How to Earn Points and Miles for Free Travel
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Our take
The United Explorer Card is a co-branded rewards card that earns MileagePlus® miles and steers you towards flying United. While there is a long list of various minor benefits, conditions, and drawbacks, the balance of the card’s worth hangs on two things only. One, an annual fee of $95, which comes into force from the second year. Two, a free checked bag on each United flight you take.
Details
- 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Plus, an additional 25,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at restaurants and on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel.
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No Foreign transaction fees.
- You can use MileagePlus miles toward travel on United®, currently starting as low as 12,500 miles for a one-way Saver Award within the continental U.S. and Canada.
- No miles limit or expiration as long as your credit card account is open.
- Free first checked bag – a savings of up to $100 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Priority boarding.
- Travel & purchase coverage.
Pros
Generous signup bonus
2X miles on tickets purchased from United
No foreign transaction fees
Free first checked bag
Priority boarding
Cons
Has annual fee
Recomended Credit score
Poor
300
Fair
630
Good
690
Excellent
720
850
Bonus offer
Bonus value
$560
40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Plus, an additional 25,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
This product is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.
Rewards
Airline
2 miles / $1
Hotel
2 miles / $1
Dining
2 miles / $1
Other
1 mil / $1
Balance transfer offer
Balance transfer regular apr
17.99-24.99%
variable
Balance transfer fee
5%
min $5
Rates and fees
Purchase regular apr
17.99-24.99%
variable
Cash advance apr
26.99%
variable
Regular annual fee
$95
Cash advance fee
5%
min $10
Foreign transaction fee
0%
Late payment fee
up to
$38
Return payment fee
up to
$38
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