United Airlines has revealed that a new loyalty offering comes in the form of what it is calling a ‘Debit Rewards Card.’ While carriers all around the world have long since offered their frequent flyer the chance to collect points on credit card spending, the ability to do so is something of a novelty. The carrier has also devised a launch offer to further incentivize early spending.
The card will be available to the airline’s MileagePlus loyalty members and frequent flyers, offering them a convenient way to earn points on their everyday spending without the stipulations that would normally be applied to a credit card. For the most part, cardholders won’t have to pay a monthly fee, but even those who do will be pleased to see that it is a relatively nominal amount.
United’s Latest Card
As seen above, United Airlines has today announced the launch of its MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card. The Chicago-based US ‘big three’ legacy carrier and 
Star Alliance founding member says that the product “offers cardmembers additional ways to earn miles through spending and saving.” It adds that it is “designed to make flying the world’s largest airline even more rewarding.”
While credit cards can be a good way of boosting your mileage balance, United Airlines recognizes the fact that they aren’t for everyone. As such, its latest product is aimed at “members who prefer the control and ease of a debit card without sacrificing travel rewards,” and applying for it does not require a credit check. Bob Daly, United’s MD of Global Co-Brand Cards, explained that:
“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.”
The Finer Details
So, how exactly are United Airlines’ frequent flyer members going to be rewarded for their debit card spending with this new loyalty product? All in all, the earning model is relatively simple, with cardholders getting one point per dollar spent when directly purchasing from United Airlines, and one point per two dollars spent on all other purchases. The card is also mostly fee-free.
Indeed, the carrier explains that, while the product does have a $4 monthly fee, this will be waived for hardholders with an average daily balance of $2,000 or more. What’s more, those with an average daily balance of $2,500 or more are rewarded with annualized bonus miles, ranging from an extra 2,500 a year to as many as 70,000 a year for an average daily balance of $50,000 and up.
Another annual bonus will come into play when a cardholder spends $10,000 in a calendar year, while the carrier has also devised a limited-time launch offer in order to incentivize early spending. This, United Airlines explains, will see cardholders rewarded with 10,000 bonus miles when they spend $500 within the first four months of their membership with the debit card.
Working Together
As mentioned above, United Airlines describes itself as the world’s largest airline (by available seat miles). However, it can’t be expected to do everything itself when it comes to the development and rollout of its new finance card loyalty products. With this in mind, it teamed up with Galileo Financial Technologies to bring the card to life, with the latter company powering the card.
Diving deeper into the collaborations that have made its new debit card possible, United adds that “the card is issued by Sunrise Banks and is backed by Visa as the payments network. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,0000 through Sunrise Banks.” United’s move into the debit card scene marks the latest development in a trend that is becoming increasingly prevalent in aviation.
Indeed, its US rival Delta Air Lines offers a SkyMiles debit card through Truist, which explains that cardholders earn a mile per two dollars spent, with these points never expiring. Meanwhile, The Points Guy reported last week that Southwest had also unveiled a debit card that earns points.
