United℠ Explorer Card
Issued by Chase · $150/yr annual fee (waived first year)
Welcome bonus
60,000 points
After $3,000 spend in 3 months
50K after $3K spend + 10K for adding AU = 60K total. AF raised from $95 to $150 in April 2026 United card refresh ($0 first year).
Key benefits
- ›First checked bag free — cardholder + 1 companion on same reservation
- ›2 United Club one-time passes per year
- ›Priority boarding
- ›25% back on United in-flight purchases
- ›No foreign transaction fees
Earn rates
| United purchases | 2× |
| Dining | 2× |
| Hotels | 2× |
| All else | 1× |
Why this card
The default entry United card. Free bag saves ~$70 round-trip — pays the AF in ~2 trips.
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