[Disclosure: We do NOT receive a commission for the United 55,000 mile offer, but do receive a commission for the worse 30,000 mile offer. This post will explain how to get the better 55,000 mile offer!]
Chase United Explorer
I first wrote about the Chase United Explorer credit card with 55,000 miles about a year ago. This is a great deal because you get 50,000 United miles after spending $1,000 within 3 months and another 5,000 miles for adding an authorized user. And some folks have got a $50 statement credit as well!
You also get 10,000 miles after spending $25,000 within a calendar year which is a lot of spending, so I consider this a card with a 55,000 mile sign-up bonus.
The card also gets you 1 free bag and priority boarding on United flights.
50,000 United miles is enough for 2 domestic coach tickets or a 1-way business class ticket to Europe.
You can usually get approved for a business card from Chase as well, so you could apply for the Chase Ink Plus or Chase Ink Bold for another 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points, which you can transfer to United miles and use for a return business class ticket to Europe.
If you do apply for a business credit card, see this post on how to fill up the application and this post on how to call the reconsideration department and get approved.
However, not everyone is able to see the 55,000 mile offer in their account, so here are a few different ways to get the offer.
1. Email. You may receive the Chase United Explorer 55,000 mile offer via email. Here’s what my email looked like.
My Email Offer for 55,000 United Miles
The subject line read “Daraius, earn 50,000 bonus miles and perks like United Club passes.“ You could search your email account for an email from United with those terms (use your name instead of mine!)
2. Bank Branch. If you live in a city with a Chase branch, you could just pop into the bank and sign up for the card in the bank branch. You can search for a Chase branch here.
Thanks to Tesa & sona for commenting on their recent experience getting the 55,000 United Explorer card in a Chase branch. The offer available in bank branches requires $2,000 in spending (instead of $1,000) within 3 months.
However, if you plan on applying for multiple cards in the same day, it could be better to visit the branch in the morning and apply for your other cards after that so that you can call the reconsideration department to get your other applications approved during business hours.
3. Targeted Links. In my earlier post on the Chase United card, I’ve listed different links which get you to the 55,000 mile offer. But those links are temperamental. Sometimes they get you to the offer and sometimes they show you the regular 30,000 mile offer.
I wasn’t able to use the links to get to the 55,000 mile offer despite having an email with the offer which was valid until January 15, 2013!
The FlyerTalk thread discussing the offer suggested you may be able to see the offer if you have recent mile-earning activity in your United account. So I transferred 1,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to my United account and I was able to see the 55,000 mile offer!
Targeted 55,000 Mile Offer
Check out this post for other ways to earn United miles besides flying.
Interestingly, I also got an offer to the United Club card with the $395 annual fee waived for the 1st year!
4. What Else? You could apply for the regular 30,000 mile United Explorer and send Chase a secure message asking to be bumped to the 55,000 mile version along with the $50 statement credit.
Readers have reported success getting bumped to the 55,000 mile version (as has Emily), but your miles may vary. However, this has worked for the last year, but could end anytime. So try steps 1 to 3 first!
What If I already have a United Explorer card?
If you have an older United credit card which is not a United Explorer card, you should be able to get the sign-up bonus again.
The terms do state:
“This bonus offer is valid only for first-time United MileagePlus Visa cardmembers with new accounts. Previous and existing United MileagePlus Visa cardmembers/accounts are not eligible for this bonus offer.”
But Emily, other blog readers, and folks on this Flyer Talk thread have got the bonus again.
Readers have also written in that they were able to get the sign-up bonus on a new Chase United Explorer card despite having a Continental card which was later converted to a United Explorer card, but your experience could be different.
And if you got the United card with a 30,000 mile bonus in the last 3 months it doesn’t hurt sending a secure message to ask to get matched to the 55,000 offer.
United Club Card With No Annual Fee
The United Club card gets you:
- Access to United & Star Alliance lounges
- Free Premier Access (priority boarding, security, etc.)
- Free Hyatt Platinum status (free internet)
- Earns 1.5 United miles per $1 spent
- Waives the $75 late ticketing fee on award bookings
However, the card has a high $395 annual fee. But you can get the fee waived by either going to a Chase branch or sending Chase a secure message before applying for the card and asking if they will waive the annual fee.
United Club Card With Annual Fee Waived
But I was also able to see the annual fee waived for the 1st year when I logged into my United account (see #3 above) after recent mile-earning activity (in my case transferring Ultimate Rewards points to United).
I’m not sure if I got lucky, or if this works for everyone who can see the United Explorer with 55,000 miles in their account.
If I had to pick one card between the United Explorer with 55,000 miles or the United Club card with lounge access, but no sign-on bonus, I’d choose the Chase United Explorer card because the sign-up bonus is higher.
But if I was a Big Spender, I’d choose the United Club card because it offers 1.5 miles per $1 spent.
Bottom Line
The Chase United Explorer card with 55,000 miles after spending $1,000 within 3 months is a great way to earn more United miles, and is one of the best offers available.
* If you liked this post, why don’t you join the 8,500+ readers who have signed-up to receive free blog posts via email (only 1 email per day!) or in a RSS reader …because then you’ll never miss another update!
I have earned and redeemed millions of airline miles and hotel points to travel the world for free. Now I'm blogging to help more people do the same! 
Data point. A few weeks ago I signed up for a United Mileageplus number. Then went to https://bckstgr.com/ to get some free miles in my account (600). After the miles posted I too had the offers of either a 55k mile Mileageplus Explorer card or the Mileageplus Club card with no annual fee the first year. Before the miles posted I was not privy to the previously mentioned offers. So for anyone that is not seeing these offers you might want to apply for a new United MileagePlus number and earn some miles in your new account. Then log into your new account and you should see the offers.
I think part of the reason you can get the bonus even if you had/have a Continental card that was converted is that those cards are still MasterCards rather than Visas.
After I received a targeted offer in the mail recently, I messaged and called to ask why I was being offered a bonus they weren’t willing to match me to every time I asked about it months back. The rep told me I would still get the bonus because the new Explorer is a Visa and the old converted Explorer is a MasterCard (like William mentioned above)… so they are two different products.
Thanks! This reminded me to check my United account after posting some activity on it this month. Now the offer is there.
In churning cards, do you need to cancel the previous card, before applying for a new one. For instance, I have the United Explorer Visa, you state that you can get the offer again, does that mean I would have to cancel the card first, or does Chase allow you to have two of the same card?
I agree with William’s point that why ex-CO cardholders can get the bonus miles is because they’re MasterCard. I have a MileagePlus Select Visa card, which was a product with pre-merger UA, and I don’t see the 55k-mile offer page if I’m logged in with UA (instead I’m redirected to the page for a cardmember). I don’t see the free annual fee offer for the Club card either.
Hello,
I applied and got approved for this card (United MileagePlis Explorer ) last year and once I got the bonus miles, I closed this card. I logged into my united account and I see the offer. Let me know if I apply for this card again will I be eligible to receive the bonus miles.
You can just login to your MP account to see if you also go it
@Bill – Thanks for the tip!
@William @Jacob @hamnori – Good to know. Thanks!
@Jetsfan – Excellent!
@Juli @Syed – You won’t get the bonus for the exact same card type, unless you have a different mileage plus number for each card and have closed one card. But if you have a different version of the United card, you may be able to get the bonus for a different United card type.
@Matt C - That would work too!
What about the United Business version? Is that bonus also bumped up to 55,000?
I just want to add with the targeted links method, when you’re logged into your MileagePlus account, I’ve had success seeing the same offer PLUS $50 statement credit (after first purchase) on the screen when I go through the motions of trying to book a flight on the united.com website. If I was just looking at my MileagePlus account overview screen, I would only see the 55,000 miles offer talked about in this post. So you might want to try attempting to book a UA flight and you might see a even better offer!
Do you know if you can use the club passes associated to this deal to get into Star Alliance Lounges. Especially in Europe there are many lounges, but few United Clubs.
Thanks
So, I already have a United MileagePlus Explorer Visa card (from last March – I got 50k miles) that is tied to my United MileagePlus Account. So, I am technically not allowed to double dip on this and get the bonus miles again.
BUT, does anyone know if I could just apply for a new United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Number and then transfer miles to it (like we’ve done in the past) to then take advantage of this offer by using the new United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Number??
Or will Chase (or United) deny you new bonus miles because you they know they gave you bonus miles to your other account? Any experience from others out there?
Your title is a bit misleading. It’s more of a United Club Card With Annual Fee Waived 1st yr. instead of no annual fee lol. But also same question as billybob
Part of BillyBob’s question was answered by Daraius. See “@Juli @Syed” above.
I don’t know if you could merge accounts with United. Either way, with 50k miles on a new acct, you have a roundtrip ticket across the US.
Likewise, I’m also a bit confused: If I’ve had the Explorer Visa before, and canceled it, is there any chance of being approved for this one, or not? Sounds like the answer is a flat no.
@sl, again, you’ll likely get approved for a 2nd Explorer but if you didn’t leave enough time between the first and the second application, you’ll receive a letter from Chase denying your sign up bonus.
A few months ago, I used a certain link I got off Flyertalk to apply for the Explorer card. It came with the 50,000 miles after $1000 spend but no $50 credit statement. Here it is:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/sso/Login.aspx?return_to=thatsaplus
I forgot to add that I had no miles in my MileagePlus account at that time.
Does anyone know if you have to use the “Add an additional card” fill form now to trigger the authorized user bonus later on?
PS I also did a dummy booking and was able to see the awesome $50 statement credit!
I saw this offer during the last week of Dec. I didn’t see the offer for the $50 statement credit. Is that something Chase would match and is it even worth asking about?
Darius – you rock — the offer worked after adding 1k miles to the account!
@Jason – I’ve read that it is, but don’t have personal experience with it. Please let us know if you get it!
@Jonathan H – Thanks for the tip. It didn’t work for me, but perhaps it will work for others.
@fg – You can’t use the United passes with the United Explorer in non-United lounges, but you can use the United Club card to get entry to the Star Alliance lounges (once they send you the lounge access card).
@BillyBob @Tommy @sl – I’ve read that that works, but haven’t got personal experience.
@Joe Rodriguez - They do merge accounts if you call to ask!
@CCC - Thanks for the link!
@Heather @ pass the dressing – No, you can request the additional user later on via secure mail or by calling in if you’d like.
@Andy – I’ve read that they do match to it and Emily got matched last year.
@groeder – Glad it worked out!
Darius, You are awesome!! I just got instant approval for the United MileagePlus Club card. I am hoping to upgrade some Lufthansa tickets to 1st class that I used United miles for so this will save me the $150 change fees. Thanks again!
Not trying to be a pain in the butt but his name is Daraius. Daraius, people, not Darius.
You’re welcome, D.
Applied and am being reviewed now. I also recently got reviewed/denied for Club Carlson biz because of too many recent applications. We will see!
@Susan, sorry for breaking bad news to you, but the $75 waiver is for new bookings, not for changing a ticket…I made the same mistake as you…
CCC
That link worked for me. Thank you!
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/sso/Login.aspx?return_to=thatsaplus
I have a trip for my family of 4 from Chicago to Jacksonville in March. So at the very least I think this gets me to check a bag.
Logging in and trying to book a dummy flight only got me 30K.
Thanks everyone!
@OberBober, well rats! But thanks for the heads up anyways. I am assuming you actually tried this? When you were denied did it sound like there was any “wiggle” room at all? Just asking, because when I spoke with Chase last night trying to verify that I was indeed getting the card with the first year fee waived she didn’t correct me on my anticipated use. (Of course I understand that is not necessarily her area of expertise and YMMV).
@Joe Rodriguez, thanks for the correction. Everybody likes for their name to be spelled correctly and I am sure Daraius is no exception.
@Susan – As OberBober points out, it won’t waive change fees – just the fee for booking an award ticket late.
@Joe Rodriguez –
@Richard Hornback – I believe only the 1st 2 people on the reservation (including the cardholder) will get the free checked bag.
WTH!!!
When did United start charging $30 to transfer miles between accounts.
They truly are nickle & diming people – I don’t recall there being any fee the last time we did this.
I found a way (via SlickDeals.net) to generate 400 miles, within about 10 mins, on a new United Airlines MileagePlus account.
Create an account at: https://bckstgr.com/ (I set up new E-mail addresses for all of this)
After creating an account, tie together your MileagePlus Account to your bckstgr.com account.
Then from your https://bckstgr.com/ account, link your MileagePlus account to either your Twitter (200 miles) or Facebook (200 miles) accounts (or both for 400 miles).
I then clicked one of the above links and got the page for the 50k miles…Instantly approved!!! Now the wait begins to see if I can score on this after scoring the original United program, Continental Airlines program, the Capital One Match Your Miles Bonus for 100,000 miles (remember that one!!), the new United card, and now hopefully this one! Almost as good as US Airways!
Had the same success as others have using bckstgr.com seeing the offer. 30k offer on Saturday afternoon. Signed up for bckstgr and by Sunday I had a 50k offer when I logged into my mileageplus account.
I know this isn’t a credit score help site, but I have very good credit, and am wondering if I should wait to apply for this card. I just did the 2BM for AA on Friday. Before Friday the last time I had applied for a card was in October 2012. Thoughts?
Clarification: credit in the area of 740.
My bf got this offer in the mail last month, so check your mailboxes too.
@Mike: I think you would have no problem getting approval for this card. It would have been likely better if you had applied for this card right after you applied for the AA cards. I helped a family member apply for this card. She got instant approval and she has only about 9 months of credit history. Her credit score is a bit lower than yours.
@BillyBob – Thanks for the tip! I have listed that in the linked post to the other ways to earn miles, but thanks for posting it here since it is fairly quick.
@Mike – Folks apply for cards from different banks at or around the same time, so you could apply for this as well if you can meet the minimum spending requirements.
@Lisa – Good point!
Follow up: Called the reconsideration line. They told me I was denied due to too many recent inquiries. I told them I recently had a pre-approval on a mortgage and another Chase inquiry (the Hyatt) but that I could handle this card. They offered to split some of my Hyatt credit so that I could open the United Explorer card. When I get my welcome packet, I will let you know about the bonus but I applied through the dummy booking option which specified at statement credit, no fee, and 50-55K points. The rep couldn’t confirm the bonus unfortunately but fingers crossed. Thanks for the heads up on this!
I got the 55k Explorer last summer and just received a targeted mailer for the same offer. Would my Dad be able to apply for it using my invitation number?
@Heather @ pass the dressing – Congrats. The bonus won’t be mentioned in the application package, but you can confirm it when you call to activate the card.
@Julie - I believe with Chase, the targeted offer may populate with your information, in which case, your dad can’t use it. But if it doesn’t, he should be able to use it.
Doesn’t United get you on the backside by forcing you to now pay a close in booking fee to redeem your miles? When I tried a scenario on a route I’m interested in domestically, they charged me $75 in close in fee.
@Kelly - There is a close-in ticketing fee for booking or changing a ticket within 21 days.
I wrote to Chase and they decided to “honor my request!” Thanks sooooo much! I did a happy little jig when I got the email!
I have the same question as BillyBob’s above, about getting a second United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Number and applying for a second Explorer Card. Can anyone confirm if one can get the 50K bonus this way?
I know that this was partly answered by Daraius in “@Juli @Syed” above. But it was not clear to me if this would work or not. Anyone with experiences? In particular, I am worried that Chase will know about both cards (by matching SSN).
@Toni – Congrats!
@John – It is ymmv, but let us know if you decide to try it.
This is the exact offer they will offer you every single day at the local Chase branch. No one will write about it because they don’t want to miss out on the affiliate linking payouts but for those who live within the area of a Chase branch this is the standard in branch offer. I recently got the card from a very nice banker, and asked how long this had been the current sign up bonus. He stated for at least 6 months or more and there were no plans to change it any time soon.
@Sven Smith – I’ve written about this before, and it is even linked to in the credit card tabs so folks know it is available!
Got the offer with the https://bckstgr.com/ link…..just signed up and hit one of the links on this page….Bang…there it was. Didn’t even have to wait for points to post to my account.
oh, and I just noticed…when I logged into my united account, there was a better off….the miles…which I got, plus the $50 credit..so check your account before you pull the trigger if you go this route https://bckstgr.com
Pingback: Is 75,000 Points Worth It? | Million Mile Secrets
Hi Darius,
When do you think United sends the lounge passes after the card activation? Its been 3 weeks for me after I activated my card and still no sign of lounge passes. Do you think I should contact Chase or United about this?
Usually its approx 2 months. I hope for myself its sooner because I activated mine 1 week ago and in less than 7 more weeks I take an international flight and would really appreciate having those passes.
@Alaska - Thanks! There is a $50 statement credit as well.
@Somy @Julian – It may take 6 to 8 weeks to get them, so I’d wait a bit before calling.
Thanks D! @Julian: Its very close for me too
. thus the anticipation.
Hi Darius,
I just had one more question. If I book a business class one way on United and if I have to cancel it later, what kind of charges will apply to me? Will they reimburse me my miles that I used to book? Any advice?
Just noticed something today, When I log into my United account I had the 50,000+5000 for additional user add showing for the last three months. I was planning on applying for it next week and today even when I log in, only the 30,000 is showing. I think I will transfer some URpoints in and see what happens, has anyone else had this happen?
@Somy - If you book a business award and if you cancel it, you can get your miles redeposited in your account for a $150 fee.
@longroller – I’ve read other reports of it happening as well.
Thanks D! for the quick response.
I transferred UR points last week to United and right after saw the 50,000 miles offer. But when I logged on again yesterday, it’s back to 30,000 miles.
Transferred points and no change, logged in I went to mileage plus menu and then down to credit cards and it popped up again, so went ahead and applied, first time i ever had to call reconsideration line but approved after short talk, think i may have messed up address on app. Thanks Darius your advice has been dead on
Oops sorry about misspell on name☺. Called reconsideration because screen said pending review
@Happy Feet – You may be able to still get matched to the better offer.
@Longroller – Glad it worked out!
Hi Darius,
I just received my United club passes. Can I use them even when flying non-United or I have to travel united to use them. Could not find anything written about it?
Thanks in advance.
@somy - You can use it even when you’re not flying United as long as you have access to the United lounge.
I was able to sell the 56,000 miles I earned to rewards2cash for $688.80 http://rewards2cash.com/United_MileagePlus?tracking=4f8fb6a3e7219
The company has positive reviews on yelp, facebook, and slickdeals
I applied for this card on Jan 1, 2012, and cancelled it at the end of December 2012. Is it too early to apply for it again? Is there a certain amount of time I should wait so that I’m not declined? Thanks!
@veronica – Yes, it is. Normally, you can’t get the bonus again for the same type of card again unless it is a different version or you wait ~2 years with Chase.
My statement just arrived. The 1,000 points posted for the money I spent on the card, but I don’t see any bonus miles. Thoughts?
@David0603 – You likely completed the minimum spending in the last 10 days before you statement closed, so I’d wait for your next statement to close.
That I did. Thanks.
I had a Mileage Plus United card that I closed about 15 months ago. My DH has lost his job so we needed to downsize on some cards. But, things are way better and now we have the opportunity to travel again!! Yeah!
So, I had gotten several offers in email and snail mail for sign up bonus credit cards and applied for this one again. Even had hubby (last United card closed about a year ago–same reason) sign up for the Business card for 50,000 miles. Mine was the measly 30K and 5K for an extra user. Didn’t know about this site! Anyway, I saw on my first statement that I have a credit for “Bonus miles for new account use” 5,000. Is that there parting gift to me for ‘coming back’ and maybe they won’t be giving me the 30K? Or is that a goofy way of saying that it’s the 5K for the adding an authorized user? I know you usually have to wait awhile for miles to post….it just seemed like why did they give me the 5K already but not the 30K. BTW, did already spend the $1000 I needed to for the bonus.
@charlene – You may be able to get the 30K United offer matched to 50K if you send Chase a secure message asking to be matched. The 5K does sound like it is the bonus for adding an authorized user!
Asking for bump from 30,000 to 50,000 miles + $50 statement credit still works. Just did this today.
Darius – Any idea how to get a few points into the account for the targeted offer? Bckstgr does not seem to be working for me.
@Dave – Thanks for confirming!
@Jess – You could transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards, take part in their dining program, etc. But you can also apply for the 30K version and ask to be matched to the higher offer.
@Daraius – Thanks! I just applied for the Bold Ink Plus, and the rep commented on all of my recent lines of credit. I took that to mean “slow down,” so I may hold off on the United Card, sadly.
@Jess – As always, do what is comfortable to you! Waiting a few months will not harm you.
I’m just having the fiance apply instead. In this case, waiting a few months could hurt… We are moving overseas in August and there aren’t many ways that I can figure out how to rev up a spend overseas, so this may be my last round of apps for a few years . . . :/
@Jess - Moving overseas will be quite the adventure. You could use Amazon payments and could use the card to get the minimum spending overseas, but it will be much harder there!
Hey There,
I’m coming up on the 1-year anniversary of receiving this card. I have spent $25K+ this year and will be receiving the 10K miles bonus. If I cancel the account after the miles have been posted, will they be retracted? I know Chase has some regulations regarding maintaining an account for 6 months after a signup bonus, but I wasn’t sure about annual bonus regulations.
Thanks!
@William - You won’t lose the United miles if you already have the miles in your United account. But the miles will be subject to the regular United expiration policy where your miles will expire after 18 months of no activity.
Pingback: Adventures Down Under, Part 1 of 8: The Flight Plan: 80K United and 35K American Miles | Points for Good
How do I send a secure message to United to get from a 30,000 miles bonus to a 50,000 miles bonus. I love the travel pictures/captions about Emily and you, Daraius. Any trip planned?
@daniele – Here’s a link to how to send a secure message.
Thank you so much. For info and gratitude only: In February 2013, I got the Citi AA Amex and the Citi AA Visa (with the double browser thanks to you). I realized last week that Citi also has an AA Master Card with 30K bonus. I appplied and was approved. Am happy.
@daniele oudinot - Very helpful and thanks for sharing!
Hi Does anyone know if you can still get more the 55,000 offer instead of the 30,000 for the United Explorer? Or did it end in January?
thanks!
@mary – It still works based on reader feedback.
Chase just matched my offer to the 50,000 bonus! I wasn’t able to find the targeted 50k offer, even after trying to get some points into my United Mileage Plus account. I got impatient and applied for the 30k offer anyway (with the statement credit). As soon as I got the card I sent them a secure message asking them to match my bonus. Within 24 hours they replied yes.
The really helpful part is they are just depositing the extra 20k right away, and I’ll make the original 30k with the minimum spend as usual. Thank you so much for your suggestion to ask Chase to upgrade my offer!
@Sierra – Thanks for confirming that it still works!
Thank you for your website! I got an email from United offering 30000 miles after $1000 dollars in the first three months but decided to check here first….I click and got a different offer: $50000 miles after $2000 dollars, which in my case will be easy to do..Thank you so much for keeping us updated on the offers!