Chase Sapphire Preferred vs United Mileage Plus

Get both.

I've had United card twice and so has my wife.

I get it for the sign up bonus and then move UR points to United to book flights. Those United bonuses make me use less UR, so I can use UR for other things like hotels or flights on other carriers/alliances.

I'd say the least heralded benefit is that the United card gives you more award access, which is huge when booking business class flights. However, there is a no fee United card that will let you keep that benefit that you can downgrade to.

Also, there is a 25% bonus in the Mileage Plus app if you have a United card. Another reason to keep the no fee version around.

Lastly, it may be beneficial to wait on the United card because that bonus gets up to 70k plus 5k AU or $50 pretty frequently.

I own the mileage plus card just for the early boarding group. I fly for work and if you aren’t in group 2 at IAH, good fricking luck.

I have United Mileage Plus Card for just over two years.

With all of the bonus they give you when you sign up (add an authorize user, sign up for the dinning program...)
I was able to fly the family (3) back from a small airport in Maine to New Orleans, for free. Summer '16 had only had the card for 6 months. I booked a one way flight to Boston and used the points to return for free.

Since that summer, I've accumulated enough points to fly my wife and I, to Switzerland this May for $5.16 a piece. And still had enough points to fly back a long with my daughter from Athens for free (Greek taxes only).


There is a $95 fee but you can check bags for free, so one round trip trip with the wife and that's a wash.


If you fly international United is a great card to have. They have Super Saver flights which are one way flights for a low as 25K points.