Chase Launches New United TravelBank Card: No Annual Fee, 1.5% Back on Regular Purchases, 2% on United Purchases, 25% Discount on In-Flight Food Purchases

[12/4/17: Reposting to clarify that 5/24 does seem to apply to this card according to some data points.]

Chase and United teamed up for a new no-annual-fee credit card which earns 1.5% back in United credit on everyday purchases and 2% back on United flights. Rewards can be used to buy United flights.

Direct Application Link 

Rewards Details

  • 2% back on United flight purchases
  • 1.5% back on all other purchases

Rewards are not cash back, they are credits which can be redeemed for United flights.

  • No limit to the amount of rewards you can earn
  • TravelBank cash can be used alone or combined with select forms of payment during the purchase

Also, earn 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food and beverages onboard United-operated flights.

Signup Bonus

  • Signup bonus: Get $150 in TravelBank cash (United credit) after spending $1,000 within three months

Card Details

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee

List of United Cards

United now has eight card offerings:

Both the Explorer cards come with a $95 annual fee, both the Club cards come with $450 annual fee, the prepaid card and TravelBank card have no annual fee.

Final Thoughts

I can’t see much reason why someone would get the TravelBank card since you can get cards which earn 2% cash back everywhere, like the Citi Double Cash card. Still, there are a few interesting thing about the card:

  • $150 signup bonus
  • No foreign transaction fee (most basic cards do have a 3% foreign transaction fee)
  • 25% rebate on in-flight food purchases (maybe some people spend a lot on hard drinks or whatnot in-flight?)
  • This card could be an interesting option for downgrading if you no longer want to pay the annual fee on the card. This might be the most interesting thing about this card – might even be possible to downgrade and subsequently upgrade when you need it, save the annual fee and don’t lose a 5/24 card.

The elephant in the room is still unknown: will this card be subject to 5/24? The other United cards are subject to 5/24, and data points indicate the card does fall under 5/24 (1, 2).

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    Chuck
  • On December 4, 2017, 20:45

View Comments (42)

  • Hey, I just happened to see an offer for $150 sign up bonus after $1k spend on this card while perusing UAL.bomb. Really wish it wasn't under 5/24 it would see a lot more apps that way!

  • I needed a laugh today. Thank you for posting. (Now, when does United abandon Chase and it's 5/24 for Citi, that's what I wanna know! Or dream of anyway, United is probably too cheap to re-brand and launch a new series of credit cards...)

  • Looks like the answer on 5/24 is "yes". I was declined for too many credit cards opened in the last two years. Oh well.

  • If I downgraded cards from the United MileagePlus to this, would this card allow me to retain my United miles or would they expire?

  • Hey Doc

    I think I need MANY HARD INFLIGHT DRINKS after learning this card earns *United Credits* instead of United Miles. If it were United Miles I might apply. Now I absolutely will not apply.

    If I can downgrade my Sapphire Reserve to this card I might consider it since I already have 2 Freedoms.

    Bring on those MANY HARD INFLIGHT DRINKS

      • Igor,

        If anything, i havent been hitting the drinks hard enough on these agonizing and in many cases disgusting United donestic flights.

        Everybody know one can never have enough HARD INFLIGHT DRINKS to dull the pain associated with a United Airlines domestic flight.

  • Still doesn't stack up against JetBlue Barclay, which has 3x on its flights and 50% discount on in-flight food purch.

  • I'm not sure why anyone would worry about if 5/24 applies to this card. If you're over 5/24 I hope you've learned that HP's and new accounts are worth more than $150.

  • I have the $95 AF version that I find little to no use for these days. Wanted to downgrade to a no AF version but wasn't sure what to downgrade to. Any recs?

    Also, if you downgrade to this card would you be eligible for the signup bonus?

    • Just downgraded to this to avoid another $95 fee on my United Mileage Explorer card which I got 2 years ago. I was not eligible for the signup bonus on the Travel Bank Card but don't care. Downgrading simply keeps the credit history on the account and it's a no fee card so I couldn't see any reason not to do this. I am actually about to drop under 5/24 and plan on applying for a new United Mileage Explorer card soon for another signup bonus

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