On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- United Explorer vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- the United Explorer Card legitimacy and licensing
- United Explorer Card annual fee and rates
- What you get with the card
- Free checked bag rules
- Complaints and how to avoid problems
- The rules that protect you
- Who should skip it
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
The United Explorer Card is worth the $150 annual fee (waived the first year) if you fly United at least a couple of times a year and check bags, since the first-bag benefit alone can save up to $200 per round trip for two people. It is a legitimate Visa card issued by JPMorgan Chase and co-branded with United Airlines. It's a weak fit if you book whichever airline is cheapest, because miles stay inside MileagePlus and most of the 'over $500 in partner credits' only pay out if you already use United Hotels, JSX, Instacart, rideshare and Avis or Budget through United. Carrying a balance is expensive at 19.99% to 28.49% variable APR.
- Annual fee
- $0 intro annual fee the first year, then $150 (as listed October 2026)2
- Welcome offer
- Up to 80,000 bonus miles: 70,000 after $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 after adding an authorized user in the first 3 months1
- Bonus eligibility
- Not available if you have this card now or received a new cardmember bonus for it in the past 24 months1
- Earning
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights (6x as a MileagePlus member plus 3x from the card), 3x on other United purchases, 2x on dining and hotel stays booked with the hotel, 1x on everything else1
- Purchase APR
- 19.99% to 28.49% variable; cash advance APR 28.74%; penalty APR up to 29.99%2
- Other fees
- No foreign transaction fee; balance transfer and cash advance fees are 5% (minimum $5 and $10); late and returned payment fees up to $402
- Travel perks
- Free first checked bag for you and one companion, Group 2 boarding, 2 United Club one-time passes a year, up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS credit every 4 years1
- Issuer and network
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., on the Visa network1
Pros
- Free first checked bag for you and one companion on the same reservation, worth up to $200 per round trip
- $0 annual fee the first year
- Two United Club one-time passes each year and Group 2 boarding
- Up to $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every 4 years
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons
- $150 annual fee from year two
- Miles are tied to United MileagePlus, with no transfers to other airlines
- Most partner credits require booking through specific United channels
- 1x miles on everyday purchases outside dining, hotels and United
- High variable APR of 19.99% to 28.49% if you carry a balance
Best for: People who fly United at least two or three times a year, usually check a bag and pay the card off in full each month.
Skip it if: You fly United less than once a year, book on price across airlines, or carry a balance.
United Explorer vs. competitors
| Company | Annual fee | Checked bag benefit | Welcome offer | Foreign transaction fee | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Explorer Card | $0 first year, then $150 | First bag free for you and one companion | Up to 80,000 miles | None | |
| United Gateway Card | $0 | Two first checked bags after $10,000 spent in a calendar year | 40,000 miles after $1,000 in 3 months, plus 10,000 for an authorized user | None | |
| Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card | $0 first year, then $150 | First bag free on Delta flights, second bag free on domestic Delta flights | Varies by offer | None | |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | None | 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months | None | Read review |
Credit cards we reviewed
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United Explorer This review BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who fly United at least two or three times a year, usually check a bag and pay the card off in full each month. -
Chase Freedom Unlimited BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend a lot on restaurants and drugstores, want a long 0% intro period, or already have a Chase Sapphire card to pair it with. -
Chase Sapphire Preferred BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend regularly on dining, gas and online groceries, pay in full each month and want flexible travel points with solid trip insurance. -
Discover it® Cash Back BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Organized spenders who will activate categories each quarter and want to double their first-year cash back. -
Amex Gold BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who spend heavily on dining and groceries, already use Uber or Grubhub, and redeem points for travel. -
Capital One Venture BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with strong credit who travel at least a few times a year and want one simple card that earns 2X miles everywhere, including abroad. -
Capital One Quicksilver BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with strong credit who want one simple cash back card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
United Explorer pricing at a glance
United Explorer Card rates and fees, as listed October 20262
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 the first year, then $150 |
| Purchase and balance transfer APR | 19.99% to 28.49% variable |
| Cash advance APR | 28.74% variable |
| Penalty APR | Up to 29.99%, may apply indefinitely |
| Balance transfer fee | $5 or 5%, whichever is greater |
| Cash advance fee | $10 or 5%, whichever is greater |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
| Late or returned payment | Up to $40 |
Variable APRs are based on a 7.00% Prime Rate as of September 22, 2026. Chase notes the account may not be eligible for balance transfers. Chase Pay Over Time plans carry a monthly fee of up to 1.72% of the amount financed.
United Explorer, step by step
Check the bonus rules
You can't get the bonus if you hold the card now or got its bonus in the past 24 months. Chase reviews credit and income; it doesn't publish a minimum score.
Apply and add your MileagePlus number
Miles post to your United MileagePlus account. Spend $3,000 in 3 months for 70,000 miles and add an authorized user in 3 months for 10,000 more.
Book United flights with the card
The free first bag requires buying the ticket with the card and putting your MileagePlus number on the reservation, except for flights in the first 90 days after account opening.
Enroll in and use the credits
The rideshare credit requires enrollment. The hotel, Avis or Budget, JSX and Instacart credits only apply when you book through those specific channels with the card.
Decide before the fee posts
Look at what you used in year one before the $150 fee hits. If the perks don't cover it, ask Chase about a product change to the no-fee United Gateway Card or cancel.
the United Explorer Card legitimacy and licensing
Yes. The card is issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and runs on the Visa network, and the miles post to United’s MileagePlus program. As a credit card it falls under the federal Truth in Lending Act and the CARD Act, and you can file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Chase is the largest U.S. bank, and its complaint volume is large too. The CFPB database shows 7,027 credit card complaints about JPMorgan Chase from October 2025 to October 2026, and the BBB lists 4,013 complaints about the bank in three years with an A- rating. Those totals cover all Chase cards and accounts, not just this one.
United Explorer Card annual fee and rates
The annual fee is $0 the first year and $150 after that. There’s no foreign transaction fee. If you carry a balance, the purchase APR. Annual percentage rate: the yearly cost of borrowing on a card, which issuers must disclose before you agree. Compare credit cards is 19.99% to 28.49% variable, cash advances cost 28.74% plus a 5% fee, and a late payment can cost up to $40 and trigger a penalty APR of up to 29.99% that may last indefinitely.
Chase’s own math on the main perk: the first checked bag is worth up to $50 each way per person, so up to $200 for two people on one round trip. If you take one round trip a year with a companion and check bags, the bag benefit alone covers the fee.
What you get with the card
- Earning: 9x total miles on eligible United flights (6x from your MileagePlus fare plus 3x from the card), 3x on other United purchases, 2x on dining and hotels booked directly, 1x elsewhere.
- Bags and boarding: first standard checked bag free for you and one companion on the same reservation, and Group 2 boarding.
- Lounge: two United Club one-time passes a year.
- Credits: up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every 4 years; 25% back on United inflight food, drinks and Wi-Fi; a $100 United travel credit after $10,000 in yearly spend; a 10,000-mile award discount after $20,000 in yearly spend.
- Partner credits: up to $100 in United Hotels credits ($50 on each of two prepaid stays), up to $60 a year in rideshare (enrollment required), up to $50 for Avis or Budget booked through United, up to $120 a year in Instacart, and up to $100 a year on JSX.
- Status: 1 Premier Qualifying Point per $20 spent, up to 1,000 PQP a calendar year.
- Protections: primary rental car coverage up to $60,000, trip cancellation up to $1,500 per traveler, trip delay up to $500 after 12 hours, baggage delay up to $100 a day for 3 days, lost luggage up to $3,000, and purchase protection for 120 days.
Free checked bag rules
To get the free first bag, you must buy the ticket with your Explorer Card and add your MileagePlus number to the reservation. Chase waives the purchase requirement for flights completed in the first 90 days after you open the account. The benefit covers you and one companion on the same reservation; authorized users only qualify when they’re on your reservation. It applies only on United- and United Express-operated flights, so bags on partner airlines aren’t covered.
What customers say about United Explorer
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Free first checked bag for the cardholder and a companion
- Two United Club passes and Group 2 boarding
- No foreign transaction fee
- First-year annual fee waiver
Common complaints
- Disputed purchases on the statement, the top Chase credit card issue at the CFPB
- Card terms and features that changed or didn't work as expected
- Promotional offer and bonus disputes
- Account closures
Complaints and how to avoid problems
Chase’s credit card complaints at the CFPB center on disputed purchases, card features and terms, promotional offers, getting a card and account closures. A few habits avoid most of them:
- Save the offer page when you apply, so you have the bonus terms in writing.
- Expect the bonus to post 6 to 8 weeks after you meet the spending requirement, and keep the account open and current until it does.
- Enroll in the rideshare credit and book hotels, rentals and JSX through the stated channels, or the credits won’t apply.
- Dispute a wrong charge in writing within 60 days of the statement date to keep your Fair Credit Billing Act rights.
The rules that protect you
The CARD Act requires Chase to give you at least 21 days to pay before interest on new purchases, 45 days’ notice before raising your rate or making major changes, and to apply payments above the minimum to your highest-rate balance first. The Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute billing errors. If Chase doesn’t fix a problem, file at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
Who should skip it
If you fly United less than once a year, the $150 fee will usually cost more than you get back; the no-fee United Gateway Card or a cash back card is a better fit. If you split flights among several airlines, a card with transferable points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, keeps your options open. And if you carry a balance, interest will wipe out the value of any travel perk.
Alternatives to United Explorer
-
United Gateway Card
No annual fee if you fly United only once in a while and don't need bags or lounge passes.
-
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Points transfer to United and other airline and hotel partners, so it's better if you don't want to commit to one airline.
-
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Same $150 fee structure, but it fits better if you live near a Delta hub.
-
A no-fee cash back card
If you fly United less than once a year, a no-annual-fee card and paying for a bag when you need one costs less.
United Explorer reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is the United Explorer Card worth it?
It is if you fly United at least a couple of times a year and check bags. The free first bag is worth up to $200 per round trip for two people, which covers the $150 fee on its own. Occasional United flyers usually do better with a no-fee card.
What is the United Explorer Card annual fee?
$0 the first year, then $150 a year, per Chase's pricing and terms as of October 2026.
What is the current United Explorer Card bonus?
Up to 80,000 bonus miles: 70,000 after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, plus 10,000 after you add an authorized user in the first 3 months. Offers change, so check Chase's page before you apply.
What credit score do you need for the United Explorer Card?
Chase doesn't publish a minimum. It reviews your credit report, income and existing Chase accounts, so apply when your credit is in good standing.
Does the free checked bag cover my companion?
Yes, one companion on the same reservation gets a free first standard checked bag. You must buy the ticket with the card and include your MileagePlus number, except on flights in the first 90 days of the account.
Does the United Explorer Card have foreign transaction fees?
No. Chase lists no foreign transaction fee on this card.
Does the United Explorer Card give United Club access?
It includes two United Club one-time passes a year, not a membership. For full Club access, United offers a separate Club card with a higher fee.
Can I get the bonus if I had the card before?
Only if you don't currently have the card and haven't received a new cardmember bonus for it in the past 24 months.
What is the APR on the United Explorer Card?
19.99% to 28.49% variable for purchases and balance transfers, 28.74% for cash advances, and up to 29.99% as a penalty APR, based on a 7.00% Prime Rate as of September 2026.
How do the United Explorer Card credits work?
Each credit is tied to a channel: United Hotels prepaid stays, rideshare after enrollment, Avis or Budget booked through United's travel site, Instacart, and JSX flights. The $100 United travel credit requires $10,000 in spending in a calendar year.
Sources (8)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Chase: United Explorer Card (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Chase: United Explorer Card pricing and terms (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer Complaint Database, JPMorgan Chase credit cards (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Chase: United Gateway Card (accessed October 12, 2026)
- American Express: Delta SkyMiles Gold Card (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Chase: Sapphire Preferred pricing and terms (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Credit card rights under the CARD Act (accessed October 12, 2026)
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