Jan 25, 2015, 10:06 am
Last edit by: RNE
How do I get the first-year free offer for the United Club card?
There is no foolproof method. As of January 2016, anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the first-year-free offer (as opposed to the standard offer with $395 AF, minus $100 credit with first purchase) is targeted at UA elites and former paid Club members.
In prior years, some of the following links gave non-elites access to the first-year-free offer. Current odds of success appear to be low.
Regardless of the method used, you will need to log into your UA account to see the offer available to you.
How do I find/apply for the United MileagePlus Club Business Card?
https://www.theexplorercard.com/Club50kAF
Go to www.theexplorercard.com, then either
After logging into your United account, you may be targeted for the annual fee waiver on the business version of the card.
There is no foolproof method. As of January 2016, anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that the first-year-free offer (as opposed to the standard offer with $395 AF, minus $100 credit with first purchase) is targeted at UA elites and former paid Club members.
In prior years, some of the following links gave non-elites access to the first-year-free offer. Current odds of success appear to be low.
- https://mpclubcard.com/rsvp
- https://www.mpclubcard.com/2015
- https://www.theexplorercard.com/ClubAFW
- http://www.united.com/2014clubfree
- http://www.mpclubcard.com/comfort (added Jul 10, 2016)
- http://www.MPClubCard.com/world (added Jan 6, 2020 by RNE)
How do I find/apply for the United MileagePlus Club Business Card?
https://www.theexplorercard.com/Club50kAF
Go to www.theexplorercard.com, then either
- Click "Are you a business owner?" in the top right then "Learn about the MileagePlus Club Business Card" in the right column.
- Click "Compare to the MileagePlus Club Card" in the right column then "Compare to the MileagePlus Club Business Card" in the right column.
After logging into your United account, you may be targeted for the annual fee waiver on the business version of the card.
United MileagePlus Club Card, 1st Year Annual Fee Waived, Tied to United Status?
Apr 7, 2019, 6:32 pm
#1216
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
Do I still get United Club passes annually as a card holder(or was that with explorer cards)? If so where can I find them, I recall reading they come electronically....
Apr 7, 2019, 9:43 pm
#1217
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Does anyone know what happens when you cancel the card?
-Will I get my AF refunded or prorated?
-Will my United Club membership be revoked immediately?
-Will I lose the Hyatt/Hertz status?
Ideally, I'd like to keep the club access as long as possible without paying another annual fee.
-Will I get my AF refunded or prorated?
-Will my United Club membership be revoked immediately?
-Will I lose the Hyatt/Hertz status?
Ideally, I'd like to keep the club access as long as possible without paying another annual fee.
If that is the case, what’s the latest policy on how long after the annual fee posts that you can still cancel and get it refunded?
On another note - can anyone confirm that if I downgrade my club card to the explorer right before the annual fee hits that I would receive the updated annual fee on the original scheduled date of the explorer card? And with that, I’d also be getting the benefits associated with it? Asking since I actually need to renew my GE within a week or so after I’m planning to switch, and have already been planning to get rid of my Club membership.
Apr 8, 2019, 6:16 am
#1218
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,784
Is this a for sure thing? My club membership shows expiring 7/31 and I’m planning to downgrade my card but was hoping to use the club a few more times in May/June.
If that is the case, what’s the latest policy on how long after the annual fee posts that you can still cancel and get it refunded?
If that is the case, what’s the latest policy on how long after the annual fee posts that you can still cancel and get it refunded?
Apr 9, 2019, 9:12 am
#1219
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Coffee Shop Buy 10 Get 1 Free
Posts: 295
With the massive devaluation of MileagePlus, current state of UC amenities, loss of Hyatt status (even though Discoverist is pretty useless, extra points are nice) and recently refreshed MP Explorer card, can't imagine Chase is working OT to process applications here on this one here. Definitely hoping for some sort of 'refresh' or something
Last edited by DG206; Apr 9, 2019 at 9:19 am
Apr 17, 2019, 12:42 pm
#1220
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 251
Club Fee Reimbursement
I've got Airline Club Fee reimbursement as a feature on another card. I was able to use this to obtain the Club Card for the first year and have the fees credited back to me. I'm wondering what will happen when my AF comes due. Will I be able to downgrade the card, pay the Club fee directly to United with my other card, then upgrade the card again and get the fee back? Do they stick you with the $50 initiation fee again? Has anybody done this or something similar? I'm wondering how willing Chase and United will be to work with me.
May 16, 2019, 9:15 am
#1221
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: ORD
Programs: United Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 79
My club membership dropped off of my subscription list a little under a week after I initiated the credit card downgrade. When I'm looking at the membership on united.com, they include the $50 initiation fee as a part of the cost. I'm hoping that I can get an agent to waive it when I sign up in a couple of weeks since it would still be less than 30 days since it expired.
May 16, 2019, 12:15 pm
#1222
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: USA
Programs: AA Gold, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 310
I've got Airline Club Fee reimbursement as a feature on another card. I was able to use this to obtain the Club Card for the first year and have the fees credited back to me. I'm wondering what will happen when my AF comes due. Will I be able to downgrade the card, pay the Club fee directly to United with my other card, then upgrade the card again and get the fee back? Do they stick you with the $50 initiation fee again? Has anybody done this or something similar? I'm wondering how willing Chase and United will be to work with me.
I think it might've worked better if you got the club membership before applying for the Club card (which then refunds you the Club membership fee, right?)
May 16, 2019, 1:22 pm
#1223
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
That's interesting. Which card is this? I assume that most of them operate by reimbursing a charge made to the card, which you wouldn't be able to do with a credit card annual fee.
I think it might've worked better if you got the club membership before applying for the Club card (which then refunds you the Club membership fee, right?)
I think it might've worked better if you got the club membership before applying for the Club card (which then refunds you the Club membership fee, right?)
May 18, 2019, 7:19 pm
#1224
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 251
That's interesting. Which card is this? I assume that most of them operate by reimbursing a charge made to the card, which you wouldn't be able to do with a credit card annual fee.
I think it might've worked better if you got the club membership before applying for the Club card (which then refunds you the Club membership fee, right?)
I think it might've worked better if you got the club membership before applying for the Club card (which then refunds you the Club membership fee, right?)
Now what I need Chase to do is let me downgrade the card temporarily so I can purchase the membership again on the other card, then upgrade and get the fee credited back. Otherwise I'll have to just close it and let P2 do the same thing.
Jun 3, 2019, 6:53 am
#1225
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 120
Agree, though I pay the club membership on one of my Amex that gives 200 back, essentially costing $350 a year. With a higher status that price would be lower.
Jun 3, 2019, 12:38 pm
#1226
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
With the massive devaluation of MileagePlus, current state of UC amenities, loss of Hyatt status (even though Discoverist is pretty useless, extra points are nice) and recently refreshed MP Explorer card, can't imagine Chase is working OT to process applications here on this one here. Definitely hoping for some sort of 'refresh' or something
Jun 3, 2019, 1:25 pm
#1227
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Coffee Shop Buy 10 Get 1 Free
Posts: 295
When is their contract up? They just redid the Explorer not that long ago, but UA already has 4 if you count the prepaid option (think DL has something somewhat similar)
Jun 3, 2019, 1:28 pm
#1228
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
United is reportedly trying to renegotiate their contract with Chase because it is not as lucrative as AA or DL's agreements with their co-brand issuers.
Jun 3, 2019, 2:20 pm
#1229
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,679
Contract is up on 2021, however these things take years to negotiate and I guarantee neither UA nor Chase wants to wait until 2021 to renew, and if UA can't get the deal they want they need time to shop to another issuer
https://skift.com/2019/04/17/united-airlines-plays-hardball-with-expedia-and-jp-morgan-chase/
Jun 4, 2019, 5:33 pm
#1230
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 120
Wonder why the club business version is not on the Chase site, just UA.