United Airlines Launches MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card that Earns Miles for Spending and Saving

Rhea-AI Summary

United (NYSE:UAL) launched the MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card on Nov 4, 2025, a Visa debit that earns miles on spending and qualifying balances.

Key features: a limited-time 10,000-mile new-member bonus after approval and $500 in purchases within four months; 1 mile/$1 on United purchases and 1 mile/$2 on other eligible purchases; annual balance-based bonus miles up to 70,000 for average daily balances ≥ $50,000; monthly fee waived for average daily balances ≥ $2,000, otherwise a $4 monthly fee.

The card is issued by Sunrise Banks, powered by Galileo, backed by Visa, FDIC-insured, and requires no credit check to apply.

Positive

• Limited-time 10,000-mile new-member bonus after $500 spend
• 1 mile per $1 on United purchases
• Annual balance bonus up to 70,000 miles at $50,000+ average daily balance
• Monthly fee waived for average daily balances ≥ $2,000
• No credit check required to apply (does not impact credit score)

Negative

• $4 monthly fee applies for accounts with average daily balance under $2,000
• New-member bonus requires $500 spent within four months to qualify
• Higher balance tiers needed for material annual bonus ($10,000+ for 15,000 miles and up)

This new card allows MileagePlus members to earn miles through everyday purchases and qualifying account balances

Available now with no monthly fees with an average daily account balance of $2,000 or greater, MileagePlus members can open the debit rewards card at UnitedDebitRewards.com

CHICAGO, Nov. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced a new MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card that offers cardmembers additional ways to earn miles through spending and saving – designed to make flying the world's largest airline* even more rewarding.

As part of the launch, for a limited time, new MileagePlus® Debit Rewards cardmembers can earn a 10,000-mile bonus after approval and making qualifying purchases.** Powered by Galileo, SoFi's Tech Platform, the new Visa debit card combines the convenience of debit payments with the benefits of MileagePlus. Miles may be earned on dining, retail, groceries and more, with additional miles earned on United purchases such as flights, bags, onboard snacks, and more.

"We're constantly looking for new ways to add value and optionality for our members, and a debit card is a natural next step," said Bob Daly, United's Managing Director of Global Co-Brand Cards. "The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card offers customers an additional way to earn miles whether they're spending on United flights and everyday purchases or saving and making plans for the future."

"We're proud to partner with United to bring this innovative debit rewards card to market," said Bill Kennedy, Interim CEO and CFO of Galileo Financial Technologies. "It's a great example of how leading brands can use Galileo's modern platform to move quickly, meet customer demand, and create differentiated loyalty experiences."

Benefits for Cardmembers

For travelers looking to earn through saving and spending, the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card gives them the flexibility to do both.

• Limited-time Launch Offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles when you open an account and spend $500 within the first four months of card membership.**
• Everyday Earning: Earn one mile per $1 spent on United purchases and earn one mile per $2 spent on all other eligible purchases - designed specifically for MileagePlus members who value travel rewards.**
• 2,500-Mile Annual Bonus: Earn 2,500 bonus miles each calendar year after you spend $10,000 with your debit card.**
• Waived Monthly Fee: No monthly fee for average daily account balances of $2,000 or more. A $4 monthly fee will apply for accounts with balances under $2,000.**
• Built-In Card Controls: Conveniently lock or unlock your card and set spending limits.
• Easily Track Miles: Watch your rewards grow with every eligible purchase.
• Earn Miles by Saving: MileagePlus members can earn additional miles based on qualifying account balances, reinforcing this card's role as an extension of the MileagePlus loyalty program rather than just a traditional debit account. See below for a full breakdown of the annual miles that can be earned based on a cardmember's average daily account balance.**

Average Daily Balance	Annualized Bonus Miles (You earn 1/12 each month)	Monthly Fee
<$2,000	N/A	$4
$2,000 to $2,499	N/A	WAIVED
$2,500 to $4,999.99	2,500	WAIVED
$5,000 to $9,999.99	5,000	WAIVED
$10,000 to $24,999.99	15,000	WAIVED
$25,000 to $49,999.99	30,000	WAIVED
$50,000+	70,000	WAIVED

 

MileagePlus Program Benefits

MileagePlus is free to join and was rated the world's best airline loyalty program.*** It offers benefits including miles that never expire, no blackout dates, ticket purchasing with miles or a combination of miles and cash, no change fees on flight award tickets, miles pooling allowing travelers to combine their miles in a joint account and more.

Additional Details on Card Benefits and Terms

Designed for MileagePlus members who prefer the control and ease of a debit card without sacrificing travel rewards – the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card is available to eligible program members and doesn't require a credit check so applying will not impact your credit score.

This new payment product reflects United's ongoing commitment to loyalty innovation that brings value to every member, and was developed in collaboration with Galileo Financial Technologies, SoFi's Technology Platform. The card is issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A. and is backed by Visa as the payments network. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,0000 through Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC

For more information on the card and its benefits, including how to open an account, visit UnitedDebitRewards.com.

*As measured by available seat miles

**Terms apply - for more details see here 

***Study conducted by Good Travel Management 

About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

About Galileo Financial Technologies
Galileo Financial Technologies , LLC and certain of its affiliates collectively comprise a financial technology company owned and operated independently by SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) that enables fintechs, financial institutions, and emerging and established brands to build differentiated financial solutions that deliver exceptional, customer-centric experiences. Through modern, open APIs, Galileo's flexible, secure, scalable and fully integrated platform drives innovation across payments and financial services. Trusted by digital banking heavyweights, early-stage innovators and enterprise clients alike, Galileo supports issuing physical and virtual payment cards, mobile push provisioning, tailored and differentiated financial products and more, across industries and geographies.

©2025 Galileo Financial Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved. Galileo Financial Technologies, LLC is a technology company, not a bank. Galileo partners with many issuing banks to provide banking services in North and Latin America.

About Sunrise Banks
Sunrise Banks is no ordinary bank; it strives to be a place where money and values meet for customers and communities. It does this by prioritizing social responsibility, community impact and environmental sustainability alongside essential financial products and services.  Sunrise Banks is certified by the U.S. Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a designation earned by approximately 100 banks nationwide. Sunrise Banks is also a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values and a certified B Corp for its demonstrated commitment to transparent corporate governance and positive community impact. Visit sunrisebanks.com to learn more. Member FDIC.

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SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

How do I earn the 10,000 bonus miles with the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL)?

Open the account and spend $500 within four months of card membership to receive the limited-time 10,000-mile bonus.

What are the ongoing earning rates on the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL)?

Earn 1 mile per $1 on United purchases and 1 mile per $2 on all other eligible purchases.

When is the monthly fee waived for the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL)?

The monthly fee is waived for accounts with an average daily balance of $2,000 or greater; otherwise a $4 monthly fee applies.

How many annual bonus miles can I earn from account balances with the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL)?

Annualized bonus miles range from none at $2,000 up to 70,000 miles for average daily balances of $50,000 or more, earned monthly as 1/12th.

Will applying for the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL) affect my credit score?

No credit check is required to apply, so the application will not impact your credit score.

Who issues and powers the United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card (UAL) and is my money insured?

The card is issued by Sunrise Banks, powered by Galileo Financial Technologies, backed by Visa, and funds are FDIC insured through Sunrise Banks.