All information about The New United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by CardCritics™
The New United℠ Explorer Card Review
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Written by
Angela Mae
The New United℠ Explorer Card is a premium airline credit card with a reasonably low annual fee (waivable the first year). It has a host of perks, including free checked bags, two annual airport lounge passes, reimbursement for TSA Precheck and Global Entry application fees, travel insurance and rental car coverage. While geared toward frequent United Airline fliers, this card offers ongoing rewards that will appeal to other travelers, too — even those who don’t often fly United.
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
20.49% – 28.99% Variable
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Rewards
Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
CardCritics™ Opinion
Those who frequently fly United Airlines will get the most value from the United Explorer, though less frequent fliers can also benefit from using it. It comes with $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and plenty of high-end travel perks to justify the cost. Top benefits include the ability to earn points on all purchases, bonus miles for things like adding an authorized user, and a 50,000 bonus mile welcome offer.
Our Critical Analysis:
The New United℠ Explorer Card
- Impressive Bonus Opportunity
- Earn miles on all purchases
- High bonus miles on United purchases
- Trip and rental car protection
- Other premium travel perks
- No annual fee for the first year
PROS
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
- No introductory APR
- Rewards not easily transferable
CONS
Welcome Bonus
The United Explorer is an excellent choice for those who frequently fly United. New cardholders will earn a Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open..
Adding an authorized user to your account (within three months of account opening) will also qualify you for 5,000 additional bonus miles.
Rewards
With this card, you’ll earn miles per dollar spent on all purchases. This includes:
- 7x miles on United Flights (5x miles on fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2x miles on entire United purchase with the United Explorer Card. Premier® members earn even more)
- 5x total miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels (2x miles as a MileagePlus® member, 2x miles with your card, plus an additional 1x mile from United when you prepay through United Hotels.)
- 2x miles on eligible dining and hotel accommodations
- 1x mile on all other purchases
Rewards Redemption Options
Your MileagePlus miles never expire. There are also no blackout dates, meaning you can use miles to book any United-operated flight at any time. You can also redeem miles on any of United’s domestic or international routes, or through its Star Alliance or other partners.
Additional Benefits
In addition to earning miles, United Explorer boasts two United Club one-time-use passes each year (worth over $100). It also features:
- Two free checked bags ($160 savings)
- Priority boarding
- Premium upgrades on award tickets
- $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS statement credit (available every four years)
- 25% back on any United inflight or Club Wi-Fi, drink or food purchases.
And if that’s not enough, this airline credit card comes with additional travel benefits like:
- Auto rental collision damage protection
- Baggage delay insurance
- Trip cancellation insurance (up to $1,500 per person)
Other benefits include:
Limitations and exclusions apply, so be sure to read the fine print before applying.
Important Fees to Consider
The United Explorer Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 after that. There’s no foreign transaction fee, making it a good choice for international trip. However, there’s no intro APR. There is a 20.49% – 28.99% Variable APR for balance transfers and regular purchases.
What Makes the United Explorer Stand Out?
United Explorer stands out for its premium travel benefits and low fees. Not only can you earn miles from everyday purchases (1 mile per $1 spent), but you can also earn up to 7 miles on United flights — and you don’t ever have to worry about your miles expiring or blackout dates.
Is It the Right Card For You?
The United Explorer may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You frequently or exclusively fly United
- You want to earn miles when traveling
- You’re seeking travel-related protections and other perks (e.g., priority boarding, statement credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry or car rental protection)
- You qualify for the 60,000 bonus miles welcome offer
- You want an airline credit card with a waivable annual fee (first year only)
- You want to earn unlimited miles
- You’re looking for a card with no blackout dates
Card Details From Chase
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- Earn a $100 United travel credit after spending $10,000 on purchases with your United℠ Explorer Card within a calendar year
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- Member FDIC
The information related to the United Explorer Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for this product.
Frequently Asked Questions
The United Explorer takes a straightforward approach to earning and redeeming miles. These answers to some frequently asked questions will help you decide if it’s the right card for you.
What are the United Explorer’s top benefits?
The United Explorerd gives you the ability to earn miles on everyday and United-specific purchases. You can earn anywhere from 1 to 7 miles per $1 spent, depending on the category. This card also comes with a welcome offer and several exclusive travel benefits like travel and purchase protection and luxury experiences.
Is the United Explorer hard to get?
While the exact requirements aren’t readily available online, you’ll typically need good credit — 670+ FICO — or better to qualify for rewards cards like this one. Your creditworthiness will also determine your APR.
How can I redeem my United Explorer miles?
You can redeem your miles for airline tickets, car rentals and more from your United MileagePlus account. Other redemption options include hotel bookings and flight upgrades.
Does the United Explorer come with lounge access?
Yes! You’ll get two one-time annual passes to United Club, which gets you access to complimentary drinks, snacks and Wi-Fi while you wait for your flight.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
