United Explorer Card overview
The United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) is not your common airline bank card, because it’s full of premium-like perks that you just usually see from bank cards with a excessive annual charge. This card is a superb possibility for individuals who do not fly with United Airways steadily however wish to get pleasure from premium perks after they fly. You also needs to think about the Explorer for those who do not wish to pay as excessive an annual charge as these discovered on United’s extra premium playing cards. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The United Explorer Card has an introductory annual charge of $0 for the primary yr, then $150 thereafter and affords many advantages.
Apart from the standard airline bank card perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, the United Explorer has a handful of premium-level advantages.
The really useful credit score for the United Explorer is at the least 670, nevertheless it’s not exceptional to be permitted with a decrease rating.
Here is what you want to know in regards to the card, its advantages and whether or not it deserves a spot in your pockets.
United Explorer professionals and cons
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United Explorer welcome provide
New candidates for the United Explorer Card can earn as much as 80,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles: 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus 10,000 bonus miles after including a licensed consumer to your account inside the first three months of account opening.
TPG’s April 2026 valuations peg United miles at 1.35 cents apiece, making this welcome provide price $1,080 (together with the factors from including a licensed consumer).
It is necessary to notice that this card is topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. Moreover, you will not be eligible for a welcome bonus in case you have obtained one on this card previously 24 months.
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United Explorer advantages
The United Explorer Card affords mixture of perks for each frequent and occasional United flyers.
United Membership passes
You will obtain a pair of one-time United Club passes deposited into your United MileagePlus account every cardholder anniversary yr. This profit alone is price $118 per yr, as a day cross on the lounge prices $59 every with a same-day boarding cross.
Notice {that a} buddy or member of the family can solely use considered one of your passes if the first cardholder or approved consumer can be coming into the lounge.
TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak finds nice worth within the United Membership passes this card supplies; so long as she flies with a Star Alliance airline twice a yr, she will be able to virtually get again the price of the annual charge in worth. United Membership passes can be utilized everytime you’re flying on any Star Alliance airline.
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Elitelike perks
- First checked bags without cost: For the first cardholder and one journey companion on the identical reservation if you ebook along with your card
- Premier Entry: Contains precedence check-in, safety screening, boarding and baggage dealing with the place obtainable
- Expanded award availability: Entry to extra saver award ticket availability
- Inflight low cost: 25% back on United inflight purchases, together with meals, drinks and Wi-Fi. Plus, obtain 25% again on premium drink purchases within the United Membership.
- Award mileage low cost: Skill to earn a ten,000-mile low cost on award tickets after spending $20,000 every calendar yr with the cardboard
If getting free checked luggage and a pair of United Membership passes would elevate your journey expertise with the airline, this card holds loads of worth.
Assertion and journey credit
- Resort assertion credit score: As much as $50 again as an announcement credit score on the primary and second pay as you go resort bookings when utilizing the Explorer Card and reserving instantly by United Hotels
- Journey-hailing credit score: As much as $60 for ride-hailing purchases, given as as much as $5 month-to-month credit (activation is required)
- JSX assertion credit score: As much as $100 in JSX assertion credit every anniversary yr when reserving instantly with JSX
- World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit score: An software charge credit score each 4 years for as much as $120
- Instacart credit score: A $10 month-to-month Instacart credit score, plus a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (ends Dec. 31, 2027)
- United TravelBank money: As much as $25 in United TravelBank money to your first and second Avis and Price range automotive leases booked by automobiles.united.com and paid for with the cardboard
- United journey credit score: $100 in United TravelBank money after spending at the least $10,000 on purchases along with your card
Elite standing shortcuts
United elite status qualification is predicated on Premier qualifying points and Premier qualifying flights. You will earn 1 PQP for each $20 you spend on purchases along with your Explorer Card (as much as 1,000 PQPs in a calendar yr) that may be utilized towards your Premier status qualification, as much as the Premier 1K stage.
Journey and buy protections
With the United Explorer, you are getting numerous journey and buy safety advantages, together with:
DoorDash
For one yr, get complimentary DoorDash DashPass to obtain limitless deliveries by DoorDash and Caviar with $0 supply charges and decrease service charges on eligible orders. After 12 months, you can be auto-enrolled in DashPass on the present $9.99 month-to-month fee. You should enroll by Dec. 31, 2027 to obtain this profit.
Instacart+ membership
Cardholders obtain a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership, which incorporates limitless supply and $0 supply charges on eligible orders. After three months, the membership is mechanically renewed at a decrease annual fee, which features a 25% low cost.
Contemplating all these advantages, the $150 annual charge in yr two and past appears effectively price it.
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Incomes miles with the United Explorer
As a cardholder, you will earn:
- A minimum of 9 miles per greenback spent on United flights (you could earn extra relying in your stage of United MileagePlus elite standing)
- 5 miles per greenback spent on pay as you go United Lodges
- 3 miles per greenback spent on all different United purchases
- 2 miles per greenback spent on different resort stays and eating
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
In keeping with TPG’s valuations, this equates roughly to a 12.2%, 6.8%, 4%, 2.7% and 1.4% return on spending, respectively.
These are excellent incomes charges on United flight purchases, a number of the finest available on the market. Nonetheless, the incomes charges are lackluster for different bonus classes like dining, hotels and on a regular basis spending, and higher card choices exist available on the market.
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Redeeming miles with the United Explorer
You may redeem your MileagePlus miles throughout United’s huge community of home and worldwide routes and on the service’s 24 Star Alliance and 15 nonalliance airline companions.
United makes use of a dynamic pricing construction by itself flights, so the worth of your miles will fluctuate when redeeming for United awards. Home awards in economic system usually begin at simply 5,000 miles one-way, however we have seen gross sales with tickets as little as 3,900 miles.
We suggest avoiding non-flight redemptions, akin to resort stays or merchandise, along with your United miles, as they provide a poor worth proposition.
Associated: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program
Which playing cards compete with the United Explorer?
A number of playing cards compete with the United Explorer:
- If you would like a premium United expertise: The United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) is the best card for United lounge entry — bar none. For any loyal United flyer who spends vital cash with the airline every year, this card would make a fantastic addition to your pockets. To study extra, learn our full review of the United Club Card.
- If you would like a extra all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is likely one of the hottest journey rewards bank cards available on the market. It affords bonus factors in a number of classes, together with journey and eating, and a slew of journey protections in case one thing goes awry when touring. Moreover, you will have entry to Chase’s excellent roster of transfer partners that may present most worth when redeeming your factors. To study extra, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you would like tons of perks: The American Express Platinum Card® is likely one of the high premium journey rewards playing cards. As a cardmember, you will earn worthwhile Membership Rewards factors, obtain helpful annual assertion credit and get entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide, as this card affords the very best lounge entry available on the market. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. To study extra, learn our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For added choices, take a look at our full listing of the best United travel cards and the best airline cards.
Associated: Is the United Club Card annual fee worth it?
Is the United Explorer price it?
If you happen to fly with United or its companions at the least a few times a yr, we suggest making use of for the United Explorer. With a number of assertion credit, lounge passes and a free checked bag, the United Explorer Card is jam-packed with perks to boost your journeys from begin to end.
Backside line
The United Explorer Card is not your run-of-the-mill airline bank card. It has an honest incomes fee to stockpile United miles that you may redeem for future journey and a spread of advantages.
So long as you make the most of its lounge passes and assertion credit, this mid-tier card — which has a $0 introductory annual charge for the primary yr ($150 every year thereafter) — has a low value with appreciable worth.
With this stuff in thoughts, this card would make a fantastic addition to most United flyers’ wallets.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
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