For frequent flyers, a long layover or a delayed departure can turn an airport gate into a very long wait. Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, says the United Club Card is the one credit card he keeps because it changes that experience. In a ([1])personal account, he argues that the best travel cards should improve the trip itself, not just add to a points balance. His case rests on lounge access, airport perks and savings on award flights, which he says can justify the card’s $695 annual fee for the right traveler.
A quiet room before the flight
Kelly’s main reason for carrying the card is the United Club membership that comes with it. The membership lets the cardholder bring one adult guest and dependent children under 18 into the lounge. He estimates an individual United Club membership costs at least $750 a year, which makes the card’s fee look modest by comparison, and he notes that this figure comes before any other perk is counted.
Pricing for a standalone membership does vary by source. One card review puts the cost of an individual membership at up to $650 a year, so the math depends on how often a traveler would actually use the lounges. For Kelly, the appeal is practical: instead of standing near a crowded gate, he can sit down, eat or get some work done before boarding.
Bags, award seats and a large welcome bonus
The card also includes Premier Access services and a free first and second checked bag for the cardholder and one companion on the same reservation, provided the requirements are met. Kelly adds that cardholders receive discounts of at least 10 percent when booking eligible United award flights. He says these savings have been most valuable when a flight has limited saver space, since the card can open access to additional award availability.
The welcome offer is the other reason Kelly points to. New cardmembers can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles, made up of 90,000 miles after $5,000 in purchases within the first three months and 10,000 more after adding an authorized user in the same window. ([2])describes the 90,000-mile bonus as a limited-time offer, so applicants should confirm the terms before they apply.
What the miles bought him
Kelly’s clearest example is a recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa, with his children. He booked a nonstop United Polaris business-class flight from Newark to Johannesburg for 240,000 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. A cash fare for the same one-way trip would have cost about $7,000, which he calculates works out to roughly 2.9 cents per mile. That is more than double the 1.2 cents per mile that TPG values United miles at in its November 2026 valuations.
Kelly also points out that MileagePlus miles are not limited to United flights. Travelers can redeem them on Star Alliance partners, including Lufthansa, ANA and Singapore Airlines, which opens more routes. He recommends comparing award prices across different dates, since United uses dynamic award pricing and the number of miles required can change considerably from one day to the next.
Who should think twice
Kelly is direct about the cost. He would not recommend the card to someone who flies United only once or twice a year, because a $695 fee is hard to justify without regular use. He suggests the card fits travelers who check that the following apply to them:
- They regularly visit airports with United Clubs and would otherwise pay for lounge access.
- They often check bags or travel with a companion.
- They value priority airport services and a more comfortable trip.
- They can use the card’s award discounts and annual credits.
For travelers who do not need lounge access, Kelly suggests a lower-fee option. He points to the United Quest Card, which carries a $350 annual fee and still offers useful United travel perks and award-booking benefits.
A card built around the trip
Kelly’s view is that the United Club Card is not for everyone, but it can make frequent United travel noticeably easier. For him, the membership, airport services and award savings together offset much of the annual fee. Travelers who fly United often enough to use the lounges, and who expect to meet the welcome spending requirement, may find that the numbers work in their favor. For occasional flyers, the lower-fee alternatives deserve a closer look before the first annual bill arrives.
