UA Exlorer Card Approved. Here's the timeline
Here's a data point for anyone wondering "how long" does this or that step take. Here's what my timeline looked like.
November 5--Applied
November 6--Got the 2 week message on the phone status line
November 8--Phone status changed to 7 to 10 business days.
November 26--Called Monday after Thanksgiving as I had not heard anything (11 bus. days after the 7-10 day message). Card was approved on the phone. Asked for expedited delivery and was told had to wait for Partner Verification before they could send expedited. Card appeared in my Chase online account a couple hours later.
November 28--PartnerVerification completed and card sent out with expedited delivery
November 29--Card Arrived and activated at 4:35pm
November 30--8 p.m. the special award availability showed on United website searches. Wasn't there at noon, but did not check between noon and 8.