United Credit Cards Undergo Major Changes: Higher Fees, More Benefits, But Are They Worth It?

The Downsides

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These changes aren’t all positive. Several existing benefits are being restricted or removed:

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• Reduced lounge access: United Club Card/Business Card members now get one adult guest instead of two (unless you spend $50,000+ annually)

• Star Alliance lounge access: Now requires $50,000 annual spend or Premier Gold status

• Club passes restrictions: Explorer and Business cardholders can no longer share their passes with others

• Award upgrades: Explorer cardholders lose upgrade eligibility on award tickets after August 1

• Gateway card: Special award pricing now requires $10,000 annual spend

Is It Worth Keeping Your United Card?

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The value proposition varies significantly depending on which card you have and how you use it:

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United Club and Club Business Cards ($695)

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Worth it if:

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• You frequently fly United and value lounge access

• You can easily use the hotel, rideshare, and other credits

• You spend heavily on the card to unlock elite status benefits

• You’re chasing Premier status and need the PQP boost

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Probably not worth it if:

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• You rarely use United Clubs

• You won’t maximize the various credits

• You don’t spend enough to unlock the enhanced benefits

• You have other premium cards with overlapping benefits

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United Quest Card ($350)

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Worth it if:

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• You fly United several times per year

• You can use the $200 TravelBank credit and $150 hotel credit

• You value the 10,000-mile award discount

• You’re working toward elite status

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Probably not worth it if:

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• You fly United infrequently

• You find the monthly credits too complicated to track

• You prefer straightforward benefits over numerous small credits

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United Explorer Card ($150)

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Worth it if:

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• You check bags on at least four one-way United flights annually

• You value the two United Club passes

• You can use the hotel and rideshare credits

• You spend enough to earn the $100 TravelBank credit

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Probably not worth it if:

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• You rarely check bags on United flights

• You don’t value lounge access

• You find the multiple credits too cumbersome to track

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United Business Card ($150)

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Worth it if:

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• Your business frequently flies United

• You can use the TravelBank credits and FareLock benefit

• You value the Economy Plus upgrades

• You already hold a personal United card (for the 5,000 bonus miles)

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Probably not worth it if:

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• Your business rarely flies United

• You find the credits too complex to maximize

• You have better business card options for your spending

Reddit and Community Reactions

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The changes have sparked significant discussion on platforms like Reddit. In r/unitedairlines and r/CreditCards, reactions have been mixed:

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• Many users are frustrated by the conversion to “coupon book” style benefits

• Complaints about monthly credits being hard to track and maximize

• Some users plan to downgrade to lower-tier cards or cancel altogether

• Others see value for frequent United flyers who can use the various credits

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One Reddit user commented: “I’m downgrading to the basic united card from the quest. The Coupon book nonsense just killed United Quest.”

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Another noted: “I have the Explorer so the higher AF won’t hit me until 2026, so I’m not too bothered until then. I do particularly hate that the rideshare credits are split into monthly credits.”

How Kudos Insights Can Help Track Your United Card Credits

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With United cards transforming into complex “coupon books,” many cardholders are worried about keeping track of all these new benefits. This is where tools like Kudos Insights can be invaluable:

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Track All Your Card Credits in One Place

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Kudos Insights monitors your United card benefits and automatically alerts you when:

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• Monthly rideshare credits are available to use

• You have unused hotel credits approaching expiration

• You haven’t used your JSX flight credits for the year

• Your Instacart credits are waiting to be redeemed

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According to our own data, the average credit card user forgets to redeem over $600 in card benefits each year. With United’s new structure, that number could be even higher without proper tracking.

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Analyze if Your Card is Worth the Fee

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Kudos Insights also provides personalized analysis showing whether your United card is earning more value than its annual fee costs.

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We can:

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• Calculate exactly how much value you’re getting from each card benefit

• Compare your earning patterns to the annual fee

• Recommend whether to keep, downgrade, or cancel based on your usage

• Suggest optimal spending strategies to meet thresholds for benefits like Economy Plus upgrades

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Maximize Rewards Across Multiple Cards

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If you hold multiple cards (like both a United card and a general travel card), we’ll ensure you’re always using the right card for each purchase:

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• Shows which card earns the highest rewards for each merchant

• Identifies when your United card earns better than your other cards (and vice versa)

• Tracks your progress toward spending thresholds for enhanced benefits

Final Thoughts

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These United credit card changes represent a significant shift in the rewards card landscape, following similar moves by Delta and American Express. For frequent United flyers and high spenders, the changes may deliver more value despite the higher fees. For occasional travelers or those who prefer simpler benefits, the new structure may be less appealing.

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The key question is whether you can realistically maximize enough of the new credits to offset the higher annual fee. With tools like Kudos Insights, tracking these benefits becomes much easier, potentially making these revamped United cards more valuable for those who might otherwise miss out on their benefits.