Aer Lingus Visa vs United Club Infinite
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), Aer Lingus Visa comes out ahead at ~$955 at a lower $95 annual fee vs $695. Aer Lingus Visa sits in Avios (Aer Lingus); United Club Infinite sits in United MileagePlus. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
United Club Infinite
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $1,630 after annual fee.
Chase
Aer Lingus Visa
Annual Fee
$95/yr
Signup Bonus
75,000 Avios
Bonus Value
~$1,050
Benefits Value
~$400/yr
Spend Req.
$5,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Avios (Aer Lingus)
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
Companion Voucher
$300/yr
🛡️ insurance
Travel Accident Insurance
$100/yr
Chase
United Club Infinite
Annual Fee
$695/yr
Signup Bonus
110,000 MileagePlus Miles
Bonus Value
~$1,485
Benefits Value
~$840/yr
Spend Req.
$5,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
United MileagePlus
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
First 2 Checked Bags Free
$140/use
Premier Access Benefits
$50/yr
🏛️ lounge
United Club Membership
$650/yr
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
United Club Infinite
Wins on stronger travel multiplier (4× vs 3×) on flights and hotels.
Best for Dining
Aer Lingus Visa
Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.
Best for Lounge Access
United Club Infinite
Includes United Club (full membership) access — the other card has none.
Best for Beginners
Aer Lingus Visa
Lower $95 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
United Club Infinite
~$1,630 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
United Club Infinite
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Aer Lingus Visa | United Club Infinite |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $1,600 | $1,824 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $2,102 | $2,251 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $2,084 | $2,350 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $2,525 | $2,926 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Aer Lingus Visa | United Club Infinite | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 Avios (~$1,050) | 110,000 MileagePlus Miles (~$1,485) |
| Annual fee | $95/yr | $695/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $0 |
| Transfer partners | None (single program) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $300/yr | $190/yr |
| Lounge access | None | United Club (full membership) |
| Dining rewards | 2x | 2x 2x on dining and all other travel |
| Grocery rewards | 2x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | 1x | 4x |
| Travel insurance | Limited | Comprehensive |
| Cell phone protection | Not included | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
Who should get the Aer Lingus Visa?
- ✓You're comfortable with a $95 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.
Who should get the United Club Infinite?
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $695 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
- ✓You enjoy stacking multipliers, calendaring statement credits, and treating your wallet like a small portfolio — the extra cognitive load is worth real $ to you.
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Aer Lingus Visa or United Club Infinite?
United Club Infinite currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,485 vs ~1,050). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Aer Lingus Visa worth the 95 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,050) and statement credits alone typically cover the 95 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the United Club Infinite worth the 695 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,485) and statement credits alone typically cover the 695 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Aer Lingus Visa and the United Club Infinite at the same time?
Yes — Chase allows holding both Aer Lingus Visa and United Club Infinite simultaneously. Each card has its own welcome bonus and statement credits, so they don't conflict. Chase's welcome bonus eligibility rules may require waiting between applications; check current policy before applying for the second card.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Neither card transfers points to World of Hyatt. Only Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards and the co-branded World of Hyatt card transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. To stack Hyatt points without leaving these two ecosystems you'd need to add a Chase Sapphire or Bilt card alongside.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
United Club Infinite includes United Club (full membership). Aer Lingus Visa doesn't include lounge access — you'd need to pay for it separately or upgrade to a premium card.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), United Club Infinite comes out ahead at ~1,630 of net value vs ~1,355 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — both cards are issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies to both. If you've opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application regardless of credit score. Check your 5/24 count before applying for either.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Chase
Aer Lingus Visa
Welcome: 75,000 Avios · ~$1,050 est. value
Chase
United Club Infinite
Welcome: 110,000 MileagePlus Miles · ~$1,485 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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