Chase United Club Infinite Card Review

Introducing the Chase United Club Infinite Card

There is no doubt that the Chase United Club^SM Infinite Card squarely targets the big United flyer. To pay a $525 annual fee on any card, users must demand high performance, and tons of value can be generated from this card for the United frequent flyer. However, after receiving the first year bonuses, the average traveler may not get as much out of this card as top-tier United elite customers.

Main characteristics

The Chase United Club Infinite Card offers a wide range of benefits, but its top-rated features include:

destinations

While United flies to hundreds of destinations around the world, you can probably use the rewards offered by the Chase United Club Infinite Card on almost any trip you take. The high number of destinations where you can use the benefits of the card helps to improve its value.

No foreign transaction fees

Whether you use your Chase United Club Infinite Card on a foreign website or at an actual foreign location, you will not pay any foreign transaction fees on your purchases. Many other cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, which can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.

Total number of awards

As befits an expensive, top-tier credit card, the Chase United Infinite Card offers a slew of rewards. If you’re able to afford the fees and use all of the card’s benefits, it’s likely to score high in your own personal assessment as well.

Rewards Rate Factor

Although the Chase United Club Infinite card has a high annual fee of $525, it still scores well in terms of the ratio of the rewards it offers to the fees it charges.

How the Chase United Club Infinite Card Stands Out

Although the Chase United Club Infinite card offers additional benefits, the most notable benefit is free United Club membership. This membership alone is worth up to $650 per year, which dwarfs the $525 annual fee with room to spare. But for United frequent flyers, the perks keep rolling in, including two free checked bags, 4x miles on United purchases, 25% off inflight purchases, $100 statement credit every four years on Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and United Premier Access services, which includes priority boarding, check-in and processing privileges. This package makes it the best United card option available for United frequent flyers.

In addition to these high-profile benefits, the Chase United Club Infinite Card also comes with a wide range of ancillary travel benefits, with limits that are enhanced over those offered by lower-tier Chase and United cards. The impressive list of benefits includes the following:

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance is generous with the Chase United Club Infinite card, up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.

Baggage Delay Insurance

Baggage Delay Insurance pays up to $100 for up to three days if your baggage is delayed for at least six hours.

Reimbursement for lost baggage

Lost baggage is covered up to $3,000.

Travel Delay Reimbursement

If your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you will receive up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals or accommodation.

Visa Infinite Concierge Services

Visa Infinite Concierge services provide 24/7 access to personalized assistance with everything from travel planning to dinner and event ticket reservations, 365 days a year.

Collision Damage Waiver for Rental Vehicles

Unlike some other credit cards, the car rental coverage offered by the Club Infinite card is primary, not secondary.

Purchase Protection

Your card will cover your new purchases for up to 120 days in the event of theft or damage, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.

Extended warranty

The card will automatically extend your US manufacturer’s warranty for an additional year, on qualifying warranties of three years or less.

Comparable Chase United Credit Card Options

Chase and United have partnered to offer a wide range of credit cards for travelers, strategically divided into four tiers. The bottom tier is occupied by the fee-free United Gateway Card, while the United Explorer Card fills in the entry-level tier. The mid-tier United Quest Card is the next step up, while the top tier is occupied by the United Club Infinite Card. Here’s a look at how the Explorer and Quest cards compare to the United Club Infinite card.

Chase United Explorer Card

As an entry-level card, the United Explorer card offers fewer high-value benefits than the Club Infinite card. However, the fee for the Explorer card is only $95 – waived in the first year – as opposed to the $525 for the Club Infinite card. So, on a comparable basis, what type of traveler you are will determine which option is best for you. In most cases, the occasional traveler will prefer the Explorer card, since the high price of the Club Infinite card is mainly due to its United Club membership. But even though the Explorer card is much cheaper, it still gives cardholders one free checked bag, 2x miles on United purchases, and a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years.

The Explorer Card also offers many ancillary travel benefits, from lost baggage protection and car rental coverage to trip cancellation insurance. If you don’t need a full United Club membership, but think you can enjoy 2 United Club passes per year, the Explorer card may be a better choice – and you’ll get a sign-up bonus for to start up.

Chase United Quest Map

The Chase United Quest card is closer in features and benefits to the Club Infinite card, but one important distinction is that the Quest card does not offer lounge access. However, for an annual fee of $250, you’ll receive $125 per year in United purchase credits, 3x miles on United purchases, two free checked bags per flight, and a significant sign-up bonus.

You’ll also receive many of the same additional benefits as the Club Infinite card, including a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit and ancillary travel benefits like trip cancellation or interruption insurance, lost or delayed baggage protection , rental car coverage, purchase and extended warranty protection. If you’re not looking for lounge access but still love flying on United, the Quest card can be a decent option, as it has an annual fee of just $250 compared to the Club Infinite card’s $525.

How to register

Applying for the Chase United Club Infinite Card is easy on the Chase website. You’ll need to provide financial and personal information, from your social security, annual income, and employment status to your name, address, and date of birth. Applicants are often approved instantly online, while others may take 7-10 business days for further verification.

Who is the Chase United Club Infinite Card for?

The Chase United Club Infinite card is clearly best for frequent United travelers who prioritize access to the United Club lounge. If you’re about to buy that Club access anyway, the Club Infinite card essentially offers all of its extra benefits – from 4x miles on United purchases to free bags to its big sign-up bonus – for free. While the card can still offer significant value to frequent United flyers, it’s best used by those who want to spend a lot of time in United lounges.

Final take

The Chase United Club Infinite Card’s hefty $525 annual fee outweighs most card benefits for the average traveler, but for those looking to purchase United Club lounge access at a discount, it may deliver tremendous value.

Rates are subject to change; unless otherwise specified, prices are updated periodically. All other account information is accurate as of October 6, 2022.

Editorial note: This content is not provided by any entity covered by this article. Any opinions, analyses, criticisms, evaluations, or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.