Making the Most of the United Explorer Card
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Updated · 2 min read
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Managing Editor 
Edited by
Managing Editor 
Co-written by
Senior Writer/Spokesperson 
Branded credit cards like the United℠ Explorer Card exist to encourage loyalty — in this case, to a particular airline. That means you have to fly United at least once in a while to get any value from the United℠ Explorer Card.
But as long as you're a United flyer, it's easy to benefit from this card. All you have to do is take advantage of the opportunities to earn extra miles, use the card perks regularly and be strategic about how you redeem your miles.
1. Earn more miles
Snag the sign-up bonus
The current sign-up bonus is generous: Earn up to 80,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles after spending $3,000 on qualifying purchases in the first 3 months of opening an account (70K + 10K more miles with an authorized user). Plan your credit card purchases carefully to make sure you hit the spending requirement.
Enjoy useful ongoing rewards categories
The United℠ Explorer Card earns 5 miles per $1 spent on hotel stays purchased through United Hotels, 3 miles per $1 on United purchases, 2 miles per $1 on restaurant purchases and hotel stays, and 1 miles per $1 on other purchases. The bonus categories make the card relatively attractive for everyday use and can help you rack up miles more quickly.
Also, simply being a United cardholder means you'll usually earn an additional 3 miles per dollar spent on flights through the MileagePlus program, regardless of how you pay for those flights. Those miles are separate from those earned on spending with the credit card. Learn more about the MileagePlus program.
Shop with United travel partners
United has more partners than a professional square dancer, which makes it pretty easy to earn miles on non-United purchases. Here's how:
- Book a flight: Earn miles when you fly with one of its partner airlines, including those in the Star Alliance, an international network of airlines.
- Ride on Amtrak: Earn miles on certain Amtrak routes.
- Rent a car: General MileagePlus program members can earn up to 500 bonus miles and qualify for other discounts when booking a car rental through United.
- Stay at a hotel: Earn miles by booking a trip through one of United’s partner hotel websites.
- Buy a vacation or cruise package: You can earn up to 35,000 miles by booking a cruise through United, and 2 miles per $1 — plus bonuses, in some cases — for buying a vacation package.
You don’t need the United℠ Explorer Card to take advantage of every one of these deals; you just need to be a MileagePlus member. But if you do use the card, you’ll earn United miles for the purchase in addition to the bonus.
Shop in the MileagePlus bonus mall
Instead of making a beeline for Amazon.com when you're shopping online, stop by United’s bonus mall first. You can earn miles by clicking through to one of the listed online retailers, including some big names such as Sears.com and Walmart.com, and completing a transaction. The miles you earn via the bonus mall are on top of what you earn by using the United℠ Explorer Card for the purchase.
Enroll in the dining program
United's MileagePlus Dining Program gives you extra miles for using your card at participating restaurants. It’s free to sign up, and after you register your card, you can earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent at restaurants you were planning on visiting anyway. Stack that on top of the Explorer card’s 2x rate at restaurants, and you could get 7 miles per $1 spent.
2. Use your benefits
Get free checked bags
You and a companion on the same reservation get the first checked bag free with United when you use the United℠ Explorer Card to book the flight. If you used another card, you’d either have to stuff your bag in the overhead bins or cough up cash to check it.
Visit the United Club
A visit to the United Club can make your next layover less stressful and more scone-driven. These lounges offer snacks, drinks and magazines, all for free. The United℠ Explorer Card gives you two one-time passes to these airport paradises each year — worth $59 each, according to United. Be sure to use them before they expire. Note, too, that holders of the United℠ Explorer Card (or the authorized user) must be at the United Club in order to redeem the pass.
Save with statement credits and discounts
The United℠ Explorer Card comes with a ton of travel-related credits that can make up the cost of the card’s annual fee — and then some. But pay attention to the requirements for earning each credit.
- 25% discount. The discount applies to purchases of food, drinks and Wi-Fi aboard United and United Express flights, and premium drink purchases at United Clubs.
- 10,000-mile award flight discount. You must spend at least $20,000 on the card in a calendar year to qualify.
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus applications. This credit renews every four years.
- Up to $120 in Instacart credits. Get a $10 monthly Instacart credit for purchases made through Instacart with United℠ Explorer Card. Cardholders also get a free three-month Instacart+ membership. After three months, cardholders are automatically enrolled in Instacart+ at 25% off the annual rate (currently $99 a year). Complimentary Instacart+ membership benefit expires Dec. 31, 2027.
- $100 in United TravelBank cash to spend on United or United Express flights. You must spend at least $10,000 on the card in a calendar year to qualify.
- Up to $50 in United TravelBank cash per year when booking via select partners. Get $25 of TravelBank cash for your first and second Avis or Budget car rental booked through cars.united.com and paid for with the Explorer card.
- Up to $100 statement credit per year on hotel stays. Get a $50 credit for your first and second prepaid hotel stays purchased through United Hotels with the Explorer card.
- Up to $100 statement credit per year on JSX flights. You must book a flight directly with JSX, a company that offers semi-private jet flights.
- Up to $60 per year in statement credit on rideshares. Get a $5 statement credit each month that you pay for a rideshare with the card. Yearly enrollment is required to get the credits.
3. Redeem miles strategically
Generally, you can get the most value from your miles by using them to book United flights. Steer clear of other overpriced redemption options.
Check for monthly featured Saver Awards
United’s Saver Award deals can help you squeeze more trips out of your miles. These offer the same basic amenities as Standard Award deals, but they’re a lot cheaper. If you wanted to book a one-way economy flight from San Francisco to London in mid-January, for example, a Saver ticket would cost you a mere 30,000 miles plus $5.60 in fees.
How to book an award flight
Once your MileagePlus account is full of miles, you’ll want to redeem them. Here’s how you do that:
- Log in to your MileagePlus account.
- Enter your upcoming trip details and select “Search.”
- Select the flight you want to buy with your miles, and check out. The ticket’s award prices will be deducted from your mile balance.
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