I’ve mentioned many times throughout my time as a United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and costs) cardholder that it is one among my favourite bank cards. So long as you fly with United not less than a few instances a yr, it is extremely simple to get outsize worth out of its $150 annual payment ($0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr).
That mentioned, cobranded playing cards are usually not meant for huge audiences, and the United Explorer isn’t any exception. In the event you hardly ever fly with United, do not transit via airports with United Golf equipment or contemplate your self a member of the carry-on-only membership, it is going to be tough to justify this card’s place in your pockets. Card score*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card score is predicated on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
United Explorer: The fundamentals
The United Explorer is a step up from the no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card (see charges and costs).
It is an amazing decide for a primary cobranded airline card, because it provides nice perks with out asking for a monumental annual payment in return.
Key United Explorer advantages embrace:
Free first checked bag: You may obtain this perk for you and one companion whenever you pay together with your United Explorer.Precedence boarding: You can board in Group 2 of 6, forward of basic boarding.United Membership passes: Every cardholder yr, you may obtain two United Membership passes. These passes can be utilized whenever you fly any Star Alliance airline, not simply United.Journey and way of life creditsElite standing increase through spending
With this card, you may earn United MileagePlus miles, which might be redeemed for all kinds of choices. Two of the very best embrace utilizing your miles for United flights and redeeming them to cowl your annual payment.
United Explorer execs and cons
Free first checked bag
Precedence boarding
Inflight low cost
A number of travel-related assertion credit
Has a modest annual payment
Requires flying United often to maximise worth
Restricted bonus classes outdoors United purchases
Month-to-month credit could also be cumbersome to maximise
Restricted elite-status incomes potential
United Explorer advantages
The place I see the United Explorer providing the strongest worth for the widest viewers is in its United-related perks. Airways throughout the board have been rising bag charges resulting from larger gas prices, which suggests this card’s free checked bag perk is extra beneficial than ever.
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Your first checked bag prices $50 with United (or $45 in case you prepay). Which means you may offset this card’s annual payment so long as you verify a bag with United not less than 3 times annually.
Precedence boarding might not have a financial worth, however it may be an enormous assist when your flight is full and there is a danger of your carry-on getting gate-checked.
I actually respect the 2 United Membership passes that come each cardholder yr with the United Explorer. You needn’t fly with United to make use of one; I used to be capable of get right into a United Membership whereas flying with Air Canada, for instance.
United Membership passes are $59 every, which means that utilizing each of them will cowl a big portion of the annual payment.
In the event you’re in your option to United elite standing, the United Explorer earns 1 Premier qualifying level (PQP) for each $20 spent (as much as 1,000 PQPs annually). In contrast to higher-tier United playing cards, nonetheless, it does not provide a lump sum of PQPs firstly of every yr. Personally, I do not view this card as being the very best help for attaining elite standing.
The most important motive I tout the Explorer as typically as I do is due to how simple it’s to get significant worth from it while not having to make use of service provider credit that will not suit your spending habits.
Like many bank cards nowadays, the United Explorer provides quite a few assertion credit to assist cardholders justify its annual payment. A few of these, such because the as much as $100 annual JSX credit score and as much as $10 month-to-month Instacart credit score (activation required; via Dec. 31, 2027), could also be too area of interest for many cardholders to get significant use out of.
The as much as $60 annual ride-hailing credit score (activation required) is sweet, however it’s damaged down into small $5 month-to-month increments. With ride-hailing costs hovering resulting from excessive gasoline costs, this credit score might really feel extra like a negligible low cost than a correct bank card perk.
That mentioned, this credit score will seemingly be the best for cardholders to maximise.
The way to earn and use your rewards
As talked about earlier, the United Explorer earns United MileagePlus miles. As a cardholder, you may earn on the following charges:
At the least 6 miles per greenback spent on primary economic system fares and not less than 9 miles per greenback spent on customary fares (incomes charge could also be larger you probably have standing with United)3 miles per greenback spent on all different United purchases2 miles per greenback spent on motels booked straight and dining1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
Your miles might be redeemed for plenty of choices, together with reward playing cards, assertion credit via Chase Pay Your self Again and to e book experiences. These redemption choices typically do not present the very best worth on your miles, so your finest guess is to make use of them to e book flights or to pay on your card’s annual payment.
Miles might be redeemed for flights on United or with one among its companion airways, corresponding to Air Canada or Lufthansa.
TPG bank cards author Stephanie Stevens not too long ago redeemed 28,200 United miles for 2 nonstop, one-way economic system flights from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Lihue Airport (LIH) in Hawaii. Flights had been round $550 every, making this an amazing home redemption.
In the event you redeem your miles to pay on your card’s annual payment, you may obtain a worth of 1.5 cents per mile. That is larger than TPG’s Might 2026 valuation of United miles at 1.35 cents per mile.
The place the United Explorer falls brief
Cobranded playing cards are meant for a reasonably particular viewers, which suggests they will not be proper for everybody. The United Explorer is probably not for you if:
You fly with United as soon as per yr or lessYou hardly ever or by no means verify a bagYou hardly ever transit via an airport with a United ClubYou have already got in depth lounge entry via different cardsYou’re chasing standing with United, since this card limits your PQP incomes to 1,000 PQPs annually
United followers who do not have an urge for food for the next annual payment card ought to be capable of get lots out of the United Explorer, however it’s nonetheless necessary to be sure to can correctly justify its $150 annual payment (after the primary cardholder yr).
United Explorer vs. United Quest
The $350-per-year United Quest℠ Card (see charges and costs) is the subsequent step up from the United Explorer.
It provides considerably extra perks, together with an annual 10,000-mile flight low cost, your first two checked luggage free (versus only one), and a 1,000 PQP head begin annually. You may nonetheless earn PQPs on the identical charge — 1 PQP for each $20 spent — however you’ll earn as much as 18,000 PQPs in a yr (versus simply 1,000 PQPs).
It is price noting that, regardless of its annual payment, the United Quest does not provide any sort of United Membership lounge entry. If you have already got in depth lounge entry from different playing cards, that will not matter a lot to you. In any other case, it is price giving some thought.
I feel the United Quest and United Explorer are each compelling choices. In my view, the choice comes right down to your annual payment tolerance, how a lot you care about lounge entry and whether or not you wish to pursue United elite standing.
I am very pleased with my United Explorer, whereas Stephanie is an outspoken fan of her United Quest.
Is the United Explorer price it?
The United Explorer is price it for many United followers, so long as you fly greater than yearly with the airline. It’s totally simple to recoup this card’s $150 annual payment ($0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr), so long as you verify a bag whenever you fly and might make use of two visits to a United Membership.
Even in years when your flights aren’t taking you on board United jets, this card comes with assertion credit to assist justify its price. Until you need extra in depth advantages, a greater path to elite standing or aren’t prepared to pay an annual payment, the United Explorer is price severely contemplating.
When to use for the United Explorer
At present, new United Explorer cardholders can earn as much as 80,000 bonus miles:
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first three months of account opening.Earn an extra 10,000 bonus miles after including a licensed person within the first three months of account opening.
In keeping with TPG’s valuations, these 80,000 miles are price $1,080. In the event you’re capable of earn all of the miles, this welcome provide matches the very best we have seen within the card’s historical past. Which means now could be the very best time to use.
Different playing cards to think about if you do not need the United Explorer
If the United Explorer does not really feel like the fitting match for you, contemplate these different playing cards as an alternative:
In order for you a no-annual-fee United card: The United Gateway℠ Card (see charges and costs) has no annual payment, however comes with pretty restricted advantages. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless earn bonus miles on United flights and obtain an inflight low cost for eligible purchases. To study extra, try our full overview of the United Gateway.In order for you limitless United Membership entry: The United Membership℠ Card (see charges and costs) gives a primary United Membership membership, with a worth of not less than $750 annually. In the event you’re capable of maximize this perk, that may simply justify this card’s $695 annual payment. To study extra, try our full overview of the United Membership card.In order for you a extra versatile journey card: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) provides a widely-applicable $300 journey credit score yearly that can be utilized for United flights, or nearly every other journey buy you make. The Final Rewards factors you earn with this card might be transferred to any of Chase’s 14 airline and lodge companions, together with United. To study extra, try our full overview of the Sapphire Reserve.
For added choices, try our picks for the finest United playing cards and finest journey playing cards.
Backside line
The United Explorer will keep its spot in my pockets for the foreseeable future, because of how simple it’s for me to get stable worth out of it annually. It does not require me to juggle a number of assertion credit to justify it, nor does it require me to be solely loyal to United.
Whether or not you have got zero cobranded airline playing cards or 5, I like to recommend you give the United Explorer correct consideration. For normal United flyers who need significant perks with out paying for a premium airline card, the United Explorer hits a candy spot.
Apply right here: United Explorer Card
