United MileagePlus Explorer Card Review

Card Details	The Offer	Is it Worth It?
Pros and Cons	Why 4 Stars?	Fees
Benefits

Card Details

Regular APR:	18.24 – 25.24% (Variable)
Intro APR (Purchases):	None
Intro APR (Balance transfers):	None
Rewards Rate:	2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel, and purchases from United
Credit Needed:	(740 – 850) Excellent
Annual Fee:	None, then $95
Card Brand:	Visa

*See online credit card application for details on the terms and conditions.

Offer Highlights

• Click APPLY NOW to apply online
• Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
• 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel
• 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United, including tickets, Economy Plus, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card
• The primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free

Is United MileagePlus Explorer Card worth it?

United MileagePlus Explorer is a great card for travelers who fly United from time to time. The annual fee is waived the first year, then it?s $95.

Cardholders earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel, and purchases from United. United Miles are worth about one to one and a half cents depending on if you redeem for the cheaper Saver fare or for the Everyday fare, which has more availability, so the 40,000 mile signup bonus is worth $400 ? $600 in United airfare.

Cardholders also receive $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck? every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for either program when charged to your card.

Although the perks are not close to United MileagePlus Club, a premium $450 annual fee card, Cardholders receive 2 one-time United Club passes, a free first checked bag, and get priority boarding, which means they will board in Group 2, after members who have Premier status. Note that you will need to provide a same-day boarding pass to use your United Club pass.

There are very similar co-branded cards: Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express earns 2 miles on every purchase you make with Delta, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp earns 2 AAdvantage miles on every purchases at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services, and 2 AAdvantage miles with American Airlines, and Barclays AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard earns 2X miles for every one dollar spent on eligible American Airlines purchases.

If you anticipate flying United from time to time, United MileagePlus Explorer is a great card for you.

Pros

• Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
• 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants, hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel, and purchases from United
• Annual fee waived in first year
• Priority boarding
• Up to $100 as a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck every 4 years

Cons

• $95 annual fee starting in second year

Why 4 Stars?

Regular APR

4 Stars

Intro APR

4 Stars

Fees

4 Stars

Perks

5 Stars

Overall

4 Stars

Fees

Foreign Transaction Fee	None
Balance Transfer Fee	Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Cash Advance Fee	Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
Penalty APR	None

Benefits

$0 Fraud Liability

Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Baggage Delay Reimbursement

Concierge Service

Emergency Card Replacement

Emergency Cash Disbursement

Extended Warranty Protection

Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Travel Accident Insurance

Price Protection

Purchase Protection

Return Protection

Roadside Dispatch

Travel and Emergency Assistance

Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Reimbursement

Trip Delay Reimbursement

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by the issuer. Any opinion, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author?s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.

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