United℠ Explorer Card
The starter card for United flyers. You get a free first checked bag, priority boarding, two United Club one-time passes a year and up to 60,000 bonus miles. The first year costs $0, then $150. The partner statement credits can outweigh the fee, but only if you actually use Instacart, rideshare and United's hotel portal.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Up to 60,000 bonus miles in the welcome offer
- Free first checked bag for you and a companion, a saving Chase pegs at up to $160 per roundtrip
- 2 United Club one-time passes every account anniversary year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit every 4 years
- $100 United travel credit after $10,000 of spending in a calendar year
- 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 of spending in a calendar year
- 25% back on United inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi
- Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150
- Purchase APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
- Intro APR: N/A
- Balance transfer APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable; fee: Either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash advance APR: 28.49% Variable; fee: Either $10 or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater
- Late payment fee: Up to $40
- Foreign transaction fee: None
- Rates and offers verified on the issuer's website on August 27, 2026 and may change. See the issuer's pricing and terms for current details.
- You fly United a few times a year and check a bag; two roundtrips can cover the fee by themselves
- You want occasional United Club access without a $695 club card
- Your household already spends on Instacart, rideshare or JSX, so the partner credits are money you would spend anyway
- You are building toward Premier status slowly; the card adds 1 PQP per $20 spent
- You should skip it if you fly United rarely and never check bags; a flexible travel card earns more per dollar
United℠ Explorer Card Review
The United℠ Explorer Card is the volume seller in United's lineup, covering bags, boarding and occasional lounge visits. This review weighs the travel perks and partner credits against the $150 fee that starts in year two.
How You Earn
Flight purchases stack card miles on top of MileagePlus member miles, which is where the 9x headline comes from.
- Up to 60,000-mile welcome offer
- 1 Premier qualifying point per $20 of card spend
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Eligible United flights (total incl. member miles) | 9x miles |
| Other eligible United purchases | 3x miles |
| Hotel stays | 2x miles |
| Dining | 2x miles |
| All other purchases | 1x miles |
How You Redeem
Miles redeem through United MileagePlus for United and Star Alliance awards, with no award chart and dynamic pricing.
- United and Star Alliance award flights
- 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 of annual spend
- Seat upgrades and extras through MileagePlus
Benefits and Protections
Bags, boarding and club passes carry the everyday value; the insurance package matches Chase's mid-tier travel cards.
- Free first checked bag for cardmember and one companion
- Priority boarding on United flights
- 2 United Club one-time passes each year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit every 4 years
- Partner credits: up to $100 United Hotels, up to $120 Instacart through 12/31/27, up to $100 JSX, up to $60 rideshare, up to $50 Avis and Budget
- Trip and baggage protections plus auto rental coverage
Who This Card Is For
This card fits the two-to-six-trips-a-year United flyer. Frequent flyers chasing status or lounge time outgrow it and move to Quest or Club.
- Occasional United flyers who check bags
- Travelers who want cheap entry to United Club visits
- MileagePlus members starting to accumulate PQP
Comparison
| Feature | United℠ Explorer Card | Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 intro first year, then $150 | $0 intro first year, then $150 | $0 intro first year, then $99 |
| Welcome Offer | Up to 60,000 miles (50,000 + 10,000) | As high as 80,000 miles plus $250 credit | 50,000 miles ($2,500 in 3 mo) |
| Rewards Rate | 9x total United flights, 2x hotels, dining | 2x Delta, dining, U.S. supermarkets | 2x AA, restaurants, gas stations |
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None | None |
| Best For | United flyers who check bags | Delta flyers | American Airlines flyers |
Issuer Comparison
| Feature | United℠ Explorer Card | United Quest℠ Card | United Club℠ Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 intro first year, then $150 | $350 | $695 |
| Welcome Offer | Up to 60,000 miles | Up to 70,000 miles + 500 PQP | Up to 90,000 miles |
| Rewards Rate | 9x total United flights, 2x hotels, dining | 10x total United flights, 2x travel, dining | 11x total United flights, 2x travel, dining |
| Key Credits | 2 Club passes, $100 GE credit, partner credits | $200 United credit, two 10,000-mile discounts | United Club membership, $925+ partner credits |
| Best For | Occasional United flyers | Regular United flyers | United Club regulars |
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