Chase
United Explorer Card
Premium airline co-branded card featuring 60K bonus miles, 9x earning on United flights, complimentary first checked bag, 2 United Club passes, and $500+ in annual travel credits.
Annual fee
$150
Top rate
9x flights
Welcome bonus
$600
Quick look
Free checked bag & United Club passes
Travel perks worth hundreds annually
3.6
out of 5
Rewards
Fees
Welcome bonus
Perks
Value
Overall score is a weighted average: Rewards 20% · Fees 20% · Welcome bonus 20% · Perks 20% · Value 20%.
Ideal for
Frequent United flyers who check bags at least twice annually and value priority boarding and lounge access. Business travelers billing card spend to an employer who need foreign transaction fees waived. Not recommended for casual or non-United loyalty flyers.
The verdict
A solid card for regular United flyers who check bags, as the free checked bag and annual Club passes can cover the $150 fee. The 9x earning on United flights is competitive, and foreign transaction fees are waived, making this appealing for business travel abroad. However, the card's value erodes quickly for casual flyers. Most statement credits require enrollment with strict monthly caps and expiration dates, making them difficult to fully utilize. Recent changes restricting lounge passes have further reduced the appeal.
Skip if you don't fly United regularly or rarely check bags. Loyalists should compare this to the higher-tier Quest Card if they spend more aggressively.
Pros
- 9x miles on eligible United flights is competitive (2nd-best in catalog); combined with free checked bags and Club passes, the value is clear for frequent United travelers
- No foreign transaction fees, making international business and leisure travel abroad straightforward
- Free first checked bag for you and a companion on United flights covers the $150 annual fee for most regular flyers
- Priority boarding in Group 2 for you and companions, reducing travel friction and enabling faster checked bag retrieval
Cons
- Most statement credits ($120 Instacart, $60 rideshare, $100 travel credit) require enrollment and have monthly or annual caps, forcing careful tracking to capture even half the stated value
- Limited lounge access—only two United Club one-time passes annually, and no Priority Pass membership for access to thousands of lounges globally
- Rewards structure is heavily United-centric; 2x on hotels and dining rank 34th and 32nd in the catalog respectively, making the card weak for non-flight spend
- Recent changes (reduced Club passes, new credit restrictions) have diminished the card over time; reviewers note it's become harder to justify
Reward rates
| Category | Rate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 9x | 9x miles on eligible United flights |
| Flights | 3x | 3x miles on all other eligible United purchases |
| Hotels & car rentals | 2x | 2x miles on hotel stays booked through United Hotels |
| Dining & restaurants | 2x | 2x miles on dining including eligible delivery services |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x mile on all other purchases |
The card's strength is laser-focused: 9x miles on eligible United flights places it second in the entire catalog, behind only the United Quest Card's 10x rate. The 3x on other United purchases covers a narrow but valuable portion of annual spend for frequent travelers. However, the 2x rates on hotels and dining underperform relative to specialist competitors (IHG Premier at 26x hotels, Hilton Aspire at 7x dining), and the 1x on everything else ranks in the bottom third. Value hinges on your percentage of spend flowing through United bookings.
Fees and APR
Does it pay for itself?
The $150 annual fee is offset primarily by the free first checked bag (worth $30–$40 per trip for non-elite members) and two annual United Club one-time passes (each worth $50–$75 in normal pricing). Regular flyers checking bags 2–3 times yearly recover the fee through these benefits alone. The numerous statement credits—$120 for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck, $100 for United Hotels after $10,000 annual spend, $120 for Instacart (with enrollment), $60 monthly for rideshare (capped)—theoretically add up to $500, but nearly all require enrollment (some valid only through Dec. 31, 2027), monthly caps ($5–$10 for rideshare), and careful tracking. Bankrate's reviewer noted closing the card at renewal, citing new restrictions making the fee harder to justify.
Welcome bonus
Is it worth chasing?
The 60,000-mile signup bonus is solid, valued at approximately $600–$800 in United redemptions depending on route availability and routing flexibility. The $3,000 minimum spend threshold is moderate but not aggressive. For comparison, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier delivers 55,000 points for only $1,500 spend, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 100,000 points for $5,000 spend. The bonus is worth pursuing if United is your primary carrier; otherwise, compare to cards offering more flexible currency or higher bonuses relative to spend.
Similar cards
Same 9x flight rate but up to 110K bonus miles and designed for higher business spend; consider if you carry business expenses on a card
Broader rewards across dining and travel; lower annual fee ($95); better for travelers not locked into a single airline
Frequently asked questions
Is the free checked bag worth the $150 annual fee?
Yes, if you fly United and check bags at least twice yearly. Each checked bag costs $30–$40 for non-elite members, and the two annual Club passes add another $50–$150 in value. Frequent flyers easily clear the fee. Occasional travelers should calculate their own usage.
How do I activate the statement credits, and can I really earn all $500+?
Most credits require opt-in through the issuer's website. However, nearly all come with restrictions: monthly caps ($5 rideshare, for example), specific end dates (Instacart credit valid through Dec. 31, 2027), and categorical limits. The $100 United travel credit requires $10,000 annual spend. Many cardholders find tracking these restrictions tedious and end up capturing only 30–50% of the advertised value.
What credit score do I need?
Chase typically requires 670+ for approval, but the median approved applicant has a score around 730. Your approval odds are strongest with good (740+) or excellent (800+) credit. Existing Chase cardholders in good standing may have better odds with lower scores.
How does the United Explorer compare to the United Business Card?
Both offer 9x on eligible United flights. The Business Card offers a larger signup bonus (up to 110K vs. 60K) and 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points, but carries the same $150 annual fee. The Consumer Explorer is simpler; the Business Card is for business owners or employees with significant business spend to charge.
Does this work well for international travel?
Yes—there are no foreign transaction fees, and the card includes travel protections (trip cancellation, baggage delay). However, earn rates abroad depend on how merchants code the transaction. Meals code as dining (2x), hotel bookings as hotels (2x), but flights booked directly with United remain 9x. The card is solid for international business travel but not a standout for pure cashback earning.
Reviewed by YoungerFinance Editorial · Last updated August 11, 2026