【October 7, 2026 update】 The inflight application link has also caught up with the best-ever 90,000-mile offer. See the Welcome Offer section for details.
Highlights
- Strong United benefits: lounge passes, free checked bag, award discounts, onboard spending discounts, and more
- Low annual fee, with enough credits that holding cost can effectively be $0
Who is this card for? This card is best for people who fly United often, can use the 10% award-ticket discount, free checked bag, lounge passes, and United-related credits, and are willing to reach the annual spending thresholds. The $150 annual fee can be partly offset by the hotel, rideshare, car-rental, and JSX benefits; if you rarely fly United or cannot use those annual benefits, the value is more limited.
Issuer: Chase Bank
Network: Visa
Type: Credit card
Annual fee: $150
No foreign transaction fee
Rewards are United miles, posted directly to the linked UA account.
Welcome Offer
【October 7, 2026 update】 The inflight application link has also caught up with a best-ever 90,000-mile offer:
- Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months for 75,000 miles
- Add one authorized user in the first 3 months for 10,000 miles
- Use flight-attendant invite code VAHH7P for an extra 5,000 miles
Previous welcome offers
【October 4, 2026 update】 The best-ever welcome offer returned: 80,000 miles + first-year annual fee waived: Expired
- Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months for 70,000 miles
- Add one authorized user in the first 3 months for 10,000 miles
- The $150 first-year annual fee was waived
【September 17, 2026 update】 The inflight offer was better, at 75,000 miles: Expired
(Thanks to showtime for sharing this from a flight.)
- Spend $6,000 in the first 3 months for 60,000 miles
- Add one authorized user in the first 3 months for 10,000 miles
- Use flight-attendant invite code VAHH7P for an extra 5,000 miles
Or scan the QR code directly
【January 8, 2026 update】 Welcome offer of 60,000 miles + first-year annual fee waived: Expired
- Spend $3,000 in the first 3 months for 50,000 miles
- Add one authorized user in the first 3 months for 10,000 miles
Everyday Spending
3x: Eligible United purchases (tickets bought on the official site, upgrades, checked bags, onboard spending, United Card Events) (excludes United Cruises, MileagePlus X, DIRECTV)
2x: Hotels booked on the hotel’s own site; dining (including delivery services)
1x: Everything else
⚠️ Note: $10,000 in calendar-year spending earns a $100 United TravelBank credit; $20,000 in calendar-year spending also earns a 10,000-mile award-flight discount; every $20 spent earns 1 PQP
Benefits & Insurance
- Up to $100 back on hotel stays each year
Book through United Hotels with this card; the first two stays each earn $50 per cardmember year, for $100 total.
- Up to $60 rideshare credit each year
Pay for rideshare with this card and get $5 back each month.
- Up to $50 car-rental reward each year
The first two Avis or Budget rentals booked through cars.united.com each earn $25 in TravelBank cash per cardmember year, for $50 total.
- Up to $120 Instacart credit each year
Receive a $10 Instacart credit monthly, up to $120 total each calendar year, for purchases made directly through Instacart with your UnitedSM Explorer Card. Terms apply. Benefits end 12/31/27.
- Up to $100 back on JSX each year
Book flights directly with JSX using your United Explorer Card to receive up to $100 back as a statement credit each anniversary year.
- Up to $120 reimbursement every 4 years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
- 10,000-mile award discount after $20,000 calendar-year spend
Spend $20,000 each calendar year to earn a 10,000-mile award-flight discount for an eligible award flight.
- $100 United TravelBank credit after $10,000 calendar-year spend
Further reading: United TravelBank essentials
- Three months of Instacart+ membership free
United airline benefits
- At least 10% fewer miles on United award tickets
- First checked bag free, including one companion
- Priority boarding for the cardmember and companions
- Two United Club one-time passes per year
- 25% back on eligible onboard spending
Pay with your Explorer Card to receive 25% back as a statement credit on food, beverages, and Wi-Fi purchased on United-operated flights, as well as premium drinks at United Club.
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
The primary cardmember with MileagePlus Premier status who is travelling on an award ticket, plus one companion on the same reservation, can receive complimentary Premier Upgrades on selected United- and United Express-operated flights, subject to availability.
- Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent, up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points per calendar year through this card.
Travel Insurance
Full terms: official Guide to Benefits🔗
- Auto Rental Coverage
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to this card. Primary coverage applies to theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less, up to $60,000.
- Baggage Delay Insurance
If baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours, essential purchases such as toiletries and clothing are covered up to $100 per day for a maximum of 3 days.
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement
If checked or carry-on baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen during a covered trip, repair or replacement costs are covered up to $3,000 per covered traveller.
- Trip Cancellation Insurance
If sickness, severe weather, or another covered situation causes a trip to be cancelled, pre-paid non-refundable passenger fares are covered up to $1,500 per covered traveller and $6,000 per trip.
- Trip Interruption Insurance
If sickness, severe weather, or another covered situation cuts a trip short, pre-paid non-refundable passenger fares are covered up to $1,500 per covered traveller and $6,000 per trip.
- Trip Delay Reimbursement
If common-carrier travel is delayed for more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, unreimbursed expenses such as meals and lodging are covered up to $500 per covered traveller.
Shopping Protections
- Purchase Protection
Covers eligible new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days from the purchase date, up to $10,000 per item.
- Extended Warranty Protection
Adds one year to an eligible U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less, for a maximum of four years from the purchase date.
Chase United Co-Branded Card Series
Personal cards
Business cards
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