Chase United MileagePlus Select Visa Signature Review (discontinued to new applications)
Last updated 7/25/2011. This review is NOT being updated.
The Fact
The Math
If you value a mile at 2 cents, this is a no-brainer since the 5,000 miles are more than the $95 annual fee and you go on to earn on 3x and 2x categories. Also you may want to use the card for general spending since you get the same value as from Fidelity Amex (2% cash back).
If you value a mile at 1.5 cents, then you only need to get $20 from bonus categories to beat the annual fee – that is only $666 spent on United or $1,333 spent on 2x categories and should be pretty easy. Also note that it has a long list of 2x categories, even including Star Alliance purchases, which could mean a lot. As for general spending, you may want to consider Fidelity Amex or Amex SPG if you don't mind adding another card to your wallet. If you don't like switching between cards, MP Select can still beat Fidelity Amex once you have enough spending in the bonus categories. For example, you annual spending is $30K with $2K going to United and $8K going to groceries/gas/dining etc., from MP Select you will have $2,000 x 2 x 1.5% + $8,000 x 1.5% + $30,000 x 1.5% + 5,000 miles x 1.5 cent/mile - $95 = $610 > $600 = 2% from Fidelity Amex.
The Conclusion
The 3-2-1 earning structure and 5,000 anniversary miles make the card to stand out. Chase United MP Select is very similar to Amex PR Gold, and since United is not a MR transfer partner, we had both on the Top List for quite a while. However, since Chase now officially stops accepting new application, we have replaced it with the newly enhanced Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The Fact
- Annual Fee: $95
- Signup Bonus: 30,000 miles + $50 United voucher
- Rewards: 3x United, 2x gas, groceries, dining, home improvement and Star Alliance purchases, 1x everywhere else
- Best Use of United MileagePlus miles: MileagePlus is the frequent flyer program of United Airlines, a member of Star Alliance. United miles are generally valuable for redeeming on United or partner metals. The one thing you need to know is the “StarNet blocking” – a practice that blocks award seats on certain partner flights.
- Other Benefits: 5,000 anniversary miles. Also up to 5,000 EQMs (Elite Qualifying Miles) a year on United.com purchases (you earn 1 EQM for 1$ spent on United.com).
- Other Facts: Since United is not a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards and the transfer ratio from SPG points to United miles is very poor at 2:1, Chase United Plus (MP) cards are the only logical way to obtain United miles from credit card spending. As of writing, MP Select, along with the other two MP cards (MP Visa Signature and MP Club), is pulled off from both United and Chase website and Chase stops accepting new applications while keeping existing members. MP Select's direct replacement is MP Explorer.
The Math
If you value a mile at 2 cents, this is a no-brainer since the 5,000 miles are more than the $95 annual fee and you go on to earn on 3x and 2x categories. Also you may want to use the card for general spending since you get the same value as from Fidelity Amex (2% cash back).
If you value a mile at 1.5 cents, then you only need to get $20 from bonus categories to beat the annual fee – that is only $666 spent on United or $1,333 spent on 2x categories and should be pretty easy. Also note that it has a long list of 2x categories, even including Star Alliance purchases, which could mean a lot. As for general spending, you may want to consider Fidelity Amex or Amex SPG if you don't mind adding another card to your wallet. If you don't like switching between cards, MP Select can still beat Fidelity Amex once you have enough spending in the bonus categories. For example, you annual spending is $30K with $2K going to United and $8K going to groceries/gas/dining etc., from MP Select you will have $2,000 x 2 x 1.5% + $8,000 x 1.5% + $30,000 x 1.5% + 5,000 miles x 1.5 cent/mile - $95 = $610 > $600 = 2% from Fidelity Amex.
The Conclusion
The 3-2-1 earning structure and 5,000 anniversary miles make the card to stand out. Chase United MP Select is very similar to Amex PR Gold, and since United is not a MR transfer partner, we had both on the Top List for quite a while. However, since Chase now officially stops accepting new application, we have replaced it with the newly enhanced Chase Sapphire Preferred.