MileagePlus GO Visa Prepaid Card Earns Holders United Airlines Miles

Holders of the new prepaid card from Netspend will rack up frequent flyer miles for every dollar they spend on qualifying purchases. The MileagePlus GO Visa Prepaid Card is the only prepaid card to let customers earn United Airlines’ United MileagePlus reward miles.

Each dollar spent translates to a point, up to 2,500 per month. Points can be redeemed through United’s Global Traveler-touted MileagePlus loyalty program – though they will only be applied to the loyalty account once per month, after the total has been tallied.

Customers can keep track of spending and points on the MileagePlus GO app. The app can also be used to upload checks, like many mobile banking apps. If a customer wants to reload the card, the app can help them find a nearby reload location.

Netspend touts the ease of signup and use: There’s no credit check requirement, no late fees and no interest payments, although cardholders will be charged an annual fee of $85, deducted after the first time they load the card.

The reloadable card can be used anywhere that accepts Visa cards. Basically, it works like a Visa card, but holders can only spend money they actually have; they’re not charging purchases to pay back later.

The card is FDIC-insured through Republic Bank & Trust Co.

Netspend, an Austin, Texas-based company owned by TSYS, believes in the power of self-banking and provides tools to help customers spend, budget and pay their bills. United Airlines and United Express serve airports on five continents. Their loyalty program has consistently been voted “world’s best” by Global Traveler magazine.