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At a glance
- Best for: Travelers near a United hub
- Annual Fee: $95 (First-year waived)
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 2X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
United℠ Explorer Credit Card
60,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The United℠ Explorer Card is a strong card for its price point. No other comparably priced card includes lounge access along with the more typical free checked bags, a solid limited-time offer of 50,000 bonus points, and priority boarding. Considering the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, if any United or Star Alliance flights are on the horizon, it could be worth giving a test drive.
Reward details
2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
-
Cardholders enjoy two one-time passes to the United Club a year, usually worth $59 each.
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Priority boarding privileges.
-
Access to expanded award availability makes booking United flights with miles easier and cheaper.
-
Free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion can justify the annual fee with one roundtrip flight.
-
The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.
-
Any in-flight purchases, including Wi-Fi, will generate a 25% cash back in the form of a statement credit.
-
A year’s membership to DoorDash’s DashPass is a nice addition for those who use the food delivery service.
-
The up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck® pass is great for regular travelers.
Cons
-
The DashPass and Global Entry/TSA perks are great, but only helpful for some and overlap with other cards.
-
Without using the perks available, the fee can become harder to justify unless you’re a regular United flyer.
Overview
Co-branded airline credit cards might be the most misunderstood product on the market. Millions of customers open a single card from their favorite airline and assume their world will burst open with free travel.
Sadly, it doesn’t usually work that way, and the best points and miles strategies are usually centered around travel cards that earn transferable points.
But that doesn’t mean airline cards aren’t useful.
Some, like the United℠ Explorer Card, can more than validate their presence in even a casual flyer’s wallet. Despite having a $0 annual fee for the first year and just $95 a year thereafter, the Explorer offers perks typically found in more premium cards plus a solid introductory bonus offer that can get you traveling the world for next to nothing.
Let’s take a look at the United Explorer Card.
Who is the United Explorer Card best for:
The United Explorer Card is best for frequent United customers who want an easy way to earn MileagePlus miles but aren’t fussy about chasing elite status. With that said, most points and miles enthusiasts or travelers near a United hub will appreciate an injection of miles and the sneaky-valuable perks on this affordable card.
The Bottom Line:
The United Explorer Card is an airline card that punches well above its weight in terms of earning power, the introductory bonus offer, and premium perks. Any traveler would find a use for it, while some could make it a cornerstone of their strategy.
Intro Bonus
The United Explorer Card offers 60,000 MileagePlus miles to new cardholders after they spend $3,000 within three months of opening the account. While 60,000 United miles may be less valuable than a general travel card offering the same number, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, they can still go a long way.
We value United MileagePlus Miles at around 1.3/1.4 cents each on average, so if you play your cards right, that bonus represents around $800 in travel. That said, getting more value ($1,400+) is possible when redeeming for first or business-class flights.
Even if you’re not searching for a long-term card, keeping a hefty stash of valuable airline miles is good practice for giving you the most travel options. If you’re not interested in the Explorer for the normal benefits of the card, you should still consider it for the bonus alone.
Pros & Cons
As I always say, no card is perfect. However, the United Explorer Card does its best to go above and beyond in the airline card space. With some truly epic value at an approachable price point, the cons are few and far between here.
Pros
- Strong 60,000 mile intro bonus
- Low annual fee (Plus, the annual fee is waived in the first year!)
- Simple but valuable bonus-earning categories
- Premium perks
- Good travel and spending insurance coverage
Cons
- Higher earning rates on premium United cards
- Accelerated elite status opportunities aren’t anything special
- United miles aren’t as valuable as other bank points
Benefits & Perks
First checked bag free
It’s a straightforward perk, but a free checked bag represents real savings. Cardholders get one checked bag for themselves and a companion on any United-operated flight. That’s the potential for around $160 in savings on one round-trip flight. One getaway a year more than offsets the $95 annual fee, and everything beyond that puts money back in your pocket. For instance, if you and a partner were to fly just three times a year, you’d be saving nearly $500 on baggage fees!
2 United Club passes a year
The United Explorer Card offers cardholders 2 United Club passes each year, which allows for entrance into United Club lounges where you can load up on free food, beverages and alcohol before your next flight. Plus, you’ll have a quiet place to rest and relax away from the hustle and bustle of the airport terminal.
A card that’s $0 the first year and just $95 from then on offering access to a premium lounge is incredibly rare. United adding this to the Explorer card’s benefit list is generous and can help elevate any travel day.
It would typically cost $59 to enter the lounge. If you don’t normally pay, it’s not technically a saving, but it’s a damn good experiential perk all the same. And one you won’t find on many cards at this price.
Priority Boarding
While you won’t be the first one on the plane, you will be afforded the luxury of skipping the rest of the economy passengers. Cardholders are allowed to board the plane in Zone 2, so right after any business class passengers or those holding elite status. This applies to anyone booked on the flight using your card, even if flying basic economy.
Even if you’re not in a rush to get on the aircraft, you at least won’t have to fight for overhead bin space for your carry-on luggage.
$120 Global Entry, TSAPrecheck, or NEXUS statement credit
Another strong perk is the up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry, TSAPrecheck, or Nexus. The credit is applied every four years after paying for the application on one of the services. It’s good to note that successfully applying for Global Entry can also grant you a TSAPrecheck membership.
Any of these services can expedite your travel days considerably by cutting down on the time you have to wait in security or customs. These statement credits are frequently found as perks on more premium cards, so it’s nice to see this on a mid-tier product.
25% back in statement credits
Cardholders can enjoy 25% back on United purchases in the form of a statement credit. The credit is only applicable to food, beverages, and Wi-Fi purchases on United-operated flights or on premium drinks in the United Club, but it’s a nice little add-on for those who usually take advantage of the in-flight offerings.
Travel coverage and insurance
The United Explorer Card comes with several travel and spending safeguards that can save money and help protect cardholders from costly problems faced while traveling. These include:
- Auto rental coverage
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Purchase Protection
- Visa Concierge
- Extended warranty protection
Access to Expanded Award Availability
If you frequently fly with United Airlines, you’re likely familiar with their loyalty program, United MileagePlus.
As usual, there are different price tiers for award flights:
- Saver awards – Cheapest and best value option
- Standard awards – More widely available, but significantly more expensive
As the name suggests, the Saver awards are the cheapest and best value option, whereas the Standard awards have more availability, but are much more expensive. When Saver awards seats run out, Standard award seats are the only remaining option to book.
Most United MileagePlus members don’t have access to Saver awards as that benefit is limited to customers with Premier elite status. But, and this is where the benefit lies, Saver awards are available to United Credit cardholders as well. So, if you have the United Explorer Card, you can book Saver Awards even without elite status = unlocking substantial savings on award flights.
Earning rewards & redeeming points
The United Explorer Card makes earning MileagePlus Miles simple. Currently, outside of a card like this or purchasing United flights with cash, the only way to come by a significant amount of United miles is to transfer from a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points or the Bilt Mastercard. Because of this, allowing travelers to significantly increase their United miles is an attractive proposition and the Explorer is generous in this respect.
Earning rewards
2x/7x miles per dollar on United flights
When using the Explorer card to buy United flights, you’ll earn 2x miles by putting the purchase on your Explorer card and 5x miles as a MileagePlus member, allowing you to earn a strong 7x miles per dollar. Cardholders will also earn 2x miles per dollar on all other United purchases, like in-flight wifi, lounge access, or upgrades.
4x miles per dollar on hotel stays booked through United hotels
This is another good rate, but it’s countered by the lack of price variability. As you can only earn the miles on when booking through United’s own hotel portal, you’re limited to the properties available and the rates offered. You may be sacrificing a lower price for your hotel to earn the miles.
2x miles per dollar on other hotels and dining
The card also earns 2x miles per dollar on other hotel purchases. You’ll need to book directly with a hotel to trigger the rate so using an aggregator like Booking.com won’t work. On top of this, the card earns 2x miles per dollar on dining including eligible delivery services, helping cardholders grab some bonus MileagePlus miles for their everyday spending.
1x miles per dollar on all other purchases
All other purchases outside of the bonus categories mentioned above will earn 1x miles per dollar.
Redeeming points
Redeeming miles with United is relatively straightforward: you can either use them to book flights or hotels.
In general, I’d avoid using them for hotel redemptions as the value per point is often terrible.
Sticking to flights is the best bet as it allows you to take advantage of United’s huge selection of domestic and international flights as well as those found on its Star Alliance partners.
The airline does operate a dynamic pricing system, which means rates can fluctuate depending on a number of factors. This is good and bad news, as it means some flights can be frustratingly expensive, while others can be spectacularly low. Always aim to get a valuation of at least 1.3 cents per mile to ensure you’re getting the most from your earnings.
To go even further, try and use United’s Excursionist Perk, which allows travelers to book a free flight in the middle of a multi-flight itinerary.
Here are a few examples of some flights you could book with United miles:
- 121,000 Miles to Germany in Lufthansa First Class without surcharges
- Use the Excursionist perk to grab a free flight in the middle of a multi-flight booking
- 30,000 miles in economy to Europe
- Domestic flights as low as 5,000 miles
Is this card right for you?
Co-branded airline cards can often pigeonhole customers with hyper-specific perks but the United Explorer Card does a tremendous job of appealing to everyone. Its bonus is big enough to lure any points and miles enthusiast, while less keen travelers can take advantage of the card’s benefits by flying with United just once a year. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, there’s a good chance this card deserves space in your wallet.
- Best for: Travelers near a United hub
- Annual Fee: $95 (First-year waived)
- APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
- Reward Rate: 1X - 2X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
United℠ Explorer Credit Card
60,000 Bonus Miles
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The United℠ Explorer Card is a strong card for its price point. No other comparably priced card includes lounge access along with the more typical free checked bags, a solid limited-time offer of 50,000 bonus points, and priority boarding. Considering the $95 annual fee is waived for the first year, if any United or Star Alliance flights are on the horizon, it could be worth giving a test drive.
Reward details
2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
-
Cardholders enjoy two one-time passes to the United Club a year, usually worth $59 each.
-
Priority boarding privileges.
-
Access to expanded award availability makes booking United flights with miles easier and cheaper.
-
Free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion can justify the annual fee with one roundtrip flight.
-
The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.
-
Any in-flight purchases, including Wi-Fi, will generate a 25% cash back in the form of a statement credit.
-
A year’s membership to DoorDash’s DashPass is a nice addition for those who use the food delivery service.
-
The up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck® pass is great for regular travelers.
Cons
-
The DashPass and Global Entry/TSA perks are great, but only helpful for some and overlap with other cards.
-
Without using the perks available, the fee can become harder to justify unless you’re a regular United flyer.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
