Last year United sent out targeted emails to some cardholders of their no annual fee Gateway card, offering 5,000 bonus miles to upgrade to the Explorer card and making one purchase.
If you didn’t take advantage of that offer, keep an eye on your inbox as another round of targeted emails went out a few days ago with a similar – but enhanced – offer giving 10,000 bonus miles.
The Deal
- Upgrade a United Gateway card to a United Explorer card & earn 10,000 bonus miles when making your first purchase by April 30, 2024.
Key Terms
- To be eligible for this bonus offer, you must upgrade by 04/30/24 11:59 p.m. E.T.
- You will qualify for and receive your bonus if you make a Purchase with your new credit card during the promotional period. Purchases posted to your account with a transaction date during the offer period are eligible for this offer. Delays by the merchant could extend the transaction date beyond the offer period.
- Please allow up to 8 weeks after qualifying for bonus miles to post to your account. (“Purchases” do not include balance transfers, cash advances, travelers checks, foreign currency, money orders, wire transfers or similar cash-like transactions, lottery tickets, casino gaming chips, race track wagers or similar betting transactions, any checks that access your account, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, and fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable.)
- To qualify for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.
- This bonus offer is non-transferable and applies only to cardmembers who receive marketing communications for this offer.
- The value of this offer or program may result in miscellaneous income received from Chase and we may be required to send you, and file with the IRS, a Form 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Information) or Form 1042-S (Foreign Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding) for the year in which you participate and are awarded the benefits of the offer/program.
Quick Thoughts
The doubling of the bonus miles on offer for upgrading makes this a more enticing offer. Even if you only value United MileagePlus miles at 1cpp (cent per point), the Explorer card’s $95 annual fee means you’re effectively buying those miles for slightly less than that. Add in the two United Club Passes you receive on the card at your anniversary date every year, free checked bags, discounts on in-flight food, drink and Wi-Fi and that could make the card a keeper for some people longer term.
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Is it still best practice on these sorts of Chase upgrade offers to keep the upgrade in place for 1 year plus 1 day, as with Amex?
I can’t recall seeing much about this in some time.
I’ve only ever heard of this being an issue with Amex when it comes to clawbacks.
Does this upgrade affect Chase 24month rule?
I opened Explorer back in September 2022, downgraded to Gateway in October 2023. I was planning to open Explorer in November 2024.. If I upgrade current Gateway to Explorer this month, can I still open Explorer in November 2024 and receive sign up bonus?
If you have multiple United explorer card, do you get more than 2 United club passes? And do you have to be flying United to use the pass?
Yes, you should get two passes per card. To use them you have to be flying with United, or another Star Alliance carrier.