My fiance has the United Explorer card, and i have the CSP. However, this question also concerns the future where i'll soon be PC'ing my CSP to CSR, and also applying for the United Explorer card, for it's SUB.
So, if you have both the CSP and UE, or CSR and UE, which card is better to book flights with United? I would think the Sapphire cards because UR points are worth more than the earned United points. But, help me understand.
CSP earns 2x on travel and the CSR 3x. The UE card earns 2x on United purchases. I'd put it on the CSR/CSP since you can transfer it 1:1 to UA if you need points. That way they are still useful as URs until they are needed. I'd be keeping things in UR unless they got more with the co-branded card (like getting 6x Marriott points using a Marriott card).
I book my tickets using the CSR. UR points are more valuable to me than miles. I keep the Explorer mainly for the earlier boarding, free checked bags (which is mighty handy when traveling with family) and United Club passes.
@TSlop wrote:CSP earns 2x on travel and the CSR 3x. The UE card earns 2x on United purchases. I'd put it on the CSR/CSP since you can transfer it 1:1 to UA if you need points. That way they are still useful as URs until they are needed. I'd be keeping things in UR unless they got more with the co-branded card (like getting 6x Marriott points using a Marriott card).
That's my thinking, just was looking for some additional insight. The only spend i put on my Boundless card, is Marriott hotel stays and spend. Everything else travel wise, goes on my CSP.
@Stralem wrote:I book my tickets using the CSR. UR points are more valuable to me than miles. I keep the Explorer mainly for the earlier boarding, free checked bags (which is mighty handy when traveling with family) and United Club passes.
You can still get early boarding with the Explorer card, even purchasing the tickets with the CSP/CSR? That's good info to know! I wasn't aware.
I also thought you could only get the free checked bags if you booked the flight on the Explorer card. I'm not as concerned with that as i have the Platinum to cover bags, but if i use all my $200 credit, and make another flight it will be nice to still have the Explorer free bags.
I did just see this on the card website:
"The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free – calculated as a $30 value for the first checked bag, each way, per person – on United-operated flights when purchasing tickets with their United Explorer Card.*Same page link to Offer Details See united.com/ChaseBagOpens Overlay for details."
As you mentioned, you may not be worried about the bag fee, but this could be an incentive to us the UE card for flights.
@TSlop wrote:I did just see this on the card website:
"The primary Cardmember and one companion traveling on the same reservation will each receive their first standard checked bag free – calculated as a $30 value for the first checked bag, each way, per person – on United-operated flights when purchasing tickets with their United Explorer Card.*Same page link to Offer Details See united.com/ChaseBagOpens Overlay for details."
As you mentioned, you may not be worried about the bag fee, but this could be an incentive to us the UE card for flights.
I just read that also. If i use all my Platinum credit, and need to book another flight, i can use the Explorer card for that one time flight, annually.