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There is a new offer out for the Chase MileagePlus Explorer card that’s pretty good if you’re in the market for this card: 50,000 United Mileage Plus miles, the standard 5,000 bonus points for adding an authorized user and making a purchase, a $100 statement credit after first purchase plus the annual fee is waived the first year. Note that this card is subject to the chase 5/24 rule.
The Offer
- Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- Get a $100 statement credit after first purchase
- $95 annual fee is waived the first year
- Earn 5,000 bonus miles after you add an authorized user and they make their first purchase within the first 3 months
- Offer expires 3/15/18
- Find a link and more information on our dedicated card page.
Key Card Details
- Earn 2x on United purchases
- Earn 1x everywhere else
- Get 2 United Club one-time passes each year after account anniversary
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles if you spend $25,000 in a calendar year
- Improved saver award availability
- Last seat standard award availability
- Free first checked bag
- Priority boarding
- No foreign exchange fees
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Subject to the Chase 5/24 rule
Quick Thoughts
This is a pretty good public offer for this card. There have previously been targeted offers for 70,000 miles plus a $50 statement credit, but the current offer is as good as any public offer in recent memory. Unfortunately, this card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, meaning that applicants who have opened 5 or more new accounts in the past 24 months will not be approved. If you’re under 5/24, I would generally recommend considering other more rewarding cards first, but if you fly United often and can benefit from the free checked bag regularly, this card could provide good value. The big spend bonus on this card has been more or less rendered obsolete; while you can get 10,000 bonus miles after spending $25,000, that only comes out to 1.4 miles per dollar. Alternatively, one could spend on a Freedom Unlimited card and earn 1.5 Ultimate Rewards per dollar on everyday spend with no annual fee and no $25K minimum — and then transfer those points directly to United provided you also have the Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred (or one of a few other grandfathered Ink cards like the Ink Plus).
Overall, this card probably isn’t a great choice for most people — but in some circumstances, it might make sense. If that applies to you, this offer is the best publicly available at the moment. You can find a link to this and other current best offers on our Best Offers page.
H/T: Doctor of Credit
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Hello, How do you get the $100 statement credit after first purchase? I made my first purchase last week with thsi card but don’t see a statement credit.
“Damn you 5/24” is the normal reaction bedsides “meh 524”
My United MPX card two year anniversary was last November . I drop under 5/24 in April . I would like to get a new MPX card then . Must I cancel my current MPX card first ? Is there a waiting period ? Thanks for helping me with strategy .
cricket… cricket…
*nobody should be wasting a 5/24 slot on this
Not for you or I but there are people who fly united often and value the extra availability for saver rewards.