United MileagePlus United Explorer
Issued by Chase
Reviewed by the CardCurator Editorial Team
$530/year in trackable credits — never leave money on the table
Before you apply
Use this quick check so you click out only when the offer and fee structure really fit.
- Best fit: strongest ongoing earning is 3x on United Purchases.
- Bonus hurdle: spend $3,000 in 3 months.
- Annual fee: $150 charged each year.
- Offer status: Offer is below the strongest historical bonus we have tracked.
- Who should skip: anyone who will not recover the annual fee through ongoing spend, credits, or the welcome bonus.
- What happens next: you will leave CardCurator for the issuer or partner application page in a new tab.
Confirm current issuer terms and approval rules before you submit an application.
Earning Categories
Current Welcome Bonus
Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Year 1 net value: +$650 (bonus − annual fee)
Statement Credits
Earn after you spend $10,000 within a calendar year.
$50 back on the 1st prepaid United Hotels stay each anniversary year.
$50 back on the 2nd prepaid United Hotels stay each anniversary year.
Up to $60 in statement credits each calendar year on eligible rideshare purchases.
Enrollment RequiredUp to $50 annually when booking Avis or Budget rentals through cars.united.com.
Up to $120 in Instacart credits each calendar year. Benefits end 2027-12-31.
Up to $100 in statement credits annually on flights purchased directly through JSX.
Card Perks
2 United Club one-time passes per year
Maximize Your United MileagePlus Points
Expert tips to get the most value from this program
Program Overview
United MileagePlus is United Airlines' loyalty program and one of the most popular Star Alliance programs. Award pricing is dynamic but generally follows predictable patterns for saver-level awards. Key strengths: - Extensive Star Alliance partner network (26+ airlines) - Excursionist Perk: Free stopover on round-trip international itineraries - Dynamic pricing with saver-level awards still available - No close-in booking fees - MileagePlus miles can be earned through Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers - United Polaris business class is an excellent long-haul product
Earning Tips
Card stacking strategy: Premium cards: - United Explorer: 2x on United, hotels, dining, streaming; 1x everything else; free checked bag + boarding priority - United Quest: 3x on United, 2x dining/hotels/streaming; premier upgrades; 2 free checked bags - United Club Infinite: 4x on United, 2x dining/hotels; United Club access; premier upgrades Business card: - United Business: 2x on United, dining, gas, office supplies, local transit Key tips: - United cards earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) toward status through spending - Free checked bags save $70+ per round-trip - Premier Upgrades on Quest/Club Infinite provide complimentary upgrades when available - Stack with Chase Sapphire for non-United spending, transfer UR to United as needed - United.com shopping portal earns bonus miles on online purchases
Redemption Tips
Best redemption values: Domestic saver awards: - 5,000 miles one-way for short-haul economy (under 700 miles) - 12,500 miles one-way for standard domestic economy - Dynamic pricing means prices vary; search flexible dates for saver availability International sweet spots: - United Polaris business class to Europe: 60,000 miles one-way (saver) - Star Alliance partner business class to Asia: 75,000-90,000 miles one-way - Excursionist Perk: Free stopover in a connecting city on round-trip international awards Star Alliance partner awards: - ANA first class: ~88,000 miles one-way (when available) - Lufthansa first class: Book when released close-in - Singapore Airlines: Premium economy sweet spot at ~50,000 miles - EVA Air business class to Asia: Excellent product at saver rates Close-in bookings: - No close-in booking fee (unlike some programs) - Last-minute saver awards appear when flights aren't full Avoid: - Dynamic pricing on popular routes during peak times (prices can be 3-5x saver level) - Upgrading with miles on basic economy tickets (not allowed) - Purchasing miles at standard price (wait for promotions)
Transfer Strategy
United MileagePlus is a destination program: Inbound transfers: - Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1:1 (primary feeder) - Bilt Rewards: 1:1 - Marriott Bonvoy: 3:1 (60K → 25K with bonus) Outbound transfers: - MileagePlus does not transfer to other programs Strategy tips: - Chase UR to United at 1:1 is the primary way to build up a MileagePlus balance - Bilt offers another 1:1 option - Only transfer when you have a specific award in mind - United often has saver availability that other Star Alliance programs don't show - Book directly on United.com for the widest partner availability display
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Compare This Card
See how the United Explorer stacks up against other cards side by side — fees, bonuses, earn rates, and more.
Related guide: Booking United Airlines Flights with Partner Miles
Approval Insights
Recent community application data for this card. Issuers make the final decision, but this gives you a public read on how similar applicants have been doing lately.
How to use this
- Use the approval summary as a signal, not a guarantee.
- Combine it with issuer rules like 5/24, Amex lifetime language, and velocity limits.
- Open the full approval page to see recent datapoints, profile bands, and notes.
Most card pages stop at a generic credit-score range. CardCurator layers real community submissions on top of card detail, rewards value, and application strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the annual fee for the United Explorer?
- The United Explorer has an annual fee of $150 per year.
- What is the best category to use the United Explorer for?
- The United Explorer earns 3x on United Purchases, making it the strongest earning category for this card.
- What is the United Explorer welcome bonus in 2026?
- The United Explorer currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
- Does the United Explorer charge foreign transaction fees?
- No, the United Explorer does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good choice for international purchases.
- How much are United MileagePlus miles worth?
- United MileagePlus miles are worth approximately 1.30¢ per point on average, with premium redemptions reaching up to 2.00¢ per point. Values based on industry estimates including The Points Guy and NerdWallet.
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