United MileagePlus® Explorer Card -- why to keep?
My $95 annual fee is about due.
I'm trying to come up with some reasons to keep this credit card. Here's what I have:
Why do you keep your card? I do like Mileage Plus miles but I don't necessarily like the $95 fee. Thanks. |
If you are the worrying type, free primary rental car insurance is a reason.
If you have no status, free baggage is a reason. Otherwise, there is no reason, really. Also: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credi...all-cards.html |
IMHO, only reason to keep it, pay the fee is for the 2 club passes, free baggage check; otherwise, get Chase Sapphire Preferred; same bennies, more reward redemption options (UR can be converted to MP, Avios, lots of others).
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Originally Posted by diver858
(Post 19594701)
IMHO, only reason to keep it, pay the fee is for the 2 club passes...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...ub-merged.html Up to 10 visits free after rebate, $20 to join. So figure if you use all 10, it's about $5/visit. Less if you bundle the rebate forms. |
Primary rental car insurance is the best reason for keeping this card.
And, of course, if you're a United elite, then obviously it helps with earning more UA miles. In my experience, Chase is pretty generous at waiving annual fees as long as you've put a decent amount of expenditure on the card. |
Originally Posted by MidnightLight
(Post 19594806)
And, of course, if you're a United elite, then obviously it helps with earning more UA miles.
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Originally Posted by MidnightLight
(Post 19594806)
Primary rental car insurance is the best reason for keeping this card.
Isn't primary car insurance common on other cards as well? I think I have it on some other card....I'll check. Btw, does primary car insurance carry effective internationally or just for rentals within my home country (USA)? Thanks. |
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
(Post 19594809)
Also allows you comped upgrades on domestic tickets if you're elite, tho there is a thread in the UA forum that discusses how poorly that benefit works, in reality.
For 95.00 we get award upgrades,the club passes and the primary car rental coverage. Our are also MC,which we use for a few bills that only accept MC. Ironically,we do not use it for UA tickets,except awards, as I also carry the Select card,which nets me an additional 1 mile per $ over the Explorer. |
Originally Posted by iowa guy
(Post 19606010)
Isn't primary car insurance common on other cards as well? I think I have it on some other card....I'll check.
Btw, does primary car insurance carry effective internationally or just for rentals within my home country (USA)? Personally, I think primary coverage is overrated. Since your own insurance covers everything but the deductible, that's really your only monetary risk. A common justification is that it protects you from having to file a claim on your insurance at all. But, for your usual driving, would you pay an additional fee over and above your existing insurance premium so you wouldn't have to use the insurance you're already paying for? Maybe if you rent frequently or you're a poor driver... but I'm not a fan of paying twice for something.
Originally Posted by freeflyin
(Post 19606379)
This benefit has worked for both my wife and I without complications so far. Hopefully it continues this way.
I'm on the fence about paying the annual fee this year. Primary cover is nice to have, as is the (very) infrequent award ticket upgrade. But is it $95 valuable? Not sure yet. |
I recently got into the FF frenzy and I fly United the most since that is what the Navy usually flies me on. I have never had an issue and with the 55K option with the 1K in 3 months I will meet that during the holiday season. I will be using this plus a CSP for 40K for a total of 100K UA miles. I am using this mainly for when I travel but the perks are what is nice. I will use the CSP more and the fact that I can take them through the UR mall.
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How about the 10k mile bonus for spending $25k?
At around $200 for 50 Vanilla Reloads, you could be buying 35k UA miles for about half-a-cent apiece... Cheers |
I have the United Platinum Class grandfathered in that gives 5000 PQM and an additional 5000 PQM at $35,000. It also includes a companion ticket (I never could figure out how to redeem these). The annual fee is $140 a year. I had the card since the beginning so roughly 4-5 years now? I never asked for a retention credit and am a bit tired of paying the $140 each year.
Do you think they will credit me back the $140 annual fee (I just paid it last week) if I request a downgrade to the new Mileage Plus Explorer Card. The free bag credit that comes with the Explorer Card, if you are statused, does that mean +1 bag on top of your status benefits? I'm going to lose my Gold status next year and I can get Silver annually without the PQM anyway. Here is the card agreements for the 5000 EQM card. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...nc18erpwjg0GLw |
Originally Posted by CrownRoyalForever
(Post 19612611)
How about the 10k mile bonus for spending $25k?
At around $200 for 50 Vanilla Reloads, you could be buying 35k UA miles for about half-a-cent apiece... Cheers |
Originally Posted by neonapple
(Post 19641918)
Do you think they will credit me back the $140 annual fee (I just paid it last week) if I request a downgrade to the new Mileage Plus Explorer Card.
Then, separately, apply for the Explorer card. There is an offer available for 50k+5k signup bonuses but only on a new application, not a conversion. In the process of getting approved, if you have reached the maximum amount of credit available from Chase, offer to close the old card to get approval on this one. Best case, you get to keep both cards, earn the signup and retention bonuses, and preserve your option to earn PQMs later. The free bag credit that comes with the Explorer Card, if you are statused, does that mean +1 bag on top of your status benefits?
Originally Posted by iowa guy
(Post 19642209)
where can I learn what CRF is talking about? I think that it has something to do with getting a bonus for reloading a Vanilla card.
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Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
(Post 19608873)
Since your own insurance covers everything but the deductible, that's really your only monetary risk. |
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