
If you're a frequent flyer with United Airlines, you're probably familiar with their partnership with Chase Sapphire. The United Airlines Chase Sapphire Card is a popular choice among travelers, offering a range of perks and benefits that can enhance your flying experience.
The card comes with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, which can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, or other travel-related expenses. This bonus is a great way to jumpstart your miles balance.
One of the standout features of the card is its earning structure, which offers 2 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases. This means you can earn a lot of miles quickly, especially if you fly United regularly.
With no foreign transaction fees, you can use the card abroad without incurring extra charges. This makes it a great choice for international travelers.
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United Airlines Chase Sapphire Comparison
The United Airlines Chase Sapphire cards have some key differences, especially when it comes to their annual fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has an annual fee of $95, while the United℠ Explorer Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
The United℠ Explorer Card's introductory annual fee is a nice perk, especially for those who want to try out the card before committing to the full annual fee. This can be a great way to test the waters, so to speak, and see if the card is a good fit for your travel needs.
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Card Features
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a range of features that make it an excellent travel rewards card. You can transfer your points to any of Chase's 14 airline and 3 hotel partners, giving you a lot of flexibility.
One of the standout benefits of this card is the 60,000 bonus points you'll earn after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is a great incentive to start using the card for your daily expenses.
You'll also get 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, making it a great option for booking flights, hotels, and more. Plus, you'll get 3x points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, and 2x points on all other travel purchases.
The card also comes with a range of security features, including EMV Chip Enabled, Fraud Monitoring, and Zero Liability. And with contactless payments, you can tap to pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay.
Here are some of the key benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:
- Extended Warranty Coverage
- Purchase Protection
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Emergency Travel Assistance
- Luggage Protection
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Trip Cancellation Insurance
Benefits and Worth
The Chase Sapphire cards offer great benefits for United Airlines fans. If you prefer to fly United but are willing to fly with other airlines, it might make sense to get one of these cards.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely flexible, allowing you to transfer them to over a dozen different airline and hotel loyalty programs or use them to pay for trips through the Chase travel portal.
You'll have no trouble using Chase points to book domestic flights with any major airline, including United, thanks to the multitude of redemption options.
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Is It Worth Getting Both Cards?

Getting both cards might make sense if you prefer to fly with United but are open to other airlines. There's a lot of overlap in the travel benefits, though.
Chase issues both cards, which can be a drawback. They have a 5/24 rule, and it's rare for them to approve two accounts within 30 days.
If you want to get both cards, prioritize the one that aligns with your travel habits.
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Bottom Line
If you live near a United Airlines hub, the United℠ Explorer Card can be a great addition to your wallet.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are extremely flexible, allowing you to transfer them to over a dozen different airline and hotel loyalty programs.
You'll have no trouble using Chase points to book domestic flights with any of the major airlines and many smaller, low-cost carriers through the Chase travel portal.
Many of the top travel credit cards earn Chase points, making it easy to earn the rewards you need for your next trip.
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Rewards and Earning
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a range of rewards that make it a great option for travelers. You can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, then 1%.
One of the best features of the Chase Sapphire Preferred is its flexibility. With this card, you can transfer your points to United, or any of Chase's other travel partners, giving you a lot of options for redeeming your rewards.
You can earn Chase points with a variety of cards, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Freedom Flex, and more. Some of these cards earn cash-back rewards instead of points, but you can combine rewards from all your Ultimate Rewards cards into a single account.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, as well as 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services). You'll also get 1% cash back on all other purchases.
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Here's a breakdown of the rewards offered by the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, then 1%
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Keep in mind that there's an intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, the fee is either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
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Booking and Transferring
To transfer Chase points to United, you'll need to have a MileagePlus account, which you can create on United's website. You'll also need to log into your Ultimate Rewards account and select your earning card.
The transfer process is straightforward: click on the "Travel" dropdown, select "Transfer points to partners", and then choose United from the list of available partners. You can transfer points in increments of 1,000, and the transfer will usually occur instantaneously, but may take up to seven business days.
The Chase to United transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning you can convert 1,000 Chase points into 1,000 United miles. However, this may not always be the best use of your points, as some Chase transfer partners offer higher value, such as World of Hyatt or British Airways Avios.
Here's a quick rundown of the transfer process:
- Log into your Ultimate Rewards account and select your earning card
- Click on the "Travel" dropdown and select "Transfer points to partners"
- Choose United from the list of available partners
- Transfer points in increments of 1,000
- The transfer will usually occur instantaneously, but may take up to seven business days
Transferring Points
You can transfer a minimum of 1,000 points, and the transfer will usually occur instantly, but may take up to seven business days. The Chase to United transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning 1,000 Chase points will become 1,000 United miles.
However, it's worth noting that Chase points are worth more than United miles, with a valuation of 2.05 cents per point compared to 1.35 cents per point for United miles. This means you'll lose some value when transferring your points.
If you're considering transferring Chase points to United, you may want to reserve your points for transfers to higher-value partners like World of Hyatt, British Airways Avios, Air Canada Aeroplan, or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. But, if you have a large stash of Chase points or don't want to book awards with higher-value transfer partners, transferring to United might be a good option.
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To earn more Chase points, you can apply for one of the many Chase credit cards that participate in the Ultimate Rewards program, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, or Ink Business Preferred. You can also combine rewards from all your Ultimate Rewards cards into a single account to make transferring points easier.
Here are some of the major Chase credit cards that participate in the Ultimate Rewards program:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Booking Flights with Points
Booking flights with points can be a great way to get the most out of your Chase points.
If you don't want to deal with complicated awards charts and obscure award booking restrictions, the Chase travel portal is a great option. It works just like booking through any other online travel agency, but you can choose to pay some or all of your travel expenses with your Chase points.
You can redeem Chase points through the travel portal at a fixed value of 1 to 1.5 cents per point, depending on the Chase card account you're booking through.
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Here's a breakdown of the redemption values for different Chase cards:
If you have multiple Chase cards, you can move your points to the card that offers the highest redemption value, which can create situations where booking through the Chase travel portal is more lucrative than transferring points directly to an airline.
However, if you want to book tickets with low-cost airlines like Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country, or Southwest, you'll need to call 1-855-233-9462 to book with your Chase points.
Expert Opinion
United Airlines Chase Sapphire cardholders can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, plus 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
According to the program details, cardholders can earn up to 16,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 in the first 3 months.
This card offers a 65,000-mile bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, and cardholders can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United Airlines purchases.
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United Airlines Chase Sapphire cardholders can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, plus 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a 60,000-mile bonus after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, and cardholders can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on travel and dining purchases.
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Welcome Offer
To get the most out of a United Airlines Chase Sapphire card, you need to consider the welcome offer, which is a great way to start earning points right away.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a welcome bonus, but you'll need to spend more to get it.
One advantage of the Sapphire Preferred is that you can transfer your miles to United or any of Chase's travel partners.
United's dynamic pricing system makes it hard to evaluate how much United Explorer points are worth.
The Sapphire Preferred card is a good choice for flexibility, giving you more options to use your points.
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Best for You
If you're looking for a card with no annual fee, the United℠ Explorer Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But if you're willing to pay a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers more flexible travel benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has an annual fee of $95, which is a flat rate. The United℠ Explorer Card also has an annual fee of $95 after the first year, but it's more geared towards United benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the winner when it comes to flexibility, making it a great choice for travelers who like to mix it up.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What airlines partner with Chase Sapphire?
Chase Sapphire partners with 11 airlines, including JetBlue, Southwest, and Singapore Airlines, as well as major alliances like Oneworld, SkyTeam, and Star Alliance. Redeem your rewards on flights with these global airline partners.
Is United a Chase travel partner?
Yes, United MileagePlus is a Chase transfer partner, allowing you to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your United Airlines loyalty account.
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