United Explorer Card review: Premium perks without a premium fee
| 2x | 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays. |
| 1x | 1x mile on all other purchases. |
United Explorer Card overview
The United℠ Explorer Card isn't your average airline credit card. It's packed with premium perks such as an up-to-$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit, two annual one-time lounge passes and free checked bags — easily justifying its modest $95 annual fee (which is waived for the first year). Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Aside from the usual airline credit card perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, the United Explorer offers some premium-level benefits, including a pair of annual one-time United Club passes, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit and excellent travel protections.
Here's what you need to know about the card and its benefits.
The recommended credit score for the United Explorer is at least 670, but it's not unheard of to be approved with a lower score.
United Explorer pros and cons
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United Explorer welcome offer
New applicants for the United Explorer Card will earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening. The annual fee is waived for the first year; after that, cardholders will pay $95 each year.
Those 60,000 bonus miles are worth $810, based on TPG's October 2024 valuations.
If you're wondering how to get the most value out of these miles, read up on United sweet spot redemptions. New cardholders can also get an additional 5,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user to their account within the first three months of account opening.
United Explorer benefits
The United Explorer Card offers a good mix of perks for both frequent and occasional United flyers:
Free first checked bag
Get your first checked bag free on United-operated flights for you and one companion on the same reservation. A first checked bag usually costs $40 each way, so this benefit can save you as much as $160 round-trip.
You must include your MileagePlus number in your reservation and pay for the flight with the Explorer Card to receive this benefit — which includes just using the card for taxes and fees on an award ticket. If you complete your flight in the first 90 days of account opening, the requirement to purchase your ticket with your United Explorer card is waived.
Two one-time United Club passes
Receive a pair of one-time United Club passes deposited into your MileagePlus account each year of card membership. This benefit alone is worth $118 per year, as day passes at the lounge cost $59 each with a same-day boarding pass.
One TPG reader finds that the United Explorer Card is well worth it for these first two benefits alone:
"If you bring a companion and they check their bag both ways you've more than exceeded the annual fee before you even consider the fact that you also get 2 United Club one time passes each year." — Naveen Krishnamurthy via Facebook
Note: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG's opinions of these cards.
TPG credit cards writer Olivia Mittak also finds great value in the United Club passes this card provides; as long as she flies with United, a Star Alliance airline or another United partner airline twice a year, she can get positive value out of the annual fee.
If getting free checked bags and a pair of United Club passes would elevate your travel experience with the airline, this card holds plenty of value.
Priority boarding
When you include your MileagePlus number, you and your companions traveling on the same reservation will get Group 2 boarding. This means you board after Premier 1K, Premier Platinum, Premier Gold and Star Alliance Gold members and those seated in United Polaris, first class and business class, but before most of the other passengers in economy without elite status.
This is especially valuable for those who buy basic economy tickets. You'll also be excluded from the carry-on baggage restrictions, so you will want to get on the plane while overhead space is available.
Expanded award availability
As a cardholder, you'll have additional access to book United award tickets — even if it's the last seat on the plane — and may see economy award seats requiring fewer miles when you log in to your MileagePlus account than members without the card.
Elite status shortcuts
United elite status qualification is based on Premier qualifying points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). You'll earn 25 PQPs for every $500 you spend on purchases with your Explorer Card (up to 1,000 PQPs in a calendar year) that can be applied toward your Premier status qualification — but only up to the Premier 1K level.
25% inflight savings
Receive 25% off inflight United purchases when using your card, including on Wi-Fi, food and beverages.
DoorDash
Get complimentary DashPass for one year to receive unlimited deliveries through DoorDash and Caviar with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. You must enroll by Dec. 31 to receive this benefit.
Earning miles with the United Explorer
As a cardholder, you'll earn 7 miles per dollar on United flights and 4 miles per dollar on United Hotels if you are a MileagePlus member.
You'll also earn 2 miles per dollar on all other United purchases, other hotel stays and dining, plus 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
While the bonus for cobranded airline purchases is pretty standard, it's nice that the card also offers bonuses on certain types of everyday spending, which many other airline cards don't provide.
However, there are many other options to better maximize your dining and hotel spending.
Related: My top 3 picks for the best cobranded hotel credit card
Redeeming miles with the United Explorer
You can redeem your MileagePlus miles across United's vast network of domestic and international routes as well as on the carrier's Star Alliance and other airline partners.
United uses a dynamic pricing structure on its own flights, so the value of your miles will vary when redeeming for United awards. Domestic awards in economy typically start at just 5,000 miles one-way, but we've seen sales with tickets as low as 3,900 miles.
Related: How to unlock additional award availability with United Airlines
To squeeze even more value out of your miles, you might want to utilize United's Excursionist Perk. Basically, it allows you to add a free flight segment to qualifying round-trip itineraries between two different regions at no extra cost.
I recommend avoiding non-flight redemptions with your United miles, such as hotel stays or merchandise, as they tend to offer a poor value proposition.
Which cards compete with the United Explorer?
There are a number of cards that are competitive with the United Explorer:
- If you want a premium United experience: The United Club℠ Infinite Card is the ideal card for United lounge access — bar none. For any loyal United flyer who spends significant money with the airline each year, this card would make a great addition to your wallet. To learn more, read our full review of the United Club Infinite.
- If you want a more all-around card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best-known travel rewards credit cards, offering 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Travel℠ and on Lyft purchases (Lyft through March 2025), 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on everything else. To learn more, read our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
- If you want tons of perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the top premium travel rewards cards. As a cardmember, you'll earn valuable Membership Rewards points, numerous annual statement credits and access to an extensive network of airport lounges worldwide. For more information, read our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best United travel cards and the best airline cards.
Related: Is the United Club Infinite Card annual fee worth it?
Is the United Explorer worth it?
Between a fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, annual lounge visits and a free first checked bag, the card is jam-packed with perks that will enhance your trips from start to finish — not just when you're in the air. As long as you fly with United or their partners at least once or twice a year, I recommend applying for the United Explorer.
Bottom line
The United Explorer card isn't your run-of-the-mill airline credit card. With benefits like an up-to-$120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit, two annual one-time lounge passes and free checked bags, plus a waived annual fee for the first year, it's a low-cost card with considerable value.
Apply here: United Explorer Card
Related: United Quest Card review