Chase United Explorer Card Offers $500 Statement Credit Plus Up to 35,000 Bonus Miles
Chase has introduced an interesting new welcome offer for the United℠ Explorer Card that combines a substantial statement credit with United MileagePlus miles.
Under this offer, new card members can earn a $500 statement credit, 25,000 bonus United miles and another 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user. The card’s $150 annual fee is also waived for the first year.
This offer may be particularly attractive to travelers who prefer receiving part of their bonus as cash rather than earning a larger number of airline miles.
United Explorer Card Welcome Offer
New card members can receive:
- $500 statement credit after making their first purchase
- 25,000 bonus United MileagePlus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months
- 10,000 additional bonus miles after adding an authorized user within the first three months
- $0 annual fee for the first year, then $150
That means the complete offer provides a $500 statement credit and as many as 35,000 United miles.
There does not appear to be a spending requirement associated with the authorized-user bonus. You simply need to add an eligible authorized user during the first three months. The 10,000-mile bonus is awarded only once, regardless of how many authorized users are added.
How This Compares With the Public Offer
The regular public United Explorer offer currently provides:
- 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first three months
- 10,000 miles for adding an authorized user in the first three months
- No annual fee for the first year
The public offer therefore provides as many as 60,000 miles, while this alternative offer provides $500 and up to 35,000 miles.
The difference comes down to a straightforward trade:
Would you rather receive $500 or an additional 25,000 United miles?
The break-even point is exactly 2 cents per mile:
$500 ÷ 25,000 miles = 2 cents per mile
Unless you consistently redeem United miles for more than 2 cents each, the $500 statement-credit offer is probably the more valuable option.
Here is how the two offers compare at several possible United mileage valuations:
| United mileage value | Value of extra 25,000 miles | Better offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 cent per mile | $250 | $500 statement credit |
| 1.25 cents per mile | $312.50 | $500 statement credit |
| 1.5 cents per mile | $375 | $500 statement credit |
| 2.0 cents per mile | $500 | Approximately equal |
| More than 2.0 cents per mile | More than $500 | 60,000-mile offer |
Many travelers will find the $500 credit easier to use than another 25,000 miles. The credit has a fixed value, does not depend on finding award availability and cannot be devalued by future changes to United’s award pricing.
Potential First-Year Value
The new-card member bonus can be worth a substantial amount during the first year.
At a conservative valuation of 1.2 cents per United mile:
- $500 statement credit: $500
- 35,000 United miles: $420
- First-year annual fee: $0
That produces an estimated welcome-offer value of approximately $920 before considering the card’s travel benefits.
At 1.5 cents per mile, the 35,000 miles would be worth approximately $525, increasing the total offer value to approximately $1,025.
The actual value of United miles will depend on how they are redeemed. Miles can sometimes provide better value for expensive domestic flights, last-minute travel, premium cabins and Star Alliance partner awards. However, United uses dynamic award pricing, so strong redemptions are not guaranteed.
United Explorer Card Earning Rates
The United Explorer Card currently earns:
- 3 miles per dollar on eligible United purchases
- 2 miles per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services
- 2 miles per dollar on hotel accommodations booked directly with the hotel
- 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases
United advertises as many as nine total miles per dollar on eligible United flights, but that calculation includes the miles normally earned as a United MileagePlus member. The credit card itself contributes three miles per dollar on qualifying United purchases.
Free Checked Bag and Priority Boarding
The United Explorer Card includes a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
To receive the checked-bag benefit, the primary card member generally must include their MileagePlus number in the reservation and use the United Explorer Card to purchase the tickets. The benefit can save as much as $200 on a round-trip itinerary when two people each check one bag in both directions.
The primary card member and eligible companions on the same reservation also receive priority boarding on United-operated flights.
Two United Club Passes Each Year
Card members receive two United Club one-time passes after opening the account and again following each account anniversary.
United values the two passes at more than $100. Either the primary card member or an authorized user must be present when a pass is used.
The passes can be useful during a long connection, although admission remains subject to participating-club rules, capacity restrictions and temporary closures.
Save on United Award Flights
United Explorer card members now receive a discount of at least 10% when booking eligible United-operated award flights. MileagePlus Premier members can receive larger discounts.
This benefit could make keeping the card worthwhile for someone who regularly redeems United miles, although the savings will depend on the flight and the award price available to the card member.
Card members can also earn a separate 10,000-mile award-flight discount after spending $20,000 on the card during a calendar year.
More Than $500 in Potential Annual Credits
Chase advertises more than $500 in possible annual partner credits on the United Explorer Card. These include:
- Up to $100 in credits for qualifying prepaid United Hotels reservations
- Up to $60 in rideshare statement credits, issued as $5 monthly credits after enrollment
- Up to $50 in United TravelBank credits for qualifying Avis or Budget rentals
- Up to $120 in Instacart credits
- Up to $100 in credits for qualifying JSX flights
- $100 in United TravelBank cash after spending $10,000 during a calendar year
The card also provides up to $120 toward a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS application fee once every four years.
While the list looks impressive, most card members should not value these credits at their full advertised amount unless they already use the applicable services. Several credits are divided into monthly or transaction-based amounts, require enrollment or require bookings through a specific United portal.
Additional Benefits
Other United Explorer benefits include:
- 25% back as a statement credit on qualifying food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases aboard United-operated flights
- 25% back on qualifying premium drinks in United Clubs
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to expanded United award availability
- Travel and purchase protections
- MileagePlus miles that do not expire
These benefits can provide ongoing value after the welcome offer, especially for someone who flies United several times each year.
Important Eligibility Restrictions
The United Explorer Card welcome offer is not available to:
- Current United Explorer card members
- Previous United Explorer card members who received a new-card member bonus for this card within the past 24 months
Chase also states that offers can vary depending on where a person applies. Applicants should confirm that the application page specifically displays the $500 statement credit, 25,000-mile spending bonus and 10,000-mile authorized-user bonus before submitting an application.
Reports also indicate that the United Explorer Card is subject to Chase’s unpublished 5/24 application policy. Applicants at or above five newly opened personal credit-card accounts during the previous 24 months may have difficulty receiving approval.
Be Careful When Adding an Authorized User
The authorized-user bonus is easy to earn, but authorized users receive charging privileges on the account. The primary card member remains responsible for all purchases and balances.
Chase may also report the account to the credit bureaus under the authorized user’s name. This can affect the authorized user’s credit report and potentially their eligibility for future Chase cards. Chase requires the authorized user’s consent and accurate identifying information.
The authorized user does not appear to be required to make a purchase to trigger the 10,000-mile bonus.
Do Not Close the Card Immediately
Chase’s terms state that if the account is not kept open for at least six months, Chase and United reserve the right to deduct the bonus miles from the card member’s MileagePlus account.
Since the annual fee is waived for the first year, there is little reason to close the card shortly after receiving the bonus. Card members can evaluate the ongoing benefits when the $150 annual fee becomes due after the first year.
How to Find the Offer
The offer may be available through a dedicated Chase application page. Reports indicate that it may also appear when beginning a United flight reservation and proceeding far enough into the booking process to view available credit-card promotions.
Because Chase offers can vary by application channel, carefully review the welcome-offer language before applying. A general Chase or United application page may instead display the public offer of up to 60,000 miles without the $500 statement credit.
Our Verdict
This is an excellent United Explorer offer for travelers who value flexible cash more than an entirely mileage-based bonus.
Compared with the public 60,000-mile offer, applicants give up 25,000 miles in exchange for a $500 statement credit. That is equivalent to receiving 2 cents per mile for the miles being replaced.
United miles can occasionally be worth more than 2 cents each, but consistently receiving that value requires careful redemptions. Most travelers are likely to come out ahead with the guaranteed $500 statement credit.
The card is especially attractive during the first year because the annual fee is waived. The free checked-bag benefit, priority boarding, two United Club passes and award-flight discounts can add meaningful value for United flyers.
Applicants should still consider their Chase 5/24 status, confirm their eligibility under the 24-month bonus rule and make sure the correct $500 offer appears on the final application page.
For eligible applicants who can comfortably complete the $3,000 spending requirement, the combination of $500 cash, 35,000 United miles and a waived first-year annual fee makes this one of the more compelling United Explorer offers we have seen.
