United Explorer Card
Chase's United Entry-Level Travel Card
Annual Fee
$0 intro first year, then $150
Earning Rate
3x United purchases • 2x dining • 2x hotels booked direct • 1x everything else
Welcome Bonus
Up to 60,000 miles: 50,000 after $3,000 spend in 3 months, plus 10,000 for adding an authorized user in 3 months
Card Material
Plastic card with standard finish
Practical Recommendation
If you fly United a couple times a year, this card is the "make economy less annoying" pick: first checked bag free for you and a companion, priority boarding, and two United Club one-time passes. The partner credits (rideshare, hotels, Instacart, car rental, JSX) are real money—but only if you'll actually use them, and there are enough of them now that ignoring them changes the math.
The fee is $150 after a $0 intro first year, up from $95, so the bar is higher than it used to be. Do not overthink it: hit one or two credits and book at least one United trip and it still works. If you never touch the credits and do not check bags, a no-fee card or United Gateway will feel simpler. Bottom line: good value for casual United flyers who can plan around a couple credits.
Credits
Practical Advice
This is what makes or breaks a card for you. If you can use these credits in your normal spend, the perks and protections are all bonus for you. We have a calculator at the bottom of this section to help you calculate that. Below we break down exactly what every credit is to show you if it's easy or if they're going to make you jump through 17 hoops to redeem it.
- $100 United TravelBank (after $10,000 spend) – Earn $100 in United TravelBank cash each calendar year after $10,000 in purchases. Redeem on United or United Express airfare at checkout on united.com or the app. Posts after you cross the threshold; expires per TravelBank rules. Great if you buy even one United ticket a year.
- United Hotels Credits (up to $100/yr) – Get $50 back on your 1st and 2nd prepaid hotel stays booked directly through United Hotels each anniversary year (max $100). Prices may differ from booking direct; prepaid required. Easy if you can funnel two prepaid stays.
- Rideshare Credit (up to $60/yr) – Enroll once per year, then get $5/month back on rideshare purchases paid with the card (no rollovers). Nice if you ride monthly; $0 if you forget to enroll.
- Avis/Budget United Travel Credits (up to $50/yr) – Earn $25 in United TravelBank for each of your first two Avis or Budget rentals per anniversary year when you book at cars.united.com and pay with the card (max $50). Portal-only. Great if you rent twice.
- Instacart Credits (up to $120/yr, through 12/31/27) – $10/month in Instacart credits when you pay directly at Instacart with the card; includes a 3-month Instacart+ trial (then discount). Ends 12/31/27; credits do not roll. Solid if you already order monthly.
- JSX Credit (up to $100/yr) – Up to $100 back each anniversary year on flights purchased direct from JSX with the card. Only useful if you live near JSX routes.
- Trusted Traveler Credit (every 4 years) – Statement credit up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS when you charge the application with this card. Pick Global Entry if you ever travel abroad; it includes TSA PreCheck eligibility.
Click Here to Calculate Your Annual Fee
Credit
Include
Your Value
Practical Tip
You can edit the amounts in the number fields if you value a credit at less than the full value. For example, if you only use a $10/month Uber credit half the months, you might value it at $60 instead of $120.
United TravelBank (after $10,000 spend)
| What It Is: | $100 in United TravelBank cash each calendar year after $10,000 in purchases. |
| How It Works: | Spend $10,000 on the card; TravelBank cash appears in your MileagePlus wallet; apply to United/United Express airfare at checkout. |
| Gotchas: | Triggers only after you pass $10,000; TravelBank cash expires; cannot be used for extras (bags, seats) or third-party bookings. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone who buys even one United ticket a year. |
| Practical Value: | Near-cash $100 if you fly United annually. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
United Hotels Credits
| What It Is: | $50 back on your first and second prepaid hotel stays via United Hotels each anniversary year (max $100). |
| How It Works: | Book and prepay through the United Hotels portal; pay with the card; credit posts after the charge. |
| Gotchas: | Portal-only; prepaid required; selection and pricing can differ from booking direct; refunds can claw back credits. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Travelers who can route two prepaid stays through the portal. |
| Practical Value: | Easy $100 if you already book prepaid hotels. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
Rideshare Credit
| What It Is: | $5/month back on rideshare purchases (January–December) after annual enrollment. |
| How It Works: | Enroll once per calendar year; pay rides with the card; monthly credit posts after charges. |
| Gotchas: | Must re-enroll each year; $5 cap does not roll; rides must code as rideshare. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Regular riders or airport-trip folks who remember to enroll. |
| Practical Value: | Straight $60 if you ride monthly. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
Avis/Budget United Travel Credits
| What It Is: | $25 in United TravelBank for each of your first two Avis or Budget rentals each anniversary year (max $50). |
| How It Works: | Book at cars.united.com, pay with the card, and the TravelBank cash lands in your MileagePlus wallet after the rental. |
| Gotchas: | Portal-only booking; Avis and Budget only; you get TravelBank cash, not a statement credit, so it only spends on United airfare. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | People who rent cars twice a year and do not mind booking through United. |
| Practical Value: | $50 if you rent twice and fly United; $0 if you are loyal to another rental brand. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
Instacart Credits (through 12/31/27)
| What It Is: | $10 per month in Instacart credits (up to $120 per calendar year), plus a 3-month Instacart+ membership. |
| How It Works: | Add the card to your Instacart account and activate the offer; the credit applies at checkout on Instacart.com or in the app. |
| Gotchas: | Monthly credits do not roll over; the whole benefit ends 12/31/2027; Instacart+ auto-renews at the going rate after the trial unless you cancel. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone already ordering groceries through Instacart at least monthly. |
| Practical Value: | Close to $120 if Instacart is already part of your routine; near $0 if it is not. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
JSX Credit
| What It Is: | Up to $100 in statement credits each anniversary year on flights booked directly with JSX. |
| How It Works: | Book at jsx.com or in the JSX app and pay with the card; the credit posts automatically against the charge. |
| Gotchas: | JSX flies a small set of routes out of private terminals, mostly in the West and Texas. If you do not live near one, this is a zero. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | People who already fly JSX routes; almost nobody else. |
| Practical Value: | $100 if JSX serves your city; $0 for most people. Be honest with yourself here. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
TSA PreCheck / Global Entry Credit
| What It Is: | Up to $120 statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee, once every 4 years. |
| How It Works: | Charge the application fee to this card and the credit posts automatically. You can use it to pay for someone else's application. |
| Gotchas: | Only once every four years, and most people already have one of these from another card. |
| Who Actually Benefits: | Anyone without PreCheck or Global Entry yet, or renewing this year. |
| Practical Value: | $120 the year you use it, $0 the other three. Pick Global Entry — it includes PreCheck. |
$0
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Your Value:
$0
Annual Fee:
$150
Your Credits:
$0
YOUR Annual Fee:
$150
This is effectively what you are paying for this card. It is now up to you if the perks, protections, and earning rates are worth this fee to you over other cards.
Perks
- Earning structure (full detail) – 3x on United purchases (9x total on eligible United flights once you add the 6x MileagePlus base); 2x dining (including eligible delivery); 2x hotel stays booked directly with the hotel; 1x everything else. Also, earn up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points per year at 1 PQP per $20 spend.
- Free first checked bag – Primary cardmember and one companion on the same reservation get the first standard bag free on United-operated flights (purchase with the card; requirement waived for first 90 days after opening). Saves up to $160 round trip for two.
- Priority boarding – Board before general boarding so your carry-on finds overhead space. Applies to cardmember and companions on the same reservation.
- United Club one-time passes (2/year) – Two digital passes deposit after opening and each anniversary; subject to lounge capacity and access rules. Handy for one or two trips a year.
- 10,000-mile award flight discount (after $20,000 spend) – Spend $20,000 in a calendar year and United hands you a 10,000-mile discount to use on an award booking. Real money if you're already putting that much on the card.
- Award booking discount – Save 10% in miles on eligible United and United Express award flights (15% if you hold Premier status), plus expanded award availability that non-cardmembers don't see.
- In-flight savings – 25% back as a statement credit on United-operated onboard purchases and premium drinks in United Club when you pay with the card.
- No foreign transaction fees – Use abroad without extra percentage fees.
Protections
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption – Up to $1,500 per traveler and $6,000 per trip for non-refundable fares when a covered reason (illness, severe weather, etc.) derails plans.
- Trip Delay – If your common-carrier trip is delayed 12+ hours or needs an overnight stay, up to $500 per traveler for hotels/meals/essentials.
- Baggage Delay – $100 per day for 3 days when bags are delayed 6+ hours for essential items.
- Lost/Damaged Luggage – Up to $3,000 per traveler for checked or carry-on bags lost or damaged by the carrier.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (primary) – Primary coverage up to $60,000 for theft/collision when you pay with the card and decline the agency's waiver (vehicle/country exclusions apply).
- Purchase Protection – Covers eligible new items for 120 days, typically up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account per year.
- Extended Warranty – Adds 1 year on U.S. manufacturer warranties of 3 years or less (max 4 years total from purchase).