United Explorer Card

United Explorer Card General Travel

$150/yr annual fee. 4 general travel benefits, with what each is worth and the limits that apply.

Annual fee
$150/yr
Estimated value
$80/yr
Benefits
4

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Discount

Skip the 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases. Save $150 on every $5,000 spent abroad.

Pro Tips

  1. 1Save 3% on all international spending compared to cards that charge foreign transaction fees
  2. 2On $5,000 in international spend, you save $150 in fees
  3. 3Works for online purchases from foreign websites, not just in-person transactions

Priority Boarding

Included

Board early with priority boarding on all United flights, securing overhead bin space before general boarding.

Pro Tips

  1. 1Ensures you'll find overhead bin space on full flights
  2. 2Benefit extends to all companions on your same reservation
  3. 3Allow 2 weeks after account opening for priority boarding to activate

Value Analysis

Estimated Value
$10

Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit

Credit

Get reimbursed for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees with automatic statement credits every 4 years

Pro Tips

  1. 1Choose Global Entry over TSA PreCheck - costs $120 but includes TSA PreCheck plus expedited customs clearance
  2. 2Credit renews every 4 years with your membership renewal
  3. 3Authorized users get their own $120 credit, so family members can each apply

Value Analysis

Estimated Value
$25

Free First Checked Bag

Included

Free first checked bag for you plus one companion. Save up to $200 per round-trip on United flights.

Pro Tips

  1. 1Works on all United and United Express flights, domestic and international
  2. 2For the first 90 days, benefit works even if you didn't pay with the card
  3. 3Companion must be on same reservation to receive benefit
  4. 4Saves $50 per person each way ($100 round-trip per person)

Value Analysis

Face Value
$50
Estimated Value
$45

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.