Chase United Mileage Plus Club

[Weights]

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

[CreditScholar]

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@Weights wrote:

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

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I have it and it's my most heavily used card (by a large margin). It's best for people who fall into the following categories:

1. People who want full UA Lounge access (and *A lounge access as well)

2. People who have large general spending (50k+ per year)

It has other benefits as well like Hyatt platinum status and Avis First, but the 2 things above are what really drive the card. Given that it's 1.5 miles per dollar (compared to 1 on the CSP), the more you push through the card each year, the more the extra 1/2 mile adds up.

UA implemented a fairly large devaluation this year, so you should check to see if the cost is comparable with whatever alternatives you're thinking about. International premium cabins on *A airlines originating or ending in North America were hit particularly hard. Hoiwever if you fly mostly domestically, or if you fly internationally on flights that neither originate nor end in North America, there is still quite a bit of value to be had.

[09Lexie]

I've gotten the same offer almost every other month.  DH has the UMPE and was contemplating upgrading it in a few months.  

I do like the points that CreditScholar raised and the AF waiver seems like a win/win. 

[takeshi74]

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@Weights wrote:

I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

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You can poll but it's really you and your situation that matter.  If you're not flying much do you really think the AF will be worth it when it comes due?   What benefits/rewards/etc made you select this card in the first place?  It's really your call to make.

[visorboy1974]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Weights wrote:

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

---

I have it and it's my most heavily used card (by a large margin). It's best for people who fall into the following categories:

1. People who want full UA Lounge access (and *A lounge access as well)

2. People who have large general spending (50k+ per year)

It has other benefits as well like Hyatt platinum status and Avis First, but the 2 things above are what really drive the card. Given that it's 1.5 miles per dollar (compared to 1 on the CSP), the more you push through the card each year, the more the extra 1/2 mile adds up.

UA implemented a fairly large devaluation this year, so you should check to see if the cost is comparable with whatever alternatives you're thinking about. International premium cabins on *A airlines originating or ending in North America were hit particularly hard. Hoiwever if you fly mostly domestically, or if you fly internationally on flights that neither originate nor end in North America, there is still quite a bit of value to be had.

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Great review.  I had the first year waived.  If you call when the AF is due after the first year, they can usually offer you 15K miles or a $100-$150 statement credit.  I typically use my miles for statement credits on UA purchases as well so I save a good $300-$500/yr by using the miles this way.  I use this card about 80% of the time.      

[CreditScholar]

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@visorboy1974 wrote:

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Weights wrote:

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

---

I have it and it's my most heavily used card (by a large margin). It's best for people who fall into the following categories:

1. People who want full UA Lounge access (and *A lounge access as well)

2. People who have large general spending (50k+ per year)

It has other benefits as well like Hyatt platinum status and Avis First, but the 2 things above are what really drive the card. Given that it's 1.5 miles per dollar (compared to 1 on the CSP), the more you push through the card each year, the more the extra 1/2 mile adds up.

UA implemented a fairly large devaluation this year, so you should check to see if the cost is comparable with whatever alternatives you're thinking about. International premium cabins on *A airlines originating or ending in North America were hit particularly hard. Hoiwever if you fly mostly domestically, or if you fly internationally on flights that neither originate nor end in North America, there is still quite a bit of value to be had.

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Great review.  I had the first year waived.  If you call when the AF is due after the first year, they can usually offer you 15K miles or a $100-$150 statement credit.  I typically use my miles for statement credits on UA purchases as well so I save a good $300-$500/yr by using the miles this way.  I use this card about 80% of the time.      

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Not that I'm going to cancel my card, but I'd be curious what kind of retention bonus they'd offer me.

[koalablue]

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@Weights wrote:

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

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I have the card and really like the benefits.  Its paid for itself easily.  Lounge access is great, plus you get priority boarding (Zone 2), priority security, your first two checked bags are free, and no close-in booking fees for award travel.  Since your AF is waived the first year, I say go for it.  You can decide after a year if you think the benefits are worth paying the AF.

[Lin55]

Any word on a MP club card EMV?! Im already thinking of upgrading my Explorer to the Club card. Would love the EMV tho...

[CreditScholar]

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@Lin55 wrote:

Any word on a MP club card EMV?! Im already thinking of upgrading my Explorer to the Club card. Would love the EMV tho...

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I was wondering the same thing myself. It's long overdue, given that its a high AF travel card.

[Weights]

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@koalablue wrote:

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@Weights wrote:

I recently got a preapproval offer for this card, waiving the entire $395 AF for the first year.  I was wondering for those of you who have or had this, is it a good offer?  How do you like the card overall?  I'm only planning to fly maybe a few times over the course of the next year, but still....Any thoughts and advice is greatly appreciated.

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I have the card and really like the benefits.  Its paid for itself easily.  Lounge access is great, plus you get priority boarding (Zone 2), priority security, your first two checked bags are free, and no close-in booking fees for award travel.  Since your AF is waived the first year, I say go for it.  You can decide after a year if you think the benefits are worth paying the AF.

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I called their customer service and confirmed that EMV is not yet available for either of these cards.  The rep did state that it should be by the end of 2015.

I decided to go ahead and submit an app after considering all the feedback here.  I got a pending status, and only then realized that I forgot to lift the freeze on my reports, ,  Upon calling lending services, they told me to call them back after I completed doing so.  I just didn't have enough time to do it before they closed tonight.  My fico scores are 770+ across the board, so I can't imagine they'd decline me.  Presuming I do get it, I'll decide whether to keep it after the first year or not.