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Card Economics
- Annual Fee
- $150
- Ongoing Annual Value
- $331
- First-Year Value Estimate
- $596
- Net Value
- +$181
Card type: PersonalForeign transaction fee: NoneCurrency: United MileagePlus
Sign-up Bonus
50K miles after $3K spend in the first 3 months. Plus, earn an extra 10K miles after you add an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months your account is open, $0 introductory annual fee for the first year
Am I eligible?Earning Structure
3XUnited purchases3.9%
2XDining2.6%
2XHotels2.6%
1XAll other purchases1.3%
Highlighted categories return more than 2%, the rate a flat 2% cash-back card pays on everything.
Benefits
Worth it for me?Credits & Perks (6)
- United Hotels: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Up to two $50 statement credits for United Hotels purchases
- Rideshare: $5 (Monthly)
Up to $60 per year in rideshare credits (up to $5 per month) when using your card to pay for rideshare services. Requires annual enrollment
- Avis/Budget: $50 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Up to $25 in United TravelBank cash for each of the first two eligible Avis or Budget rentals per cardmember year (up to $50 total)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
Covers application fee. Credit applies automatically when charged to card.
- Instacart: $10 (Monthly)
Monthly credit on Instacart orders with active Instacart+ membership
- JSX: $100 (Annual Cardmember Year)
Statement credit each anniversary year when you book flights directly with JSX
Lounge Access (1)
- United Club (2 visits/year) — paid guests allowed
Elite Status (1)
- United MileagePlus: Earn 1 Premier Qualifying Point (PQP) per $20 spent, up to 1,000 PQP per year
Protections (8)
- Travel Accident Insurance — up to $500,000 — Up to $500,000 for death/dismemberment on common carrier
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption — up to $1,500 — Up to $1,500 per traveler, $6,000 per trip for non-refundable trip costs
- Trip Delay — up to $500 — Up to $500 per covered traveler for delays exceeding 12 hours or requiring overnight stay
- Baggage Delay — Up to $100 per day for up to 3 days when baggage is delayed over 6 hours
- Lost Luggage — up to $3,000 — Up to $3,000 per traveler for lost luggage
- Purchase Protection — up to $10,000 — 120 days coverage for theft/damage/involuntary parting
- Extended Warranty — up to $10,000 — Extends manufacturer's warranty by 1 year (max 3 years original)
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (primary) — up to $60,000 — Primary coverage up to $60,000 for rental car damage/theft (secondary for NY residents with personal auto insurance)
Other Perks
- $100 United Travel after spending $10K in a calendar year
- 10K-mile award flight discount after spending $20K
- improved saver award availability including Polaris business class
- at least 10% off all United award flights; 15% off with Premier status (effective April 2, 2026)
- earn miles on Basic Economy flights (non-elite members must hold a co-branded credit card to earn miles on Basic Economy, effective April 2, 2026)
- cardholders earn 3 additional MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on United flights (effective April 2, 2026)
- free first checked bag for primary cardholder and one travel companion when the primary cardmember's MileagePlus number is on the reservation and tickets are purchased with the card; purchase requirement is waived for flights within 90 days of account opening
- priority boarding
- Complimentary DoorDash DashPass for 12 months (must activate by 12/31/27)
- 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
- Complimentary Instacart+ membership for 3 months (must activate by 12/31/27)
