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Update August 8, 2024: The limited-time offer on this card has ended and the card is now back to its “business as usual” bonus offer.
The United℠ Explorer Card offers a generous sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: bonus_miles_full Learn how to apply.
Here are the details on all of the currently-available offer on the United℠ Explorer Card.
Online welcome bonus: 50k miles after $3,000 spent in 3 months
Learn how to apply.
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United℠ Explorer Card sign-up bonus
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This is the card to get if you fly United occasionally and would otherwise pay for checked bags.
More about this card
Benefit highlights:
2 one-time United Club passes per year.
First checked bag free.
Priority Boarding.
Premier upgrades on award tickets.
25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases.
Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per year.
Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS.
Rewards:
2x on United purchases.
2x on dining.
2x on hotel stays.
1x on other eligible purchases.
Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles.
Learn more:
Find the best United credit card sign-up bonuses.
Compare all United credit cards side-by-side and find the best one for you.
In-brach United℠ Explorer Card welcome offers:
On many of its Chase-branded cards, Chase will offer a better in-branch welcome offer. Unfortunately, Chase doesn’t seem to offer better in-branch offers on their co-branded cards like the United credit cards. We know of no current or previous better in-branch offers on this card.
About the United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card offers a free first checked bag on United, one-time passes to the United Club each year, a credit for Trusted traveler programs, and the opportunity to earn Premier Qualifying Points toward status. The card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
When you use the United℠ Explorer Card for United purchases, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel. Other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
With the United℠ Explorer Card, you’ll get a first free checked bag for you and a companion. When you travel on United, you’ll receive Priority boarding and 25% back on United inflight and club premium drink purchases. Twice a year, you’ll be able to treat yourself to lounge access with the 2 United Club℠ passes that you’ll get each year. The card also includes travel insurance coverages like baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip delay reimbursement.
Visit our overview and comparison of the United credit cards for more on the United℠ Explorer Card and to compare it against all of the other United Airlines credit cards.
My take on the United℠ Explorer Card welcome bonus
The sign-up bonus on the United℠ Explorer Card is a good bonus, especially considering this card’s low annual fee. Generally, the business version of the card, the United℠ Business Card offers a better sign-up bonus paired with similar benefits.
You should compare the United Airlines credit cards and take a look at all current United Airlines sign-up bonuses to make sure that you’re getting the biggest bonus and picking the right card for you.
Also keep in mind that Chase frequently runs elevated limited-time offers on this card, so it might be worth waiting until there’s a limited time offer available before applying.
Another way to get United miles: Chase Ultimate Rewards®
A new cardmember welcome bonus on the United℠ Explorer Card is far from the only way to get United miles.
Since Chase Ultimate Rewards® transfer to Untied miles if you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards credit card, you could go for a bonus that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards. We have an overview of the current Ultimate Rewards® welcome bonuses. Chase Ink small business cards typically offer the most lucrative welcome bonuses. If you’re looking for a card with a giant welcome bonus and no annual fee, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card are probably your best bets.
A few notes on applying for Chase cards
- 5/24 rule. Chase generally won’t approve you if your credit report is showing 5 or more new credit card accounts opened in the last 24 months. This rule is knows as the 5/24 rule. If you’re unsure if you are “under 5/24” you should check your 5/24 status before applying for a Chase card. Note that recently this rule seems to have softened, especially for Ink cards. See our coverage about Chase 5/24 for more.
- Only one Sapphire-branded card. You can only hold one Chase Sapphire-branded card at a time. This means you can have either a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but not both.
- You can get a welcome bonus on a Chase card, even if you’ve had the card previously. How often you can earn a welcome bonus on a Chase card varies by card family.
- Most cards allow you to earn a welcome bonus if it has been at least 24 months since your last received a welcome bonus on the same card.
- Chase Sapphire-branded cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can only earn a welcome bonus once every 48 months. (We published a separate article to help you determine if you can get a Sapphire welcome bonus.)
- Marriott cards have their own special rules.
- Chase will match an increased bonus. If you apply for a Chase card and the bank offers a higher bonus within 90 days, you can send Chase a secure message or call them to have your welcome offer matched.
- In-branch offers are sometimes better. Chase sometimes has better credit card welcome offers in-branch than it will publish on its own website or through affiliate networks. Check all channels to make sure you’re getting the best bonus.
- Chase business cards do not report to personal credit reports and do not impact your 5/24 status as long as they are current.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bonus on a United credit card?
United frequently changes the bonuses it offers on its credit cards. We track the best United bonuses on our overview of United credit card welcome bonuses.
Can I use United miles for someone else?
Yes. You can book tickets for yourself or others using your United MileagePlus miles.
Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.
