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Some of the terms of the United℠ Explorer Card have changed, and this article is out of date. See our review of the United℠ Explorer Card for up-to-date details.
If you'd been considering applying for the United℠ Explorer Card, Chase has made the upfront incentive a little less appealing.
The card still offers the following sign-up bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. But as of Aug. 16, 2018, the card no longer offers a $100 statement credit after you make your first purchase.
That's a bummer, but the card still offers plenty of other perks for United loyalists to get excited about, even aside from the sign-up bonus.
The United℠ Explorer Card earns two MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on purchases from United; two miles per dollar spent on restaurant purchases and hotel stays; and one mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. You'll also get a first checked bag free for you and a companion on your reservation — a potential savings of $140 on a round-trip flight for two, which more than covers the card's annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95.
The travel perks don't end there. Cardholders also receive:
A 25% discount on United inflight purchases
Two United Club℠ one-time use passes per year
A statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit
And as with any good travel credit card, there's no foreign transaction fee.
The United℠ Explorer Card also has some drawbacks to consider, including a reward redemption system that’s fairly limited to award flights and seat upgrades with United and its Star Alliance partners. If you don't fly United very often or you're looking for more flexibility in how you redeem your rewards, other general travel credit cards might work out better for you.
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