United’s Big Credit Card Refresh Offers More Duds Than Delights

Chase recently revamped its United credit card lineup, affecting several personal and business cards. The common thread among the changes is that annual fees are increasing, but the cards now offer more credits and discounts to help offset the higher costs. So, is it a fair trade-off?

However, the new perks come with various restrictions that may make them burdensome or impractical for some cardholders. These changes reflect a broader trend in the industry where travel credit cards are becoming more like expensive coupon books.

The credits and discounts, which range from valuable to practically useless, have made it more challenging to determine which United card is the best fit for each consumer. Ultimately, the new benefits have increased the maintenance required for these cards. To truly benefit from paying the annual fee, cardholders will need to be strategic and put in some effort.

Despite the addition of these new benefits, the United cards remain solid products. However, their value is derived from other features rather than these recent changes.

In exchange for higher annual fees, Chase and United have introduced rideshare, Instacart, and JSX credits to most of their credit cards. However, these credits may not be useful for cardholders who do not use these services.

Even for those who do use these services, benefiting from the new perks can be challenging due to how they are issued.

The rideshare credits are not automatic. Cardholders need to activate/enroll via the Chase app, and the credit is issued monthly in varying amounts, which may not cover the cost of a single ride.

The Instacart credits are limited in duration and require an Instacart+ membership, which comes with its own costs. Additionally, the credits are issued monthly in increments, making them less impactful for cardholders.

The JSX credit, while more generous, may not be practical for many cardholders due to the limited utility of semi-private charter flights. The discount offered may not significantly impact the cost of such flights.

Overall, these perks do not justify the increased annual fees of the United cards and may encourage unnecessary spending to “save money.”

Despite the drawbacks, the United cards have some redeeming qualities. For example, The New United Gateway℠ Card offers a free checked bag benefit without an annual fee increase. Similarly, The New United℠ Explorer Card has maintained its value and added minor but potentially helpful benefits.

These additional benefits, such as award flight discounts and statement credits, may be valuable for travelers compared to the less practical perks like Instacart and JSX credits.