card_name is part of Chase’s portfolio of co-branded United Airlines credit cards. In addition, small business owners can apply for United business credit cards. Spending on United business cards, in addition to United Airlines personal credit cards, can help you to earn United Airlines miles in a hurry.
The perks and benefits of the card_name are one of the primary reasons to apply. Benefits that may offer value include on an annual basis include InFlight Statement Credits, Free Checked Bag, and Anniversary United Club Passes.
United Explorer Card Details
card_name earns 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
It’s important to note that the Bonus Miles are not available if you are either a:
- current cardmember of the card_name, or
- previous cardmember of the card_name who received a new cardmember bonus within the last 24 months
The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 thereafter. Separately, you pay no foreign transaction fees with the card_name.
United Explorer Card Credits
The two credits on the card_name are InFlight Statement Credits, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Application Fee Statement Credit.
When you purchase food, beverages, or Wi-Fi on board United or United Express flights, you receive 25% back in the form of a statement credit. The statement credit posts to your account within 24 hours of you making the purchase.
Up to $100 in statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Application Fee Statement Credit is available every four years on the card. Your card must be used for these application fees to receive the statement credit. Global Entry automatically comes with TSA PreCheck. So, in most cases, it makes sense to apply for Global Entry.
United Explorer Card Perks
A Free Checked Bag, Priority Boarding, Anniversary United Club Passes, Complimentary Premier Upgrades, Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection (LHRC) access, the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), and complimentary DashPass are the card perks.
The primary Cardmember and one traveling companion on the same reservation receive one free checked bag free. Your card must be used to purchase the flight to receive the free bag. The credit can take up to two weeks to post to your account.
Priority Boarding for the card member and all companions traveling on the same reservation on a United or United Express flight. Codeshare partner flights are not eligible for this benefit. Priority Boarding occurs after MileagePlus Premier members and Premier Access and travelers need assistance.
Two One-Time Anniversary United Club Passes are deposited into the cardmember’s United MileagePlus Program account after account opening and every 12 months thereafter. Each Club Pass grants access to a United Club. The passes can take up to four weeks to post to your United MileagePlus account.
Cardmembers with United Mileage Plus Premier Status receive Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets for themselves and one companion on the same reservation. Assignment of Complimentary Premier Upgrades on award tickets within each Premier level will be prioritized after the lowest paid fare class on that flight.
LHRC access allows card members to unlock exclusive amenities and guest privileges during their stay at participating LHRC properties.
Cardmembers earn 500 Premier PQP for every $12,000 in purchases, up to 1,000 PQP per calendar year. PQP applies toward United Premier status tiers, including United Premier 1K. PQP post to your account within 6-8 weeks after qualifying purchases.
Receive a one-year complimentary DashPass, a membership for both DoorDash and Caviar that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, you are automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate. Cardmembers must activate by 12/31/24.
How to Earn Miles with the United Explorer Card
The card_name earns miles at the following earning rates:
- 2X miles – airline tickets purchased from United, seat upgrades; Economy Plus; inflight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi; baggage service charges or other United fees
- 2X miles – United Card Events from Chase, restaurants; hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
As a point of comparison, you can earn points at the following rates:
- 5X points on airfare purchases with the Amex Platinum Card
- 3X points on inflight food and beverages, and restaurants and hotels with the Chase Sapphire Reserve
- 2X points on Wi-Fi with the Citi Double Cash Card
How to Redeem Miles with the United Explorer Card
5 Best Ways to Use United MileagePlus Miles highlights all of the fun ways to redeem United Airlines miles including:
- 35,000 miles one-way United business class US to Southern America
- 77,000 miles one-way Star Alliance business class US to Europe
- 70,000 miles one-way United business class flight to Africa
- 35,000+ miles one-way Star Alliance economy flight to Japan
Which Cards Compete with the United Explorer Card?
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard Credit Card and AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard have a $99 annual fee and compete with the card_name. Citi / AAdvantage Platinum earns 2X miles at restaurants, gas stations, and American Airlines purchases. AAdvantage Aviator Red earns 2X AAdvantage miles on eligible American Airlines purchases.
Conclusion on the United Explorer Card
InFlight Statement Credits, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or NEXUS Application Fee Statement Credit, Free Checked Bag, Priority Boarding, Anniversary Club Passes, Complimentary Premier Upgrades, LHRC access, and the ability to earn PQP are the main reasons to pick up this card. If these benefits are not attractive to you, United has other cards to check out.
Disclaimer: If you click and/or sign up for a credit card through certain links on this site or any of my related social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click-through. The editorial content on this page and the user comments are not provided by any of the companies mentioned and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The opinions expressed here are mine alone.
