It’s always exciting to book a flight with frequent flyer miles. Whether you travel all the time or once a year, getting to fly almost for free is hard to beat.
The challenging part is earning enough miles to cover a ticket, but you can speed up the process with an airline credit card. And if United is your airline of choice, one of its best credit cards currently allows you to earn a lot of miles in a short amount of time.
50,000 bonus miles with the United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card has a welcome offer of 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. This card doesn’t cost much, either — it has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. If you’re trying to earn more United miles for an upcoming trip, this is a great way to do it.
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Since these are airline miles, they don’t have a fixed value. What they’re worth will depend on how you use them. As a rule of thumb, you can generally expect to get about $0.01 to $0.015 per United mile. At that value, 50,000 bonus miles will save you $500 to $750.
I’ve booked several flights with United miles, and I’ve found that it’s pretty easy to get at least $0.01 per mile. That’s why I give this welcome offer a value of at least $500.
Keep in mind that you could also potentially get much more out of your miles. For example, when you use them to book business-class airfare, miles tend to be worth much more. I’ve gotten over $0.03 per United mile when booking business class.
More perks of this United credit card
The welcome offer on this card is the first feature that catches most people’s eyes, but it’s not the only one worth mentioning. Here are a few more of its most useful benefits:
- Free first-checked bag for you and a travel companion on the same reservation
- Up to $100 as a statement credit for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS membership every four years
- 2 United Club℠ passes after account opening and on each account anniversary
- 2 miles per dollar on purchases from United, dining, and hotel accommodations purchased directly with the hotel
- 1 mile per $1 on other purchases
Overall, the United℠ Explorer Card has a lot to offer, especially considering the low annual fee. If you normally check a bag when you fly, that alone could make the card worth getting. United Club℠ passes can make for a more enjoyable time waiting at the airport. And you’ll earn miles much more quickly when you’re earning them on your credit card spending.
Should you apply for the United℠ Explorer Card?
The United℠ Explorer Card is worth a look if you fly with United multiple times per year. It has a nice balance between valuable perks for a reasonable annual fee.
If you want even more benefits, check out the higher-priced United credit cards. The top option is the United Club℠ Infinite Card. It charges a $525 annual fee, but it also has all the travel perks United offers, including a complimentary United℠ Club membership. That gets you unlimited access to United℠ Club lounges.
Another option is a travel card that isn’t connected to an airline. There are plenty of travel rewards cards that earn points you can redeem with lots of airlines and hotels, not just one. They could be a better option if you want more flexibility in how you use your rewards.
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