Who it's for
Airline loyaltyPremium travel
United Explorer
Bag savings for two travelers on two round-trips alone exceeds the $150 fee. Now earns 9x on United flights for cardholders. Solid mid-tier card for occasional United flyers.
$1,344/yrest. value at typical spending
$150annual fee
$380yearly credits
−$230fee after credits
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| Category | Rate | Typical spend |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 2x | $400/mo |
| Groceries | 1x | $600/mo |
| Flights & hotels | 4.2x | $300/mo |
| Rent | 1x | $2,500/mo |
| Gas & transit | 1x | $150/mo |
| Streaming | 1x | $80/mo |
| Online shopping | 1x | $200/mo |
| Everything else | 1x | $600/mo |
Rates are what our model counts per dollar. Brand-specific bonuses (like a hotel card at its own hotels) are blended, since most people don't put all category spending with one brand. Typical spending here means our quiz defaults: $4,830 a month, including $2,500 rent or mortgage. Points are valued at 1.5¢ each (travel portal redemption); transferring to airline or hotel partners can be worth more.
Rewards and perks
Points, 1 transfer partner
- 9x miles on United flights for cardholders (combines base earning with cardholder bonus)
- 2x on dining (including takeout/delivery) and hotels booked direct
- 2 United Club one-time passes annually (~$118 value)
- Free first checked bag for cardholder + 1 companion on every United flight
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
- Yearly credits: $100 United Hotels (two $50), $120 Instacart ($10/mo), $100 JSX, $60 rideshare
- $100 United travel credit after $10k+ in annual spend
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit ($120 every 4 years)
- 25% in-flight discount on United purchases
Transfer partners
United MileagePlus
Head-to-head
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