Airline card review
United℠ Explorer Card
The mainstream United card. Free checked bag, two club passes a year, and a first year without a fee.
Open to new applicantsPartly verified
At a glance
Annual fee$150 after year one$0 for the first year, then $150.
Welcome offerUp to 60,000 bonus miles$3,000 in 3 months
IssuerChase
Rewards programUnited MileagePlus
Foreign transaction feeNone
Welcome offer
Up to 60,000 bonus miles after $3,000 of spending within 3 months.
Chase's page shows 60,000 with a higher 80,000 figure struck through, presented as a previous offer. One report describes a range of 75,000 to 90,000 depending on authorised-user conditions. Check what you are shown.
Offers vary. Welcome offers on this card can differ by applicant, by referral and by the link you apply through. The figure above is what our source showed on the date given, not a guarantee of what you will be offered.
Earning rates
Not verified. We could not confirm this card's earning rates against a page we could read during this build, so none are listed. We would rather leave this blank than print a number we have not checked. The issuer's own product page has the current rates.
Benefits and credits
- Free first checked bag On United itineraries, subject to the card's terms.
- United Club passes Historically two one-time passes per year. Confirm on Chase's product page.
Restrictions worth knowing
- Chase 5/24 applies.
- Earning rates were not displayed on the listing page we checked.
How to use it well
- Take the first year free and judge it at renewal on how many bags you actually checked.
- Two travelers checking bags on two round trips normally clears the $150.
Sources and freshness
What we checked: Name, fee and current welcome offer confirmed on Chase's own United card page, 2 November 2026. Earning rates and club pass count not displayed.
- Chase: United credit cards — read November 2, 2026
Last updated: November 2, 2026.
Other United cards
- United Club℠ Card — $695, open to new applicants
- United Quest℠ Card — $350, open to new applicants
- United Gateway℠ Card — $0, open to new applicants