New Limited Time, Increased Offer On The United Explorer Card
Chase has just launched a new limited time offer for their United Explorer card. The normal offer hovers around the 40-50,000 point range. With the new offer it is possible to earn 60,000 miles but it does come with a steeper spending requirement.
THESE OFFERS MAY HAVE ENDED OR CHANGED
Details of the Offer
The offer is as follows:
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within the first 3 months
- Earn an additional 20,000 miles after spending $8,000 within the first 6 months
- The $95 annual IS waived
- Offer ends 5/16/19
The earning structure is as follows:
- 2 miles per each $1 spent at restaurants and on hotel accommodations*
- 2 miles per each $1 spent on United purchases
- 1 mile per each $1 spent on all other purchases
This is an increase from the previous offer of only 40,000 miles but it has been possible to get 50,000 miles for $3,000 in spend in the past.
Perks of the Card
If you are a regular United flyer this card has some pretty good perks, especially for a $95 annual fee. Many regular flyers keep this card long term because of it. The perks are as follows:
- Free checked bag
- Priority boarding
- 2 United ClubSM passes
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck® Fee Credit
- 25% back on United Inflight Wi-Fi, food and drinks
- No blackout dates – expanded awards capacity for cardholders
- Miles don’t expire as long as your account is open
The expanded awards capacity is the best perk of the card and it can be invaluable for frequent United flyers. The two United Club passes are a nice perk that most other airline credit cards no longer offer too.
Conclusion
If the increased minimum spending amount is not too much of a burden this is a pretty good offer. I personally would probably prefer the 50,000 miles for $3,000 in minimum spend offer a little better but more miles is more miles.
The Chase United Explorer card is a great long term option because of the perks for any United hub captives. Their miles are also very useful for Star Alliance partner bookings.
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any link to section on strategies for ‘organic’ spending to meet min spend requirement?
I don’t believe we have anything like that – that is something I will have to write up!
Putting all your bills on your card, prepaying some bills like phone and cable, paying taxes if you owe this year are the main ones. If it is getting towards the end some will buy 3rd party gift cards to Target etc. or stores they know they will use.
why is there an asterisk at hotel accommodations? I tried finding this but had no luck.
It was just directing to more detailed terms on their page.
Here are the terms:
2 miles: You’ll earn 2 miles total for each $1 spent (1 additional mile on top of the 1 mile per $1 earned on each purchase) on airline tickets purchased from United. The following purchases made from United also earn 2 miles total for each $1 spent: seat upgrades; Economy Plus®; inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi; baggage service charges or other United fees. Other United related purchases, such as United Cruises®, MileagePlus X, DIRECTV® and Merchandise Awards, are excluded. United tickets booked through some discount travel websites or as part of a third-party travel package will also not qualify. You’ll also earn 2 miles total for each $1 spent (1 additional mile on top of the 1 mile per $1 earned on each purchase) in the following rewards categories: restaurants; hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. Information about earning/transferring miles to United: Miles earned during a billing cycle will be automatically transferred to United after the end of each billing cycle. Miles expiration: The miles transferred to your MileagePlus® account will not expire as long as your credit card account is open. If your credit card account is closed, or if you change your account to a Chase United Credit Card account which does not have an annual fee, your miles will expire according to the MileagePlus program rules.
This card includes a statement credit to cover cost of Global Entry ($100) or TSA-PRE ($85.00) once every four years. TSA-PRE is wonderful for air travel in the US, Global Entry (includes TSA-PRE) for both travelling in the US and to reenter into the US. Either really speeds up the air travel process, no shoes off, no computers out of case etc. etc.
I use this card for car rentals, it includes PRIMARY insurance coverage (see below) which means if you have an accident no charges are made against your personal auto insurance. Excerpt below taken from Chase website.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your Card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.**
That is another great perk for sure!
Hey Mark, I rarely fly United but had to take them from GDL this week. I saw a special offer in the seat back noting 60K until May—but did not look hard to see the spending requirements. Do you know if they are the same if you get an application from a flight attendant vs. what you note above? It may be better if those who want to apply can get an application themselves—or from a flyer—if the spending requirement is reduced.
I am not sure if the spending requirement is different in flight or not – I have not heard either way. I know sometimes they vary for other airlines but not sure on this one.
I am just passing/clearing the Chase 5/24 restriction window and was excited to see this offer yesterday. But then, just when you think it’s safe to go back in the water, United announces changes to their award chart for redemptions. That makes United miles much harder to value.
Agreed – hard to pin what the values will be like until you see it in practice. I think partner prices will be the same for the time being if you use the miles that way. Otherwise probably better to focus on UR points to hedge the devaluation.
[…] HT: MtM […]
The question I have is 20,000 additional miles worth the extra $8,000 spend? You could easily use the $8,000 to do the min. spend on 1 or 2 other cards that would get you a lot more points.
The first $2000 is included towards the 8K so it is really only $6K more in spend for 20K in points. Including the point per dollar you get it is like earning 4.33 miles per dollar on everything. When you look at it that way it is a no brainer but when you compare it to getting 2 more welcome offers it isn’t as great. These types of offers don’t bother me as much as they used to since banks are cracking down there are less apps to be had so getting every mile and point while you can is important to me. I would probably take a $3K for 50K offer over this but it is a pretty solid offer.