Rewards or Travel Benefits: Which are preferable for a top-notch airline credit card? The lure of extra miles or trade-in points for free trips might sway a traveler towards a rewards card while a long list of amenities might have another frequent flier favoring a card with terrific travel benefits. Fortunately, United Airlines manages to combine both of these favorite incentives in one card: The United MileagePlus Explorer Card sponsored by Chase. For those who enjoy traveling regularly and want great rewards towards free travel along with a variety of benefits, this card delivers.
United Explorer Card Rewards
Extra miles and free flights are huge draws for most travelers. Making the choice a bit easier, the United MileagePlus Explorer Card offers some great ways to accrue travel miles. Flexibility is a key feature, making sure that frequent fliers get more of what they want most: No limit on the number of miles that can be earned and no expiration date on those miles while the card is activated. Rewards include:
• 30,000 miles earned after spending $1,000 within the first three months of card ownership
• 10,000 extra bonus miles earned each year you spend a $25,000 on your card
• 5,000 extra bonus miles after you make a purchase on your card and add an authorized user to your account during the first three months of card ownership
• Double miles earned for every one dollar spent on United Airlines tickets and one mile earned for every dollar spent on all other purchases
• No transaction fees for overseas travel.
While miles can be traded in for reduced ticket costs and trips, they can also be used in other ways. When redeemed at the MileagePlus Standard Award level, miles can be used to book available seats with no limitations, restrictions or blackout dates. Miles can also be earned or used with any airline members of the Star Alliance network, vastly increasing travel options. In addition, miles can be used across travel networks for car rentals or hotel stays around the world. Or you may prefer to cash in your miles for merchandise rewards from top brands.
United Explorer Card Benefits
Travel benefits are the second major component of the United MileagePlus Explorer Card, and they add up quickly. Some are familiar and expected with most major airline cards while others may be a bit more surprising. Benefits include the following:
• No annual fee for the first year, then $95 for each year after
• First bags for cardholder and a traveling companion checked for free
• Priority boarding privileges for cardholder and companions traveling on the same reservation
• Two one-time use passes annually to visit the United Club and enjoy complimentary snacks, beverages and amenities like free Wi-Fi, private meeting rooms or workspaces; cardholder may use each pass on himself for a total of two visits per year or use passes for himself and a companion for a total of one visit per year.
• Hotel room upgrades, early check-in, complimentary daily breakfast for two, and late checkout along with other amenities at more than 700 worldwide luxury hotels and resorts.
• Opportunities to attend unique, special events sponsored by Chase using your United MileagePlus card membership.
• Concierge services providing assistance with reservations, referrals or recommendations for dining and entertainment possibilities.
United Explorer Card Protections
Comprehensive travel protection for a worry-free, safe trip is a must for savvy travelers. The United MileagePlus Explorer Card provides such protection, alleviating concerns about travel expenditures. Benefit protections for your peace of mind cover the following:
• Delayed baggage insurance, which provides the cardholder up to $100 per day for three days to purchase essential belongings like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours by passenger carrier
• Reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger for carry-on or checked bags damaged or lost by the carrier
• Reimbursement up to $500 per ticket for delayed trips when the cardholder and companions must stay overnight and use the United Explorer card on lodging and dining expenses
• Insurance for trip cancellation or trip interruption due to illness, severe weather or other covered circumstances; reimbursement can be made up to $10,000 for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses purchased with your MileagePlus Explorer card, including ticket fares, lodging and tour costs.
• Return, purchase and price protections allowing the cardholder to receive reimbursement in total or part for eligible items that a store won’t take back, are priced lower somewhere else, or are damaged or stolen
• Fraud protection that assesses zero liability, freezes charges while disputes are investigated, uses 24 hour fraud alerts and offers emergency cash services with free card replacement
The United MileagePlus Explorer Credit Card provides frequent fliers a travel card that combines rewards and travel benefits. Now, there’s a card that offers serious travelers multiple ways to earn unlimited miles while enjoying a multitude of travel amenities. Whether traveling at home or abroad, for business or leisure, the United MileagePlus Explorer Card is a choice to consider for travelers who want the best from rewards and travel benefits programs.