Chase Aeroplan vs United Explorer
Aeroplan vs United MileagePlus — Chase Aeroplan vs United Explorer — here's what separates them. Same fee tier; the winner depends on which category bonuses and credits align with your actual spending.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), United Explorer comes out ahead at ~$985 at the same $95 annual fee. United Explorer sits in United MileagePlus; Chase Aeroplan sits in Aeroplan. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Our Verdict
Chase Aeroplan wins for most people.
At the same $95 annual fee, Chase Aeroplan edges ahead at ~$1,245 vs ~$1,223 for United Explorer based on bonus value and category earning.
Exception: United Explorer is the better pick if the welcome bonus timing aligns better with your spending window.
Chase Aeroplan
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $1,245 after annual fee.
Chase
Chase Aeroplan
Annual Fee
$95/yr
Signup Bonus
70,000 Aeroplan Points
Bonus Value
~$980
Benefits Value
~$360/yr
Spend Req.
$3,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Aeroplan
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
Free Checked Bag
$60/use
⭐ status
Aeroplan 25K Status Boost
$100/yr
🛡️ insurance
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
$200/yr
Chase
United Explorer
Annual Fee
$95/yr
Signup Bonus
80,000 United MileagePlus
Bonus Value
~$1,080
Benefits Value
~$238/yr
Spend Req.
$3,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
United MileagePlus
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
🛫 airline credit
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
Priority Boarding
$50/yr
🏛️ lounge
2 United Club Passes Per Year
$118/yr
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
Chase Aeroplan
Wins on stronger travel multiplier (3× vs 2×) on flights and hotels.
Best for Dining
Chase Aeroplan
Stronger dining category multiplier for everyday restaurant spending.
Best for Lounge Access
Chase Aeroplan
Stronger lounge network (United Club (day passes)) than the other card's United Club (day passes).
Best Overall Value
Chase Aeroplan
~$1,245 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Chase Aeroplan | United Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $1,529 | $1,417 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $2,127 | $1,817 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $2,109 | $1,835 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $2,613 | $2,249 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Chase Aeroplan | United Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 70,000 Aeroplan Points (~$980) | 80,000 United MileagePlus (~$1,080) |
| Annual fee | $95/yr | $95/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $0 |
| Transfer partners | None (single program) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $60/yr | $120/yr |
| Lounge access | United Club (day passes only) | United Club (day passes only) |
| Dining rewards | 3x | 2x |
| Grocery rewards | 3x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | 1x | 2x 2x on hotel stays booked directly with hotel |
| Travel insurance | Limited | Limited |
| Cell phone protection | Not included | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
Who should get the Chase Aeroplan?
- ✓You're comfortable with a $95 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓Groceries are a major monthly line item and you want grocery-specific earning.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.
Who should get the United Explorer?
- ✓You're comfortable with a $95 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You're under Chase 5/24 (≤ 4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — that window is precious, so prioritise the Chase application now.
Break-Even Analysis
At what annual spend does one card permanently beat the other?
Chase Aeroplan wins at all practical spend levels
Chase Aeroplan wins at virtually every annual spend level in ongoing (year 2+) math. The combination of its credits ($360/yr) and category multipliers means United Explorer doesn't close the gap even at $30,000/yr in annual card spend. Year-one bonus value for Chase Aeroplan is the exception — that first-year math may point differently.
Break-even calculated on year-2+ ongoing value (benefits + earning − annual fee). Year-one welcome bonus math is separate — see the value scenarios table above.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Chase Aeroplan or United Explorer?
United Explorer currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,080 vs ~980). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Chase Aeroplan worth the 95 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~980) and statement credits alone typically cover the 95 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Chase Aeroplan and the United Explorer at the same time?
Yes — Chase allows holding both Chase Aeroplan and United Explorer simultaneously. Each card has its own welcome bonus and statement credits, so they don't conflict. Chase's welcome bonus eligibility rules may require waiting between applications; check current policy before applying for the second card.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Neither card transfers points to World of Hyatt. Only Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards and the co-branded World of Hyatt card transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. To stack Hyatt points without leaving these two ecosystems you'd need to add a Chase Sapphire or Bilt card alongside.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Chase Aeroplan unlocks United Club (day passes); United Explorer unlocks United Club (day passes). Both give you a real lounge experience, but the networks don't overlap — pick the card whose lounge footprint fits the airports you actually fly through.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Chase Aeroplan comes out ahead at ~1,245 of net value vs ~1,223 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — both cards are issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies to both. If you've opened 5 or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application regardless of credit score. Check your 5/24 count before applying for either.
How does CreditPoints compare {cardA} and {cardB}?
Every comparison uses the same fixed methodology: welcome offer value (bonus × current points valuation minus AF), category earning rates, annual fee vs benefit math, transfer-partner depth + redemption value, lounge tier, travel protections, and foreign transaction handling. Card facts come from issuer pages (verified via Playwright on the "Last reviewed" date), card-program award charts, and TPG monthly valuations. Nothing on this page is paid-placement — the Quick Winners, Real-World Scenarios, and Comparison Table are deterministic outputs from the data, not editorial opinion.
How often is the information on this comparison updated?
The comparison data regenerates on every site build (typically multiple times per week as offers change). Welcome offer terms, annual fees, and category multipliers are verified against issuer pages and refreshed as part of the catalog. Welcome bonuses, annual fees, and benefits can change at any time at the issuer's discretion — always confirm current terms on the issuer's application page before applying. The "Last reviewed" date in the trust strip below shows the most recent manual methodology + data-source audit.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If neither card is quite right, these are the next closest options.
Amex
Amex Green
Citi
Strata Premier
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Chase
Chase Aeroplan
Welcome: 70,000 Aeroplan Points · ~$980 est. value
Chase
United Explorer
Welcome: 80,000 United MileagePlus · ~$1,080 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
How we compare these cards
Every pair on CreditPoints is evaluated against the same fixed set of criteria, regenerated on every build from verified card-level data. Nothing in this section changes based on who you are or how you got here.
Factors we evaluate
- •Welcome offer value (bonus points × current valuation, minus annual fee)
- •Earning rates per spend category (dining, travel, groceries, gas, base)
- •Annual fee vs benefit math (statement credits + perks priced to value)
- •Transfer partner depth + redemption flexibility (programs, ratios, sweet spots)
- •Lounge access (network tier, guest policy, in-airport coverage)
- •Travel protections (trip cancellation, baggage, rental-car CDW, cell phone)
- •Hotel and airline benefits (free nights, status, elite-night credits)
- •Foreign transaction fees + chip+PIN support for international use
How we evaluate rewards programs
We score transferable-points ecosystems (Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TY, Capital One Miles, Bilt) by partner count + redemption value at each partner's sweet spot. Co-brand programs are evaluated against the loyalty program's published award chart and the realistic point earn rate from typical category spend.
How we evaluate transfer partners
Transfer-partner quality outranks transfer-partner quantity. A single 1:1 partner with strong sweet spots (Hyatt via Chase UR, ANA via Amex MR) often beats a dozen 2:1 partners with little redemption upside.
How we evaluate annual fees
An annual fee is justified only when the card's first-year value (welcome bonus + activated credits + benefits) clearly exceeds the AF for the typical reader profile. Our four spending scenarios (beginner, everyday, traveler, premium) show whether the math works for your situation.
How we evaluate travel benefits
Statement credits are priced at face value only when the activation barrier is low (broad-merchant credits, auto-redeem credits). High-friction credits (single-vendor, expiring monthly, claim-required) are discounted because most cardholders don't capture them.
Recommendations on this page are intended as educational guidance and are not financial advice. Always confirm current offer terms on the issuer's site before applying.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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