United Explorer Card Review 2024
09.02.2024 - 10:21
/ insider.com
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The United℠ Explorer Card is a great way to save money and get better access to United awards while earning United MileagePlus miles with every dollar you spend. Regular United flyers will love a free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion on each trip, a statement credit worth up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS, and two one-time passes to the United Club each year.
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95
N/A
21.99% - 28.99% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus miles
Good to Excellent
The United Explorer card is the best all-around credit card for United flyers, offering a generous range of benefits for a modest annual fee. Cardholders receive a free checked bag, priority boarding, and inflight discounts on United flights, plus two one-time United Club airport lounge passes each year.
The United℠ Explorer Card does a great job of delivering value for a reasonable annual fee. It's one of the most well-rounded airline credit cards available, elevating your airport experience in a handful of powerful ways.
The United℠ Explorer Card carries an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, which is on par with other entry-level airline credit cards. Since you'll get $95 in value with the free checked bags in one or two trips each year alone, this card is easily worth it for United travelers.
You'll also get one of the best United credit card benefits: expanded access to United's lowest-priced award flights. As a cardholder, you'll see more "saver" award flights than non-cardholders when you're logged into your United account, and this can help you stretch your miles even further.
Depending on your travel and spending habits, you may want to look at other United credit cards to compare. For example, the United Quest℠ Card also comes with a solid welcome bonus: 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth around $910 in travel). Plus, cardholders get two free checked bags on United flights.
Or, for frequent flyers, the United Club℠ Infinite Card could be worth considering, because it offers access to United Club airport lounges. It's currently offering a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (worth about $1,040