Top perks
The United℠ Explorer Card is a feature-packed airline credit card, especially considering its affordable annual fee.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. That's enough for multiple domestic or even international tickets. United miles are generally worth about $0.01 to $0.015 each, so 50,000 miles are about $500 to $750 in value. With the value and the reasonable spend requirement, this is in line with many of the top sign-up bonuses.
SEE MORE: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
Up to 2 miles per $1
The United℠ Explorer Card earns 2 miles per $1 on:
- Purchases from United
- Dining, including eligible delivery services
- Hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel
It earns 1 mile per $1 on other purchases. The bonus categories give this card a decent rewards rate among airline credit cards, as it earns more back in multiple areas where travelers often have high spending.
Free checked bag
Both the cardholder and one companion on the same reservation get a free checked bag. United's standard fee is $35 for a passenger's first checked bag, so this benefit could save you $35 to $70 per flight and double that per round-trip. You must book the reservation with your United℠ Explorer Card for this benefit to apply.
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
If you sign up for either the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck program and pay the fee ($100 for Global Entry or $85 for TSA PreCheck) on your United℠ Explorer Card, it will be automatically reimbursed. Global Entry is the clear choice, because a membership to that also gets you a TSA PreCheck membership. You can get this credit once every four years, allowing you to renew your membership free of charge, as well.
Complimentary United club passes
United will give you two passes to its United Club℠ when you open your account and every year thereafter on your account anniversary date. One-time passes cost $59 otherwise.
United travel benefits
This United Airlines credit card provides the following benefits to improve your travel experience:
- Priority boarding: You and any companions on your reservation will get to board before the general boarding group.
- 25% back on United in-flight and Club Premium drink purchases: When you use your United℠ Explorer Card to buy in-flight food, beverages, or wifi on United-operated flights, or premium drinks in United Clubs, you'll receive a 25% statement credit.
- Premier upgrades on award tickets: If you have MileagePlus® Premier® status and you're traveling on an award ticket, you and one companion traveling on the same reservation are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades on select United-operated flights.
No foreign transaction fee
The United℠ Explorer Card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. That's the case with most travel credit cards, but this is still an important perk. If you travel abroad, you won't get dinged with extra charges on every purchase.