TL;DR: United is reportedly preparing a MileagePlus® Debit Rewards card issued by Sunrise Banks with a $4 monthly fee (waived at about $2,000 average balance), base earnings of 1 mile per $2 (and 1 mile per $1 on United purchases), a 2,500-mile annual spend bonus at $10,000, and an unusual “up to 70,000 miles per year” balance-based bonus. Details are still unofficial and subject to change.
The leaked headline details (unconfirmed)
- Earnings
- 1 mile per $1 on United purchases
- 1 mile per $2 on other purchases
- Annual spend bonus: 2,500 miles after $10,000 in yearly spend
- Account-balance bonus: up to 70,000 miles per year based on balance tiers (not yet public)
- Fees
- $4 monthly fee, waived with roughly a $2,000 average monthly balance
- Issuer
- Sunrise Banks, N.A., the same platform powering the new Southwest and Wyndham debit programs
How the math pencils out
- Everywhere-else spend:
Base 0.5 miles per dollar (1 per $2). Add the 2,500-mile annual bonus after $10K spend, and your effective rate on that first $10K is about 0.75 miles per dollar. After that, it reverts to 0.5 miles per dollar. - United purchases:
1 mile per dollar base; with the same annual bonus blended in, you’re roughly at 1.25 miles per dollar on the first $10K in yearly spend if all your purchases were United. - Account-balance miles:
The “up to 70K miles per year” tied to balance is the big unknown. If tiers are generous, it could function like a high-yield savings account paid in miles.
Comparison to other airline debit cards
- Lower fee hurdle: $4 monthly fee (waived at ~$2K balance) versus $6–$6.99 and ~$2.5K waiver thresholds elsewhere.
- Unique balance bonus: None of the other airline debit cards include a balance-based mileage reward.
- Spend rates: Same general pattern—1 mile per $1 on airline purchases and 1 per $2 on everything else.
Who this could make sense for
- Debit-only users who don’t use credit cards but want to earn United miles.
- People with large “debit-only” bills where merchants charge high credit-card fees but accept debit cheaply.
- Cash-heavy households who can maintain balances that waive the fee and possibly earn bonus miles.
Who should probably skip it
If you use credit responsibly, United’s credit cards will generally earn more and offer perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, and better earning rates. This debit card only makes sense if you avoid credit or want the balance-based mileage feature.
Open questions
- Exact balance tiers for the “up to 70K” bonus.
- What transaction types actually earn miles (signature vs. PIN or ACH).
- Whether you can hold multiple airline debit cards from the same issuer.
Bottom line
If the leaks hold true, United’s upcoming MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card could be the most appealing airline debit option so far—low-fee, easy to waive, and with a potential for meaningful mileage yield on large balances. It’s unlikely to beat a solid rewards credit card, but for debit-only users, it could be a strong way to earn miles without debt.
