The United Explorer Card rewards frequent flyers with points, travel credits, and perks tied to United Airlines
The United Explorer Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with United Airlines. It earns points on United purchases and everyday spending, includes an annual travel credit you can use toward United tickets or fees, and provides benefits like checked baggage waivers and priority boarding. The card charges an annual fee, typically $95, which resets each year.
The card's value depends on how often you fly United and how much you spend. Someone who takes one or two United flights per year and uses the card for regular purchases may recoup the annual fee through the travel credit and bonus points alone. A business traveler who books multiple United flights monthly will see more value from the perks — especially the checked baggage waiver, which saves $35 to $70 per round trip on United domestic flights.
Key Takeaways
- The card earns 2 points per dollar on United purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other spending, with a sign-up bonus that typically covers the annual fee value in points.
- An annual $100 United travel credit offsets most of the $95 annual fee if you use it on tickets, seat upgrades, or baggage fees.
- Primary cardholders and up to two companions get free checked bags on United flights, saving $35 to $70 per round trip depending on the route.
- The card includes priority boarding, which moves you ahead in the boarding queue and may save you gate-checked baggage fees on full flights.
- United Club passes (typically one per year) give you access to United's airport lounges, where you can work, eat, and shower before your flight.
Earning Points and Sign-Up Bonuses
The United Explorer Card earns 2 points per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases — tickets, seat upgrades, baggage fees, and in-flight purchases. On all other purchases, you earn 1 point per dollar. Points can be redeemed for United flights, seat upgrades, or transferred to United's partner airlines and hotels, though the redemption value varies.
New cardholders receive a sign-up bonus after meeting a spending threshold, usually $4,000 to $5,000 in the first three months. The bonus amount changes periodically; it has ranged from 50,000 to 70,000 points in recent years. At typical redemption rates, 50,000 points can cover a domestic round-trip flight or multiple shorter flights, which often exceeds the $95 annual fee in value.
The card also earns bonus points during promotional periods — for example, extra points on United purchases during certain months, or bonus points when you book through United's website. These promotions are announced to cardholders via email and the United app.
The Annual Travel Credit and How to Use It
The $100 annual United travel credit is the card's largest benefit for most cardholders. You receive $100 in statement credits each year when you charge United purchases to the card. The credit applies to tickets, seat upgrades (including extra legroom seats), baggage fees, pet fees, and in-flight purchases like food and drinks.
The credit does not roll over to the next year, so you must use it before your annual fee renews. If you fly United at least once per year and buy a ticket or upgrade, the credit typically covers the entire $95 annual fee. Some cardholders use the credit strategically — for example, buying a $100 upgrade on a flight they were already taking, or paying for a companion's baggage fee.
The credit applies only to charges made directly to United Airlines or through United's website and app. It does not cover tickets purchased through third-party booking sites like Kayak or Expedia, even if the flight is operated by United.
Checked Baggage Waivers and Priority Boarding
The primary cardholder and up to two companions receive free first checked bags on United domestic and international flights. On a round trip, this saves $35 to $70 depending on whether you're flying domestic (typically $35 per bag) or international (typically $70 per bag). The waiver applies to bags checked under your name or your companion's name, as long as you present the card at check-in.
The card also includes priority boarding, which places you in an earlier boarding group than standard economy passengers. On full flights, this increases your chances of fitting a carry-on bag in the overhead bin rather than having it gate-checked. Priority boarding does not may provide a seat upgrade or extra legroom — it only affects the order in which you board.
Both benefits explore to flights operated by United. If you book a ticket on a partner airline (like Air Canada or Lufthansa) even through United's website, the baggage waiver and priority boarding may not explore. Check the flight details before booking to confirm United is the operating carrier.
United Club Passes and Lounge Access
New cardholders receive two complimentary United Club passes in their first year, and one pass each year thereafter. A Club pass grants one person access to a United Club lounge for a single visit. United operates lounges at major airports including Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (Newark), San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Inside a United Club lounge, you can access WiFi, work at desks, use shower facilities, and eat complimentary snacks and drinks. The lounge is quieter than the airport terminal and useful if you have a long layover or want to work before your flight. Each pass covers one person for one visit; if you travel with a companion, you would need two passes for both of you to enter.
United Club passes are separate from United Club membership, which costs $600 per year and provides unlimited lounge access. The card's annual passes are a way to sample the lounge without committing to the full membership cost.
Other Perks and Travel Protections
The United Explorer Card includes trip delay reimbursement, which covers meals and lodging if a United flight is delayed more than 12 hours. The card also provides lost luggage reimbursement if United loses your checked bag, and trip cancellation insurance that reimburses prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you become ill or injured and cannot travel.
The card offers emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling outside the United States, and emergency evacuation and transportation if you need medical care abroad. These protections are secondary, meaning they cover costs your primary health insurance does not pay.
Additional benefits include rental car damage coverage if you rent a car and charge it to the card, and purchase protection that reimburses items damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase. Read the full benefits guide on Chase's website to understand the coverage limits and exclusions for each protection.
When the United Explorer Card Makes Financial Sense
The card is most valuable for people who fly United at least twice per year. If you take two round-trip United flights annually, the checked baggage waiver alone saves $140 to $280 per year, which covers the $95 annual fee. Add the $100 travel credit and the sign-up bonus, and the card pays for itself in year one.
The card is less valuable if you rarely fly United, fly only once per year, or prefer other airlines. If you take one United flight per year, you can use the $100 travel credit to offset the annual fee, but you lose the value of the baggage waiver and priority boarding. If you fly other airlines more often, a card tied to a different airline or a general travel rewards card may offer better returns.
Business travelers and people with flexible schedules who can book multiple United flights per year see the most value. Frequent flyers also accumulate points faster and can redeem them for premium cabin upgrades or international flights, which offer better point-to-dollar value than domestic economy tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the $100 travel credit on someone else's ticket?
No. The credit applies only to charges made on your card. If you buy a ticket for a companion, the credit covers that purchase, but you cannot transfer the credit to someone else's card or account. The companion can use the ticket, but the charge must appear on your card statement.
Do I get the checked baggage waiver if I book through a third-party site?
The waiver applies to United-operated flights regardless of where you book, but you must present your United Explorer Card at check-in. If you book through a third-party site and do not have your card with you, you may be charged the baggage fee. Always bring your card to the airport when flying United.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points remain in your United account and do not expire as long as you have some United account activity (like earning miles through flights or partners) at least once every 18 months. Closing the card does not delete your points, but you lose the ability to earn new points on card purchases.
Is the annual fee waived the first year?
No. The annual fee of $95 is charged in the first year and every year after. However, the sign-up bonus and $100 travel credit typically exceed the annual fee in value during your first year, making the net cost low or zero.
Can I use the Club pass if I am not flying United?
No. United Club passes are valid only on the day of your United flight. You must present your boarding pass to enter the lounge. If you are not flying that day, you cannot use the pass, even if you are at the airport.