A United credit card may unlock lower award prices and expanded saver availability, potentially making a substantial difference when booking flights with miles. In one recent comparison, the same international business-class itinerary cost a cardholder 68,000 United miles per person, while a non-cardholder saw a price of 295,000 miles, with taxes and fees applying to both.
The flight was a one-way trip from Geneva Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. The traveler, who did not have a United card, asked a cardholder to check the same flights before deciding whether to apply. The cardholder’s displayed price was 77% lower for the same business-class seat.
United cards are also currently offering welcome bonuses of up to 100,000 miles, but access to lower award prices can provide ongoing value when redeeming miles. The comparison illustrates how much prices can vary for eligible cardholders on some flights; it does not mean every award booking will have the same savings.
Sources: The Points Guy.