I’ve said again and again during my time as a United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) cardholder that it’s one of my favorite credit cards.
For travelers who fly with United a few times a year, perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding and United Club passes can help justify the card’s $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year).
That said, cobranded cards are generally not meant for wide audiences, and the United Explorer is no exception. If you rarely fly with United, don’t transit through airports with United Clubs or consider yourself a member of the carry-on-only club, it will be difficult to justify this card’s place in your wallet.
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
United Explorer: The basics
The United Explorer is a step up from the no-annual-fee United Gateway℠ Card (see rates and fees).
It can be a great first airline credit card for travelers who want United-specific benefits without paying a premium annual fee.
Key United Explorer benefits include:
- Free first checked bag: You’ll receive this perk for you and one companion when you pay with your United Explorer.
- Priority boarding: You’ll be able to board in Group 2 of 6, ahead of general boarding.
- United Club passes: Each cardholder year, you’ll receive two United Club passes. These passes can be used when you fly any Star Alliance airline, not just United.
- Travel and lifestyle credits
- Elite status boost via spending
With this card, you’ll earn United MileagePlus miles, which can be redeemed for a wide variety of options. Two of the best include using your miles for United flights and redeeming them to cover your annual fee.
United Explorer pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| <ul> <li>Free first checked bag</li> <li>Priority boarding</li> <li>Inflight discount</li> <li>Multiple travel-related statement credits</li> <li>Has a modest annual fee</li> </ul> |
<ul> <li>Requires flying United regularly to maximize value</li> <li>Limited bonus categories outside United purchases</li> <li>Monthly credits may be cumbersome to maximize</li> <li>Limited elite-status earning potential</li> </ul> |
United Explorer benefits
Where I see the United Explorer offering the strongest value for the widest audience is in its United-related perks. Airlines across the board have been increasingbaggage fees due to higher fuel costs, making this card’s free checked-bag perk more valuable than ever.
Your first checked bag each way costs $50 with United (or $45 if you prepay). That means you’ll offset this card’s annual fee as long as you check a bag with United at least three times each year.
Priority boarding may not have a monetary value, but it can be a huge help when your flight is full, and there’s a risk of your carry-on getting gate-checked.
I also really appreciate the two United Club passes that come every cardholder year with the United Explorer. You don’t need to fly with United to use one; I was able to get into a United Club while flying with Air Canada, for example.
United Club passes are $59 each, so the two annual passes can provide meaningful value if you use them.
If you’re on your way to United elite status, the United Explorer earns 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for every $20 spent (up to 1,000 PQPs each year). Unlike higher-tier United cards, however, it doesn’t offer a lump sum of PQPs at the start of each year. Personally, I don’t view this card as being the best aid for achieving elite status.
The biggest reason I tout the Explorer as often as I do is because of how easy it is to get meaningful value from it without needing to use merchant credits that may not fit your spending habits.
The card also offers several statement credits, though their usefulness will depend on your spending habits.
Some of these, such as the up to $100 annual JSX credit and up to $10 monthly Instacart credit (activation required; through Dec. 31, 2027), may be too niche for most cardholders to get meaningful use out of.
The up to $60 annual ride-hailing credit (yearly opt-in required) is nice, but it’s broken down into small $5 monthly increments. With ride-hailing prices soaring due to high gas prices, this credit may feel more like a negligible discount than a proper credit card perk.
That said, this credit will likely be the easiest for cardholders to maximize.
How to earn and use your rewards
As mentioned earlier, the United Explorer earns United MileagePlus miles. As a cardholder, you’ll earn at the following rates:
- At least 6 miles per dollar spent on basic economy fares and at least 9 miles per dollar spent on standard fares (earning rate may be higher if you have status with United)
- 3 miles per dollar spent on all other United purchases
- 2 miles per dollar spent on hotels booked directly and dining
- 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
Your miles can be redeemed for lots of options, including gift cards, statement credits through Chase Pay Yourself Back and to book experiences. These redemption options often don’t offer the best value for your miles, so your best bet is to use them to book flights or to pay for your card’s annual fee.
Miles can be redeemed for flights on United or with one of its partner airlines, such as Air Canada or Lufthansa.
TPG credit cards writer Stephanie Stevens recently redeemed 28,200 United miles for two nonstop, one-way economy flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Lihue Airport (LIH) in Hawaii. Flights were around $550 each, making this a great domestic redemption.
If you redeem your miles to pay for your card’s annual fee, you’ll receive a value of 1.5 cents per mile. That’s higher than TPG’s October 2026 valuation of United miles at 1.2 cents per mile.
Where the United Explorer falls short
Cobranded cards are intended for a fairly specific audience, which means they won’t be right for everyone. The United Explorer may not be for you if:
- You rarely fly United or other eligible airlines
- You rarely or never check a bag
- You rarely transit through an airport with a United Club
- You already have extensive lounge access through other cards
- You’re chasing status with United, since this card limits your PQP earning to 1,000 PQPs each year
United fans who don’t have an appetite for a higher annual fee card should be able to get a lot out of the United Explorer, but it’s still important to make sure you can properly justify its $150 annual fee (after the first cardholder year).
United Explorer vs. United Quest
The $350-per-year United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) is the next step up from the United Explorer.
It offers substantially more perks, including an annual 10,000-mile flight discount, your first two checked bags free (versus just one), and a 1,000 PQP head start each year. You’ll still earn PQPs at the same rate — 1 PQP for every $20 spent — but you’ll be able to earn up to 18,000 PQPs in a year (versus just 1,000 PQPs).
It’s worth noting that, despite its annual fee, the United Quest doesn’t offer any kind of United Club lounge access. If you already have extensive lounge access from other cards, that may not matter much to you. Otherwise, it’s worth giving some thought.
I think the United Quest and United Explorer are both compelling options. The decision between these cards largely comes down to which benefits you value most. The Explorer has a lower annual fee and two United Club passes, while the Quest offers additional checked-bag benefits and a stronger path toward United elite status.
I’m very happy with my United Explorer, whereas Stephanie is an outspoken fan of her United Quest.
Is the United Explorer worth it?
The United Explorer is worth it for most United fans, as long as you fly more than once a year with the airline. It’s very easy to recoup this card’s $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year), as long as you check a bag when you fly and can make use of two visits to a United Club.
Even in years when your flights aren’t taking you on board United jets, this card comes with statement credits to help justify its cost. Unless you want more extensive benefits, a better path to elite status or aren’t willing to pay an annual fee, the United Explorer is worth seriously considering.
If you rarely fly United or don’t use these benefits, a more flexible travel rewards card may be a better fit.
When to apply for the United Explorer
Currently, new United Explorer cardholders can earn up to 80,000 bonus miles:
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG’s valuations, these 80,000 miles are worth $960 (including the points from adding an authorized user). This offer matches the highest we’ve seen in the card’s history (so long as you add an authorized user), making now a great time to apply.
Other cards to consider if you don’t want the United Explorer
If the United Explorer doesn’t feel like the right fit for you, consider these other cards instead:
- If you want a no-annual-fee United card: The United Gateway has no annual fee, but comes with fairly limited benefits. However, you’ll still earn bonus miles on United flights and receive an inflight discount for eligible purchases. To learn more, check out our full review of the United Gateway.
- If you want unlimited United Club access: The United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) provides a basic United Club membership, with a value of at least $750 each year. If you’re able to maximize this perk, that will easily justify this card’s $695 annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the United Club card.
- If you want a more flexible travel card: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) earns Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners, including United. To learn more, check out our full review of the Sapphire Preferred.
For additional options, check out our picks for the best United cards and best travel cards.
Bottom line
The United Explorer will remain in my wallet for the foreseeable future, thanks to how easy it is for me to get solid value from it each year. It doesn’t require me to juggle multiple statement credits to justify it, nor does it require me to be exclusively loyal to United.
Whether you have zero cobranded airline cards or five, I recommend you give the United Explorer proper consideration. For regular United flyers who want meaningful perks without paying for a premium airline card, the United Explorer hits a sweet spot.
Apply here: United Explorer Card
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Source: thepointsguy.com
