Chase offers four United personal cards. You can apply for two of them directly and product change to the other two (there are other legacy cards, but it’s not possible to convert or apply for these anymore).
- Chase United MileagePlus Explorer (accepts direct applications)
- Chase United MileagePlus Club Card (accepts direct applications)
- Chase United MileagePlus Awards Card (you can only product change to this card
- Chase United MileagePlus Rewards No Annual Fee Card (you can only product change to this card
In this review we will be looking at the Awards card.
Contents
Card Basics
- $60 annual fee
- Priority Boarding
- Card earns 1x mile per $1 spent on all purchases
- Increased award inventory
- 25% bonus on the MileagePlus shopping portal
- You can bring a full sized carry on bag on United Basic fares
Our Verdict
It’s best to compare this to the Explorer and no annual fee card. When comparing to the no annual fee card you’re basically paying $60 for the access to award inventory and the full size carry on bag (note a lot of readers are stating that they are able to see increased award inventory with the no AF card). When comparing to the Explorer you’re saving $35 on the annual fee but you don’t get the free checked bag, two club passes, 2x on United and you pay a 3% foreign transaction fee instead of 0%.
Personally I don’t think any of the United cards are worth holding, but if you’re going to pay $60 it probably makes sense to pay the extra $35 and get the explorer card.
Hat tip to IvanXQZ on /r/churning for making me aware of this being a product change option
Another question: which versions provide primary CDW coverage?
The explorer card also allows upgrades to business on domestic award flights, any clue if the $60 or the non-annual-fee card gives that?
is the business version of this card subject to 5/24?
Type 5/24 in the search bar above
Don’t think there is a business version of this card
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Adding to the DPs above, I also downgraded to the no AF MPR card last month, but I can still see and book XN.
And even if that wasn’t the case, you’d still get the 25% MPX bonus w/ the no AF card. Granted it’s not worth much since decent MPX deals are harder to come by now, but it’s still a benefit. Many people like to keep no AF cards alive to prolong the longevity of that account on CRs even if there are no card benefits whatsoever, so this should make it an even better prospect to keep open.
what is CR?
Credit report=CR
credit report
It’s often overlooked that the Explorer comes with primary rental car insurance like the CSP/CSR. Not sure about the $60/year one; I’m guessing not. Also, +1 for having the no-fee card and still seeing XN fares but I only downgraded a month ago.
Victor – +1 on that DP. Downgraded to no fee version last year and still see the increased award inventory.
Holding the no fee version also still gives me the 25% bonus on MPX purchases, regardless of the card I pay with.
I have the no annual fee version and still get the increased award inventory (i.e. the XN fare class). As for the full size carry-on, I have no information.
According to the United FAQ: https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/basic-economy-faq.aspx
Qualifying cards are:
– MileagePlus Explorer Card
– MileagePlus Explorer Business Card
– MileagePlus Club Card
– MileagePlus Club Business Card
– Presidential PlusSM Card
– Presidential Plus Business Card
– MileagePlus Awards Card
– Ixe United Universe Card
– Ixe United Card
I have in front of me my mileage plus awards card/ chase #4388576078174565. I have been informed this number card is not correct. Can you explain why?
Hey Victor,
When did you downgrade?
I think it was about 10 months ago.
Odd, you’re definitely not supposed to have access to that inventory
Thanks for picking this up, Doc.
I’m seeing the same thing with my wife’s no-fee card, which she downgraded nearly a year ago, maybe more. She has access to the expanded award inventory, and she does not have elite status; and the UA site explicitly says “available to you as a Chase card holder”. I checked tonight.
I also updated my original Reddit post to mention two Explorer benefits I forgot, which are the $25K PQD waiver, and the $25K 10,000 mile bonus. All the more reason why the Explorer is a better value than Awards unless you truly value priority boarding and nothing else.
Disagree that none of these cards are necessarily worth holding — the PQD waiver on the Explorer is probably worth something for United flyers who want to attain status, and UR points become more valuable if you have XN availability.
I’ve got a full breakdown of what status perks which cards correspond to here: http://ivanx.nyc/status-seeker
I too have the extra award availabilty with the no AF card. I also have the Explorer Business card though, so that might be why.