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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 1444583 times)

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1120 on: February 20, 2013, 11:17:35 PM »
If it's not your oldest card, then its fine. Closed cards count into the average until they fall of your report (10 years).

My oldest card is a discover - no AF and I intend to keep it forever even though I don't really use it.

But even 10 years - that's a long time for it to affect your credit, no?

Unless it doesn't really affect it too much - would make more sense that paying bills and not using too much of your credit is more important.

Offline MEIR613

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1121 on: February 20, 2013, 11:21:59 PM »
My oldest card is a discover - no AF and I intend to keep it forever even though I don't really use it.

But even 10 years - that's a long time for it to affect your credit, no?

Unless it doesn't really affect it too much - would make more sense that paying bills and not using too much of your credit is more important.
10 years it will stay on your report is a good  thing.

I think you should be fine.

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1122 on: February 20, 2013, 11:25:29 PM »
10 years it will stay on your report is a good  thing.

I think you should be fine.

I thought its bad for your credit to have short average length of accts. and if I keep closing cards, my average will go down

Offline A European

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1123 on: February 21, 2013, 12:27:51 AM »
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?
yes you could !
i have 2 right now UMPE+UMP

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1124 on: February 21, 2013, 01:02:41 AM »
yes you could !
i have 2 right now UMPE+UMP

Thanks - great to know! I need to wait another 2 months before I can downgrade to UMP because they say the card had to be open for at least a year before you can change the terms. unless theres a way to get around that :)

Questions....
1)  Is it better to close UMPE and then later apply under new FF#.... or first apply, then close the account to get approved? i'm assuming that would take a phone call

2)  Is there a limit to how much you can close open close open.... Will they catch on? Dan really did it 43 times?!?!?!?!?!?!

3)  back to my original question of how much it ruins your credit score to keep opening and closing. How much does average length of account factor in? Previous posts told me not to worry....

Offline Saver2000

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1125 on: February 21, 2013, 01:08:21 AM »
1)  Is it better to close UMPE and then later apply under new FF#.... or first apply, then close the account to get approved? i'm assuming that would take a phone call
I'm not 100% sure, but i'd imagine if you close the card first you have a chance of instant approval, where as if you don't close it first you for sure won't get instant approval...


Offline A European

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1126 on: February 21, 2013, 01:20:30 AM »
Thanks - great to know! I need to wait another 2 months before I can downgrade to UMP because they say the card had to be open for at least a year before you can change the terms. unless theres a way to get around that :)

Questions....
1)  Is it better to close UMPE and then later apply under new FF#.... or first apply, then close the account to get approved? i'm assuming that would take a phone call

2)  Is there a limit to how much you can close open close open.... Will they catch on? Dan really did it 43 times?!?!?!?!?!?!

3)  back to my original question of how much it ruins your credit score to keep opening and closing. How much does average length of account factor in? Previous posts told me not to worry....
1. Saver2000
2. no IME , don't know but i believe he could
3. if you don't loose your CL it is not a problem

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1127 on: February 21, 2013, 02:34:18 AM »
3. if you don't loose your CL it is not a problem
Does losing the CL upon closing but then gaining it right back when I reopen count as losing CL??

Offline Shmulyg

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1128 on: February 21, 2013, 05:54:51 AM »
Does losing the CL upon closing but then gaining it right back when I reopen count as losing CL??
As long as your usage-to available credit ratio stays the same, no.

Offline minkr

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1129 on: February 21, 2013, 11:45:48 AM »
Thanks guys for all your help - much appreciated!! Keep up the great work!

And easy fasts everyone....

Offline APoshiterYid

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1130 on: February 25, 2013, 09:50:20 PM »
Wooot :)

Congratulations! Your application has been approved.You will receive your new card and your Cardmember Agreement within 7-10 business days. When your card arrives, simply call the toll-free number provided to confirm receipt.
If you have my email PLEASE don't PM me :)

Offline deusconsilio

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1131 on: February 27, 2013, 09:37:04 AM »
Yes.
55+$50

A co-worker of mine just tried the SM and points match... and was rejected.  I will be trying it anyway within the next 2 months.

Any thoughts?

Offline sky121

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1132 on: February 27, 2013, 09:39:35 AM »
A co-worker of mine just tried the SM and points match... and was rejected.  I will be trying it anyway within the next 2 months.

Any thoughts?

He shouldn't give up so fast.
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Offline mmermss

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1133 on: February 27, 2013, 09:40:33 AM »
A co-worker of mine just tried the SM and points match... and was rejected.  I will be trying it anyway within the next 2 months.

Any thoughts?
Was it their first or second UA card? If the second time around did they SM after or before the 30k posted?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline wierdal832

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1134 on: February 27, 2013, 09:41:32 AM »
Was it their first or second UA card? If the second time around did they SM after or before the 30k posted?

u sud do it after the 30k post

Offline mmermss

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1135 on: February 27, 2013, 09:44:56 AM »
u sud do it after the 30k post
Was that a question or comment?

I know that on the first UA card you can SM write when you see charge on the card. On the second UA card you should wait till 30k posts. I was asking the OP what number UA card his co-worker is doing because if he was doing the second then the reason he got turned down to be matched might be because he SM'd too early.
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline wierdal832

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1136 on: February 27, 2013, 11:27:13 AM »
Was that a question or comment?

I know that on the first UA card you can SM write when you see charge on the card. On the second UA card you should wait till 30k posts. I was asking the OP what number UA card his co-worker is doing because if he was doing the second then the reason he got turned down to be matched might be because he SM'd too early.

comment, well said above

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1137 on: February 27, 2013, 11:36:38 AM »
I thought its bad for your credit to have short average length of accts. and if I keep closing cards, my average will go down
Actually, if you close the recent cards then the average age will go up. It's losing the CL on those cards that hurts. If you can transfer the CL to another card then closing it will actually benefit you.
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Offline wierdal832

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1138 on: February 27, 2013, 02:08:42 PM »
if i rent a car and use united card for insurance, since its the best, will they cover if its my wifes card and i use a card with my name on it, im an AU, or do they just cover for the main card?

Offline m65

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Re: United MileagePlus Explorer Card
« Reply #1139 on: February 27, 2013, 06:56:55 PM »
how do i open a new ffn in order to churn the united card? do i use same email and address as old one? can i merge the accounts later?