United Explorer Business Card Review [2024]: Worth the United Perks?

Q: Does the 5/24 rule apply to business cards?

The 5/24 rule is an unofficial Chase rule . Under the rule, you will be denied a Chase card if you’ve applied for five or more credit cards with any card issuer in the past 24 months. The 5/24 rule does apply to the United Explorer Business Card, so it’s highly unlikely you’d be approved if you’ve applied for too many cards recently.

CREDIT CARDS - BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS

Business travelers who travel with United won’t want to miss this.

By Christy Rakoczy

Edited by Laura Bostwick

Updated Nov. 8, 2024

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Editor's note:

This card is no longer offered. Instead, check out the United℠ Business Card.

If you’re interested in a business travel card but don’t fly enough to make United’s elite — and expensive — United MileagePlus Club Card worth it, the United Explorer Business Card could be an ideal choice.

This United Explorer Business Card review can help you make an informed choice on if this card might be right for you.

Who should get this card?

If you fly United regularly and are in need of a business credit card, the United Explorer Business Card is a great mid-tier card. But it doesn’t come with some of the perks the more expensive card does, such as United Club membership or a second free checked bag for the primary cardholder and one companion.

Still, it offers plenty of advantages to businesses, including free employee credit cards, two United Club passes annually, and one free checked bag for the cardholder and a traveling companion on each United Flight. If you fly United and can benefit from these perks, this card is a strong one to consider.

Card basics

Card Type	Business
Card Issuer	Chase
Recommended Credit Score	Excellent, Good
Foreign Transaction Fee	None

Top card benefits

Priority boarding: Both the primary cardmember as well as traveling companions booked on the same reservation will be able to board United-operated flights early before general boarding.

Free checked bags: The primary cardholder and one additional companion traveling on the same reservation can receive one free standard checked bag on United-operated flights — a savings of up to $60 per flight if both you and a guest check a bag.

Two free United Club one-time passes: These passes are available each year you’re a cardmember and provide access to United Club lounges. These lounges usually provide free beverages and snacks, free WiFi, comfortable seating areas, and other amenities.

Travel insurance protections: Cardholders benefit from primary coverage auto rental insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation or delay coverage, and Visa Concierge services. These services provide significant value. For example, you could recover up to $3,000 per passenger in losses if your luggage is damaged or lost by the carrier, or you could receive up to $100 per day for three days to pay for essential purchases if your bags are delayed by six or more hours.

Purchase protection: New purchases on your United Explorer Business Card are covered for up to 120 days against theft or damage. You could recover up to $10,000 per loss, with a maximum total recovery of $50,000 per account. You can also extend the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items with warranties of three years or less.

Earning and redeeming

Best ways to earn

The United Explorer Business Card provides the chance to earn unlimited bonus miles for certain categories of spending.

You can also maximize the rewards you earn by taking advantage of the opportunity to get free employee cards. The more employees you have who use the United Explorer Business Card to make charges, the more quickly you can accrue miles that can be used for travel.

Maximizing your redemptions

Miles earned are transferred to United at the end of each billing cycle and can be redeemed for United flights as well as for flights on any airline that’s part of the Star Alliance network.

When booking with United, one-way flights start at just 12,500 miles within the continental U.S. and Canada.

The miles you earn don’t expire as long as your card is open, so you don’t have to worry about using them up quickly once you’ve earned them.

FAQs

Is the United credit card worth it?

This card is worth it if you fly on United frequently, as it provides a free standard checked bag for you and a companion.

The card also comes with two one-time United Club passes, which are valued at $59 each, making it one of our favorite Chase business credit cards.

Does the 5/24 rule apply to business cards?

The 5/24 rule is an unofficial Chase rule. Under the rule, you will be denied a Chase card if you’ve applied for five or more credit cards with any card issuer in the past 24 months.

The 5/24 rule does apply to the United Explorer Business Card, so it’s highly unlikely you’d be approved if you’ve applied for too many cards recently.

What credit score do I need for the United Explorer Business Card?

You’ll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the United Explorer Business Card.

Other cards to consider

The United Explorer Business Card has a lot to offer for business travelers who fly with United, but if you’re looking for the best airline credit card for multiple carriers, you may want to compare it to another Chase business card, such as the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card or the Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card.