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CardCurator — Rewards Intelligence
Card Comparison

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs United Explorer

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard card art
AAdvantage
AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Citi
More Info
United Explorer card art
United MileagePlus
United Explorer
Chase
More Info
Annual Fee
$99/yr
$150/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
50,000 points
Spend $2,500 in 2 months
85,000 points
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Top Earn Rates
  • Restaurants 2x
  • Gas Stations 2x
  • Eligible American Airlines Purchases 2x
  • United Purchases 2x
  • Restaurant Purchases 2x
  • Hotel Stays 2x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Key Credits
  • Statement Credit $180
  • Statement Credit $5
  • Statement Credit $50
  • Statement Credit $50
  • +1 more
Card Perks
None listed
  • 2 United Club one-time passes per year
Spend Milestones
  • Annual Fee - Waived First Year
    After $1 spend
No milestones
Transfer Partners
No transfer partners
No transfer partners
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Common Questions: AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard vs United Explorer

Is the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard or United Explorer better for dining?

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard earns 2x on dining; United Explorer earns 2x on dining. AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard currently offers 50,000 pts signup bonus (spend $2,500 in 2 months). United Explorer offers 85,000 pts signup bonus (spend $3,000 in 3 months). United Explorer has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard and the United Explorer?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is from Citi and United Explorer is from Chase, so they're governed by separate bank policies.