United℠ Explorer Review

Overview

The United℠ Explorer is a category rewards card from Chase, running on the Visa network. The United℠ Explorer earns up to 2x on dining, so it pays you the most exactly where you already spend. It carries a $150 annual fee, so the real question is whether its rewards, credits, and perks clear that bar for the way you spend. New cardholders can earn Up to 60,000 bonus miles (50,000 after $3,000 spend) after $3,000 in 3 months.

It lands in the mid tier: a modest annual fee in exchange for stronger earn rates and a meaningful welcome offer. The right call depends on whether your spending and the perks clear that fee each year.

Our 3.5 out of 5 rating

Each score weighs the rewards rate, value after the annual fee, welcome offer, points flexibility, and perks, with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. This is our editorial assessment to help you compare cards, not a guarantee of approval or of the value you will get.

Rewards: how it earns

Where the United℠ Explorer earns its rewards is its bonus categories: 2x on dining (about $60 a year on the $3,000 a typical household spends there). Across a full year of average household spending, the card returns roughly $322 in rewards before any welcome bonus, so the more your spending overlaps those categories, the better it does.

Brand and bonus rates: beyond the everyday categories above, this card also earns:

• 9x miles on United flights booked with the card
• 3x miles on other United purchases
• 2x miles on hotel stays and dining
• 25% back on United in-flight purchases

Every point and mile above is valued at a flat 1 cent, the same honest standard we use for every card. Run your own spending through the calculator to see what this card would actually return for you.

Pros and cons

The welcome bonus

The current welcome offer is Up to 60,000 bonus miles (50,000 after $3,000 spend), earned after you spend $3,000 in 3 months. Valued honestly at a flat 1 cent per point, that is worth about $500. The spending requirement works out to roughly $1,000 per month, so make sure it fits your normal budget rather than pushing you to overspend. Stacking the welcome offer on top of a typical year of rewards and accounting for the $150 annual fee, the first year is worth roughly $672.

Is the annual fee worth it?

To come out ahead on the United℠ Explorer you need to clear its $150 annual fee, and it leans on rewards rather than credits to get there. On typical spending it earns about $322 a year. For anyone who spends in its categories, the fee is easy to justify.

Benefits and protections

Beyond the rewards, the perks and protections worth knowing about include:

• First checked bag free on United flights (primary cardmember + 1 companion)
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year
• Priority boarding on United flights
• Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees

Statement credits

This card does not come with recurring statement credits. Its value is in the rewards rate and welcome offer.

Who should get it, and who should skip it

It is best for frequent flyers loyal to this airline who will use perks like free checked bags and priority boarding and want miles toward award flights.

Skip it if you are not loyal to this brand. The rewards lose value the moment your travel plans point somewhere else.

Frequently asked questions