The United MileagePlus Explorer Card is a rewards Visa Signature card that delivers solid benefits to frequent fliers of United Airlines. The rewards rate is slightly less than what is offered with the United MileagePlus Club Card. However, it also comes with a somewhat more palatable annual fee- $95 compared to $450. There is currently a signup bonus available to new account holders. Additionally, approved applicants for the card now have the first year’s membership fee waived (a savings of $95). The United MileagePlus Explorer Card is issued by JPMorgan Chase.
New card members have the opportunity to earn 30,000 bonus miles upon approval. Note: This offer is not available to current cardholders or previous card members who received a new member bonus within the last 24 months. To qualify, you must spend at least $1,000 on the card within the first three months that your account is open. The minimum spending threshold must consist of net purchases (the total amount of transactions minus any returns and/or credits). Balance transfers, cash advances, cash-like charges such as traveler’s checks, money orders or foreign currency, or any fees associated with your account are not considered purchases. Once you qualify, it may take 6-8 weeks for the bonus miles to post to your account.
An additional new member bonus is available. (Again, current and previous cardholders are not eligible for this offer.) As an approved applicant, you can receive 5,000 bonus miles after making your first purchase and adding an authorized user to your account within the first three months that your account is active. Your first purchase must meet the same criteria as net purchases- balance transfers, cash advances, cash-like transactions, and fees are excluded.
Card members can earn 10,000 bonus miles every calendar year when you spend at least $25,000 in net purchases on the card.
Important: Neither the 30,000 bonus miles offer or the 5,000 bonus miles offer, when earned, counts towards United Premier status. Also, if your account is not open for at least six months, United and Chase have the right to deduct the bonus miles from your MileagePlus Program account.
Members earn miles at the following rates:
- 2X miles for every $1 spent on United Airlines net purchases
- 1X miles for every $1 spent on all other net purchases
Please note that to earn the double miles on United Airlines purchases, United Airlines must be identified as the Merchant on your monthly credit card statement. Purchases for United tickets at many discount travel websites as well as on-board purchases will not be eligible for the double miles rewards rate.
There is no maximum number of miles that you can earn. Plus, your miles do not expire as long as your account is active and in good standing.
The primary cardholder and one traveling companion (on the same reservation) are each eligible to receive one standard checked bag free. To receive this benefit, you must include your MileagePlus number when making the reservation and must use your United MileagePlus Explorer Card to purchase the ticket(s). First standard checked bag free is only available on United and United Express flights. Code-share and partner-operated flights are not eligible.
Priority boarding is also available to primary cardholders and any traveling companions listed on the same reservation. Again, to take advantage of this perk, you must include your MileagePlus number on your reservation and must purchase the ticket(s) with your United MileagePlus Explorer Card. Priority boarding is only available on United and United Express operated flights (no code-share or partner airlines).
Members receive two (2) one-time-use United Club passes after your is opened and every 12 months after that. Each pass is valid for one guest for one visit at any United Club airport location. These passes are not valid for access to:
- United Arrivals Lounges
- United Global First Lounges
- Star Alliance Lounges
The primary card member can use miles to book travel on any United-operated flight at the MileagePlus Standard Award level (25,000 miles one way) as long as tickets are available for sale. Note: Authorized users are not eligible. Saver Awards (10,000 miles one way), awards on codeshare partner-operated flights, and upgrade awards are subject to limitations, restrictions, and blackout dates. Always provide your MileagePlus number whenever booking award travel.
Miles can also be redeemed through the MileagePlus Program for hotel stays, car rentals and merchandise. The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection consists of more than 750 properties located throughout the world. United MileagePlus Explorer Card members enjoy the following guest privileges, when available:
- Room upgrade upon arrival
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Complimentary daily breakfast for two
United Airlines consists of the following hub cities within the U.S.: Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, DC (IAD).
United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance Network. Partner airlines include:
| Adria Airways (JP) | Aegean Airlines (A3) |
| Air Canada (AC) | Air China (CA) |
| Air India (AI) | Air New Zealand (NZ) |
| ANA (NH) | Asiana Airlines (OZ) |
| Austrian (OS) | Avianca (AV) |
| Brussels Airlines (SN) | Copa Airlines (CM) |
| Croatia Airlines (OU) | EGYPTAIR (MS) |
| Ethiopian Airlines (ET) | EVA Air (BR) |
| LOT Polish Airlines (LO) | Lufthansa (LH) |
| Scandinavian Airlines (SK) | Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) |
| Singapore Airlines (SQ) | South African Airways (SA) |
| SWISS (LX) | TAP Portugal (TP) |
| THAI (TG) | Turkish Airlines (TK) |
The annual percentage rate on purchases is 15.99% (variable based on the Prime Rate). This rate is also applied to balance transfers. Additionally, there is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the total amount of the transfer (whichever is greater).
Card members receive Visa Signature benefits such as:
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
- Travel Accident Insurance
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Roadside Dispatch
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
Cardholders are not charged foreign transaction fees when making purchases on the card while traveling outside of the U.S.
The United MileagePlus Explorer Card comes with Smart Chip Technology for added security and convenience (especially when traveling overseas).
The annual membership fee for this card is $95 which is waived for the first year of membership.
The Facts
Below we have broken down the details of the United MileagePlus Explorer Card to help you decide if it’s a good choice for you.
The Good:
Signup bonus:
New cardholders are eligible to receive 30,000 bonus miles when you make at least $1,000 in net purchases on the card within the first three months that your account is open. Note: This offer is not available to current card members or previous members who received a new member bonus within the last 24 months.
Net purchases are classified as the total amount of transactions minus any returns and/or credits. Cash advances and balance transfers as well as other specific charges are excluded.
Approved applicants also can receive 5,000 bonus miles when your first eligible net purchase posts to your account and you add an authorized user to your account. Both of these requirements must be fulfilled within the first three months that your account is active.
Easy to earn reward miles:
Members earn miles at the following rates:
- 2X miles for every $1 spent on United Airlines net purchases
- 1X miles for every $1 spent on all other net purchases
Miles are earned on net purchases which do not include the following:
- Returns
- Credits
- Balance transfers
- Cash advances
- Cash-like transactions (traveler’s checks, money orders, foreign currency)
- Fees (including annual membership fee)
Various redemption options:
Miles can be redeemed for flights and upgrades as well as hotel stays, car rentals, and merchandise.
First standard checked bag free:
The primary cardholder and one traveling companion (on the same reservation) will receive their first standard checked bag free – a savings of $100 for two people on a round-trip flight. Valid only on United and United Express operated flights. Reservation must include your MileagePlus number and tickets must be paid for with the United MileagePlus Explorer Card.
United Club passes:
Cardholders receive two (2) one-time United Club passes when your account is opened and every year thereafter (on the anniversary date of account). These passes are valid at any United Club airport location. These passes are not valid for access to United Arrivals Lounges, United Global First Lounges, or Star Alliance Lounges.
Priority boarding:
Priority boarding is also available to primary cardholders and any traveling companions listed on the same reservation. To take advantage of this perk, you must include your MileagePlus number on your reservation and must purchase the ticket(s) with your United MileagePlus Explorer Card. Priority boarding is only available on United and United Express operated flights (no code-share or partner airlines).
No cap on earning rewards miles:
As long as your account is active and in good standing, there is no limit on the amount of rewards miles you can accumulate in the program. Plus, your miles don’t expire.
Additional bonus miles for big spenders:
Card members who make at least $25,000 in eligible net purchases on the card within a calendar year will earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles.
No foreign transaction fees:
Cardholders are not charged foreign transaction fees when using the card outside of the U.S.
The Bad:
Annual fee:
The annual fee for this card is $95 which is waived for the initial year of membership.
Not everyone will qualify:
Generally a very good credit score (720+FICO) is needed to qualify for this card.
The Ugly:
People who travel often and are loyal to United Airlines will get the most benefits from this card. If this describes you, you might want to compare the United MileagePlus Explorer Card to the United MileagePlus Club Card before you make a decision. Here’s a quick breakdown: The annual fee for the Explorer Card is $95 (waived for the first year) compared to $450 for the Club Card (not waived). Both cards offer 2X miles on United Airlines purchases and in both cases, the credit card statement must list United Airlines as the Merchant. On-board purchases and UA tickets purchased through many discount travel websites will not qualify for the double miles.
The Explorer Card gives 1X miles per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases while the Club Card offers 1.5X miles.
United Club Lounge access is automatically given to Club Card members while Explorer Card cardholders only receive two passes per year.
Explorer Card members receive priority boarding. Club Card holders enjoy dedicated check-in lines, priority security lines, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling.
Explorer Card members get one standard checked bag free per flight ($50 savings round-trip). Club Card holders receive the first and second standard checked bags free for a savings of $100 per round-trip flight.
The bottom line is the United MileagePlus Explorer Card is a good card to rack up miles and redeem them for free flights without having to pay a huge annual fee. Two round-trip flights with one free checked bag will more than cover the $95 membership fee which is waived the first year anyway. However, if you’re not a United Airlines frequent flier it will be hard to realize the benefits of either card. A credit card which delivers travel rewards not specifically tied to United might be a better option.