United Club Infinite Card Review: Lounge Access, Travel Perks & More
Why I Chose the United Infinite Card for Travel Perks and More
In this post, I'll review the United Club Infinite Card, an airline credit card with a $525 annual fee, from my perspective. I always purchase a Basic Economy Fare when traveling with United, so my perspective will be from traveling on that fare type.
When planning my previous trip to Japan, I decided to get an airline-specific credit card for the first time. After exploring various options, I selected the United Infinite Card due to its appealing features:
Generous Welcome Bonus: 80,000 miles (offered in Summer 2023)
The current welcome bonus is 90,000 as of July 2024
Unlimited Lounge Access: A valuable perk for frequent travelers
Transfer Partner: Convenient for our planned trip to Japan
Pros and Cons of the United Infinite Card
After a year of using the card, I’ve experienced both its benefits and drawbacks. Here are some highlights from my journey with the card, starting with a connecting flight from Miami to Jamaica.
Benefits I Noticed Immediately
When I checked in, I noticed on the boarding pass had Premier Access and I would board with the second group boarding. Arriving at the airport five hours early for my initially scheduled flight, I was able to join the Premier Priority line, bypassing the general assistance line, and I got bumped to an earlier flight. Additionally, I checked my bag for free and had no carry-on fee despite flying basic economy (normally $35 as of Summer 2024).
Board pass after obtaining the United Infinite Card showed that I had Premier Access & board with Zone 2.
Note: Premier Access offers several benefits at the airport, including:
Priority Boarding
Priority Security Lanes
Priority Check-in
Priority Baggage Handling
More details on Premier Access benefits.
My Lounge Experiences
My first United Lounge experience was at the Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH). There are a total of 5 United Lounges, one being the Polaris Lounge. The Polaris Lounge is only eligible for United customers typically business class and up, and 1K members and their guests. Accessing the lounges is seamless—just present your boarding pass and your United Club membership, which is accessible via the United App. Finding a seat has never been a problem, unlike some lounges.
First meal in a United Club Lounge was a egg bacon taco with a side of Bubbly!
During my travels, I visited several United Lounges:
Newark International Airport (EWR)
The United Club near Gate C74 is my favorite United Lounge. It was recently remodeled; it’s very modern and sleek and stands out compared to the other United Lounges. This lounge has the best food I’ve tasted in any United Club. From hot dishes to desserts, it’s all delicious. The full bar is a nice touch too. Pro tip: grab a few extra cookies! A lady sitting next to me in the lounge told me she does it all the time.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
The United Lounge I visited on my layover from Japan offered a good tarmac view and solid food options. Their salad was a standout—so good, I snapped a pic of the ingredient list. Simple and fresh.
Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
The LA United Club was a pleasant surprise. The lounge offered a nice escape from the airport bustle with a relaxing indoor-outdoor setup. The food was okay.
Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
I’ve experienced most of Houston’s United Clubs, except for the Polaris Lounge, and found them to be decent spots to relax before a flight. Some locations offer nice views, and while the food is average, I typically enjoy a bite to eat in the lounge before stocking up on fruits, snacks, and jellybeans for the flight. Semi-pro tip: Get a coffee cup and fill it with jellybeans.
Favorite salad at the United Lounge in Chicago.
As you can tell, I rate my lounges based on the food and views. Overall, the lounges provided a decent experience with good food. It’s worth noting that for access to the Star Alliance lounges for international flights, your ticket must be business class or higher. I learned this when attempting to access the lounge in Japan with ANA.
The Star Alliance is one of the world's largest global airline alliances, consisting of 26 member airlines including United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. It offers seamless travel to over 1,300 destinations in 195 countries, allowing passengers to earn and redeem miles across member airlines, enjoy coordinated services, and access more than 1,000 lounges worldwide.
Additional Perks
Another useful perk is the ability to board with the second group, ensuring I didn’t have to check my carry-on bag as I was traveling on a basic economy flight, and we typically board last. Boarding last increases the chances that there are limited, or no spaces left in the cabin for my carry-on bag. The card also offers a $75 IHG statement credit and automatic IHG status. The IHG credit is credited to your card statement and works for staying at IHG branded hotels. IHG-branded hotels. Another perk that I like is the $100 TSA/Global Entry credit, which I gifted to a family member since I already had TSA Precheck.
Why I Downgraded to the United Explorer Card
While the United Infinite Card offers great benefits like:
Free Carry-On Bag: Normally $35 for basic economy
Unlimited Lounge Access: When flying United
Free Checked Bags
I ultimately downgraded to the United Explorer Card. The primary reason was that I initially needed the Infinite Card for the 80,000-mile welcome bonus. Given that I don't travel for business frequently and live in a United hub city, the Explorer Card suits my needs better.
The United Infinite Card offers additional benefits such as Premier Access, free carry-on in Basic Economy, expanded award availability, and Hertz President's Circle status. In contrast, the United Explorer Card provides free carry-on in Basic Economy, 25% back on in-flight purchases, and auto rental collision damage waiver.
You can learn more about United Card benefits here.
Conclusion
The United Infinite Card is excellent for frequent travelers, especially those who benefit from its extensive perks. However, for someone like me, who flies mostly for leisure with an additional card that provides lounge access, the United Explorer Card is more practical.
If you have any questions about my experience with the United Infinite Card or plan to sign up, please use my referral code.