The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
United Explorer Card review: Premium perks without a premium fee
Olivia Mittak is a credit cards editor at TPG. She specializes in maximizing earn for points and miles, finding the best welcome bonuses and choosing the right credit cards for your wallet.
May 14, 2026 • 10 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Quick summary
A mid-tier airline card offers valuable perks for those who fly with a specific carrier multiple times per year.
Key benefits include a free checked bag, priority boarding and two annual lounge passes usable on partner airlines.
Statement credits and travel-related perks can help offset the card's modest annual fee after the first year.
The card is best suited for travelers who regularly check bags or value occasional lounge access.
What to consider
You must fly with the airline at least a few times annually to maximize value from the card's perks.
Monthly credits may require activation and can be difficult to fully utilize if your spending habits do not align with the categories offered.
Elite status earning is limited compared to higher-tier airline cards, making this less ideal for those pursuing top-tier status.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of mid-tier versus premium airline cards, including which perks and credits matter most for different types of travelers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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.
Related stories
United℠ Explorer Card
TPG Editor's Rating4 / 5
at Chase's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
Rewards rate
9x
Earn 9x total miles on eligible United flights.
3x
Earn 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
2x
Earn 2x miles on dining, and hotel stays when booked with the hotel.
I've said again and again during my time as a (see rates and fees) cardholder that it's one of my favorite credit cards. As long as you fly with United at least a couple of times a year, it's incredibly easy to get outsize value out of its $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*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
United Explorer: The basics
The is a step up from the no-annual-fee (see rates and fees).
It's a great pick for a first cobranded airline card, since it offers great perks without asking for a monumental annual fee in return.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
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
Free first checked bag
Priority boarding
Inflight discount
Multiple travel-related statement credits
Has a modest annual fee
Requires flying United regularly to maximize value
Limited bonus categories outside United purchases
Monthly credits may be cumbersome to maximize
Limited elite-status earning potential
United Explorer benefits
Where I see the offering the strongest value for the widest audience is in its United-related perks. Airlines across the board have been increasing bag fees due to higher fuel costs, which means this card's free checked bag perk is more valuable than ever.
Your first checked bag 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 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, meaning that using both of them will cover a large portion of the annual fee.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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.
Like many credit cards in this day and age, the United Explorer offers numerous statement credits to help cardholders justify its annual fee. 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 (activation 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 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
MASKOT/GETTY IMAGES
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 provide 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.
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 May 2026 valuation of United miles at 1.35 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 may not be for you if:
You fly with United once per year or less
You rarely or never check a bag
You rarely transit through an airport with a United Club
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 (see rates and fees) is the next step up from the .
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).
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
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. In my opinion, the decision comes down to your annual fee tolerance, how much you care about lounge access and whether you want to pursue United elite status.
The 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.
When to apply for the United Explorer
Currently, new cardholders can earn up to 60,000 bonus miles:
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months of account opening.
United Polaris business class. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
According to TPG's valuations, these 60,000 miles are worth up to $810 (including the points from adding an authorized user). This welcome offer is less than the best we've seen in the card's history.
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 (see rates and fees) 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 (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 (see rates and fees) offers a widely-applicable $300 travel credit every year that can be used for United flights, or virtually any other travel purchase you make. The Ultimate Rewards points you earn with this card 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 Reserve.
The will maintain its spot in my wallet for the foreseeable future, thanks to how easy it is for me to get solid value out of 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.
