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United MileagePlus Explorer Guide to Benefits

Matching is not guaranteed anymore YMMV

Personal Card
Public offer in the Bank is 50K+5K                            Sign up for the 30+5K offer. You can get matched to the higher offer by sending a secure message after you are approved to be matched to the 55K + $50 offer that you say your colleague received.

If its your:
First time: After you sign for the 30k + 5k for adding an AU offer, you can SM Chase to match you to the 55k + $50 offer.
2nd+: Sign up with a new Frequent Flyer # (FFN), and SM AFTER receiving the first 30k. Make sure to create the new FFN with United BEFORE submitting the Application to Chase, or they'll default to your previous number, even if you leave the field blank.

Make sure to add an AU to receive the final 5k, for a total of 55k +$50.

Business Card
On the business card, you can get matched to 50k.
Follow the same process as the personal card.
Note: There is no 5k bonus for adding an AU to the biz card, so when you SM, make sure to ask to be matched to the 50k offer, not a 55k offer which doesn't exist for this card.


It could take up to a week to get a response from the Secure Message Center

Here is a link within your United account, which some DDFers have reported to received a 50k offer for the Explorer card, and the annual fee waived for the Club Card.

If u have a UMPE card and NO status, then you can do upgrades from a coach pts booking to bus/1st pts booking for just incremental pt + taxes, no fees. If you don't have the card they said they'd charge the all-dreaded rebooking fee of $100/person (always the chance to get it waived).
« Last edited by Aerial Dag on July 02, 2019, 04:40:26 PM »

Author Topic: United MileagePlus Explorer Card  (Read 1444609 times)

Offline PETERP

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1100 on: February 19, 2013, 09:10:30 PM »
While i'm not at my 43rd yet like Dan ;), yes, i have done a "tad" more than 3...


Thanks guys . That's all I needed to know .  :)

Offline deusconsilio

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1101 on: February 20, 2013, 09:50:43 AM »
How long does it take for the 5K authorized user points to post?  Does that authorized user have to first use the card?

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1102 on: February 20, 2013, 09:56:47 AM »
How long does it take for the 5K authorized user points to post?  Does that authorized user have to first use the card?
I think mine showed up on 2nd statement. And, the au does not have to use the card for u to get the bonus.
Always use an Amex, you'll thank me one day.

Offline Moshe123

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1103 on: February 20, 2013, 11:56:09 AM »
How long does it take for the 5K authorized user points to post?  Does that authorized user have to first use the card?
Mine posted I think before the the first statement closed.

Offline rots5

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1104 on: February 20, 2013, 12:00:42 PM »
Mine posted I think before the the first statement closed.
me too
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Offline Baruch

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1105 on: February 20, 2013, 01:54:54 PM »
I think mine showed up on 2nd statement. And, the au does not have to use the card for u to get the bonus.
-1. The new applications say that 1 dollar has to be spent on the AU's card.

Offline rots5

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1106 on: February 20, 2013, 02:29:11 PM »
-1. The new applications say that 1 dollar has to be spent on the AU's card.
got bonuses on both mine and my wifes. One spent the 1$ one did not.  I hues as they say YMMV
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Offline deusconsilio

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1107 on: February 20, 2013, 02:51:17 PM »
Awesome.  Thanks all.

How long does it take once you breach the $1K spend for the 50K miles to post?

Offline Baruch

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1108 on: February 20, 2013, 03:01:57 PM »
got bonuses on both mine and my wifes. One spent the 1$ one did not.  I hues as they say YMMV
This is what they've written lately on their applications:

5,000 bonus miles
after you add an authorized user to your account and make a purchase with your card during the first 3 months as a Cardmember.*

They used to not write that - ONLY LATELY HAS THIS LANGUAGE APPEARED!!

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1109 on: February 20, 2013, 05:44:09 PM »
I'm new to the forum. Just want to clarify does FF# refer to frequent flyer number which is called mileageplus account with united? I can create a new mileage plus account with the same name and info?

And people have reported success with applying for another card under a different FF#. Does that mean that if I currently have a UA MPE card under one mileagle plus number, I can just apply again for another card under a different FF#? Wont they see that same person with same SSN already has that card?  I probably am misunderstanding something - would be grateful to someone who can clarify :)

Offline rots5

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1110 on: February 20, 2013, 05:46:54 PM »
I'm new to the forum. Just want to clarify does FF# refer to frequent flyer number which is called mileageplus account with united? I can create a new mileage plus account with the same name and info?

And people have reported success with applying for another card under a different FF#. Does that mean that if I currently have a UA MPE card under one mileagle plus number, I can just apply again for another card under a different FF#? Wont they see that same person with same SSN already has that card?  I probably am misunderstanding something - would be grateful to someone who can clarify :)
firstly; thanks for not starting a new thread! its really appreciated. if you ever need any help search and ask,

now, yes ppl have had a lot of success in opening new explorer cards under diff FF (frequent flier) numbers, or in united/continentals terms - one milage plus numbers. i dont think FF numbers need ur social, so i think you should be fine
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Offline MEIR613

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1111 on: February 20, 2013, 05:50:00 PM »
I'm new to the forum. Just want to clarify does FF# refer to frequent flyer number which is called mileageplus account with united? I can create a new mileage plus account with the same name and info?

And people have reported success with applying for another card under a different FF#. Does that mean that if I currently have a UA MPE card under one mileagle plus number, I can just apply again for another card under a different FF#? Wont they see that same person with same SSN already has that card?  I probably am misunderstanding something - would be grateful to someone who can clarify :)
1)Yes

2)Yes

3)Yes you could apply with a different FFN and get the bonus, but if you apply with another UA card open, you will have to close it down to get the new one approved.


Offline rots5

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1112 on: February 20, 2013, 05:50:43 PM »
1)Yes

2)Yes

3)Yes you could apply with a different FFN and get the bonus, but if you apply with another UA card open, you will have to close it down to get the new one approved.
well said
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Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1113 on: February 20, 2013, 06:11:28 PM »
1)Yes

2)Yes

3)Yes you could apply with a different FFN and get the bonus, but if you apply with another UA card open, you will have to close it down to get the new one approved.

Thanks! If I would downgrade the card to a regular unitedmileage plus, I can then use the same method to reapply for another explorer card under a new FF#? Or will they ask questions.....

Also, just want to clarify regarding getting the 55k + $50. All I need to do is get approved for the card and just send an SM asking them to match an offer I saw for 55k + $50 with an AU. Do I need to specify where I saw the offer??

Offline mmermss

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1114 on: February 20, 2013, 06:12:53 PM »
Also, just want to clarify regarding getting the 55k + $50. All I need to do is get approved for the card and just send an SM asking them to match an offer I saw for 55k + $50 with an AU. Do I need to specify where I saw the offer??
Nope.  Just SM them AFTER you receive the 30k points.
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1115 on: February 20, 2013, 06:23:09 PM »
Thanks! If I would downgrade the card to a regular unitedmileage plus, I can then use the same method to reapply for another explorer card under a new FF#? Or will they ask questions.....


Let me clarify my question! If i downgrade to a united mileage plus regular, can I get the MPE without closing? since it's a different card? Or will they make me close it before getting applied for another MPE?

Offline MEIR613

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1116 on: February 20, 2013, 10:24:30 PM »
Let me clarify my question! If i downgrade to a united mileage plus regular, can I get the MPE without closing? since it's a different card? Or will they make me close it before getting applied for another MPE?
I think you will need to close it.

Why do you care to close it if your getting a new one anyway?


Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1117 on: February 20, 2013, 10:35:16 PM »
I think you will need to close it.

Why do you care to close it if your getting a new one anyway?

I thought that average length of account is a big part of your credit score - am I wrong? I like to keep as many cards as I can open, without opening, closing, opening, closing... Am I just being paranoid?? I always pay everything on time and I do not use a large percentage of my credit.

so will it negatively affect my credit score to have short length of accounts?

Offline Saver2000

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1118 on: February 20, 2013, 10:37:44 PM »
I thought that average length of account is a big part of your credit score - am I wrong? I like to keep as many cards as I can open, without opening, closing, opening, closing... Am I just being paranoid?? I always pay everything on time and I do not use a large percentage of my credit.

so will it negatively affect my credit score to have short length of accounts?
If it's not your oldest card, then its fine. Closed cards count into the average until they fall of your report (10 years).

Offline MEIR613

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1119 on: February 20, 2013, 10:38:40 PM »
I thought that average length of account is a big part of your credit score - am I wrong? I like to keep as many cards as I can open, without opening, closing, opening, closing... Am I just being paranoid?? I always pay everything on time and I do not use a large percentage of my credit.

so will it negatively affect my credit score to have short length of accounts?
It depends. Is this your oldest card? If yes, definitely don't close it. If it was just opened, it won't make such a big affect on your CR. It all depends.