Explore nine different ways why Amex points are better to collect than Chase points for United flights even though Chase is a partner with United and Amex is not.
This one is like a scene from a soap opera. Blaine is married to Storm but is secretly seeing Echo, who was separated at birth from Blaine’s first wife Drucilla, thought to be lost in a Peruvian rainforest.
Funny thing is, airlines and banks are like soap operas too. Chase is a partner of United, yet Amex is so much better for United than Chase. Let’s unravel this tangled web.
Most United-focused travelers go for co-branded credit cards such as Chase Infinite, Gateway, Explorer, Business, and Business Club because they think they’re getting special or targeted benefits.
Meanwhile, shrewd United elites go for more lucrative points-earning cards that allow access to many more opportunities, including United flights via United airline partners. But then they discover they’ve made the mistake of going with Chase, thinking that because United is a direct Chase partner, that’s the better way to go.
Cue the music: Dun Dun DUN.
Lover, beware: Even though all the so-called “experts” tout Chase cards …
I’m here to tell you that it’s all a dream.
Why? Because United flights cost up to 50% more with United miles than they do with AMEX points. Check out the table below.
If You’re a United Flyer,
Amex Points Crush MileagePlus Partner Chase
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Let’s cut to the, er, chase (pun intended). Look at those last two columns. They show you what United flyers save by using Amex points for United flights, rather than Chase points. Those are big savings.
9 Reasons to Go with an Amex Card Instead
- Amex has 11 more partners than Chase. That can be problematic in a soap opera, but when it comes to travel, more partners mean better options and better deals and better availability of premium discount saver awards.
- Want to fly Emirates, one of the world’s greatest flying experiences? Well, you can’t with a United co-branded card because United and Emirates are not partners. However, you can if you transfer Amex Rewards points to Emirates.
- Awards typically cost less with Amex You can save up to 45,000 miles for travel to Asia and Europe when booking a United flight with partner All Nippon miles, accessible with partner Amex Rewards points. Talk about a love triangle.
- Unlike United, most Amex partners publish an award chart or calculator online, so you can budget properly or determine where you even stand.
- Amex partners ANA and Air Canada have fixed price awards for partners, not flakey fluctuating ones.
- Amex Membership Rewards periodically offers great bonuses—up to 40%—with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
- American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders barely have to lift a finger to knock off a couple of hundred dollars (or even thousands) on lots of premium fares on a bunch of airlines (25), thanks to Amex’s International Airline Program (IAP).
- Bulk savings: You can buy up to 500K Amex miles vs. United’s 175K (excluding bonus).
- Free Upgrades: United does not offer First Class to Asia. The best you can get is Business. So, your only option is to redeem miles to book First Class with one of United’s partners, which will cost you a lot—220,000 for flights to Japan on partner All Nippon, for example, 240,000 to North Asia, and 280,000 for Central and South Asia. However: All Nippon, an Amex Card points partner, often has First Class mileage availability—and for less than what United usually charges for Business Class. And All Nippon only charges 150,000 miles, 70,000 fewer than United. That’s right, 150,000 miles for free First Class award tickets.
More on my favorite credit cards for premium travelers here.