50K United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card Bonus Offer

A 50K United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card bonus offer (see Best Travel Credit Cards) is available, better than the usual 30K bonus for this card and for the personal United MileagePlus Explorer card. But note that this card *is* subject to Chase 5/24, meaning that most applicants will have trouble getting approved for this card if they've opened 5 or more new credit card accounts in the past 24 months (of any kind, not just Chase cards) unless they are pre-approved for the offer or are a Chase Private Client. Here are the offer details:

• Earn 50,000 Bonus MileagePlus miles after you spend $3000 on the card within the first 3 months of account opening

• Earn 2X MileagePlus miles per $1 spent on tickets bought from United Airlines, spend at office supply stores, restaurants, and gas stations

• Earn 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

• Free first checked bag

• Priority boarding

• No foreign transaction fees

• 2 United Club passes each year

• $0 annual fee the first year, thereafter $95 per year

Analysis

In the past, before Chase 5/24, it would have made sense for many people to apply for this card if they qualified for the bonus, at least at some point. Overall, I rarely redeem United MileagePlus miles these days due to the higher number of miles required after the United Award Chart Devaluation. That said, I did pick up a couple of Austrian Business Class tickets next year, as United miles avoid the higher fuel surcharges of flying British Airways to Europe. And even with United's new stopover rules, it is possible to get value when booking a roundtrip award from the Excursionist Perk, as long as you can get the United site to price it correctly for you online. 

With Chase 5/24 in place, it makes sense to prioritize Chase credit card applications and apply first for the most valuable cards. I consider the current 60K Ink Plus offer (if you live near a Chase branch you may be able to get a 70K Ink Plus offer in the branch) better than the 50K United MileagePlus offer, even with the Ink Plus $95 annual fee that is not waived, at least if you value the 5X earning on Internet, cell phone bills, and office supply stores, particularly if you're able to pick up Amazon, Whole Foods, and gift cards for your other favorite retailers at your local office supply store. 

I'd also recommend the 100K Chase Sapphire Reserve over the United MileagePlus Explorer Business card, since even with the $450 annual fee you make money off the card in your first year, with the $300 travel credit per December to December billing cycle. And if you keep the card (which I'll be doing) it's an effective $150 per year with 3X points earning on all travel and dining as well as Priority Pass lounge access for you and accompanying guests and other travel benefits.

Also keep in mind that the new 80K Ink Business Preferred is launching in just a few days, so if you're under 5/24 you may want to wait until November 14 (of course, if you prefer the Ink Plus, you should apply for it now, before Nov. 14).

All Chase Ink business cards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and Chase Freedom (if you also have one of the aforementioned cards that charge an annual fee) earn Ultimate Rewards points that transfer 1:1 to United MileagePlus. So while the United MileagePlus Explorer Business Card can be an easy way to pick up a 50K signup bonus, you'd do better with one of the other cards in terms of category bonuses:

• United Airlines tickets: 2X with the United credit card vs. 3X with the Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Office Supply Stores: 2X with the United credit card vs. 5X with the Ink Plus
• Restaurants: 2X with the United credit card vs. 3X with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or 5X with the Chase Freedom when the 5X quarterly bonus category is restaurants
• Gas Stations: 2X with the United credit card vs. 5X with the Chase Freedom when the 5X quarterly bonus category is gas stations