Chase Sapphire Preferred vs United Mileage Plus Explorer: Helping you do the math
Right now, two entry level cards let you earn miles with United Airlines’ Mileage Plus program – the United Mileage Plus Explorer and the Chase Sapphire Preferred (which lets you transfer points instantly, 1:1, into your Continental/United mileage account). Each has an annual fee of $95, but that’s where the similarities stop.
First, a table below that summarizes the benefits of each card…you’ll see the biggest advantages of the United Explorer are:
- One free checked bag each for you and a companion on United and Continental
- Priority boarding
- Primary car rental collision insurance coverage.
For the Chase Sapphire Preferred the major advantages are:
- 2x points on all dining and travel purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Ability to transfer points 1:1 into United, British Airways, Southwest, Amtrak, Hyatt (some great values here), Marriott, Priority Club, Ritz Carlton, and Korean Airlines.
- 40,000 point intro bonus after $3,000 in spending within 3 months
| Card | United Mileage Plus Explorer | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
|
| Earning power | ||
| Intro bonus | Up to 40,000 miles (25,000 after first use, 5,000 for adding authorized user, 10,000 each year you spend $25,000) | 40,000 points when you spend $3,000 within first 3 months |
| Base | 1 mile per dollar | 1 mile per dollar |
| United / Continental purchases | 2 miles per dollar | 2 miles per dollar (3 miles if purchased via UltimateRewards.com) |
| All other Travel purchases | 1 mile per dollar | 2 miles per dollar (3 miles if purchased via UltimateRewards.com) |
| Dining purchases | 1 mile per dollar | 2 miles per dollar |
| Elite qualifying miles | No | No |
| Supplemental benefits | ||
| Primary car rental insurance | Yes | No |
| Bag free on United or Continental | Yes, first bag free for you and a companion. | No |
| Foreign transaction fees waived | No | Yes |
| 1:1 mile transfer to United/Continental, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Amtrak, Priority Club, Korean Airlines | No -- United/Continental miles only | Yes, instant online transfer for flexibility of points |
| Priority boarding | Yes, after elites, before general boarding | No |
| Priority security lanes | No | No |
| Hotel upgrades via lhrcollection.com | Yes | No |
| Lounge passes | Yes, 2 United / Continental Club passes per year | No |
| Elite upgrades on reward tickets | Yes | No |
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Secure application link | Apply Now | Apply Now |
Savings calculator to help you decide
Most of the decision to you will come down to some math. How much the United Explorer’s checked bag benefit is worth based on how much you fly. And how much the higher point earning power of the Sapphire Preferred is worth based on your dining/travel and foreign transaction spending.
To help you with the math, we’ve created a simple calculator. Just fill in the blue numbers with your own personal habits, and it will tell you which card offers the greatest savings, and whether holding both may also be beneficial.
Did the calculator say both might be beneficial? In your case, you spend enough on dining, travel, and/or foreign purchases to save more than the annual fee of the Sapphire Preferred, while also traveling enough to save on checked bag fees to offset the Explorer’s annual fee.
You should use the Sapphire Preferred for most everyday spending to get the extra earning, and save the Explorer for United/Continental purchases to use the baggage fee waiver. So, consider applying for both, or have a spouse apply for one, and you the other. You can both ask for additional cards at no extra charge.
Sapphire Preferred more compelling for many Elite and Premier flyers
Note that if you are an Elite or Premier flyer with United or Continental, you already get the free bag waiver and priority boarding so the Explorer’s benefits there are worth nothing to you. For you there are really only two major reasons to consider the Explorer card:
- The ability to get upgraded while traveling on award tickets — this is a new exclusive for United credit card holders, and
- Primary car rental collision insurance.
Otherwise, the Sapphire Preferred’s higher earning power and greater flexibility makes it a no-brainer for elites. You could also consider the more expensive Presidential Plus MasterCard which offers full access to United and Continental clubs.
Click here to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred and apply.
Click here to learn more about the United Mileage Plus Explorer and apply.
Hi, I am very upset with the Mileage Plus Explorer card that I got by switching from Chase Mileage plus business card simply for a reason that they promised me no foreign transaction fee because I went to Italy to study for one year. Before me changing one card to another I specifically made this request. And I have been promised “no foreign transaction few”. However, when I open on line statement today I had been charged hefty fees. They only gave me 100 $ reimbursement times one despite average $300 fees since Sept. I feel that my right been violated. Is it any way I can change this card for without these fees, I guess Sapphire cared is the one.
Thank you.
Svetlana Williams
@svetlana – It’s unfortunate to hear Chase pointed you in the wrong direction with the card — you’re right, the Sapphire Preferred, not United Explorer has the foreign transaction fee waiver.
If the $100 didn’t cover first month foreign transaction fees you should push again to offer you enough to cover the 1st month transaction fees. But beyond that, for charges after the first statement date — it’s tough to make a case for more, as you would have seen the extra fee with that first statement.