United Explorer Card review: A great choice for occasional flyers

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The United℠ Explorer Card offers several premium travel perks, which is rare for a credit card with such a low annual fee. Even the occasional United Airlines flyer can get a lot of value from this card. But if you want more flexibility and luxury travel benefits, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

How the the United Explorer Card works

The United Explorer Card offers perks such as rewards earnings on all purchases, United Club access twice a year, free check bags, and priority boarding on United flights.

United Explorer Card rewards

Earning rewards

As with most airline credit cards, you’ll earn the most miles when using the United Explorer Card to purchase United flights. Specifically, you’ll earn 7X miles per dollar when you spend on United Airlines flights.

Other rewards include:

• 4X miles per dollar on bookings through United Hotels
• 2X miles per dollar on dining and eligible delivery services, hotel stays, and other qualifying United purchases
• 1X mile per dollar on all other purchases

Many other airline credit cards also offer bonus earnings on other categories. Earning additional miles using this card on everyday purchases like dining and delivery services is a nice touch.

Redeeming rewards

The simplest way to redeem United Award miles is for flights and upgrades. Use your MileagePlus miles on United domestic or international flights, including those offered by airline partners like the Star Alliance network.

When it comes to redeeming rewards for travel upgrades, you have a few options:

• Upgrade seats or get preferred seating
• Purchase in-flight meals and drinks
• Buy inflight wi-fi
• Pay for additional checked bags
• Dine at select establishments at Newark Airport (EWR) and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

Though not necessarily the highest value way to use your rewards, you can use your MileagePlus miles towards gift cards, merchandise, magazines, and newspaper subscriptions.

United Explorer Card benefits

The United Explorer Card offers a few additional perks not commonly found with similar travel credit cards.

Welcome bonus

As a new cardholder, you can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of your account being open.

It’s hard to compare whether this welcome bonus is comparable to others since many airlines use a dynamic pricing structure. However, depending on your destination and the time of year you fly, you may be able to get a lot of value out of the miles you earn for United flights.

Additional perks

Even taking the occasional flight on United can help you take advantage of some of the perks included and more than squeeze the value of this card:

• Annual fee waiver: The annual fee is waived for the first year.
• Bonus miles: You can also earn 5,000 bonus miles if you add an authorized user to your account within the first three months.
• Free first checked bag: You and a travel companion can get your first standard checked bag for free. These savings can easily offset the annual fee even if you fly a few times yearly.
• Priority boarding: You and your travel companions will receive priority boarding — you will board before general boarding begins.
• United Club℠ access: Primary cardholders get two passes yearly at any United Club location.
• MileagePlus elite status shortcut: For every $500 you spend on your United Explorer, you will earn 25 premier qualifying points (PQP) towards MileagePlus elite status, up to 1,000 PQP per year.
• Travel and purchase coverage: Some protections you'll receive include trip cancellation or interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and purchase protection.
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit: You can get up to $100 reimbursed when you apply for any of these programs.
• Premier upgrades: If you're traveling on an award flight, the primary cardholder and up to one travel companion can receive upgrades on eligible flights.

United Explorer Card drawbacks

Limited redemption options

Like most airline credit cards, you’ll get the most value out of your redemptions if you use them towards United flights and upgrades. You may have some flexibility since you may be able to book flights from partner airlines from the Star Alliance network, of which United is a member.

Compared to more general rewards credit cards, it can feel limiting if you can find a better deal on flights or travel bookings elsewhere. If you believe it to be worth the fee, signing up for an additional airline credit card could offer the flexibility you want.

Annual fee

While the $95 annual fee isn’t as steep as other luxury rewards travel cards, and it’s waived for the first year, other no-annual-fee options exist. For those dipping their toes into travel rewards, it may be worth looking at these cards instead.

Limited perks for travel companions

Many perks are for primary cardholders only, so authorized users may not get free checked bags, priority boarding, and access to United Club unless they’re traveling with the primary cardholder on the same flight.

How the United Explorer Card compares

The United Explorer is a budget-friendly rewards credit card offering some perks typically reserved for more luxury ones. But it’s not the right fit for everyone.

More frequent United flyers or those wanting more flexible rewards redemption options may want to look at some of the card’s competitors before deciding.

United Explorer Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a popular rewards credit card with the same annual fee as the United Explorer card. What makes it stand out is its reward flexibility.

You can use points earned towards other types of travel, including flights on other airlines, hotels, and vacation packages. The Sapphire Preferred also allows you to transfer your points to travel partners.

Granted, you won’t get perks like free checked bags and priority boarding like the United Explorer card. You won’t get a credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry either. If you’re a traveler who isn’t loyal to any one brand, then the Sapphire Preferred may be the better choice.

United Explorer Card vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card

Depending on your travel habits, the United Club Infinite Card is another United Airlines credit card contender worth considering. At $525, the annual fee is steep, but it could be worth it if you fly frequently.

While the United Explorer Card offers two passes to the United Club annually, the United Club Infinite card gives you a membership. You can also save on United flights between the U.S. and Canada, which could offset your United Club Infinite Card fee. If you’re in the market for a luxury card and want to stick with United, this card could be for you.

Who should get the United Explorer Card?

The United Explorer is a valuable card for those who want to fly on United and want access to travel perks without paying a high annual fee. Those who want to get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry can easily justify the card since the credit you’ll receive for the application fee is valued close to or above the $95 annual fee.

Who should choose a different card

More frequent United flyers may consider the airline's other credit cards, which can offer other perks like more lounge access and other elite benefits. Travelers who want more flexibility with using their rewards may want to pick a more general rewards card instead.

How we rated this card

Every card review we publish undergoes a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Learn more about our methodology here.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.