United Co-Branded Cardholders Get New Benefits, With a New Round of Advantages Rolling Out

United recently announced major changes to its MileagePlus frequent-flier program. The new rules heavily favor members who carry a co-branded credit card, giving them more perks for both earning and redeeming miles, while the benefits for non-card members will be significantly reduced.

• Official announcement

The core changes include:

• Earning structure: Starting April 2, 2026, the bonus miles earned from flying will depend mainly on whether a member holds a co-branded credit card. Members with a co-branded card (even if they do not use it to pay for their flights) will earn at a higher multiple than members without a card. In addition, members with neither a co-branded card nor elite status will earn zero miles for basic economy flights.
• Exclusive redemption discount: A primary co-branded cardholder will automatically receive at least a 10% discount on any award ticket redemption; if they also have elite status, the discount increases to at least 15%.
• More award seats: United will also offer cardholders additional high-value redemption seats, especially in its Polaris business class, and this benefit can be stacked with the above discount.

That discount is very attractive. Delta also has a similar perk, with cardholders getting a 15% discount on redemption award tickets.

United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocera said this move is intended to give members with a co-branded card greater value. Industry analysts said that while this round of changes benefits cardholders, it effectively reduces benefits for non-card members and is designed to strongly drive applications for the co-branded card. The new rules will have a bigger impact on international travelers who cannot apply for a U.S. credit card and some travelers with weaker credit profiles.

Both of these Chase co-branded cards offer strong rewards, and anyone who flies should consider applying.

• For beginners and experienced users: Consider the United Explorer personal card. Waive the annual fee in the first year and get an 85,000-point sign-up bonus, making it close to a no-cost way to hold. You can downgrade or cancel later based on your situation.

• If you have regular annual United flying demand: after getting the card above, you can also consider adding a United Quest card—the United credits it includes can basically offset the annual fee.