United℠ Explorer Card
Chase travel card, a premium travel card that offers a flexible rewards program. You can redeem your points for bonus travel rewards and dining.
Card Summary
United Airlines frequent flyers will love the United Explorer Card, a co-branded airline credit card.
You earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend on United Airlines purchases, dining out and at hotels. Other purchases earn one mile for every dollar.
After you have spent $3,000 in your first three months of account opening, the United Explorer Card will give you 60,000 bonus miles.
The first year's annual fee is $0, and then it increases to $95.
Priority boarding is available to cardholders. The first year's fee is $0, then it goes up to $95.
Card Summary - Cons
Rates and fees
Highlights
After you have spent $3,000 in your first three months of opening an account, you will earn 60,000 bonus points.
For the first year there is no introductory fee. After that, $95 per annum.
Spend $1 on food, hotels, or United Purchases to earn 2 miles. Get up to $100 credit for Global Entry and TSA Precheck fees.
Get 25% off your United Inflight Purchases. When you use your card for your ticket purchase, your bag will be yours free of charge (an additional $140 per roundtrip).
Get priority boarding and 2 annual passes to the United Club SM for your anniversary. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining including eligible delivery services.
Comparative Analysis with Other Cards
United Explorer Card vs. United Club Infinite Card
Annual Fee: The United Club Infinite Card charges $525 annually. This is more than the United Explorer Card which costs $0 for the first year and then $95.
Reward: United Explorer Card members earn 2 miles for every $1 they spend on food, lodging, or other purchases. The United Club Infinite Card earns 4 miles for every dollar you spend with United Airlines. You'll also get 2 miles per $1 on dining out, travel and delivery service eligible services. All other purchases will be 1 mile per $1.
Sign up bonus: After spending $3,000 in purchases within the first three months of your account opening, you will receive 60,000 bonus miles. After you have spent $5,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, the United Club Infinite Card will give you 100,000 bonus miles.
Benefits: United Explorer Card provides priority boarding and two United Club passes per year. It also offers resort and luxury hotel collection privileges.
United Club Infinite Card includes a United Club Membership, 2 free checked bags per primary cardholder and 1 companion traveler on the same reservation. It also offers purchase protection, return protection insurance, trip interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation insurance.
United Explorer Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual Fee: For the first year of use, there is a $0 annual fee. After that it's $95. Annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is $95.
Reward: United Explorer Card members earn 2 miles for every $1 they spend on food, lodging, or other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives you five points per $1 on Lyft (valid until March 2022), three points for dining out at restaurants, two points for travel and one point on any other purchases.
Sign up bonus: After you have spent $3,000 in your first three months of account opening, the United Explorer Card will award you 60,000 bonus miles. After you have spent $4,000 in your first three months of account opening, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card will give you 60,000 bonus points. Chase Ultimate Rewards will give you $750.
Benefits: The benefits of both cards are similar in terms of travel and purchase coverage, with trip cancellation and interruption insurance as well as waivers for auto rental collision damage and vehicle rentals.
The United Explorer Card offers airline-specific benefits such as priority boarding, two United Club Passes per year and other benefits.
Conclusion
Note: Credit Card summary is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of the product. Products and services described are offered by third parties and not Bright Money or its partner banks. Bright Money strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product’s site and the information has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the product before publication.
