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United℠ Explorer Card

Card Value & United Miles Calculator
card
Fees
Earning Rates
  • 2X miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays
  • 1X miles on all other purchases.
Intro Bonus
Main Benefits
  • First checked bag free, priority boarding, two United Club passes annually, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and discounts on in-flight purchases.
Rewards Details
  • Based on our valuations, United miles earned with the United Explorer Card are worth 1.3 cents each when used for award flights with United and their partners.
Our Take
If you're looking to save on checked bags while also receiving a handful of solid benefits, the United Explorer Card is a great choice. If you're looking to maximize your United miles, on the other hand, you should consider United credit card partners or one of United's more premium credit cards.

United Explorer Card earning rate

The United Explorer Card earns United miles at the following rates:

  • 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges.
  • 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, including eligible delivery services.
  • 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

United Explorer Card miles value calculator

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United Explorer Card benefits

Here are the main perks and benefits of the United Explorer Card:

  • First Checked Bag Free: Receive the first checked bag for free for yourself and up to one companion traveling with you on the same reservation — a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip.
  • United Club Passes: Every year, two United Club one-time passes will be deposited into your account.
  • Earn PQPs On Spend: Earn 25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases with your Explorer Card, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year.
  • Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Fee Credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $120 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS when charged to your card.
  • 25% Savings In-Flight: Receive 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card.
  • Priority Boarding: Receive priority boarding for yourself and companions traveling on the same reservation.
  • Travel & Purchase Coverage: Trip Cancellation Insurance, Trip Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Baggage Delay Insurance, Purchase Protection, and Extended Warranty Protection.

United Explorer Card miles transfer calculator

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United Explorer Card fees

Annual Fee

The United Explorer Card has an annual fee of $0 the first year, then $95.

Like most entry-level airline cards, you can easily make up for the cost on the free checked bag perk alone. The United Club passes, priority boarding, and discounts on purchases also easily adds value to the card.

Authorized User Fee

There is no fee to add additional users to the United Explorer Card. Adding family and friends as authorized users can help you build your United miles faster and push you to higher status in the program thanks to the PQPs you can earn across all card spend.

Foreign Transaction Fee

The United Explorer Card does not have a foreign transaction fee. This means you can use the card to earn United miles outside of the United States with no penalty.

United Explorer Card miles calculator

Calculate how many United Miles you can earn with the United Explorer Card based on spend and the cash value of those points. Results can be compared side by side any U.S. credit card featured on the site.

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Use Our Calculator To Maximize Your United Miles

Discover personalized credit card options that match your spending habits and maximizes your miles.

Simply input your monthly and yearly spend amounts into our easy-to-use calculator to find the best United credit card options for you!