United Explorer Card evaluate: Full particulars

The United℠ Explorer Card is not your common airline bank card. It is full of premium perks resembling an up-to-$100 World Entry or TSA PreCheck utility payment assertion credit score, two annual one-time lounge passes and free checked luggage — simply justifying its modest $95 annual payment (which is waived for the primary yr). Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.

Except for the same old airline credit card perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, the United Explorer affords some premium-level advantages, together with a pair of annual one-time United Membership passes, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and wonderful travel protections.

This is what you should know concerning the card and its advantages.

The really useful credit score for the United Explorer is at the least 670, nevertheless it’s not unparalleled to be accredited with a decrease rating.

New candidates for the United Explorer Card will earn a welcome bonus of fifty,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening. The annual payment is waived for the primary yr; after that, cardholders pays $95 annually.

These 50,000 bonus miles are value $650, primarily based on TPG’s October 2024 valuations.

In case you’re questioning easy methods to get probably the most worth out of those miles, learn up on United sweet spot redemptions. New cardholders also can get an extra 5,000 bonus miles after including a licensed person to their account throughout the first three months of account opening.

The United Explorer Card affords a great mixture of perks for each frequent and occasional United flyers:

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Free first checked bag

Get your first checked bag free on United-operated flights for you and one companion on the identical reservation. A primary checked bag normally prices $40 every means, so this profit can prevent as a lot as $160 round-trip.

It’s essential to embrace your MileagePlus quantity in your reservation and pay for the flight with the Explorer Card to obtain this profit — which incorporates simply utilizing the cardboard for taxes and charges on an award ticket. In case you full your flight within the first 90 days of account opening, the requirement to buy your ticket along with your United Explorer card is waived.

Two one-time United Membership passes

Obtain a pair of one-time United Membership passes deposited into your MileagePlus account annually of card membership. This profit alone is value $118 per yr, as day passes on the lounge value $59 every with a same-day boarding move.

One TPG reader finds that the United Explorer Card is effectively value it for these first two advantages alone:

“In case you convey a companion they usually verify their bag each methods you have greater than exceeded the annual payment earlier than you even think about the truth that you additionally get 2 United Membership one time passes annually.” — Naveen Krishnamurthy via Facebook

Notice: Reader-submitted responses haven’t been edited, reviewed or accredited by the issuers nor mirror TPG’s opinions of those playing cards.

TPG bank cards author Olivia Mittak additionally finds nice worth within the United Membership passes this card offers; so long as she flies with United, a Star Alliance airline or one other United accomplice airline twice a yr, she will be able to get constructive worth out of the annual payment.

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.

Precedence boarding

If you embrace your MileagePlus quantity, you and your companions touring on the identical reservation will get Group 2 boarding. This implies you board after Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, Premier Gold and Star Alliance Gold members and people seated in United Polaris, first-class and enterprise class, however earlier than a lot of the different passengers in economic system with out elite standing.

That is particularly precious for many who purchase basic economy tickets. You may even be excluded from the carry-on baggage restrictions, so it would be best to get on the airplane whereas overhead house is out there.

Expanded award availability

As a cardholder, you may have additional access to book United award tickets — even when it is the final seat on the airplane — and may even see economic system award seats requiring fewer miles while you log in to your MileagePlus account than members with out the cardboard.

Elite standing shortcuts

United elite status qualification relies on Premier qualifying factors (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). You may earn 25 PQPs for each $500 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 standing qualification — however solely as much as the Premier 1K degree.

25% inflight financial savings

Obtain 25% off inflight United purchases when utilizing your card, together with on Wi-Fi, meals and drinks.

DoorDash

Get complimentary DashPass for one yr to obtain limitless deliveries by way of DoorDash and Caviar with $0 supply charges and decrease service charges on eligible orders. It’s essential to enroll by Dec. 31 to obtain this profit.

Incomes miles with the United Explorer

As a cardholder, you may earn 7 miles per greenback on United flights and 4 miles per greenback on United Inns if you’re a MileagePlus member.

You may additionally earn 2 miles per greenback on all different United purchases, different resort stays and eating, plus 1 mile per greenback on all the pieces else.

Whereas the bonus for cobranded airline purchases is fairly commonplace, it is good that the cardboard additionally affords bonuses on sure sorts of on a regular basis spending, which many different airline playing cards do not present.

Nevertheless, there are lots of different choices to raised maximize your dining and hotel spending.

Associated: My top 3 picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card

You’ll be able to redeem your MileagePlus miles throughout United’s huge community of home and worldwide routes in addition to on the provider’s Star Alliance and other airline partners.

United makes use of a dynamic pricing construction by itself flights, so the worth of your miles will range 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.

Associated: How to unlock additional award availability with United Airlines

To squeeze even more value out of your miles, you may need to make the most of United’s Excursionist Perk. Principally, it means that you can add a free flight section to qualifying round-trip itineraries between two completely different areas at no further value.

I like to recommend avoiding non-flight redemptions along with your United miles, resembling resort stays or merchandise, as they have a tendency to supply a poor worth proposition.

There are a variety of playing cards which might be aggressive with the United Explorer:

• If you need a premium United expertise: The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the perfect card for United lounge entry — bar none. For any loyal United flyer who spends vital cash with the airline annually, this card would make an incredible addition to your pockets. To be taught extra, learn our full review of the United Club Infinite.
• If you need a extra all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is among the best-known journey rewards bank cards, providing 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by way of Chase Journey℠ and on Lyft purchases (Lyft by way of March 2025), 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment), 2 factors per greenback on all different journey purchases and 1 level per greenback on all the pieces else. To be taught extra, learn our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
• If you need tons of perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express is among the high premium journey rewards playing cards. As a cardmember, you may earn precious Membership Rewards factors, quite a few annual assertion credit and entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide. For extra info, learn our full review of the Amex Platinum.

For added choices, try our full listing of the best United travel cards and the best airline cards.

Associated: Is the United Club Infinite Card annual fee worth it?

Apply right here: United Explorer Card

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