Anybody have any experience with the United Explorer MileagePlus Card?

[Dervrak]

United seems to be doing everything short of holding me hostage to get me to sign up for this card. Multiple "your preapproved" mailers every week. Whenever I schedule a trip I start getting phone calls "You could earn blah, blah extra miles on your trip to Peoria if you sign up for our United Explorer Card."  In the past of I've told them I didn't want any card with an annual fee, but the last call they said they are waiving the annual fee for the first year, so my resistance is slipping...

However, If I do sign up for a travel card, I want  to make sure I get a good one. I've held off applying for Chase Sapphire Preferred card (which most on here seem to consider to be the gold standard), because I'm just not really sure I need ANY travel cards. I'm don't think I travel enough to get the maximum value out of them. I usually take two vacations a year to somewhere warm and sunny (Hawaii, Cancun, Tahiti) and I might take another long weekend or two to Vegas a couple times a year. So maybe 3-4 times a year? I don't want to get hit with they annual fee these cards all seem to charge if I not able to get the maximum benefit out of them.

[Anonymous]

The United Explorer MileagePlus card always waived the first year annual fee then it is $95 a year after that. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the better option between those two cards. The points are more valuable and you can have more travel options. The points can be transferable to United or any of Chase's airline or hotel partners. Or you can use Chase's travel portal and your points will be work 25% more for travel. 

If you want to stick to no annual fee, check out the Uber Visa or Wells Fargo Propel. The rewards are good for no annual fee card.

[coldfusion]

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@Dervrak wrote:

United seems to be doing everything short of holding me hostage to get me to sign up for this card. Multiple "your preapproved" mailers every week. Whenever I schedule a trip I start getting phone calls "You could earn blah, blah extra miles on your trip to Peoria if you sign up for our United Explorer Card."  In the past of I've told them I didn't want any card with an annual fee, but the last call they said they are waiving the annual fee for the first year, so my resistance is slipping...

However, If I do sign up for a travel card, I want  to make sure I get a good one. I've held off applying for Chase Sapphire Preferred card (which most on here seem to consider to be the gold standard), because I'm just not really sure I need ANY travel cards. I'm don't think I travel enough to get the maximum value out of them. I usually take two vacations a year to somewhere warm and sunny (Hawaii, Cancun, Tahiti) and I might take another long weekend or two to Vegas a couple times a year. So maybe 3-4 times a year? I don't want to get hit with they annual fee these cards all seem to charge if I not able to get the maximum benefit out of them.

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The value of the United Explorer card can only really be leveraged if you fly United regularly.  The CSP is a prototypical travel card and Chase UR are much more flexible in ability to redeem for value. 

You can also consider setting yourself up with an Uber account and applying for the Uber CC, even if you aren't a regular Uber user.  As a no-AF no-FTF card it offer decent cashback options on airfare/hotel/restaurant expenses for someone who doesn't travel enough to justify to themselves a travel card with an AF or just doesn't want to deal with redeeming points. 

[dogmeat]

For me, it all comes down to whether you check bags or not.  All the super travelers slog their carry-on on and off the plane, not me, I check a bag, every single time (even for a Vegas weekend.)  You make up the annual fee in free checked bags.  Having a variety of cards allows you to choose the best route/price, without having to consider the checked bag fee.  I travel about the same amount as you, and have three annual free airline cards (Hawaiian, Delta, United - although Delta/Hawaiian have a companion pass/fare/certificate that also offsets the annual fee.)  I have actually considered adding Alaska (also has companion fare).  (Also, I don't like Southwest's no-assigned-seat policy so I avoid them.)