United Explorer Card overview
The United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs) is not your common airline bank card, because it’s filled with premium-like perks that you just sometimes see from bank cards with a excessive annual price. This card is a good choice for many who do not fly with United Airways ceaselessly however need to get pleasure from premium perks after they fly. You also needs to think about the Explorer when you do not need to pay as excessive an annual price as these discovered on United’s extra premium playing cards. Card ranking*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card ranking relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
The United Explorer Card has an introductory annual price of $0 for the primary yr, then $150 thereafter and presents many advantages.
Apart from the standard airline bank card perks like free checked luggage and precedence boarding, the United Explorer has a handful of premium-level advantages. It underwent a refresh in March that included the addition of assertion credit. Nonetheless, it additionally elevated its annual price by nearly 50%.
The advisable credit score rating for the United Explorer is at the least 670, but it surely’s not exceptional to be permitted with a decrease rating.
Here is what you might want to know in regards to the card, its advantages and whether or not it deserves a spot in your pockets.
United Explorer execs and cons
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United Explorer welcome supply
New candidates for the United Explorer Card can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months after account opening. That is the standard welcome bonus we see on this card.
Plus, you may earn an extra 10,000 bonus miles if you add a licensed person within the first three months your account is open.
TPG’s August 2025 valuations peg United miles at 1.3 cents apiece, making this welcome supply value $780 (not together with the potential miles you may earn from including licensed customers).
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It is essential 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 prior to now 24 months.
Associated: The perfect welcome presents of the month
United Explorer advantages
The United Explorer Card presents a great mixture of perks for each frequent and occasional United flyers.
United Membership passes
You will obtain a pair of one-time United Membership passes deposited into your United MileagePlus account every cardholder anniversary yr. This profit alone is value $118 per yr, as a day go on the lounge prices $59 every with a same-day boarding go.
Word {that a} good friend or member of the family can solely use certainly one of your passes if the first cardholder or licensed person can be coming into the lounge.
TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak finds nice worth within the United Membership passes this card gives; so long as she flies with a Star Alliance airline twice a yr, she will nearly get again the price of the annual price in worth. United Membership passes can be utilized everytime you’re flying on any Star Alliance airline.
Associated: First look: United Airways debuts large new membership in Denver
Elitelike perks
- First checked luggage at no cost: For the first cardholder and one journey companion on the identical reservation if you e book along with your card
- Premier Entry: Contains precedence check-in, safety screening, boarding and baggage dealing with the place out there
- Expanded award availability: Entry to extra saver award ticket availability
- Inflight low cost: 25% again 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: Potential 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 a press release credit score on the primary and second pay as you go lodge bookings when utilizing the Explorer Card and reserving immediately by United Accommodations
- Trip-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 immediately with JSX
- International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit score: An software price 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 on your first and second Avis and Funds automobile 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 standing qualification relies on Premier qualifying factors 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 standing qualification, as much as the Premier 1K degree.
Journey and buy protections
With the United Explorer, you are getting varied 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 may be auto-enrolled in DashPass on the present $9.99 month-to-month fee. You will need to 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 routinely renewed at a decrease annual fee, which features a 25% low cost.
Contemplating all these advantages, the $150 annual price in yr two and past appears properly value it.
Associated: Why I am really not upset in regards to the United Explorer’s modifications
Incomes miles with the United Explorer
As a cardholder, you will earn:
- Not less than 7 miles per greenback spent on United flights (you might earn extra relying in your degree of United MileagePlus elite standing)
- 5 miles per greenback spent on pay as you go United Accommodations
- 2 miles per greenback spent on all different United purchases, different lodge stays and eating
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
In keeping with TPG’s August 2025 valuations, this nearly equates to a 9.1%, 6.5%, 2.6% and 1.3% return on spending, respectively.
These are excellent incomes charges on United flight purchases, a number of the greatest in the marketplace. Nonetheless, the incomes charges are lackluster for different bonus classes like eating, lodges and on a regular basis spending, and higher card choices exist in the marketplace.
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Redeeming miles with the United Explorer
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 financial system sometimes begin at simply 5,000 miles one-way, however we have seen gross sales with tickets as little as 3,900 miles.
We advocate avoiding non-flight redemptions, similar to lodge stays or merchandise, along with your United miles, as they provide a poor worth proposition.
Associated: The best way to get most worth 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 need a premium United expertise: The United Membership℠ Card (see charges and costs) 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 an incredible addition to your pockets. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the United Membership Card.
- If you need a extra all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) is likely one of the hottest journey rewards bank cards in the marketplace. It presents 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 wonderful roster of switch companions that may present most worth when redeeming your factors. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most well-liked.
- If you need tons of perks: The Platinum Card® from American Specific is likely one of the high premium journey rewards playing cards. As a cardmember, you will earn priceless Membership Rewards factors, obtain helpful annual assertion credit and get entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide, as this card presents one of the best lounge entry in the marketplace. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. To study extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
For extra choices, try our full record of one of the best United journey playing cards and one of the best airline playing cards.
Associated: Is the United Membership Card annual price value it?
Is the United Explorer value it?
When you fly with United or its companions at the least a few times a yr, we advocate 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 reinforce your journeys from begin to end.
Backside line
The United Explorer Card is not your run-of-the-mill airline bank card. It has a good incomes fee to stockpile United miles which you could redeem for future journey and a variety of advantages.
So long as you reap the benefits of its lounge passes and assertion credit, this mid-tier card — which has a $0 introductory annual price for the primary yr ($150 every year thereafter) — has a low price with appreciable worth.
With this stuff in thoughts, this card would make an incredible addition to most United flyers’ wallets.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
