United Airlines just expanded how MileagePlus members can earn miles with the launch of its first debit card. The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card lets you earn miles on everyday spending without opening a credit card, plus offers bonus miles for maintaining account balances.

What Makes This Debit Card Different

The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card breaks new ground as one of the few airline-branded debit cards in the market. Powered by Galileo Financial Technologies and issued by Sunrise Banks, it's designed for travelers who prefer debit spending but still want to accumulate miles for flights, upgrades, and other MileagePlus redemptions.

Earning structure:

• 1 mile per dollar on United Airlines purchases (flights, baggage, onboard items)
• 0.5 miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases
• Balance-based bonus miles ranging from 2,500 to 70,000 miles annually

The card doesn't require a credit check, so you won't see any impact on your credit score when applying. Your miles never expire, and you can pool them with other MileagePlus members under United's pooling feature.

Launch Bonus and Balance Rewards

New cardholders can earn 10,000 bonus miles after approval and making qualifying purchases during the launch period. That's enough for a one-way domestic flight on United or a partner airline when award availability is good.

The balance-based earning structure creates an incentive to save:

• $2,500+ balance: 2,500 annual bonus miles
• $5,000+ balance: 5,000 annual bonus miles
• $10,000+ balance: 10,000 annual bonus miles
• $25,000+ balance: 30,000 annual bonus miles
• $50,000+ balance: 70,000 annual bonus miles

There's also a spending bonus: earn up to 2,500 additional miles after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.

Fees and Account Requirements

The card comes with a $4 monthly maintenance fee, but United waives this fee completely if you maintain an average daily balance of at least $2,000. That's lower than many checking accounts that waive monthly fees.

Your deposits are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 through Sunrise Banks, the issuing bank. The card is backed by Visa, so you can use it anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

How It Compares to United Credit Cards

This debit card fills a specific niche in United's co-brand portfolio. While the earning rate is lower than what you'd get with United's credit cards, it serves a different purpose.

For comparison, United's credit card lineup offers:

• United Gateway Card: 2x miles on United purchases, gas stations, and transit
• United Explorer Card: 2x miles on United purchases and dining
• United Quest Card: 3x miles on United purchases, 2x on travel and dining
• United Club Infinite Card: 4x miles on United purchases, 2x on travel and dining

The credit cards offer stronger earning rates, welcome bonuses up to 100,000 miles, and valuable perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and lounge access. But they require good to excellent credit and come with annual fees ranging from $0 to $525.

Who Should Consider This Card

The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card makes sense for specific situations:

Good fit if you:

• Prefer debit spending over credit cards
• Don't qualify for traditional credit cards
• Want to earn miles without a credit check
• Already maintain significant checking account balances
• Fly United occasionally but not frequently enough to justify a premium credit card

Skip it if you:

• Can qualify for one of United's credit cards, which offer better earning rates
• Don't fly United or Star Alliance partners regularly
• Can't maintain the $2,000 balance to avoid monthly fees
• Want more than 0.5 miles per dollar on everyday purchases

The Bigger Picture: Debit Cards in Travel Rewards

United's move into debit cards reflects broader changes in how loyalty programs engage members. Traditional co-brand credit cards remain the primary earning tool for most frequent travelers, but debit options expand access to people who can't or don't want to use credit.

Delta and American Airlines haven't launched similar debit products yet, making United an early mover in this space. The question is whether the earning rates and benefits justify using a debit card over other options.

For context, most rewards checking accounts pay 1-2% cash back or interest, which often delivers better value than 0.5 miles per dollar unless you're specifically saving for United flights. The balance-based bonuses help close that gap, especially at higher balance tiers.

Should You Apply?

The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card won't replace a solid rewards credit card for most travelers. The earning rate is modest, and you're giving up purchase protections, extended warranties, and other benefits that credit cards typically provide.

But as a complementary tool for people who prefer debit or can't access credit cards, it opens up a new way to accumulate United miles. The no-credit-check application, balance bonuses, and integration with MileagePlus pooling create some interesting opportunities for families or couples strategically building mile balances.

If you're already maintaining $2,000+ in a checking account earning minimal interest and you fly United at least once or twice a year, swapping to this debit card could add a few thousand miles annually without changing your spending habits. Just don't expect it to replace the earning power of premium travel credit cards.

For most serious miles collectors, a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve still delivers better value. Both cards earn transferable Ultimate Rewards points at 2-3x on travel and dining, and you can transfer those points to United at a 1:1 ratio. When you factor in welcome bonuses reaching 60,000-75,000 points, the credit card route remains superior for anyone who qualifies.

More information about the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card is available at UnitedDebitRewards.com.

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