Chase
United Explorer Card
Annual Fee
$150
Bonus Value
$1,080
Min Spend
$3K/3mo
Current Welcome Offer
80,000
United MileagePlus Miles — worth ~$1,080
Spend $3,000 in 3 months
Typical Offer30-day offer history
12 data points
Verified from issuer
Last checked May 13
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What you get
All 3 perks ↓Perks/yr up to
$238
Annual Fee
$150
Covers fee
1.6×
Historical Intelligence
Offer history & timing
Current
80,000
Average
100,000
Tracked High
100,000
Recent changes
2025-07
NerdWallet (Wayback)
2025-05
NerdWallet (Wayback)
2025-04
NerdWallet (Wayback)
2023-12
NerdWallet (Wayback)
2023-11
NerdWallet (Wayback)
Highest observed since tracking started: 100,000 (2021-06)
Timing Intelligence
Typical offer
The current offer is in line with the typical range for this card (average: 100,000). No strong signal to wait — it's a reasonable time to apply if this card fits your needs.
Based on 12 tracked changes.Not financial advice. Always verify with issuer.
Intelligence
Decision guide
Offer Score
Solid
Est. +$1,172 net first-year value
Timing
Typical offer
The current offer is in line with the typical range for this card (average: 100,000). No strong signal to wait — it's a reasonable time to apply if this card fits your needs.
Verified from issuer · May 13
Ecosystem
United MileagePlus
MileagePlus miles for United flights, Star Alliance, and partner airlines.
Value
First-year value estimate
Conservative
+$852
65% benefit utilization, minimal travel redemptions
Realistic
+$1,172
85% benefit utilization, occasional transfer partner redemptions
Optimized
+$1,492
100% utilization, premium transfer partner redemptions
Keeper Value (Year 2+)
After the signup bonus — is it worth keeping?
+$212/yr
Based on avg US annual spend of $24,120 · Year 1 includes signup bonus. Illustrative — actual value varies by spending habits and redemption strategy.
Benefits & Transfer Partners
Benefits
Card perks & credits
Up to $238/yr in benefits
🛫airline credit
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
First checked bag free for cardholder and one companion on the same reservation on United flights.
United-operated flights; cardholder + 1 companion
Priority Boarding
$50/yr
Group 2 priority boarding on United-operated flights.
United-operated flights
🏛️lounge
2 United Club Passes Per Year
$118/yr
2 complimentary United Club one-time passes per year (~$59 each).
United Club lounges
Live Data
Verified issuer data
Last verified: May 13, 2026
low confidenceEstimated Net Annual Value
$705
after annual fee
Data sourced from issuer page via automated extraction. Verify current offers directly with creditcards.chase.com.
Approval & Best For
Fit assessment
Best For / Not Best For
Best For
- Frequent flyers with a preferred airline wanting companion benefits
Not Best For
- People seeking a no-annual-fee option with similar rewards
- Those who prefer straightforward cash back over points/miles redemptions
Current Offer Status
Offer status
80,000 United MileagePlus Miles
Last verified
May 13, 2026
Annual fee
$150/year
Compare & Alternatives
Compare with
Popular side-by-side comparisons.
Alternatives
Compare with similar cards
Alternatives
Consider these cards instead
Chase
United Quest
Step-up option with more premium benefits for heavy travelers.
$250/yr
90,000 pts
View review
Chase
SW Priority
Step-up option with more premium benefits for heavy travelers.
$229/yr
75,000 pts
View review
Amex
Delta Gold
Delta frequent flyers who check bags on domestic routes
$150/yr
70,000 pts
View review
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What's the current United Explorer welcome bonus?
80,000 United MileagePlus Miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. Welcome bonus offers change frequently — the value shown on this page is updated against the issuer's published offer. For the live offer, click through to the apply page; the bonus is confirmed at approval time, not click time.
Is the United Explorer worth the $150 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~$1,080 estimated cash value) plus tracked statement credits typically cover the $150 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on whether you actually use the recurring credits and category multipliers. Run your real spending through our Annual Fee Calculator before deciding to renew.
What airport lounge access does United Explorer include?
United Explorer includes paid day-pass lounge access (not free entry). Lounge networks differ significantly between issuers — Centurion is Amex-only, Sapphire Lounges are Chase-only, Capital One Lounges are Cap One only. Pick the card whose network actually exists at the airports you fly through.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule apply to United Explorer?
Yes. United Explorer is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies: if you've opened 5 or more personal credit cards from any issuer in the last 24 months, Chase will likely auto-deny your application regardless of credit score. Check your 5/24 status before applying. Business cards from Amex, Cap One and the Chase Ink line don't usually count toward your 5/24.
What credit score do I need for United Explorer?
Realistic target: 690+ FICO. Issuers don't publish hard cutoffs, but data points from approval/denial reports suggest 690+ is the floor for reliable approval on cards in United Explorer's tier. Income, debt-to-income ratio, and existing relationship with Chase also matter — use our Approval Predictor for a more personalized estimate.
Editorial guides
More on United Explorer and Chase
United MileagePlus: The Complete 2026 Program Guide
Why MileagePlus is the strongest US-domestic Star Alliance program for Chase UR holders — Excursionist Perk free segment, Polaris transcons at 35-45K, Star Alliance partner backup.
Read
Chase's 5/24 Rule, Explained
The unofficial Chase policy that controls who gets approved — and how to sequence your applications so you actually get the cards you want.
Read
How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United MileagePlus: 1:1 Instant Transfers, Sweet Spots, and the Excursionist Perk
The 1:1 instant transfer that unlocks Star Alliance partner business class, cheap domestic short-hauls from 10,000 miles, and the Excursionist Perk free one-way — and exactly when to pull the trigger.
Read
Why trust this review
- Independent research. CreditPoints is not paid by issuers to rank cards. All scores are algorithmic, based on public offer data, benefit valuations, and issuer rules.
- Regular verification. Offer amounts, spend requirements, and benefit values are checked against issuer pages via automated monitoring and manual audit.
- Transparent methodology. Every value estimate uses disclosed assumptions. Read our full scoring methodology.
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page. The first-year value math, transfer-partner analysis and approval signals on this card review are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
United Explorer Card
Current offer: 80,000 United — worth ~$1,080
View Official OfferChase's secure site · No data stored · Commission may apply
Offers are based on publicly available information and are subject to change without notice. Estimated values are illustrative. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any card issuer.
United Explorer
80,000 United offer