British Airways Visa Signature® Card vs United℠ Explorer
Side-by-side comparison
| British Airways Visa Signature® Card | United℠ Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $150 |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 Avios | Up to 60,000 bonus miles |
| Dining | 1x | 2x |
| Groceries | 1x | 1x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 3x | 1x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $328 | $322 |
| Points type | Locked to Avios | Locked to United MileagePlus |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card earns about $328 a year in rewards and the United℠ Explorer about $322, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The British Airways Visa Signature® Card charges $95, which you clear through its rewards and perks. The United℠ Explorer charges $150, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card delivers more total value, about $61 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on travel. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the British Airways Visa Signature® Card currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the British Airways Visa Signature® Card if your spending leans toward travel. Pick the United℠ Explorer if your spending leans toward dining.