American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
vs. United℠ Explorer Card

The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card and the United Explorer Card are co-branded airline cards, making them comparable for travelers seeking to earn miles and enjoy airline-specific perks. The United Explorer card is the better choice for frequent travelers due to its superior travel perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

However, the AA MileUp is a strong contender for those who prioritize grocery spending and want to avoid annual fees. Its 2X miles on groceries and American Airlines purchases, along with a low spending requirement for the sign-up bonus, make it appealing for budget-conscious travelers.

The AA MileUp is better for budget-conscious travelers who occasionally fly with American Airlines and want to earn miles without paying an annual fee. It offers 2X miles on groceries and American Airlines purchases, making it a good fit for everyday spending. However, it may not suit those seeking extensive travel perks like free checked bags or priority boarding, as these are not included.

The United Explorer card is better for frequent United Airlines travelers who value travel perks, such as a free first checked bag and priority boarding. It offers 2X miles on United purchases, dining and hotel stays, making it suitable for those who spend in these categories. However, the annual fee may not be justified for those who don't travel often or prefer other airlines. Additionally, the rewards structure may not be as beneficial if you don't dine out frequently or stay in hotels.

A point-by-point comparison helps you evaluate key features like APRs, fees and rewards. For instance, if you frequently buy groceries, the AA MileUp offers 2X miles per dollar, making it more rewarding than the United Explorer for this category.

The United Explorer card offers better rewards value for those who frequently dine out or stay at hotels. In contrast, the AA MileUp card is more rewarding for grocery and American Airlines purchases. The AA MileUp card's AAdvantage miles are valued at approximately 1.6 cents, making them slightly more valuable than United's MileagePlus miles, valued at approximately 1.4 cents.

For those indifferent to airlines, the choice depends on your spending habits. The following table provides a detailed comparison of the reward categories for each card.

The AA MileUp card allows you to redeem miles for flights, upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays or vacation packages. Miles do not expire as long as there's account activity. The United Explorer card offers similar redemption options, with miles that don't expire while the account is open.

Both cards limit redemptions to their respective airline networks, which can restrict flexibility for travelers seeking diverse options.

United Explorer offers superior perks for frequent travelers, including a free first checked bag and two United Club passes annually. AA MileUp provides inflight discounts and loyalty points, appealing to budget-conscious travelers. Both cards cater to different segments, with United Explorer offering more value for frequent flyers.

Status

• Earn one loyalty point for every eligible mile spent

Credits & Discounts

• 25% savings on inflight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you use your card

All Other Perks

• No limit to the number of miles you can earn

Travel Perks

• Free checked bags for you and a companion on United flights
• Priority boarding on United flights
• Two United Club one-time passes per year

Credits & Discounts

• $100 travel credit after qualifying purchases
• 25% back on United inflight purchases

MoneyGeek's scoring process evaluates each card based on multiple use cases, ensuring the scores reflect the cards' strengths. In this comparison, the scores shown represent the best performance of each card in the "Airline'"category. Several factors determine this score:

• Expected value for travelers: Measures the monetary value of rewards and perks minus the annual fees for frequent travelers.
• Airline scope: Rates the number of destinations the airline flies to, which helps inform the breadth of travel options for the airline program.
• Introductory offer ROI value: Assesses the return on investment (ROI) from the card's sign-up bonus.
• Airline rewards rate for travelers: Evaluates the rewards earned on airline expenditures for frequent travelers.
• Issuer satisfaction: Based on customer satisfaction ratings from studies like J.D. Power.
• Foreign transaction fees: Rates the card's fees for international transactions.
• Recommended credit: Indicates the credit score range required for approval.

For more details on our scoring process, review our ranking methodology.