Just an FYI….the 1st checked bag free is only applicable if you actually pay for the flight. If you use miles to book your flight, only the Priority Boarding is applicable. I just got off the phone with a United Mileage Plus telephone service representative who received an email with this explanation. It would be nice if they had included this information in their credit card benefit description.

Does anyone know if you have to pay for your airline ticket with this credit card in order to qualify for the first free checked bag as a card holder?

yes

Unlike the free checked bag, the Ts & Cs for priority boarding do not state a purchase on the card requirement.

Priority Boarding:
MileagePlus Explorer Card members will be granted boarding access to the plane after the boarding of Special Needs passengers, elites and those with Premier Access designations, but before General Boarding of the remaining passengers. Benefits apply to the primary cardmember on the credit card account and anyone traveling on the same reservation. Benefits are available as long as the credit card account is open and not in default.Upon cancellation of the credit card account, all benefits will be cancelled. Chase Bank USA, N.A. is not responsible for the provision of or failure to provide the stated benefits.

I was told that as long as United sees that you have the explorer card when you use frequent flier miles, they will make your first bag free–I heard this from 3 phone clerks that I spoke to.

If I switch from my MIleage plus card to the Explorer card do the miles transfer from the MP card to Explorer card?

Are you aware of a 50,000 mile upfront bonus if you are an elite member already and link your Continental and United mileage programs? My brother got this offer when he linked his two airline accounts after about 5 business days.
I see an offer mentioned on-line that says the 40,000 miles is 50,000 miles if you are already an elite status on Continental or United. However when you go to apply you are directed to their normal site who’s offer isn’t the same and requires $3,000 spent in 3 months to get an additional 10K and get a 2nd cardholder. It’s not the same offer as I initially described.

I do frequent international traveling and run a small business. Just wondering which of the four cards offer the best mix of benefits. Thus far I see that United offers:

- MilagePlus Explorer (which I received an invitation via mail) (consumer type card)
- OnePass Plus (consumer type card)
- Presidential Card – Blue Carpet (business type card)
- World MasterCard (business type card)

The MilagePlus offers 60k as bonus as opposed to 25-40k from the others, just wondering if there is anything else…they look comparable.

Thanks for telling us this! I was about to get one of these cards, because free checked luggage is good and would save the amount of the yearly fee. But we use our miles a lot, so it might not save that much. I’ll have to reconsider.

Good Luck trying to get the Explorer card if you have a MP Visa Card!

I was rejected although I have been a MP Visa holder for over 15 years.

I pay my balance monthly, and have never been late (verified by the representative.

They claim I did not have enough income, but funny how that was not an issue when I recently refinanced a mortgage and I also lease a car.

I think they cannot make money off me so that is there reason. I pay no interrest or late fees.

They kindly will let me keep my current MP Visa!

I would like to know if anyone else had had this situation.

If it is prevalent, maybe I will explore other actions.

Thank You.

I and 6 other family members will be flying and would like to get the first bag checked free. I used to have a Continental card but when my husband flew with a friend they would not honor the free bag policy because they said the card was primarily owned by me. I cancelled the card after this happened! What card can we get that will allow all 7 family members to check in a bag free. We are flying from Newark to San Diego. Also, I currently have about 200,000 miles on my United frequent flyer. When I get these miles a free ticket was 25,000. now it is 75,000 & 100,000 What’s up with this?

does the old MP united chase visa signature card also have the first bag free or only the new card?

Hey I was wondering, can an authorized user earn miles for using the card with their name on it, or only the Primary account holder? My wife and I have this card, and would like to split our purchases (and miles) between the two cards. Thanks!

is there different benifits for the explorer card?
I have the visa milage plus

FYI — If you don’t upgrade your current United Visa card (which costs $60/yr) to the new one which is $90 or $95, then ALL of your previous United air miles will expire after 18 months. You can no longer make a purchase on your card to protect previous air miles. When you upgrade to the new card (at the higher cost) than your air miles will not expire.

I had the Continental OnePass card, and applied for the United Explorer shortly before the OnePass annual fee was due. I got the new card, cancelled the old one, got the bonus miles and merged frequent flyer accounts. I think this is a real win for anyone with the OnePass – the airline really wants to buy our goodwill through this merger.

Does the new United Explorer card have a foriegn transaction exchange/conversion fee?

does anyone know credit requirements for this card

I spoke to customer service and is not true that one needs to upgrade into Plus Explorer card or else points would expire. Points will not expire on either card as long account is kept open. Unfortunately, Plus Explorer does not have free foreign transaction just like regular Mileage Plus which is downer. My favorite travel card is Chase Priority Club Visa (for Intercontinental Hotels) which has no foreign transaction fees. I keep Priority Club visa only for foreign travel, but would love to consolidate into one VISA card which isn’t possible. I don’t like to have multiple accounts open because I don’t keep balance. There is no perfect card yet. One keeps hoping.

No issue upgrading to Plus Explorer card. Is possible that they are pulling wrong credit report. I lived on East Coast which uses Equifax and moved to Midwest. They pulled credit report using another company (didn’t use Equifax in Midwest) which showed that I had no credit history whatsoever. Almost like I never existed. I’m 40 and owned a home and two cars on East Coast, and have excellent credit history. I ran free report through all three agencies and calling back credit card lender. Good luck.

Yes

My continental OnePass plus doesn’t have an annual fee. Would the United Mileage plus explorer also have no annual fee when I have the explorer card?

Does anyone know?

I looked into the Bonus Mile restrictions and after calling up Chase and being redirected to United Airlines’ Reservation department I was told that the 25,000 Bonus Mile (after first purchase) can be used for International Flights.
Did the restrictions changed since this post?

I just got a Chase United MileagePlus Explorer card and opened a United MileagePlus account on United’s website. How do I connect the two so that my miles get credited with United?

Thanks for answering the free foreign transaction fee question. I was thinking of cancelling my British Air card – which does have free transactions- in favor of this one, but will now pass.

Thanks for comment by Rob (posted on 2012-02-12 16:39:03) “I got the new card, cancelled the old one, got the bonus miles and merged frequent flyer accounts. I think this is a real win for anyone with the OnePass – the airline really wants to buy our goodwill through this merger.”

I have a United Milleague Plus Visa gold card already but did not think bout getting this Explorer card until I read Bob’s comment. Just applied the card online and it took me less than two minutes to complete the application (since they can pull all my records from my gold card) and to my suprise got the “Instant Decision Approved”:

Congratulations. Your application has been approved. You will receive your card and complete account information within 2 weeks by mail.

Yahoo!

This would be the perfect card that I would keep indefinitely if there were no foreign exchange (FOREX) fees. With a $95 annual fee (the same annual fee as the Sapphire Preferred card and the JP Morgan Select Visa card, which have no foreign exchange fees), it seems that no foreign exchange fees should be a benefit of this so called travel card. Is anybody our there Chase?? It seems silly that a $49 per year Priority Club Visa waives foreign exchange fees while this card does not. For foreign travel I use my no fee Capital One Venture One Visa card. I will never use this card outside the US.

Yes, but…
Did you have a balance to transfer? Would one be charged for transferring that amount? What about transfering miles: is there a charge for that? I am a long time One Pass member and have been happy with that, probably because the APR is SO Very LOW: 5.4%
I know, I don’t pay off my balance.

Thanks for comment by Rob (posted on 2012-02-12 16:39:03) “I got the new card, cancelled the old one, got the bonus miles and merged frequent flyer accounts. I think this is a real win for anyone with the OnePass – the airline really wants to buy our goodwill through this merger.”

i had the same problem but finally said so you treat a new customer better than a 20 year customer and they finally said ok that i could cancel my old mp card and apply for a new one and get the miles bonus…i did it online and was approved for explorer card no problem though they only gave me 3000 credit line though my old card was 25,000….so i then asked them to increas the 3000 to 10000 and no problem…

How do you get the vip lounge passes on explorer card? do you just show your card at the reception desk?

Bill: Someone’s confused at MP; expiring miles are not in any way tied to a particular card’s use. Your miles become part of the MP program, and providing you have any activity whatsoever earning miles on UA, via flying or credit card use, the expiration date will be dynamically pushed out to 18 months after the last activity.

“Activity” even includes using miles, not just earning them. –Mike–

(One caveat: Balance transfers don’t count earn miles so don’t count as “activity” in your account).

We get 1st checked bag free, but on international flights to Europe your first checked bag is already free, so does anyone know if we can get the next bag free? If not, this would not really be a perk for international travel.

I just asked about getting the 2nd bag free with the mileage plus explorer card on international travel and United said, “No”. Disappointed.

Well this card seemed like it would be good change from my United Visa, but due to foreign exchange fees I am barely using the card. I agree with others, if you are creating a traveler credit card then think International and eliminate foreign exchange fees. Banks already get their spread on currency and Capital One provides me free credit card without extra fees. If United Explorer/Chase fixes this issue, I would be using/keeping it for next year even at $95.

I am considering this card for my son. What credit range would be required to qualify. If its something he can do on his own then I’ll refer him to it. He graduates in may and hopes to travel a bit.

I would be careful with the United Mileage Plus program. They periodically change their policy regarding expiration of miles. I lost 70,000 miles that once had no expiration date and then due to a policy change, expired. They would not reinstate the miles. Now, with the Continental merger I notice they are doing the same thing. My Continental miles had no expiration date and now they do. I used to like Continental but like many people I despise United. Too bad they are now one.

United tends to change their policy regarding mileage expiration. I lost all of the miles in my account by not paying attention to this. Now, I notice that my once permanent Continental miles have an expiration date. I have a distrust of United because of their continual self-serving changes in policy.

I have this card and it’s great; it is dynamite for travel.

Bags- When my wife and i travel, we now always check in online before we go to the airport. Doing that we get 2 free checked bags each – one for using the Explorer card and one for checking in online ahead of time. Try it! PLUS – your bags come out among the very first every time due to Premier Status.
Premier Access – a big unmentioned feature of the Explorer card is Premier Access separate lanes at checkin and security – VERY nice; plus your bags are first off the plane.
Boarding – using this card automatically slots you into Group 5, which isn’t as bad as it sounds. Group 5 is now reserved for anyone using this card; you will board after all the other premiers, parents-with-kids and military, but before everyone else.

The UAL Explorer card is dynamite for travel – i got one right away. <y wife and i have used it several times already.
Bags – we get 2 free checked bags each on domestic flights when we checkin early from home – one free bag for using Explorer to book the trip & one additional for checking in ahead of time – Try it! PS – bags come out in the very first group (see Premier Access).
Premier Access – one of th little-mentioned perks of this card is you get "Premier Access" (see UAL website) – separate checkin and security lines. AND checked bags come out in the first group every tme.
Boarding – united recently standardized their boarding groups and using this card automatically puts you in Group 5 – which boards after all the premiers, parents-with-kids and military, but before ALL other passengers.
Lounge access- you will automatically receive two passes (one required for each person) entititling you to one trip to the United Club lounge on each pass.
This card rocks – the value is really there!

Do you have to buy your tickets using this card to get the priority boarding or can you just show the card? My problem is I am required to book my business travel on my corporate card so I can’t usually buy my tickets on a personal card.

“$95 annual fee which you have to pay after the first year” – what happens if we cancel the card before the end of the first year ?

i have a mp visa and have already booked a rewards flight with cash upgrade. if i apply for explorer will i be able to get my free bag altho the explorer will postdate my booking?

I’m a bit confused on the two free bags each.
Do you get a free bag simply because you check in early from home. Would this have nothing to do with using Explorer??

Will you also get one free bag if you use miles to get your ticket or only if you purchase the ticket using your Explorer card?

Heres what I have learned:
1st bag is free to 1st passenger & (up to 6 people in the same reservation) can also get their 1st bag free.
Miles transfer from UA Visa to MPVisa immediately after being approved.
You have to purchase your ticket from the MP card to get the early boarding &/or 1st bag checked free. (I was rejected both even when I went to the podium & showed the agent my MPVisa card….
What I want to know is WHEN do I get these 2 free passes to the lounge- I thought 6-8 weeks -but I am well beyond that & haven’t seen a thing.
Oh & Group 5 – is great !

So, be very careful people – the first bag is only free to the PRIMARY CARD HOLDER’S NAME. If you have a significant other, they will NOT get their bag for free unless you fly with them. There is no way to add a second primary name to the card either. Guess what United? There are other airlines that do not charge baggage fees, or had a bailout. I’m done with you, and closing this card. Southwest here I come.

I got my passes in the vicinity of my first anniversary with the card.

Comment by Linda
2012-04-25 12:23:18: What I want to know is WHEN do I get these 2 free passes to the lounge- I thought 6-8 weeks -but I am well beyond that & haven’t seen a thing.

I just booked a trip to Ecuador and Brazil after from LA. I spent less than $200 since I already had 20,000 miles and received another 50,000 from applying.

Delta offers free checked bags up to 9 people if you have the Delta credit card.

‘Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. When you pay for your car rental with your Visa Signature card, you will be automatically covered for any damage caused by collision or theft of your eligible car rental.’

NOT SO. The coverage has been changed to secondary, not primary, which means only your deductible will be reimbursed. The membership booklets sent out with your welcome package may still state it’s primary coverage, but the policy has been changed.

TJ, where did you obtain the information that the care rental insurance has been changed from primary to secondary. If true, I will cancel my card when the annual fee is due.

Bruce,
I remember reading in the size 6 font info that you have a year using the card i.e. close or after paying for the 2nd year membership fee that you will get the 2 lounge passes (one pass one person, no guest)

Does anyone knows when the annual fee is due, (January maybe?)

What if cancell the credit card after 1 year to avoid the annual fee, what would happen.

also Can I use offer 25000 miles to do on united website

I have a few questions here. I have a United MileagePlus Card and have had it for years. There is currently around 100,000 miles on it. We have collected miles from travel and from credit card expenses. We have used rewards for three trips to Europe in the last in the last three years (one first class). Here are the questions:

1. Is there a limit on the miles you can collect each year? I know we used to have a card that had a limit of 60,000 miles and this one has no limit.
2. Can I transfer the miles from my current card to the new Explorer card? Is there a limit?
3. Can this card (Explorer) have multiple names as primary holders?
4. What is the insurance coverage for automobile rentals?
5. Is there still a foreign transaction fee and 3% interest on foreign purchases?