What credit card sign-up bonuses should I consider before the changes to United MileagePlus on April 2, 2026?
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Here are some of the most attractive sign‑up bonuses currently available that can help you lock in extra miles or points before the United MileagePlus changes take effect on April 2, 2026.
United co‑branded credit cards
- United Quest SM Card – Earn 80,000 bonus miles plus 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The card also provides a $200 United travel credit, a 10,000‑mile award‑flight discount each account anniversary, and an additional 10,000‑mile discount after $20,000 in annual spend View from the Wing .
- United Explorer SM Card – Receive 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 within the first 3 months of account opening View from the Wing .
- United SM Business Card – Get 100,000 bonus miles and 2,0 00 Premier Qualifying Points once you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months View from the Wing .
Southwest Rapid Rewards card
- Southwest Plus Card – New cardholders can earn 50,000 Rapid Rewards points after meeting a $1,000 spend in the first 3 months Your Mileage May Vary .
Hilton hotel cards
- Hilton Surpass Card (American Express) – Offers a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points plus a free‑night certificate after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months TravelUpdate .
These bonuses give you a sizable pool of miles or points right away, which can offset the reduced earning rates United members without a co‑branded card will face after April 2. If you travel frequently with United, the Quest or Explorer cards provide the biggest United‑specific boost; otherwise, the Southwest and Hilton offers are strong alternatives for broader travel flexibility.
Significant Changes to United Airlines MileagePlus Program Effective As of April 2 2026
You may have already learned about the significant changes to the United Airlines MileagePlus membership program which will become effective as of Thursday, April 2, 2026 at midnight Central Daylight Time — so here is one last reminder of the details. The good news is that all eligible Cardholders will save up to 15 percent on the amount of MileagePlus miles they redeem for award tickets with United Airlines — plus more saver award availability in Polaris business class will be available for elite members and Cardholders… …but that is generally where the good news ends for many
United Turned MileagePlus Into A Credit Card Program — How To Earn More And Pay Less Starting April 2
United Airlines shifts MileagePlus so that you only get real value out of the program if you take their credit card, starting April 2. You don’t actually need to spend on the annual fee cards to get the value – just have one. And there are limited-time offers for 3 of the cards that are ending soon. If you’re engaged in MileagePlus you want their card. And if you’re going to get the card, you want to do it now. United QuestSM Card (See rates and fees) Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you
Miles and Points On Sale — March 27 2026
Sometimes you need an infusion of miles or points to your membership account for whatever reason — perhaps to have enough to redeem for a limited time award as one example — and the best time to purchase or gift miles or points is when they are on sale, as with this miles and points on sale for Friday, March 27 2026. A sale may be a discount on the price required to purchase miles or points — or perhaps the membership program from whom you are buying the miles or points will match your purchase up to 150
Is The Southwest Plus Card Finally Worth Keeping?
For years, the Southwest Plus Card was the one you kept because it was cheap—not because it was especially good. It was the lowest-tier personal Southwest card, with a lower annual fee than the Premier or Priority versions, but also fewer reasons to get excited about it. You got anniversary points, a small Companion Pass boost, and not much else. If you wanted real benefits, the Priority card was usually the better play. That’s why my recent decision to keep the Plus card and drop the Priority card might seem a little backwards. But Southwest and
This Mid-Tier Card Offering Its Best Ever Welcome Bonus Deserves More Attention
If you were to ask me to make a choice, I’d take hotel credit cards over airline credit cards any day. In comparison to airline credit cards, you can earn elite status a lot quicker and enjoy a lot of fantastic perks. While many give Hilton a bad rap for astronomical points pricing in certain cases, you can still derive a great deal of value from the program if you use it strategically. Currently, American Express is offering elevated welcome bonuses on all of their consumer co-branded Hilton credit cards. If you’re looking to slowly dip your toes, then