United Explorer Credit Card 2024 review: Great airline perks at an affordable cost
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 3:57 p.m. UTC March 29, 2024
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Even for travelers who only fly United a couple of times a year, the United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. packs a lot of value into a small package. The card’s useful perks make sense for those looking to make their travel smoother for a reasonable annual fee.
About the United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card is fantastic, even for the occasional United flyer. For starters, the annual fee is waived the first year: There’s a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But the welcome bonus is likely to be what many travelers find truly exciting, as you can get enough value from this card’s bonus to fly across the country or possibly even the world while only paying for taxes and fees for the award flight.
Earning on the card is simple — you’ll get 2 miles per $1 on dining including eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. And there are noteworthy benefits to make your travel experience more pleasant, such as a free checked bag, that help this card shine. United fans who don’t want to pony up for the pricier cards in the United family should consider this addition to their wallet, as the benefits can more than outweigh the cost of the annual fee.
United Explorer Card basics
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Rewards: Earn 2 miles per $1 on dining including eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
- APR: 21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
- Other perks and benefits: First checked bag free, application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years, priority boarding on United flights.
- Does the issuer offer a preapproval tool? No.
- Recommended credit score: Good to excellent.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 8 data points considered.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
United Explorer Card other details
How the United Explorer Card’s rewards work
You get 2 miles per $1 on dining including eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
To redeem your flights, simply go to the United website, search for your trip, and select “pay with miles.” With a little bit of searching, you can find excellent opportunities to see the world at a low cost. For example, as of this writing, you could fly from New York City (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) nonstop for just under 29,000 miles round trip, plus $11.20 in taxes and fees. You could go even farther and take a trip to Casablanca, Morocco, from EWR for just 44,000 miles and $29.50 in taxes and fees one-way.
United MileagePlus miles can accumulate quickly if you use your Explorer Card to spend on United flights, hotels, and dining. But those interested in maximizing rewards will probably want to use a different card for spending in other, non-bonused purchase categories.
United Explorer Card rewards potential
Using government data and other publicly available information, We estimate that a household in the U.S. that would be in the market for this card has an annual income of $84,352 and $25,087 in expenses they are likely to be able to charge to a credit card.
Of that $25,087, we estimate our sample household will spend $1,188 annually on flights. Assuming all flights are booked on United, that would net 2,376 miles. This household would spend an additional $868 annually on hotel stays and $3,526 annually on dining, which would earn an additional 8,788 miles.
The remaining spending on the card of $19,505 would earn an additional 19,505 miles for an estimated total of 30,669 miles each year. The value of a mile on United will vary, as different flights cost different amounts of miles. However, you can potentially expect to get a number of round-trip flights out of this amount of miles, depending on factors such as where you’re flying and your dates of travel.
United Explorer Card APR
The current variable APR for the United Explorer Card is 21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies. There is no 0% introductory APR period offered on this card.
There is a penalty APR that can be applied if you do not make your payment by its due date or if you make a payment that is returned unpaid, which can remain indefinitely.
Pros and cons of the United Explorer Card
United Explorer Card pros
- Premium benefits: You get access to the United Club two times per year (via one-time passes), an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and a free checked bag for you and a traveling companion. All of these benefits make your travel experience more comfortable. For the annual fee, this is all an excellent value.
- Great welcome bonus: The bonus miles can take you to a lot of places.
- Extensive travel and purchase coverage: This card offers several insurances and protections that can save you money. We’ll go into more detail on them below.
United Explorer Card cons
- Annual fee: You have to pay an ongoing annual fee each year.
- Limited flexibility for redeeming rewards: You can use miles for United and partner flights, but will be out of luck if you wish to fly an airline outside of the Star Alliance or United’s additional partners. However, there are no blackout dates, and miles never expire.
- No 0% intro APR: If you’re hoping for a no-interest introductory period you can use to finance a big purchase or transfer a balance from another card, you’ll need to look elsewhere, because the Explorer doesn’t come with an intro APR offer.
Other United Explorer cardholder benefits
The United Explorer Card comes with a suite of benefits that take it to the next level. Cardholders get a one-year complimentary membership to DashPass and access to a robust list of travel and purchase perks:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: You can decline coverage at the counter and still be protected against theft and collision for rental cars at home and abroad. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to the cash value of the vehicle.
- Baggage delay insurance: For baggage delays of more than six hours, you can be eligible for up to $100 per day for three days to cover the cost of clothing and toiletries.
- Lost luggage replacement: If you or your immediate family member’s luggage gets damaged or lost during your trip, you are covered up to $3,000 per passenger.
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance: You can get reimbursed up to $1,500 per person or $6,000 per trip if it is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather or another covered situation.
- Trip delay reimbursement: If your trip gets delayed more than 12 hours, you can be covered up to $500 per ticket for meals and lodging.
- Purchase protection: New purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year.
- Visa Signature Concierge: You have 24/7 access to a concierge to help with reservations and more.
- Extended warranty protection: Extend the manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year for warranties of three years or less.
On top of that, cardholders also get 25% back on United in-flight purchases — like Wi-Fi, beverages and food — and on Club premium drink purchases.
How the United Explorer Card compares to other United co-branded Cards
Chase offers four consumer credit cards that are co-branded with United Airlines:
- United Gateway℠ Card * The information for the United Gateway℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
- United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
- United Quest℠ Card * The information for the United Quest℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
- United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
The Gateway is the entry-level card and has no annual fee. It earns 2 miles per $1 at United, gas stations and local transit and commuting and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
The Explorer Card provides a good combination of benefits and a reasonable annual fee. However, if you fly United more often, getting the Quest or Club Infinite could be worth it.
The Quest Card takes things up a notch, but comes with a $250 annual fee. You earn 3 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on dining, select streaming services and all other travel and 1 mile on all other purchases, plus there’s a $125 annual United purchase credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award credits.
Finally, the 4 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on all other travel, dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile on all other purchases is the top of the line, with a $525 annual fee. You earn 4 miles per $1 at United, 2 miles per $1 on all other travel, dining including eligible delivery services and 1 mile on all other purchases, plus get two free checked bags on every flight and a United Club membership.
How the United Explorer Card compares to other travel cards
United Explorer Card vs. United Gateway℠ Card * The information for the United Gateway℠ Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The United Gateway Card is an entry-level United Airlines card. You earn 2 miles per $1 at United, gas stations and local transit and commuting and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months, then a regular 21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
You can currently earn a welcome bonus on the Gateway of 30,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
The Gateway is a solid card, but the Explorer Card offers a stronger lineup of benefits that even infrequent United flyers can take advantage of.
United Explorer Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Although both the United Explorer Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are issued by Chase, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers far more flexibility for your points. Often touted as one of the best beginner travel cards on the market, the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 5 points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per $1 on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. You can earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, but the perks more than make up for it, like the $50 annual statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel and an exceptional list of airline and hotel partners that you can transfer your points to at a 1:1 rate.
United Explorer Card vs. American Express® Gold Card
If you are looking for a card that is more versatile than exclusively for travel, look to a card like the Amex Gold Card. With a $250 annual fee (terms apply, rates & fees), this card earns 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point), 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.
You can also get up to $10 in Uber Cash each month when you enroll your card (up to $120), as well as an up to $10 monthly statement credit to go toward eligible purchases such as at Grubhub, the Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations.
The Amex Gold Card is perfect for those who still want rewards on flights but want other common spending categories to earn points as well.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Should you get the United Explorer Card?
This card is likely best for the occasional to semi-frequent United traveler. Even if you don’t fly every month, you can get net savings with the United Explorer Card. For example, United cites the value of the free checked bag you get with this card as up to $35 each way, meaning if you travel with a bag on two round-trip flights per year, you’re already recouping the annual fee.
Whether you should get this card depends mainly on whether you like to fly United when you travel and whether you’re OK paying an annual fee for a robust list of benefits. If you want more flexibility to fly other airlines, a card earning transferable points — such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred — could be better. And if you’re annual-fee-averse, you may wish to consider a card such as the United Gateway, though that card does not offer perks like a free checked bag.
United Explorer Card summary
| UNITED EXPLORER CARD DETAILS | |
|---|---|
Annual fee
| $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
|
Rewards
| 2 miles per $1 on dining including eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United purchases and 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases
|
Welcome bonus
| Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
|
APR
| 21.99% to 28.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies
|
Foreign transaction fees
| $0
|
Major perks/benefits
| First checked bag free for you and a companion, statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, 25% back on in-flight food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United flights, priority boarding, two United Club one-time passes each account anniversary, eligibility for Premier upgrades on award tickets (subject to availability)
|
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of travel credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. We factored the following into our analysis:
- Annual fees.
- Travel reward rates.
- Value of rewards.
- Redemption options.
- Additional benefits that a card may offer for travelers, such as travel insurance.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You will likely need a good-to-excellent credit score to increase your chances of getting approved for the United Explorer Card. This means you should aim for a FICO Score above 670 for the best odds, although Chase will consider various things when reviewing your application. These might include your credit mix, credit utilization ratio, length of credit history and more.
The United Explorer Card offers up to $100 as a statement credit every four years to reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS trusted traveler program membership.
Yes, the United Explorer Card offers several protections travelers will enjoy, like auto rental collision damage waiver (primary coverage), baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement.
You will receive two complimentary United Club one-time passes, after opening your card and on each account anniversary.
For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
*The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card, United Gateway℠ Card, United Quest℠ Card and United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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