or those aiming to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward MileagePlus status will find this card to be a powerful tool, as detailed in this comprehensive review.

Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite?

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The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite card is a premium travel card designed for frequent travelers, especially those already invested in the Bank of America ecosystem through banking or Merrill investment accounts. These cardholders can take full advantage of luxury perks like unlimited Priority Pass lounge access and up to $450 in annual statement credits for travel and lifestyle purchases to offset the $550 annual fee. It's particularly lucrative for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members who receive a 25%-75% rewards bonus, though it's less ideal for users who prioritize transferring points to airline or hotel partners.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our United Club vs. Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect travel companion, don't worry. There are several other excellent travel rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your wallet and travel style.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - You will generally need good to excellent credit to be approved for a premium travel card.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can comfortably meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.
• Understand the rewards - Know whether the card earns flexible points or is tied to a specific airline or booking portal.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of any application restrictions that could affect your approval.
• Leverage existing relationships - Check for enhanced offers or benefits if you're already a customer with the bank.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement naturally.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is the United Club Infinite Card worth it if I don't live near a United hub?

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The value of the United Club Infinite Card depends heavily on your travel patterns, as its main draw is the United Club membership. If you fly United or its partners often enough to take advantage of the lounge access and other perks, it can provide significant value regardless of your home airport.

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Can I get lounge access with the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card?

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Yes, the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card typically includes a Priority Pass Select membership, offering access to a global network of airport lounges. It also provides an annual airline incidental credit that can be used for various travel expenses, including lounge day passes.

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Does the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card offer free checked bags on United flights?

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A specific free checked bag benefit on United is not a feature of the Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card. However, cardholders can use the card's annual airline incidental statement credit to cover baggage fees.

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