United Explorer Card overview

The UnitedSM Explorer Card (see rates and fees) isn’t your average airline credit card, as it has a lot of premium-like features that you typically see from credit cards with hefty annual fee. I don’t fly with United Airlines often but want to get premium perks when flying, so this is a good card. If you don’t want to pay as much an annual fee as those on United’s more premium cards, you should also look at the Explorer. ****Card rating* ‘** () **CarD rating, ***** “…

* Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The first year annual fee for the United Explorer Card is $0, then $150 and it offers many benefits.

While it does have the usual airline credit card perks such as free checked bags and priority boarding, there are some of the most high-end benefits for the United Explorer.

The United Explorer credit score is at least 670, but it’s not uncommon for a person to be approved with fewer scores.

Here’s what you need to know about the card, its benefits and whether it deserves a spot in your wallet.

United Explorer pros and cons

| Pros | Cons |
| — | — |
| * First checked bag for free * Priority boarding * Inflight discounts on eligible purchases * Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit * Multiple travel-related statement credits | * Other United cards have higher earning rates on some purchases * You might get more use from a transferable points card instead of a cobranded United card * Has a modest annual fee |

United Explorer welcome offer

When applying for the United Explorer Card, if you spend $3,000 on qualifying purchases in first three months from account opening to qualify and add an authorized user to your account within the first 3 months of account open, new applicants can earn up to 80,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles 70,000 bonus mile after adding 10,000 bonusmiles.

THE POINTS GUY

TPG’s April 2026 valuations – which is worth 1g United miles at 1, peg U.M. The $1,080 welcome offer (including the points from adding an authorized user) is 35 cents apiece.

note this card is under Chase’s 5/24 rule. Additionally you will not receive a welcome bonus if you have received one on this card in the last 24 months.

Related: The best welcome offers of the month

United Explorer benefits

The United Explorer Card offers a good mix of perks for both frequent and occasional United flyers.

United Club passes

Each cardholder anniversary year, you’ll get a pair of one-time United Club passes that will bedeposited into your United MileagePlus account. It’s a day pass at the lounge costs $59 each with same-day board passes and is worth $118 per year for this benefit alone.

Note that a friend or family member can only use one of your passes when the primary cardholder or authorized user is also entering the lounge.

United Club by Gate B18 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). CAROLINE TANNER/THE POINTS GUY

The United Club passes this card offers great value for TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak; as long as she flies with a Star Alliance airline twice yearly, she can almost recover the cost of the annual fee in value. Any Star Alliance airline that you’re flying on can use United Club passes.

Related: First look: United Airlines debuts massive new club in Denver

Elitelike perks

• **First

checked bags

for free**: For the primary cardholder and one travel companion on the same reservation when you book with your card

• Premier Access: Includes priority check-in, security screening, boarding and baggage handling where available
• Expanded award availability: Access to additional saver award ticket availability
• Inflight discount:

25% back

U.S. inflight purchases Food, beverages and Wi-Fi – including food, drinks and other things on United in flight purchases. plus receive 25 per cent back on premium drinks purchases in the United Club – Plus.

• Award mileage discount Ability to earn a 10,000-mile discount on award tickets after spending $20,000 each calendar year with the card.

It’s worth a lot of money for the card, if you get free checked bags and two United Club passes that would make your travel experience with the airline more memorable.

Statement and travel credits

********************* * Hotel statement credit ‘Up to $50 back as an initial and second prepaid hotel bookings when using the Explorer Card directly through direct booking via this use of the same card, while on the first and two pc booked by them.

United Hotels

• Ride-hailing credit: Up to $60 for ride-hailing purchases, given as up to $5 monthly credits (activation is required)
• JSX statement credit: Up to $100 in JSX statement credits each anniversary year when booking directly with JSX
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit: An application fee credit every four years for up to $120
• Instacart credit: A $10 monthly Instacart credit, plus a three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (ends Dec. 31, 2027)
  United TravelBank cash Up to $25 in United Travel Bank cash for your first and second Avis and Budget car rentals booked through cars. united s. com, which was sponsored by the card with its paid-for .
• United travel credit: $100 in United TravelBank cash after spending at least $10,000 on purchases with your card

Elite status shortcuts

Premier qualifying points and Premier qualification flights are based on United elite status qualification. With your Explorer Card (up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year) you’ll get 1 P QP for every $20 you spend on purchases that can be used towards your Premier status qualification, up to the Premier 1K level.

Travel and purchase protections

With the United Explorer, you’re getting various travel and purchase protection benefits, including:

• Baggage delay insurance
• Extended warranty protection
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Purchase protection
• Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance
• Trip delay reimbursement

DoorDash

A year is free for a year with complimentary DoorDash DashPass to receive unlimited delivery through DoorDeash and Caviar, $0 delivery charges and lower service fees on eligible orders. If you have 12 months to be auto-enrolled in DashPass, at the current $9. 99 per cent a month. By Dec you have to sign up for . to this benefit 31, 2027, .

Instacart+ membership

Cardholders are also given a complimentary three month Instacart+ membership with free delivery, as well as $0 delivery charges on eligible orders. The membership is automatically renewed at a lower annual rate after three months, including 25% discount.

Considering all these benefits, the $150 annual fee in year two and beyond seems well worth it.

Related: Why I’m actually not upset about the United Explorer’s changes

Earning miles with the United Explorer

As a cardholder, you’ll earn:

9 miles per dollar spent on United flights (you might earn more depending upon your status as an elite U. MileagePlus) *

• 5 miles per dollar spent on prepaid United Hotels
• 3 miles per dollar spent on all other United purchases
• 2 miles per dollar spent on other hotel stays and dining
• 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

CHRIS NELSON/THE POINTS GUY

According to TPG’s valuations, this equates roughly to a 12.2%, 6.8%, 4%, 2.7% and 1.4% return on spending, respectively.

These are great earning rates on United flight purchases, some of the best in the market. However, the earnings are low for other bonus categories such as dining, hotels and everyday spending (and better card options on the market) compared to s.

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

Redeeming miles with the United Explorer

Using your MileagePlus miles, you can use the airline’s vast network of domestic and international routes and on the carrier’ 24 Star Alliance and 15 nonalliance airline partners.

U operate under a dynamic pricing system for its own flights, so the value of your miles will vary when you redeem for United awards. In economic terms, domestic awards typically start at just 5,000 miles one-way; however we’ve seen sales with tickets of as low as 3,900 miles.

UNITED AIRLINES

For example, we recommend not to take any non-flight redemptions (such as hotel stays or merchandise) with your United miles because they are a very poor value proposition.

Related: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program

Which cards compete with the United Explorer?

Several cards compete with the United Explorer:

• If you want a premium United experience: The

United Club℠ Card

(see

rates and fees

U. lounge The best card for United lounge access is ) bar none. This card would be a great addition to your wallet for any loyal United flyer who spends significant money with the airline each year. read our review of to learn more.

full review of the United Club Card

.

• If you want a more all-around card: The

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

(see

rates and fees

One of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market is ) . In many categories, it provides bonus points (including travel and dining), as well as a slew of travel protections in case something goes wrong when traveling i.e. And you’ll also have access to Chase’s .

excellent roster of transfer partners

that can provide maximum value when redeeming your points. To learn more, read our

full review of the Sapphire Preferred

.

• If you want tons of perks: The

American Express Platinum Card®

It is one of the best premium travel rewards cards, including . A cardmember, you’ll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, receive useful annual statement credits and access to an extensive network of airport lounges around the world; this card provides the best lounge on the market. Select benefits require enrollment; terms apply for enrollment; e.g. read our review of to learn more.

full review of the Amex Platinum

.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best United travel cards and the best airline cards.

Related: Is the United Club Card annual fee worth it?

Is the United Explorer worth it?

United Explorer If you fly with United or its partners at least once or twice a year, we recommend applying for the U Explorer if you’re flying with them. While the United Explorer Card is packed with perks to help you make your trips from start to finish, it has several statement credits, lounge passes and a free checked bag.

Bottom line

You don’t have a run-of-the-mill airline credit card, but the United Explorer Card isn’T your average airline Credit Card. It’s a good earning model to buy United miles that you can redeem for future travel and many benefits.

The mid-tier card, which has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year ($150 per year thereafter) as long as you use its lounge passes and statement credits has slack with hefty value.

With these things in mind, this card would make a great addition to most United flyers’ wallets.

Apply here: United Explorer Card

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