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You have the United℠ Explorer Card
Chase · $150/yr
What you’re getting
- ✓First checked bag free — cardholder + 1 companion on same reservation
- ✓2 United Club one-time passes per year
- ✓Priority boarding
- ✓25% back on United in-flight purchases
- ✓No foreign transaction fees
What you’re probably missing
These miles only fly one airline
Everything this card earns is locked to UA. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards transfer to UA too — earning there keeps every other airline on the table at the same time.
Your UA miles are worth 0.8¢ or 6.456¢ — depending on you
Last-seat dynamic awards / merchandise sits at 0.8¢ per mile; 80K saver business one-way to Amsterdam (vs $10,340 round-trip cash) pays 6.456¢. Same miles, 8x difference.
The value spread on your points
Maximized play: 80K saver business one-way to Amsterdam (vs $10,340 round-trip cash).
Go deeper
- Chase Sapphire Reserve in 2026: $795 fee, $2,000+ in credits, and a Park Hyatt run on the welcome bonus →
- Authorized users in 2026: when the fee pays off, when it doesn't, and the household point-pooling play most couples miss →
- Transferable Points 101: Why Chase UR, Amex MR, Citi TY, and Capital One Miles Beat Airline-Specific Cards →
This is the generic version.
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