Calculate how much United Mileage Plus Club Card earning power stacks up
The United Mileage Plus Club Card earns a 50% bonus on all spending, so you earn 1.5 United miles per dollar spent. United purchases earn 2 miles per dollar spent.
Use the calculator below to see how the United Mileage Plus Club Card’s 50% mile bonus earning power stacks up versus the other United credit card options — the United Mileage Plus Explorer and the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Both of those carry a lower $95 annual fee versus the $395 on the Mileage Plus Club Card, though lack United Club lounge access.
The twist on mile earning is that the basic $95 per year United Explorer earns a 10,000 mile bonus when you spend $25,000 on the card in one year. So if you spend about $25,000 per year, you earn a powerful 1.4 miles per dollar spent (10,000 mile bonus +25,000 miles earned by spending divided by $25,000 spend). But if you spend much beyond that the earning starts to decline as get further from that bonus threshold. And if you spend less than $25,000 per year you’ll be earning about 1 mile per dollar spent.
The United Mileage Plus Club card always earns at least 1.5 miles per dollar you spend, and 2 miles per dollar for United purchases.
For a more comprehensive view of how the United Mileage Plus Club Card stacks up against the other United credit cards, and other airline credit cards, use our Mile Credit Card Comparison Calculator. It will factor in things like baggage fee waivers and all of your spending net of annual fees to show which credit cards offer the most dollar value to you.
Hello,
I have United MileagePlus explorer card, I really do not see much benefit with this card, I have poor experience with United service. Anyway, if I cancel this card, do I lose all the miles that I accumulated so far?
I have United frequent flyer card through which all the miles are accumulated including the bonus miles that I recieved when I signed-up for the card.
Your reply is much appreciated,
Best regards,
@UnitedTraveler – You’ll keep all your miles earned – no penalty for canceling.
Hi,
I got the $95 explorer card as soon as it came out by transferring my old united miles card (I think the annual fee was $135?). I travel overseas about twice a year and was excited about the baggage and 2 club passes. I also got my $10,000 bonus! Then the Club card came out and I applied for that also since I liked 1.5 miles for every dollar, no foreign charge fees and access to the club lounges. I still have my explorer card because I was told that since I have been a United card holder since 1989 and means something with my United Miles or loyalty program?? Something about losing my lifetime miles on my mileage plus program? Btw, I charge about 15,000 per month using my club card for my business. Hope you can help.
Sincerely,
Happy Traveler
@Happy Traveler- You don’t need to carry both cards, and you won’t forfeit any lifetime miles by cancelling your Explorer card. Lifetime miles are earned via flying United and have nothing to do with your status as a credit card holder. You’re definitely using the right card with the Club card.