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United℠ Explorer Card
Welcome Offer
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Alternate Offer (HIGHER OFFER up to 75k): Requires a flight attendant code + adding an authorized user to earn the full bonus. Email nicole@katiestraveltricks.com for a flight attendant code for this offer!
All information about this card has been collected independently by Katie’s Travel Tricks.
How to Earn Rewards
9x
Total miles on eligible United flights (6x as MileagePlus member + 3x as cardholder; raised from 2x in 2025 refresh; differs for Basic Economy)
3x
Miles on all other eligible United® purchases (raised from 2x in 2025 refresh)
2x
Miles on dining (including eligible delivery services) and hotel stays when booked directly with the hotel
1x
Mile on all other purchases
Key Benefits
Tap any benefit to see details.
Free First Checked Bag (Cardholder + 1 Companion)
Your first checked bag is free for you and one companion on United-operated flights. With checked bag fees now $40 each way, that can save you up to $200 per roundtrip.
2 United Club℠ One-Time Passes Annually (Over $100 Value)
2 one-time United Club passes per year (anniversary), usable by primary cardholder, authorized users, or guests traveling with them. NOTABLE: A $150 Explorer card has lounge passes that the $350 Quest card doesn't have at all — a real Chase pricing quirk.
Priority Boarding (~$15-25/Flight)
Cardholder + companions on the same reservation board United-operated flights prior to general boarding.
$120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck® / NEXUS Statement Credit
Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee. Average $30/year value.
Up to $100 United Hotels Credit (Annual)
$50 statement credit on each of your first 2 prepaid United Hotels bookings each card anniversary year (up to $100 total annually).
Up to $50 Avis/Budget TravelBank Cash (NOT Generic TravelBank)
$25 in United TravelBank cash on first 2 Avis or Budget car rentals booked directly through cars.united.com each anniversary year (up to $50 total annually). NOTE: There's a SEPARATE $100 automatic United TravelBank credit (after $10K calendar year spend) — see next benefit.
$100 United TravelBank Cash After $10,000 Calendar Year Spend
Earn $100 in United TravelBank cash usable for United flight purchases after spending $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. This is an automatic spend-tier benefit.
10,000-Mile Award Flight Discount After $20,000 Calendar Year Spend
Earn a 10,000-mile award flight discount after $20,000 in card purchases per calendar year. Acts like a mileage rebate — reduces award cost in actual miles.
Up to $100 JSX Credit (Annual) — Verify Status
Up to $100 in statement credits annually for JSX flights.
Up to $60 Rideshare Credit (Annual)
Up to $60 in rideshare credits per calendar year — $5/month statement credit. Enrollment required (yearly opt-in).
Up to $120 Instacart Credits (Annual)
$10 monthly statement credit for purchases made directly through Instacart (up to $120/year). Available through December 31, 2027.
3 Months Free Instacart+ + 25% Off Annual Rate (Through Dec 31, 2027)
Complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership, then 25% off annual rate. Same as Business Card (less generous than Quest's 50% off or Club's full membership). Available through December 31, 2027.
25% Back on Inflight Food, Beverages & WiFi
Earn 25% back as a statement credit on inflight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights, plus on Club premium drinks.
10% Off Award Flights Booked With Miles (NEW 2026)
Save 10% or more on flights booked with United miles. Premier members save even more. NEW 2026 benefit added across all United co-branded cards.
1 PQP per $20 Spent (Up to 1,000 PQP/Year)
Earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) for every $20 in card purchases, up to 1,000 PQP per calendar year. Smallest PQP earning cap among United cards (vs Business 4K, Quest 18K, Club 28K). Modest acceleration toward United Premier elite status.
Pay Yourself Back® for Annual Fee (10,000 Miles for $150 Credit)
Use 10,000 MileagePlus miles to receive a $150 statement credit covering the annual fee — a 1.5 cpp redemption ratio. Useful as a 'free year' option once welcome offer is earned.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption + Baggage + Auto Rental + Purchase Protection
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500/traveler, $6,000/trip), baggage delay, lost luggage, auto rental CDW (PRIMARY per US Credit Card Guide — better than Gateway's secondary), purchase protection (120 days), extended warranty.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
No foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
5,000 Bonus Miles Per Approved Friend Referral (Up to 50K/Year)
Earn 5,000 bonus miles for each friend approved for any United MileagePlus credit card, up to a maximum of 10 approved referrals (50,000 miles) per calendar year.
Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
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Katie's Take
Why this card might (or might not) be right for you.
This card got more valuable in April 2026 when it added a perk of 10% off (or more) on all United award flights. That discount applies to anyone that you book for with your United miles and savings can add up for a family.
You'll also get a free checked bag and 2 United Club one-time passes per year.
Lounge Access Details
Networks Included
United Club
Guest Access
2 United Club one-time passes per year total
United Club access via 2 one-time passes per year, not full membership. AU policy not specified in article.
Benefits Calculator
What's the United℠ Explorer Card worth to you? Get a personalized estimate.
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Benefits Calculator
What's the United℠ Explorer Card worth to you? Get a personalized estimate.
United℠ Explorer Card Benefits Calculator
Enter your personal estimated annual value for each benefit to see a customized calculation of the card's worth.
Your first checked bag is free for you and one companion on United-operated flights. With checked bag fees now $40 each way, that can save you up to $200 per roundtrip. (per-use benefit — value depends on how often you'll use it)
$
2 one-time United Club passes per year (anniversary), usable by primary cardholder, authorized users, or guests traveling with them. NOTABLE: A $150 Explorer card has lounge passes that the $350 Quest card doesn't have at all — a real Chase pricing quirk.
$
Cardholder + companions on the same reservation board United-operated flights prior to general boarding. (per-use benefit — value depends on how often you'll use it)
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Statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee. Average $30/year value. ($30 every 4 years = $8/yr)
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$50 statement credit on each of your first 2 prepaid United Hotels bookings each card anniversary year (up to $100 total annually).
$
$25 in United TravelBank cash on first 2 Avis or Budget car rentals booked directly through cars.united.com each anniversary year (up to $50 total annually). NOTE: There's a SEPARATE $100 automatic United TravelBank credit (after $10K calendar year spend) — see next benefit.
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Up to $100 in statement credits annually for JSX flights.
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Up to $60 in rideshare credits per calendar year — $5/month statement credit. Enrollment required (yearly opt-in).
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$10 monthly statement credit for purchases made directly through Instacart (up to $120/year). Available through December 31, 2027.
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Complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership, then 25% off annual rate. Same as Business Card (less generous than Quest's 50% off or Club's full membership). Available through December 31, 2027. (one-time benefit)
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Your Total Annual Value
$0
Annual Fee: annual_fees
Your Net Value / Cost
$0
Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
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Offer History
See past welcome bonuses to gauge whether the current offer is elevated.
| Offer | Spend Req. | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 80,000 Miles (70K + 10K)CurrentElevated | $3,000 in 3 months + add authorized user | Current limited-time elevated; ends May 20, 2026 |
| 40,000-60,000 Miles | $2,000-$3,000 in 3 months | Earlier 2020s offers |
| 60,000 Miles | $3,000 in 3 months | Standard offer baseline |
| 70,000 Miles | $3,000 in 3 months | Standard offer baseline |
| 80,000 Miles + 5K w/ Promo CodeElevated | $3,000 in 3 months | Ran March 2025 |
| 85,000 MilesElevated | $3,000 in 3 months | Best-ever; ran summer 2025 (80K + 5K with promo code) |
