Originally Posted by
boat9781
Today, the biggest upside Elites get with the Explorer card is upgrades on award tickets. That's a material benefit and is why I keep my card year after year.
That's the only reason I and probably most high elites keep the card but I don't think it's a published benefit.
Originally Posted by
boat9781
The Club card does waive the close in mileage fee for lower elite tiers, and that can add up.
IMO the club card is aimed at 2 types of people <1K and very frequent domestic flyers. Next year I have no intention of being a member of UA club (50% of the reason I used them was the showers) but will have a couple of 'emergency' one day passes if needed.
Originally Posted by
boat9781
That said, United has seemed to have removed itself from offering a credit card product for United road warriors and/or high spenders. The Mileage Plus select card I still carry (pre merger, no longer offered) remains compelling to me.
3x points: united.com purchases
2x points: restaurants, gas, groceries, home improvement, star alliance
1x: everything else
Up to $5000 PQMs, 1 PQM per dollar spent on United.com. Treated as true PQM (unlike presidential plus).
Annual fee $95, 5000 bonus miles every account aniversary.
Why do you think United hasn't re-offered a card like this? Less focused on offering costly waivers but instead is designed for the 100K/ year flier? What would you like to see?
My wishlist: PQM for $ spent on United.com up to $5000 but also a 5000 PQM bonus for hitting $50K spend.
The main card I use at the moment is SPG as it effectively gives me 3X points on everything for Marriott. Not sure what I want from a UA card (that they would provide) other than the availability to get upgraded on award flights - but GS gets that anyway - If UA gave 1Ks that benefit I would dump my explorer card. The Mileage Plus select card wouldn't attract me now either.