Limited Time: United MileagePlus Explorer Boosts Sign-Up Bonus

Attention, frequent United flyers: If you’ve been eyeing the co-branded United℠ Explorer Card, now could be a good time to apply, if you hurry.

That’s because the card is offering the following sign-up bonus: Limited time offer – ends 3/15/18. Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

That’s a 10,000-mile boost over the card’s previous sign-up bonus (although the minimum required spending threshold is also higher).

The card’s annual fee — $0 for the first year, then $95 — remains unchanged.

If you’re a dedicated United flyer, the United℠ Explorer Card has a lot to offer, even aside from its sign-up bonus. You’ll earn ongoing rewards, of course: 2 miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United, and 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. United miles are worth an average of 1 cent apiece, according to NerdWallet valuations.

And, like any co-branded airline credit card worth its wings, this card saves you money on checked bags. When you use the United℠ Explorer Card to pay for your flight, both you and a companion on your reservation will get a free checked bag. Round trip, that could represent a savings of $120, meaning you could offset the cost of the annual fee with only one trip a year.

The United℠ Explorer Card also can help ease some of the headaches that may accompany airline travel. It offers priority boarding, not to mention two one-time passes (annually) to United Club lounges. If you already fly frequently with United, or if you plan to, the United℠ Explorer Card could be a good fit.

If, however, you prefer more flexibility, you may want to consider a general travel card instead, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card. Those cards also offer rich sign-up bonuses and plenty of travel benefits.

None of them will offer you free checked bags like the United℠ Explorer Card. But on the other hand, they also won’t tie you to a specific airline when you want to redeem your points.