The United Explorer Card gives you United Airlines miles, airport lounge access, and statement credits that can offset the annual fee
The United Explorer Card is a co-branded credit card issued by Chase in partnership with United Airlines. When you use it for purchases, you earn United miles instead of cash back. The card also includes benefits like access to United Club passes, a statement credit you can use toward baggage fees or seat upgrades, and a bonus of miles when you first open the account.
The card costs $65 per year to hold. Whether that fee makes sense depends on how often you fly United, how much you value lounge access, and whether you'll use the statement credits the card provides each year.
Key Takeaways
- You earn 2 miles per dollar on United purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases, with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months.
- The card includes four passes per year to United Club lounges, which normally cost $59 each if you bought them separately.
- You receive a $100 statement credit each year that you can use only for United baggage fees, seat upgrades, or other United incidental charges — not for ticket purchases.
- The annual fee is $65, which you pay every year the account remains open, even if you don't use the card.
- Miles earned on the card do not expire as long as your account stays active, but closing the card ends your account and any unused miles may be forfeited.
How you earn miles and what they're worth
Every time you use the card, you earn United miles at a rate that depends on what you're buying. You earn 2 miles per dollar when you buy a United airline ticket, book a United vacation package, or make a purchase through the United shopping portal. You earn 1 mile per dollar on everything else — groceries, gas, restaurants, utilities, and all other spending.
The value of a mile varies depending on which flight you book and how far in advance you book it. A mile might be worth 0.5 cents on a short domestic flight or 1.5 cents on a long international flight. The card's sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles could be worth anywhere from $250 to $750 in ticket value, depending on the flights you choose.
Miles can be used to book United flights, upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin, or transferred to United's partner airlines and hotels. If you never fly United or its partners, the miles have no value to you, and the card becomes an expensive way to earn rewards you cannot use.
Lounge access and how it works
The card includes four passes per year to United Club lounges, which are airport lounges where you can sit in a quieter space, eat snacks, use showers, and charge your devices while you wait for your flight. Each pass is good for one visit and covers you plus one guest. If you fly United frequently, these passes can save you money — a single day pass to a United Club costs $59 if you buy it at the airport.
You can use these passes on any airline, not just United flights, as long as you're traveling that day. If you don't use all four passes in a year, they do not roll over to the next year — you lose them. If you travel fewer than four times per year, you may not get full value from this benefit.
The annual statement credit and what it covers
Each year, the card gives you a $100 statement credit that appears on your bill automatically. This credit can only be used for specific United charges: baggage fees, seat selection fees, upgrade bids, pet travel fees, and other incidental charges. It cannot be used to pay for airline tickets themselves.
The credit is applied automatically when you make a may have access to purchase, so you don't have to request it or enter a code. If you don't use the full $100 in a year, the unused amount does not carry forward — it expires. For a frequent United traveler who regularly pays for seat upgrades or checked bags, this credit can nearly offset the $65 annual fee. For someone who flies infrequently or always travels light, it may go unused.
Sign-up bonus and how to earn it
When you open the card, you receive a sign-up bonus of 50,000 United miles. To earn this bonus, you must spend at least $5,000 on the card within the first three months of opening the account. This spending must be actual purchases — balance transfers and cash advances do not count.
The bonus is added to your account automatically once you meet the spending requirement, usually within one or two billing cycles. If you don't spend $5,000 in the first three months, you do not receive the bonus, and there is no way to earn it later. The size of the sign-up bonus can change, so the current offer may differ from what is shown here.
Annual fee and whether it pays for itself
The card charges $65 per year. This fee is charged on the anniversary of the day you open the account and every year after that, as long as the account remains open. You cannot avoid the fee by not using the card — it is charged automatically.
Whether the fee is worth it depends on your travel habits. If you use all four lounge passes and the $100 statement credit each year, you're getting $336 in value (four passes at $59 each plus $100 in credits), which covers the fee and leaves you ahead. If you use only one or two lounge passes and don't pay for baggage or upgrades, the fee may cost you more than the benefits are worth. The card makes the most sense for people who fly United at least a few times per year and regularly pay for incidental charges like baggage or seat upgrades.
How miles expire and what happens if you close the card
United miles do not expire as long as your account is active — meaning you have at least one United credit card open or you've earned or redeemed miles within the past 18 months. If your account becomes inactive, miles can expire after 18 months of no activity.
If you close the United Explorer Card, your account may be considered inactive, and you could lose any unused miles. Before closing the card, you should either transfer your miles to a partner airline or hotel, use them to book a flight, or open a different United credit card to keep your account active. Once miles are transferred or used, they cannot be recovered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the lounge passes on flights with other airlines?
Yes. The four United Club passes included with the card work on any airline, as long as you're traveling that day. You don't have to be flying United to use the pass — you just need to be at the airport on a day you have a flight booked.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles themselves don't disappear when you close the card, but your United account may become inactive if you have no other way to keep it active. After 18 months of no activity, inactive miles can expire. Before closing the card, transfer your miles to a partner or book a flight to keep them safe.
Does the $100 statement credit work for buying plane tickets?
No. The credit only covers baggage fees, seat upgrades, pet travel, and other incidental United charges. It cannot be used to pay for the ticket itself. You must use your regular credit limit or another payment method to buy the ticket.
How much is the sign-up bonus worth in real dollars?
It depends on the flights you book. A mile is typically worth between 0.5 and 1.5 cents, so 50,000 miles could be worth $250 to $750 in ticket value. Domestic short flights tend to be on the lower end, while long international flights tend to be on the higher end.
Do I have to use the card to keep my miles from expiring?
No. Miles stay active as long as your United account is active, which happens if you have any United credit card open or if you've earned or redeemed miles within 18 months. You don't have to use the card regularly — just keeping it open is enough.