United Airlines And Southwest Airlines Have Quietly Revived A Travel Card Perk Almost Two Decades Later

An update was made on November 19 with new information on other changes made by Southwest Airlines before the holidays.

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Travelers are relieved as the FAA finally lifted flight restrictions across the U.S. just before Thanksgiving. Despite the setbacks from the government shutdown, the likes of United Airlines stood above the rest and limited flight disruptions during a troubling time.

Now, United Airlines is looking ahead to the holiday season. In celebration, the airline has revived a new perk for flyers, taking a similar path to Southwest Airlines.

Both carriers have introduced an old card system that a lot of us thought we’d never see again. The cards are available now and, as expected, have been met with mixed reviews, especially when put side by side with a credit card. However, these specific cards still offer perks for a certain type of traveler.

Here’s a closer look at the revival and the reactions that have followed.

United Airlines Is Bringing Back The Debit Card With An Updated Version

​​​​​​U.S. airline debit cards were common years ago. However, provisions added in 2010 made them less appealing to travelers, with a tighter cap on transaction fees. Therefore, in the years that followed, airlines focused on credit cards.

Nonetheless, in partnership with Sunrise Banks, United has launched the MileagePlus Debit Rewards card. The perks aren’t as generous as those of credit cards. However, there are perks for younger flyers, especially without the burden of a credit check.

United MileagePlus CEO Richard Nunn commented on the card’s revival, stating that United wants a card for every type of traveler.

“Our goal is to have a card for every type of flyer who flies United, no matter their need.”

The card launched on November 4, 2025, and does come with some notable perks. United Mileage Plus miles can be earned at a monthly fee of $4. The monthly fee is waived for those that maintain a bank balance of $2,000 in the account.

The debit card also comes with a welcome bonus, which is a rarity for this type of card. This includes 10,000 bonus miles in exchange for a spend of $500 on purchases within the first four months after opening an account. Users can earn 1 mile on every $1 spent.

In addition, cardholders can earn 2,500 bonus miles each year after spending $10,000.

Compared to most cards, the deal just isn’t as impactful, especially given that most cards come with 0.5 miles per $1 spent, and that’s usually with no annual fee. However, for those that may be unable to be approved for a credit card, this can be a stellar alternative.

Southwest Airlines Has Also Launched A Rapid Rewards Debit Card

Southwest Airlines claims its new card is a way to make “everyday spending even more rewarding.” Like United’s debit card, the offer from Southwest comes with some perks at the start.

The 2,500-point welcome bonus can be accessed with two deposits along with a spend of $100 within the first 90 days. How do the points work?

Southwest Airlines writes on its website, “Earn 1 point per $1 spent on eligible Southwest Airlines® purchases and qualifying dining and subscription purchases; like cable, internet, phone, streaming services, utilities and insurance premiums.”

Similar to United, Southwest will also waive the monthly fee if a minimum balance of $2,500 is maintained. Another perk is that there are no ATM fees for the card at 2 million ATMs worldwide. Similar to the United debit card, the perks aren’t as good as those on credit cards. Nonetheless, they can be beneficial for certain flyers.

How Consumers Are Reacting To United And Southwest’s Debit Cards

As expected, the cards have received mixed reactions online. For some, the Durbin Amendment completely killed the appeal of debit cards years ago.

One person wrote online, “The Durbin amendment killed reward debit cards. Which also sparked monthly fees from checking accounts and other things. Merchants didn’t lower prices which was the argument that it would help consumers.”

Others have taken exception to the fact that Sunrise Bank is associated with the cards.

A person wrote online, “The underlying bank is Sunrise Bank. Make sure you read the fine print, list of fees, reviews, ratings, and BBB info on this organization before you consider signing up.”

“They specialize in Prepaid and Gift Cards and Credit Builder loans. Absolutely a Tier 3 financial institution from a risk perspective, but they have side-stepped these regs by registering as a Certified B Corp. I wouldn’t trust them with the change from my couch.”

Others dislike the fact that debit cards lack the primary safety features offered by credit cards.

Ultimately, the cards are specifically for the younger generation, particularly those who want to sidestep credit checks. If the goal is to make a card for every type of flyer, then this card certainly fits into that mold.

Update: Southwest Airlines Enhances Customer Experience Just Before The Holidays

Just before the holiday season, Southwest Airlines announced several enhancements, including increased availability of TSA Precheck Touchless ID.

The service will expand to:

• Atlanta
• New York, LaGuardia
• Portland
• Seattle
• Salt Lake City

The new PreCheck areas follow a successful launch by Southwest at Denver last month.

Passengers who are part of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program can access the TSA perk, unlocking a quicker way to navigate the airport.

Southwest Airlines’ Other Changes

Along with the touchless TSA PreCheck perk, passengers can also access the digital bag check returns. This means customers can pre-pay for up to three bags in advance with Apple Pay, PayPal, and credit cards.

The timing could not be any better, with more than 4,400 flights scheduled for the Sunday following Thanksgiving, including 21 unique routes set to run only that day.