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 usually see from bank cards with a excessive annual payment. This card is a superb choice for individuals who do not fly with United Airways incessantly however need to take pleasure in premium perks once they fly. You must also take into account the Explorer in the event you do not need to pay as excessive an annual payment 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 payment of $0 for the primary yr, then $150 thereafter and provides many advantages.
Except for the same old airline bank card perks like free checked baggage 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. Nevertheless, it additionally elevated its annual payment by nearly 50%.
The really useful credit score rating for the United Explorer is a minimum of 670, nevertheless it’s not exceptional to be accepted with a decrease rating.
This is what you have to know concerning 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 provide
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 everyday welcome bonus we see on this card.
Plus, you’ll be able to earn a further 10,000 bonus miles once you add a certified consumer 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 provide value $780 (not together with the potential miles you’ll be able to earn from including licensed customers).
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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 you probably have acquired one on this card previously 24 months.
Associated: The most effective welcome provides of the month
United Explorer advantages
The United Explorer Card provides mixture of perks for each frequent and occasional United flyers.
United Membership passes
You may 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 move on the lounge prices $59 every with a same-day boarding move.
Word {that a} pal or member of the family can solely use considered one of your passes if the first cardholder or licensed consumer can also be getting 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 payment 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 baggage at no cost: For the first cardholder and one journey companion on the identical reservation once you e-book together with your card
- Premier Entry: Consists of 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% 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: 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 baggage 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
- Lodge 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 straight by way of United Accommodations
- 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 straight with JSX
- World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus credit score: An utility payment 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 in your first and second Avis and Finances automotive leases booked by way of automobiles.united.com and paid for with the cardboard
- United journey credit score: $100 in United TravelBank money after spending a minimum of $10,000 on purchases together with your card
Elite standing shortcuts
United elite standing qualification relies on Premier qualifying factors and Premier qualifying flights. You may earn 1 PQP for each $20 you spend on purchases together 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 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 way of 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 charge. 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 routinely renewed at a decrease annual charge, which features a 25% low cost.
Contemplating all these advantages, the $150 annual payment in yr two and past appears effectively value it.
Associated: Why I am really not upset concerning the United Explorer’s adjustments
Incomes miles with the United Explorer
As a cardholder, you may earn:
- Not less than 7 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 Accommodations
- 2 miles per greenback spent on all different United purchases, different resort stays and eating
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
In line 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, among the greatest available on the market. Nevertheless, the incomes charges are lackluster for different bonus classes like eating, accommodations and on a regular basis spending, and higher card choices exist available on the market.
Associated: My prime 3 picks for the very best cobranded resort bank card
Redeeming miles with the United Explorer
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 financial 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 advocate avoiding non-flight redemptions, resembling resort stays or merchandise, together with your United miles, as they provide a poor worth proposition.
Associated: How one can 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’d like 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 annually, this card would make a fantastic addition to your pockets. To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the United Membership Card.
- If you’d like a extra all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) is likely one of the hottest journey rewards bank cards available on the market. It provides 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 may have entry to Chase’s glorious roster of switch companions that may present most worth when redeeming your factors. To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Sapphire Most popular.
- If you’d like tons of perks: The Platinum Card® from American Specific is likely one of the prime premium journey rewards playing cards. As a cardmember, you may earn worthwhile Membership Rewards factors, obtain helpful annual assertion credit and get entry to an intensive community of airport lounges worldwide, as this card provides the very best lounge entry available on the market. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. To be taught extra, learn our full evaluation of the Amex Platinum.
For extra choices, try our full record of the very best United journey playing cards and the very best airline playing cards.
Associated: Is the United Membership Card annual payment value it?
Is the United Explorer value it?
If you happen to fly with United or its companions a minimum of a couple of 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 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 charge to stockpile United miles that you would be able to redeem for future journey and a variety of advantages.
So long as you benefit from its lounge passes and assertion credit, this mid-tier card — which has a $0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr ($150 annually thereafter) — has a low price 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
